By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

After putting together remarkable junior seasons, Callaway’s Cartavious “Tank” Bigsby and Troup’s Kobe Hudson are in the running for a major state-wide award.

Bigsby and Hudson are two of the finalists for the Touchdown Club of Atlanta’s Little Peach Award, which is given to the state’s top underclassman.

In addition to Hudson and Bigsby, the other finalists are Marietta quarterback Harrison Bailey, Marietta tight end Arik Gilbert, Warner Robins wide receiver Marcayll Jones, Archer quarterback Carter Peevy and Valdosta quarterback Tate Rodemaker.

The winner will be announced on Jan. 24 during a banquet in Atlanta.

Bigsby and Hudson were key reasons their teams advanced to the state semifinals in their respective classifications.

Bigsby was one of the state’s most productive running backs, and he accumulated more than 2,000 yards to help the Cavaliers finish 11-3 and reach the Class AA semifinals.

Hudson, a standout wide receiver as a freshman and a sophomore, moved to quarterback for his junior season and

had a phenomenal year as the Tigers went 12-2 and made it to the Class AAAA semifinals.

Bigsby, after sharing the carries with DJ Atkins last season, was the featured back this year, and he came through in a big way.

Bigsby ran for 2,221 yards on 238 carries, good for an average of more than nine yards per attempt, and he scored 22 touchdowns.

Bigsby also had 14 catches for 217 yards.

Bigsby saved some of his best performances for the season’s biggest games.

In the second round of the playoffs against defending state-champion Hapeville Charter, Bigsby ran for 238 yards and four touchdowns, and he had 314 yards and three touchdowns in the playoff opener against Elbert County.

In a victory over region rival Bremen, Bigsby had his best game of the season, running for 309 yards on 19 attempts with three touchdowns.

Hudson was a play-making wide receiver his first two years of high school, and he moved to quarterback this season and was unstoppable.

In 14 games, Hudson threw for 3,386 yards with 32 touchdowns, and he ran for 1,410 yards with 18 touchdowns.

In his final game against a Blessed Trinity team that went on to win the state championship, Hudson ran for 204 yards with two touchdowns, and he threw for 234 yards with three touchdowns.

That performance came against a Blessed Trinity defense that suffocated Cartersville in Wednesday’s state-championship game.

During Troup’s four-game playoff run, Hudson threw for 805 yards with seven touchdowns, and he ran for 594 yards with six touchdowns.