Cherokee County's best and brightest football players were honored one final time as the Cherokee County Gridiron Club held its annual season-ending awards banquet Monday night at the First Baptist Canton.

After another stellar season, Woodstock was honored again as the Cobb EMC Team of the Year after recording its first 10-win campaign following its impressive 8-5 record from the 2008 season. The Wolverines finished '09 with a 10-2 mark and made their second straight trip to the postseason, reaching the second round of the Class AAAAA state playoffs.

Woodstock wasn't done winning awards Monday as its players also took home other coveted honors. Jonathan Bermudez was the top defensive lineman, while Trevor Bagwell shared the top receiver award with Etowah's Taylor Majors. Woodstock's Drew Yeargin and Etowah's Tanner Romine were both named returner of the year. Tanner Skogen was selected the offensive back of the year and linebacker Corey Carmichael garnered the player of the year honor.

Woodstock offensive coordinator Roy Clayton was named the top offensive coach, while defensive coordinator Brent Budde joined Creekview's Jeff Nelson and Sequoyah's Andrew Price as the Ray Face defensive coaches of the year. The award honors Face, who spent time as the defensive coordinator on the staffs at Woodstock and Sequoyah, died in May 2008 after battling liver cancer.

Retiring Woodstock coach Mike O'Brien received coach of the year honors for the second consecutive season.

"It's a tremendous honor," said O'Brien, who retired Jan. 13 after a 41-year coaching career, including seven as the Wolverines' head coach. "I got into coaching for the kids and to have an opportunity to teach them. Receiving awards like these just helps to validate what I've done all these years. It feels good, but it's about the coaches I worked with and the players. Without them, I couldn't have done any of it."

O'Brien was also inducted into the Cherokee County Gridiron Club Hall of Fame and received the Atlanta Falcons' high school coach of the year award.

As the No. 2 seed out of Region 5AAAAA, Woodstock won a playoff game for the second straight season before losing to North Gwinnett in the second round. O'Brien, who went 42-34 with the Wolverines, turned around a program that had suffered back-to-back winless seasons before his arrival.

Player of the Year Carmichael, who is expected to sign with Middle Tennessee State when National Signing Day comes a week from today, recorded 142 tackles and three sacks for the Wolverines.

"It means a lot to get this award," said Carmichael, whose future college coach, the Blue Raiders' Rick Stockstill, was the banquet's keynote speaker. "It feels good that I got to lead the team to the playoffs again. We had a good year."

Cherokee County's other high schools were also well-represented.

Creekview running back Hunter Livingston, who rushed 135 times for 1,141 yards and 18 touchdowns, was named the offensive player of the year. With Livingston serving as their top offensive weapon, the Grizzlies went 9-2 with their second playoff appearance in as many seasons.

Etowah linebacker Ryker Goodell and Sequoyah lineman Seth Grummer shared defensive player of the year honors. Goodell tallied 101 tackles and six sacks for the 8-3 Eagles, who fell in the first round of the playoffs, while Grummer recorded 57 tackles, 11 sacks and four forced fumbles for the 6-4 Chiefs.

Etowah's Reid Webster, a Clemson commitment, was selected the top offensive lineman, while teammate Braden Nolan was quarterback of the year. Creekview's Ryan Holmes was named linebacker of the year and Cherokee's Josh Smith was the top defensive back.

Sequoyah's Shawn Wortham and Creekview's Tyler Hamilton shared kicker of the year honors, while Etowah's Joey Gilkey and Cherokee's Josh Lemons were selected as the top punters.

Developed in 2003, the Cherokee County Gridiron Club showcases the top football players in the county with weekly awards, as well as their season-ending event.

"We're very proud of these young men and it's an honor for us to have this event for them," Gridiron Club president Dan Carmichael said. "These guys work hard in high school. Football is a demanding sport and it's non-stop keeping up with classes and athletics. We're excited to have this event for them."