CHARLESTOWN — Charlestown quarterback Aaron Daniel’s four-year numbers are astounding: 10,143 yards of total offense, 155 total touchdowns.

His senior year saw Daniel rush for 1,766 yards and 32 scores and throw for another 2,075 yards and 36 touchdowns. That’s nearly 4,000 yards and 68 combined scores.

Simply phenomenal.

“I’m not sure anyone could ever reach [those numbers again],” Charlestown coach Jason Hawkins said.

“He was hands down the best player on the field,” Clarksville coach Steve Cooley said. “He’s an unbelievable talent. He’s extremely hard to coach against just because he’s so athletic. He was a great high school football player, one of the best I’ve ever coached against.”

Cooley — like every other coach who had to game plan against Daniel — will be happy to see him move on to the next level.

“I’m going to make sure he picks up his diploma in May,” Cooley joked.

In three years as the starting quarterback at Charlestown, Daniel’s teams went 28-8. The Pirates won a pair of Mid-Southern Conference championships, played in two sectional title games and they won their first sectional crown since 1996 during this year’s 12-1 campaign.

“It’s been a great experience to be with these kids and Aaron’s been the leader of them,” Hawkins said. “To watch him grown, it’s been a great three and a half years. I hope I’ll get to coach someone as good as Aaron again, but I’m not sure I will.”

Led by a strong defense with nearly everyone returning, Charlestown is expected to be very good again in 2013. The Pirates may be considered MSC and sectional favorites again. But it won’t be easy without the luxury of Daniel under center.

“Next year, I’m going to find out how good a coach I am,” Hawkins said. “Aaron’s not going to be around to bail me out.”

As Daniel moves on to the hardwood for Pirate basketball and on to college — potentially as a Division I defensive back or a smaller school quarterback — he won’t be just remembered as a football player.

Hawkins said he will remember Daniel as much for what he brings off the field as he did as a football player.

“When my son Caleb grows up, I want him to be just like Aaron Daniel,” Hawkins said. “Not just a great football player, but a great student who works hard and has done everything I’ve ever asked of him. He does things in the community and he cares about kids.”

Following Charlestown’s only loss of the season, in which the Pirates led 49-14 before falling to Gibson Southern 57-49 in the regional, Daniel certainly didn’t feel like engaging with fans.

As he walked out of the stadium, one young heartbroken Pirates fan called out Daniel’s name. Daniel took the time to talk with him and give him a huge.

“Of course Aaron didn’t feel like doing that,” Hawkins said. “But that kid will remember that the rest of his life. It goes to show you what kind of kid [Daniel] is.”



NEWS AND TRIBUNE ALL-AREA TEAM

First Team

Offense

    QB — Aaron Daniel, Charlestown (Player of the Year)

    RB — Seth McCutchen, Charlestown

    RB — Austin Hines, Jeffersonville

    WR — Ricky Embry, Jeffersonville

    WR — Tyler Odle, Charlestown

    TE — Dionte Allen, Jeffersonville

    OL — Leighton Brewer, Charlestown

    OL — Jay Brown, Jeffersonville

    OL — Chaz Wolf, Floyd Central

    OL — Nick Lynch, New Albany

    OL — Stephen Johnson, Charlestown

Defense

    DL — Desmond Wiley, Charlestown

    DL — Dalton Adkins, Jeffersonville

    DL — Jimmy Garcia, Charlestown

    DL — Joseph Simmons, Jeffersonville

    LB — Derek Hughes, Jeffersonville

    LB — Matt Myers, Charlestown

    LB — Jake Harper, Charlestown

    LB — Marquell Hastings, New Albany

    DB — Damin Smith, Jeffersonville

    DB — Brandon Hardin, Clarksville

    DB — Tyler Kahl, Jeffersonville

    DB — Owen Mattingly, Providence



Second Team

Offense

    QB — Tyler Fridley, Jeffersonville

    RB — Layne Taylor, Silver Creek

    RB — Tuwan Payton, New Albany

    WR — Jacquari Chandler, Jeffersonville

    WR — Wesley Sexton, Charlestown

    FB/TE — Gage Brafford, Charlestown

    OL — Sherman Phillips, Jeffersonville

    OL — Tevin Furtick, Jeffersonville

    OL — Alec Wakefield, Charlestown

    OL — Austin Keith, Charlestown

    OL — Joe Wolf, Floyd Central

Defense

    DL — Jake Matthews, Clarksville

    DL — Adam Hoff, Charlestown

    DL — Gavan Jolley-Little, Jeffersonville

    DL — Corey Cecil, Providence

    LB — Aamil Haleem, Jeffersonville

    LB — Darren Taylor, Charlestown

    LB — A.J. Cleek, New Albany

    LB — David Morales, Jeffersonville

    DB — Drew Sherrrow, Silver Creek

    DB — Tony Croom, Jeffersonville

    DB — Corey Granger, New Albany

    DB — Aidan McEwen, Clarksville



Special Teams

    K — Vince Falcone, New Albany

    P — Garrett Braun, Providence

    KR — Marquise Parrish, Clarksville

    PR — Ravon Wright, New Albany

    ST — Jordan Muirhead, Jeffersonville



Honorable Mention

Offense

    Matt Bell, Providence RB; Christian Brown, Clarksville RB; Tony Corrao, Providence OL; Cody Donahue, Charlestown WR; Nolan Fisher, Clarksville OL; Tyler Gregory, Silver Creek OL; Brooks Howell, Silver Creek QB; Jaylan Kavanaugh, Jeffersonville OL; Zach Knight, Charlestown OL; Garry Posey, Floyd Central RB; Nash Rivers, Jeffersonville OL; Nick Uhl, Floyd Central FB; Nick Wahking, New Albany OL.

Defense

    Regis Barbour, New Albany DL; Eli Daniel, Charlestotown DB; Langston Fitzpatrick Jeffersonville DB; Zach Green, Charlestown DB; Chase Herron, Floyd Central LB; Jason Houchens, Charlestown DB; Jason Jent, Silver Creek LB; Damian McDuffy, New Albany DL; Cole Nokes, Charlestown LB;  Aham Yennis, Clarksville LB.

Special Teams

    Trevor Spence, Silver Creek PK.



Coach of the Year

    Jason Hawkins, Charlestown