The Sevier County Smoky Bears and Seymour Eagles had quite an impact their first year in the Inter-Mountain Athletic Conference.

The Bears won the conference championship and the Eagles, playing their first season with the state’s biggest regular season classification, played their way into the playoffs with a strong conference showing.

Tuesday, the IMAC announced it’s All-Conference teams, and players from both schools populated the list, including the top two player awards.

Sevier County quarterback Zach Flynn was rewarded for his 2,477 passing yards and 16 touchdowns by being named the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year.

His coach, SCHS’s Steve Brewer, was named the IMAC’s Coach of the Year for guiding the team to their first-ever undefeated regular season.

Across the county at Seymour, senior transfer defensive lineman Nick Smith was named the IMAC’s Defensive Player of the Year for his run-stuffing 111 tackles.

Several other players were named to the IMAC’s first team All-Conference squad.

From Sevier County wide receivers Bryant Gilson (55 catches, 804 yards, 7 TDs) and Bryce Whaley (30 catches, 711 yards, 4 TDs), offensive linemen Ross Heatherly and Bryson Maples and athlete Danny Chastain were on the offensive side of the ball.

Teammates Kel McCarter (LB), Thomas Hamilton, Robert Whitelaw, Jake Reppert (all defensive linemen), Jeremiah Foster, Matt Spangler and Josh Johnson (DBs) joined on defense.

For Seymour running back Blake Overton got first team offensive honors, while teammates Keegan Newport (LB), Cory Clark (DB) and Stephen Martin (P) were also tabbed to the first team.

Second team All-Conference selections from the two schools were as follows: Sevier County — Jared Baxter (K), Jacob Childs (OL) and Seymour — Joseph McCarter (OL), Cody Watson (DL) and Wes White (DL).

All-Academic selections were Mikey Hutton for Sevier County and Stephen Martin for Seymour.

Selected to the All-Character team from Sevier County was Austin Nave, and from Seymour, Wes Humes.

Honorable mentions to the All-IMAC teams were Dakota Cogdill (SCHS) and Chase Ketron (Seymour).

The Mountain Press All-Sevier County Football team is announced annually on Christmas Day.

mpsports@themountainpress.com