The junior defensive end (6-2, 235) was selected as the Mississippi Area Football Conference defensive player of the year. Going into the Class 4 state quarterfinals, Pinkston had six quarterback sacks and 44 total tackles for a defense that’s posted two shutouts this season. Festus (10-2) won the MAFC championship for the second year in a row and beat Sullivan (9-3) 42-7 Nov. 22. The Tigers host unbeaten Kearney (12-0) in the semifinals Saturday at 1 p.m.
Antonio Pinkston