From staff reports

Chase Butler and Da’Rick Rogers were making plays throughout their senior season and ended their high school careers as two of the top high players in the state.

Now, the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association has named the duo 2010 All-State North Players of the Year.

Butler, a linebacker for Darlington, was named the Class A honoree while Rogers, Calhoun’s star wide receiver, received Class AA’s distinction.

The two were named the 2009 Rome News-Tribune Defensive and Offensive Players of the Year, respectively, and led their teams deep into the postseason.

Butler ended a two-year hiatus from football and returned to the Tigers to help them reach the Class A semifinals. He recorded 94 tackles, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, eight tackles for loss and two blocked kicks.

A high-profile college recruit who signed with Tennessee, Rogers broke the state record for most receiving yards in a season last year with 1,645 yards on 87 catches. The Yellow Jackets advanced to the Class AA state championship game in the Georgia Dome for the second year in a row.

Other Greater Rome athletes that were named to the GACA All-State teams were Darlington offensive lineman Thad Mathis and a trio of Calhoun standouts.

Yellow Jacket Defensive back Kedron Aker, kicker Adam Griffith and linebacker Josh White were all named to the Class AA list.