Local players honored
Published 7:00 am Friday, June 20, 2014
GULFPORT — The Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame announced its award winners recently at an annual ceremony that took place at the Gulfport Yacht Club.
A pair of local offensive linemen were among the outstanding student-athletes that were honored. Pearl River Central’s Harry Goodwin and Picayune’s Chase Roberson were both recognized for their work both on the gridiron and in the classroom.
Both local products just wrapped up their prep careers.
Roberson was a part of the most successful senior class in Maroon Tide history, as Picayune won a pair of Class 5A state championships his sophomore and senior season as well as earning a Top 20 national ranking by USA Today his junior year.
Goodwin was a part of the most successful Blue Devil senior class ever, as PRC played for the Class 5A South State championship both his sophomore and junior seasons. He was also selected to play in the prestigious Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Football Classic this past season.
Former Forrest County AHS coach Larry Dolan earned the Frank “Twig” Branch Coach of the Year Award after leading the Aggies to the Class 4A state title.
FCAHS’ Carter Hankins shared the “Rocky” Byrd Senior Quarterback Award with Gulfport’s Thad Miller. Miller threw for 3,251 yards and 34 touchdowns to lead the Admirals into the 6A state playoffs and was the Class 6A Offensive Player of the Year. He is going to attend Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Hankins signed to play baseball at Pearl River Community College.
The Cadenhead Award of Merit award went to former Biloxi Superintendent Paul Tisdal.
Jimmy Poulos of Biloxi earned the Distinguished American Award, an honor given to someone with a “lifetime of interest in the game and (who) has exhibited enviable leadership qualities.”
Longtime official George Croncich earned the Contribution to Amateur Football Award.
The following is a list of the 23 NFF Gulf Coast Chapter prep scholar-athletes:
Bay High: Punter Patrick Ponder.
Biloxi: Linebacker Da’Shaun Jackson.
D’Iberville: Offensive tackle Wyatt Dunaway.
FCAHS: Quarterback Carter Hankins.
Gautier: Offensive tackle Zach Thweatt.
George County: Linebacker Austin Evans.
East Central: Running back Jake Eaker.
Gulfport: Tight end Ben Sellers.
Hancock: Running back Alex Feazelle.
Harrison Central: Linebacker Chris Crosby.
Long Beach: Defensive end Pierce Boddie.
Moss Point: Safety Trenlon Harris.
Ocean Springs: Linebacker Kaelen Garner.
Pascagoula: Defensive back Kenny Holloway.
Pass Christian: Defensive back John Blake Keel.
Picayune: Offensive Chase Roberson.
Resurrection; Tight end Zack Mitchell.
St. Martin: Kicker Brennan O’Keefe.
St. Stanislaus: Quarterback Tyler Allen.
Stone: Quarterback Clayton Johnson.
West Harrison: Split end Chase Nicaise.
Vancleave: Kicker Michael Brignac.
Pearl River Central: Offensive tackle Harry Godwin.