Ironwood Ridge running back Nick Brahler (Andy Morales/AZPreps365.com)

 

The Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club released the 2017 Ed Doherty Award Watch List for the current Arizona high school football season today following voting results from its Selection Committee.  Forty-three (43) players from across the state, representing each classification level (1A-6A), made the list based on their performances during the first three weeks of the 2017 season.

In order to be eligible to appear on the Watch List, a player must have played during his team’s games, recorded an exceptional performance and be in good academic standing. Each week the Selection Committee will award Exceptional Performance Medallions to players from across the state, which will earn them a spot on the final list from which the Finalists and Award winner will be voted on by the Selection Committee.

 

SELECTION COMMITTEE

Rob Yowell (Co-Chairmen)

Ward Hickey (Co-Chairmen)

Ralph Amsden (Arizona Varsity)

Chris Eaton (Gridiron Arizona)

Jason Jewell (24/7 Scout.com)

Andy Morales (AzPreps365.com/AllSportsTucson.com)

Richard Obert (Arizona Republic)

Rhett Stallworth (Yuma Catholic Administrator)

Jason Skoda (MyNewsMesa.com)

 

“This award represents all that is great about high school football in Arizona,” said Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club President Don Kile.  “We felt that the increased profile of the football talent coming from our state warranted highlighting the accomplishments of the athletes vying for this award throughout the season.”

Selection Committee Co-Chairmen Rob Yowell and Ward Hickey worked with members of the high school sports media, former coaches and stakeholders in high school sports to gather the list of eligible candidates for the Watch List over the first three weeks of the season.  “Like with the CFP college poll, our goal with the Watch List is to focus on what the players have done in the first few weeks of the season and not try and compete with preseason lists,” stated Yowell.  “We also fully expect some players not on this list to rise up during the season and earn a spot on our final list,” added Hickey.

The 22nd edition of Ed Doherty Award, which was established in 1987 in honor of the former coach whose career included in-state stints at St. Mary’s, Salpointe Catholic, Arizona and Arizona State, will be presented to the top football player in Arizona at an awards luncheon scheduled on December 9.  Former winners include Ryan Finlay (Paradise Valley), Teddy and Tim Ruben (Saguaro), Brett Hundley (Chandler), Ka’Deem Carey (Canyon del Oro), Bobby Wade (Desert Vista) and Todd Heap (Mesa Mountain View).

 

2017 WATCH LIST

 

Drake	Anderson	Chandler HS	RB	Sr
Trenton	Bourguet	Marana HS	QB	Jr
Zack	Bowers	Chandler HS	LB	Jr
Josiah	Bradley	Saguaro HS	RB	Sr
Gary	Bragg	Mountain Pointe HS	RB	Jr
Nick	Brahler	Ironwood Ridge HS	RB	Sr
Elijah	Carey	Canyon Del Oro HS	RB	Sr
Tommy	Christakos	Chaparral HS	WR/K	So
Kenny	Churchwell	Mountain Pointe HS	DB	Sr
Jacob	Conover	Chandler HS	QB	Jr
Gunner	Cruz	Casteel HS	QB	Jr
Solomon	Enis	North Canyon HS	WR	Sr
Cole	Fisher	Notre Dame Prep	RB	Sr
Alijah	Gammage	Desert Vista HS	DB	Sr
Draycen	Hall	Higley HS	RB	Sr
Dom	Hampton	Centennial HS	DB	Sr
Kris	Jackson	Mesa HS	RB	Sr
D’Shayne	James	Perry HS	WR	Jr
Ja’Tai	Jenkins	Verrado HS	RB	Sr
Trey	Johnson	Queen Creek HS	RB	Sr
Jamarye	Joiner	Cienega HS	QB	Sr
Jawhar	Jordan	Chandler HS	RB	Sr
Jacob	Kaites	Scottsdale Christian	WR	Sr
Derek	Kline	Desert Vista HS	QB	Sr
Lance	Lawson	Red Mountain HS	ATH	Sr
Donjae	Logan	Desert Ridge HS	DB	Sr
Israel	Loveall	Bagdad HS	QB	Sr
Max	Massingale	Saguaro HS	QB	Sr
Matteo	Mele	Salpointe Catholic	OL	Sr
Dez	Melton	Deer Valley HS	RB	Jr
Jack	Plummer	Gilbert HS	QB	Sr
Noa	Pola-Gates	Williams Field HS	ATH	Jr
Brock	Purdy	Perry HS	QB	Sr
Spencer	Rattler	Pinnacle HS	QB	Jr
Bijan	Robinson	Salpointe Catholic	ATH	So
Gunner	Romney	Chandler HS	WR	Sr
Zack	Shepherd	Williams Field HS	QB	Jr
Tyler	Shough	Hamilton HS	QB	Sr
Kedon	Slovis	Desert Mountain HS	QB	Jr
Jake	Smith	Notre Dame Prep	ATH	Jr
Zidane	Thomas	Centennial HS	RB	Sr
Josh	Walker	Desert Mountain HS	WR	Sr
Marques	White	Brophy College Prep	DB	Jr

 

 

 

From news release