Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club (GCSGC) announced the recipients of the Ed Doherty Award Week 3 Performance Medallions on Wednesday. Six players were recognized for outstanding play during their respective games on Friday, Sept. 7: Austin Clark (Sr. QB, Prescott); Hendrix Johnson (Sr. WR, Anthem Boulder Creek); Chubba Purdy (Jr. QB, Gilbert Perry); Bijan Robinson (Jr. RB, Salpointe); Connor Soelle (Sr. LB, Scottsdale Saguaro); and Tyler Wilridge (Sr. RB/SS, Tombstone).

Each week, the GCSGC evaluates Arizona high school football players at every level by having selection committee members attend planned game-day visits. “The committee members observe the extraordinary explosion of high school football talent through the state every Friday night,” said GCSGC President, Don Kile in a release. “The selection of our medallion winners for Week 3 was not an easy process with so many outstanding performances over the weekend, including from several players not on our initial watch list. These six young men rose to the top and earned their official nomination for the Ed Doherty Award.”

Four of the players were named on the 47-player Watch List, which was released last week. All six players will receive their medallions at an upcoming school event this week. By earning these medallions, they will attend the end of season Ed Doherty Award luncheon on Dec. 8, 2018 where one athlete will become the recipient of the Ed Doherty Award

Details regarding how they earned the medallions are as follows:

 

Austin Clark, Prescott, QB, Sr.: Set a school record for the Badgers with seven rushing touchdowns in a 59-7 rout of Glendale Deer Valley, finishing with 392 yards on 24 carries.

Hendrix Johnson, Anthem Boulder Creek, WR, Sr.: Had 10 catches for 214 yards and three TDs, and played well in the secondary for the Jaguars in a 35-22 win over Tempe Corona del Sol.

Chubba Purdy, Gilbert Perry, QB, Jr.: Pumas QB completed 25 of 31 passes for 419 yards and five touchdowns and ran seven times for 92 yards and three more scores in a 75-68 win over Phoenix Sandra Day O'Connor.

Bijan Robinson, Tucson Salpointe Catholic, RB, Jr.: Led Lancers with 23 carries, 276 yards, 5 TD in 42-27 win over De Valle

Connor Soelle, Scottsdale Saguaro, LB, Sr.: Set the tone for Sabercats' defense with 7 tackles (2 TFL), INT in 59-28 win over Desert Mountain

Tyler Wilridge, Tombstone, RB/SS, Sr. (2A standout): Was everywhere for Yellow Jackets with 21 carries, 320yds, 4 TDs, 9 tackles and INT in 68-38 victory over Antelope.

 

About Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club

The Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club is the steward of the Ed Doherty Award and is the most meaningful advocate of college football in the State of Arizona. The mission of the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club is to represent Arizona amateur athletics by bringing national attention to the extraordinary qualities of our young people and serve in the pursuit of athletic achievement, academic advancement and greater social affinity.

About the Ed Doherty Award

For 32 years, the Ed Doherty Award has been the State of Arizona’s highest individual high school football honor and is awarded annually to the state’s most outstanding high school football player by the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club. The Ed Doherty Award recognizes the player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. The winner of the award epitomizes great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. In addition to on-field performance, the Ed Doherty Award recognizes the well-rounded accomplishments of community involvement, school pride, and academics.

 

WATCH LIST

FIRST	LAST	SCHOOL	POS	YR
Trenton	Bourguet	Marana	QB	SR
Spencer	Brasch	Higley	QB	SR
DeCarlos	Brooks	Chandler	RB	SR
Tommy	Christakos	Chaparral	WR/K	JR
Jacob	Conover	Chandler	QB	SR
Tyreck	Cosay	Alchesay	RB	SR
Braxton	Croteau	Liberty	DL	SR
Gunner	Cruz	Casteel	QB	SR
Kohner	Cullimore	Highland	RB	SR
Paxton	Earl	Arcadia	RB	JR
Keegan	Freid	Sunrise Mountain	QB	SR
Terrell	Hayward	Cienega	WR	SR
Hendrix	Johnson	Boulder Creek	WR/SS	SR
JD	Johnson	Pinnacle	QB	JR
Andre	Johnson	Tolleson	WR	SR
Cosmos	Kwete	Central	DE	SR
Devin	Larsen	Queen Creek	QB	SR
Brayden	Liebrock	Chandler	TE	SR
Jakim	McKinney	Mountain Pointe	RB	SR
Dez	Melton	Deer Valley	RB	SR
Jack	Miller	Chaparral	QB	JR
Ali	Mohamed	Apollo	RB	SR
Zach	Nelson	Casteel	WR	SR
Coleman	Owen	Higley	WR	SR
Mario	Padilla	Salpointe	ATH	SR
Ricky	Pearsall Jr	Corona del Sol	WR	SR
Noa	Pola-Gates	Williams Field	DB	SR
Quinton	Powell	Pinnacle	WR/DB	SR
Juwann	Price	Peoria	RB	SR
Ryan	Puskas	Liberty	LB	SR
Lathan	Ransom	Salpointe	LB	JR
Spencer	Rattler	Pinnacle	QB	SR
Gage	Reese	Yuma Catholic	QB	JR
Brendan	Rice	Hamilton	WR	JR
Kelee	Ringo	Saguaro	DB	JR
Ty	Robinson	Higley	DE	SR
Bijan	Robinson	Salpointe	RB	JR
Brandon	Schenks	Hamilton	ATH	SR
Nassir	Sims	Desert Edge	LB	SR
Kedon	Slovis	Desert Mountain	QB	SR
Jake	Smith	Notre Dame	RB/WR	SR
Connor	Soelle	Saguaro	LB	SR
Tawee	Walker	Centennial	RB	JR
Aaron	Wood	Skyline	RB	SR
Lucas	Wright	Desert Ridge	RB	SR
Jaden	Young	Centennial	DB	JR
Antoine	Zabala	Mingus	QB	SR