14 standouts earn Week 8 Ed Doherty Award Nomination Medallions

November 24, 2020 by Andy Morales, AZPreps365


The Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club (GCSGC) announced the recipients of the Week 8 Ed Doherty Award Nomination Medallions. Fourteen players were recognized for outstanding play during their respective games on Friday, Nov. 20: Treyson Bourguet (Jr. SB, Salpointe); Dane Christensen (Sr. QB, Casteel); Brock Dieu (Sr. OL, Casteel); Joey Jensen (Sr. RB, Combs); Christian Johnson (Sr. RB, Greenway); Evan Lovett (Sr. ATH, Pusch Ridge); Steven Ortiz Jr. (Sr. DB, Desert Edge); Trey Reynolds (Sr. LB, Queen Creek); Jake Schmitt (Sr. LB, Corona del Sol); Gavin Smith (Jr. WR/DB, Notre Dame Prep); Quintin Somerville (Sr. DE, Saguaro); Brayton Silbor (Jr. Q, Chaparral); Bram Walden (Sr. OL, Saguaro); and Demond Williams (Fr. QB; Basha).  
 
"The Ed Doherty Award Selection Committee rallied this week with discussion bringing Nomination Medallions to a total of 14 players that posted impressive season long statistics and performances after recognizing that total statistical impact wasn't enough to bring the attention to a few standouts that suffered through some cancellations," said Rob Yowell, Ed Doherty Award Selection Committee Chairman in a release. "We are grateful for the extra time the members of the Selection Committee invested in these young men this week as the nomination process closed at the end of the regular season."   

Nine athletes were named on the 50-player Week 3 Watch List™ released on Oct. 12. All fourteen players will receive their Medallions at an upcoming school event this week. By earning Ed Doherty Award Nomination Medallions, they will attend the end of season Ed Doherty Award Luncheon on Jan. 9, 2021 where one athlete will become the recipient of the Ed Doherty Award.   
 
Details on their individual performances on Nov. 20 are as follows:

 
Treyson Bourguet - JR QB - Salpointe Catholic HS  
As the Lancers wrapped up a shortened regular season at 6-0 with a 31-3 Week 8 win over Desert Mountain and advanced to the Open Division playoffs, Bourguet threw for 196 yds and a TD, and he looks to add to his 13 TD passes in the postseason.  
 
Dane Christensen - SR QB - Casteel HS  
In the Colts' 20-19 Week 8 win over Red Mountain which clinched the Fiesta region title, Christensen completed 78% of his passes for 170 yds and 3TDs, finishing the regular season leading all 6A QBs in passing yards.   
 
Brock Dieu - SR OL – Casteel HS  
One of the main reasons the Colts have the top passer in 6A is because Dieu has been the personal protector of his QB Dane Christensen all season. In Casteel's Week 8 region clinching 20-19 win over Red Mountain, Dieu anchored a line that allowed no sacks, delivered pass protection for 3 TD passes and paved the way for 155yds on the ground.  
 
Joey Jenson - SR RB – Combs HS  
In the Coyotes 41-12 win over Arcadia in Week 8, Jenson rushed 28 times for a single game school record 408yds and 4TDs  
 
Christian Johnson - SR RB – Greenway HS  
Johnson powered the Demons to a 56-20 Week 8 victory over Thunderbird with 17 carries for 274yds and 3TDs.   
 
Evan Lovett - SR ATH - Pusch Ridge HS  
In a Week 8 4A play-in game, Lovett rushed 12 times for 306yds and 4TDs in a 49-7 win over Gilbert Christian.   
 
Steven Ortiz Jr. - SR DB - Desert Edge HS  
The Scorpions finished the regular season undefeated with 48-18 win over Verrado and earning their position in the Open Division bracket. Steven Ortiz Jr.  led the defense with 29 tackles and 2INTs in Week 8.  
 
Trey Reynolds - SR LB - Queen Creek HS  
A 27-17 win over Desert Ridge in Week 8 had Trey Reynolds with 24 tackles (9 solo) sending the Bulldogs into the playoffs and currently leads all of 6A with 144 total tackles.  
 
Jake Schmitt - SR LB - Corona del Sol HS  
In the Aztecs' 28-7 Week 8 win over Mountain View to remain undefeated, Schmitt tallied 8 tackles, 3 TFL & 2 sacks.  For the season, he totaled 44 tackles and also added 22 catches for 445yds and 6TDs.  
 
Gavin Smith - JR WR/DB - Notre Dame Prep  
The Saints' junior, Gavin Smith hauled in 2 TD catches in the 33-24 Week 8 victory over the Huskies.  Smith's 7 grabs for 75yds and 2 scores pushed his regular season totals to 33rec/413yds 6TDs, along with 163 ret yds 1TD, 2 INTs for the playoff bound Saints.  
 
Quintin Somerville - SR DE - Saguaro HS  
Quintin Sommerville stepped in to play O-line early in the season and the versatile defensive lineman continued with 22 tackles, 12 TFL and 3.5 sacks in 5 games played for the Open Division bound Sabercats.  A Week 8 57-0 win over Gilbert keep Saguaro on track to return to Open Division bracket.  
 
Brayton Silbor - JR Q - Chaparral HS  
In Week 8, Silbor was 25/35 for 401yds 5TDs and added a rushing TD in leading the Firebirds to 52-10 win over Pinnacle that propelled his team into the 6A playoffs.  
 
Bram Walden - SR OL – Saguaro HS  
Sabercats senior lineman Bram Walden leads the Saguaro offense to averages over 200yds rushing and 400 total yards per game in this shortened season. Walden led the way for an offensive line that opened holes for 17 rushing TDs and keep Saguaro QBs clean for another 11 TD passes. A 57-0 win over Gilbert in Week 8 behind 576yds of total offense courtesy of Walden's efforts propelled Saguaro back into the Open Division playoffs.  
 
Demond Williams - FR QB – Basha HS  
Freshman QB, Demond Williams led the Bears to the Central region title with a 28-21 Week 8 win over Perry, going 11/16 for 239yds and 3TDs.  As Basha enters the 6A playoffs, he is poised to add to his 1,500 passing yards and 15TDs.