Times release football awards
Navajo Times | Quentin Jodie
Thoreau tailback Elam Smith (16) finds room to run after receiving a key block from teammate Irvin Tom (8) in the opening quarter against the Hope Christian Huskies during the 3A state playoffs. Smith earned the Times POY in football.
WINDOW ROCK – The final installment of the 2024 fall prep season recognition is the selection of the player and coaches of the year in football.
The pool of candidates was extensive and wide-ranging, and because of that it took some time to weigh in to consider the list of choices.
And though the 16 athletes who were nominated were worthy of this award, the Times sports department feels that these individuals have earned this recognition.
Bloomfield senior quarterback Blake Spencer, the District 1-4A POY, went on a tear this past season by throwing for 3,092 yards, which ranks No. 2 among Class 4A quarterbacks.
Special to the Times | Lee Begaye
Page junior quarterback Joseph Benally (left) releases a pass while being pursued by a Holbrook defender in this file photo on Friday, Aug. 30 in Holbrook, Ariz. Benally was named the Times’ POY.
With those numbers, Spencer was selected as the POY and he shares that honor with Thoreau tailback Elam Smith, Page quarterback Joseph Benally, Tuba City wide receiver Deiondre Whiterock and Monument Valley’s Trent Tall.
Smith ranked fourth in the state at the 3A level with 1,193 yards rushing despite nursing a nagging ankle injury during Thoreau’s playoff run.
The Thoreau senior finished with 24 touchdowns, which ties him with Robertson running back George Smith with the most at the 3A level.
In Arizona, Benally led the state with 2,549 yards in the 3A Conference. The Page junior finished with 33 touchdown passes as he completed 187 of 327 passes. Benally was named the 3A North Region POY.
Whiterock caught 58 receptions for 1,059 yards, which is second-best in the 2A Conference. Whiterock, who caught 11 touchdowns, was named the 2A Little Colorado Region POY.
As MV’s most versatile player, Tall finished the season with 82 total tackles, including 58 solos. Offensively, Tall rushed for 867 yards and he added 74 yards in receptions.
This past fall, Tall was voted as the 3A North Defensive POY by the region coaches.
The awardees for COY include Bloomfield’s Mike Kovacs and Tuba City’s Kalani Simeona.
Under the leadership of Kovacs, the Bobcats were crowned the 4A state champ. The Kovac-coached team beat St. Pius X, 62-28, to cap the season with a perfect 12-0 record.
In his first season, Simeona led the Warriors to a 7-3 mark, which includes a 6-1 mark in the 2A Little Colorado Region. The seven victories was the most since the 2014 season when Tuba City won Division V, Section 1 league with an 8-3 record.
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