High School Game Night Blue Ribbon Awards

The final installment includes Most Valuable Player and Coach of the Year.

With ten weeks of L-L football behind us, we are handing out awards for the regular season. We call them the "HSGN Blue Ribbon Awards" for the teams in our coverage area. Today's winners:

Most Valuable Player - Deron Thompson, Warwick RB

Deron Thompson - MVP

The key to any MVP discussion is to picture the team without the candidate. Where would Warwick be without Deron Thompson this season? That is a scary thought for any Warrior coach, player or fan.

With props to an excellent offensive line and the lead blocking of fullback Bryan McCall, Thompson was the Warwick offense in 2010. He became just the second player in Lancaster-Lebanon League history to eclipse the 2,000 yard mark in the regular season (along with Ephrata Athletic Director Tommy Long in 1996).

Entering tonight's District 3 Quad-A opener at Central Dauphin, Thompson has rushed for 2,017 yards and 26 touchdowns. And he's done that with opposing defenses knowing precisely who to stop week in, week out.

Even more impressive, Thompson is the team's second leading tackler from his linebacker position. He takes quite a beating every Friday night, averaging 30 carries and 9 tackles per game.

While Thompson would probably need another game or two, he still has an outside shot to break Kevin Kelley's L-L record of 2,327 yards set a year ago (in twelve games). It all starts tonight for 11 seed Warwick against the 6th seeded Rams. 

Coach of the Year - Mike Williams, Manheim Central

Mike Williams, 309 career wins

As the saying goes in Baron Nation, Manheim Central does not rebuild. They reload.

Despite incredible roster upheaval with most of the starters from last year's state finalist squad gone to graduation, the Barons are yet again a dangerous team heading into Districts. While Williams spent all year telling us his team wasn't that good, we know a lot of teams that would happily take a 7-3 record and home game in the first round of playoffs.

The Barons three losses came by a total of 12 points. They were the closest to knocking off undefeated Wilson this season, losing by three in West Lawn.

While Central lost Justin Gorman, Dakota Royer, Dan Trafford and the rest, Williams and his staff made Chase Moyer, Derek Hart and Brandon Artman stars of Section 2's second-best passing offense.

The 7 seed Barons (who host 10th seeded Dover tonight on Cable 11) have won four in a row entering playoffs and don't forget they, not upstart Lampeter-Strasburg or top ranked Greencastle Antrim, are the defending Triple-A champs.

In addition to the Blue Ribbon Awards, we are having a little fun with some Season Superlatives. Look for a few added on to each new award post:

Most Likely to Confuse a Tackle for a 2pt. Takedown - Garden Spot

So. FB Adam Haas

After a winless 2009, the Spartans began their turnaround this year with a 4-6 season that kept them in the District picture until the final week.

We attribute this to the fighter mentality exhibited by the wrestlers on the team (including coach Matt Zamperini used to coach wrestling) including fullback Adam Haas, center and defensive end Anthony Huber and more.

Now we will see if the Spartans can complete the reversal (2 points) with a young roster that will return standouts like Haas and quarterback John Armbrust in 2011.

Jim Vieland

Most Ingenious Quotes - Jim Vieland, Eph.

Ephrata's head honcho had by far the most creative sound bites. It made Mounts practice that much more exciting, we never knew what we would get.

The top two from 2010: After two early wins, Vieland described the momentum as a tidal wave that they had to keep riding. Later in the season, when asked what it to be a good offensive line, he said the unit should be like a pack of pit bulls going after a piece of raw meat. Priceless!