Some of the YRHS Raider Gridders' finest added some accolades to their resume as three players captured Moose Jaw High School Football League Player Awards.
Here is a look at the awards.
Defensive Player of the Year: Grey McKen - The middle linebacker was a force for the Raider Gridders, leading the league in tackles. Ultimately, there is a strong argument to suggest that the Grade 12 player, who is college bound, was the best defensive player in the province for high school football.
"He was the back bone of our defence," said Raider Gridders head coach Roby Sharpe. "He was a tackling machine that stopped a lot of teams' running games. He has the size and feet - which is a deadly combination. He was awesome in high school and he'll be awesome in CIS."
Receiving, interception leader: Alex Popoff - The Grade 11 student won awards on both sides of the ball. He led the league in receiving yards with 621 and interceptions with four. What made Popoff so dangerous was the long ball. He would dash past defensive backs and bring in the ball for huge completions.
"He's a true wide receiver and he uses that to his advantage as a defensive back. He made many key catches throughout the year that not many can make in this league. When you have a player like him in your arsenal, it really opens up your playbook."
Offensive All-star: David Balysky - Balysky led the Raider Gridders' offense behind centre. The Grade 12 quarterback finished second in passing yards with 1111 and fifth in touchdowns with nine. What made Balysky an all-star were his legs. He not only could toss the ball, but he also could take off running down the field.
"He worked hard all year for us. He ran the ball well and worked well in our system. It's great when you have a quarterback that could be a running back because he can run for first downs when no one is open or he when he sees a hole."
Yorkton This Week Awards
YTW teamed up with the Raider Gridders coaching staff to give out some additional awards.
Offensive MVP: Zak Kais - The Grade 11 running back had the best year on the offensive side of the ball. He finished second in rushing yards with 933 yards, averaging 12.6 yards a carry, and second in touchdowns with 13. Ultimately, it seems if he would have matched the league leader, Peacock Tornadoes Nathan Fall, in carries, he would have likely took the rushing title as he was only 17 yards behind him on four less rushes.
"We called him a little ball of hate. When he gets the ball, he bounces off guys, finds the holes and flies down the field. We had a lot of good offensive players, but I think he was the best. He would have led the league in rushing yards if we didn't take him out of the second halves of games where we were up by a lot because we didn't want to risk an injury."
Defensive MVP: Grey McKen - Since McKen won the league's Defensive Player of the Year Award, it goes without saying that he deserves the team award.
Unsung Hero: Tyrell Ulmer - Ulmer wasn't the Raider Gridders' flashiest player, but night in and night out, he left it all out on the field. He worked hard and made an impact as both a fullback and a linebacker.
"He's a type of player you always need on your team. Tyrell worked hard every game and was a guy we could use in different situations. Not too many nights he stuck out as our best offensive or defensive player, but he really was a difference-maker for us. He made plays every night that were big for us."
Play of the Year: Tyler Senchuk's 15-yard toss in the league finals - Senchuk, the team's autistic water boy, took the cake for the play of the year. In the Raider Gridders' last down of the year in the finals against the Peacock Tornadoes, Sharpe put Senchuk out onto the field as the quarterback. Behind centre, Senchuk caught the shotgun snap, rolled right and hit Ulmer for a 15-yard pass.
"It was an unbelievable play. He looked like Joe Montana out there. I thought he was going for the run, but then he made a great pass. I'll never forget that play."
