PHOENIX, Ariz. – September 27, 2022 – The Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club (GCSGC) is pleased to announce the recipients of the Week 6 Ed Doherty Award Nomination Medallions™. Six players are recognized for outstanding play during their respective games on Friday, September 23, 2022: Dominik Bagchi (Sr. QB – Central); Adam Damante (Sr. QB – ALA Gilbert North); Elijah Joplin (Sr. QB – Marana); Landon Jury (Sr. QB – Casteel); Connor Lopez (Sr. TE/OLB – Poston Butte); and Viliami Tongotea (Sr. RB – Buckeye).
Three of the six players were named on the 71-player Week 3 Watch List™ released on September 6, 2022. All six players will receive their Nomination 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 December 17, 2022, where one athlete will become the recipient of the Ed Doherty Award.
Details on their individual performances on September 23rd are as follows:
Dominik Bagchi – Sr. QB – Central
In a 20-13 rivalry win over North, Bagchi was 11 of 18 passing or 309yds and 2 TDs. He helped the Bobcats improve to 3-1 by erasing an early 7-0 deficit with 20 unanswered points to secure consecutive wins over the Mustangs for the first time since 2011-12. Bagchi also leads both 5A & 6A in passing yards after 4 games.
Adam Damante – Sr. QB – ALA-Gilbert North
The Eagles' QB was 26-of-38 for 464 yards and 7 TD passes in a 55-35 win over previously unbeaten Prescott. Damante, an NAU commit, also had 63 rushing yards and a TD.
Elijah Joplin – Sr. QB – Marana
In a key battle of unbeaten teams in Southern AZ, Joplin led the Tigers going 31-38 passing for 317 yards, 2 TDs in 40-37 win over Canyon del Oro.
Landon Jury – Sr. QB - Casteel
Jury went 18-of-23 for 323 yards and 5 TD passes in a 48-7 win over Casa Grande that snapped a 16-game win streak for the Cougars. He was also the Colts' leading rusher with 68 yards and a TD and his team is 4-0.
Connor Lopez – Sr. TE/OLB – Poston Butte
In a wild 29-28 comeback win over Flagstaff Coconino, the 6-foot-5, 217-pound tight end had six catches for 190 yards and three TDs and caught the game-winning two-point conversion with about four minutes left. On defense, he had three solo tackles, three assisted and a forced fumble.
Viliami Tongotea – Sr. RB – Buckeye
Tongotea totalled 35 carries for 307 yards and 4 TDs in a 56-41 win over Lake Havasu. He is averaging 10.8 yards per carry and has scored 13 TDs for the 4-0 Hawks.
To learn more about the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club and to purchase tickets to the Ed Doherty Award Luncheon, visit http://www.gcsgridiron.com/.
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 high school 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 37 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.
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