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 27, 2019: Caden Calloway (Sr. RB, Campo Verde HS); Jacob Cisneros (Jr. RB, Boulder Creek HS); Man-Man Freeman (Sr. RB/DB. Phoenix Christian HS); Niko Haen (Sr. QB, Sunnyslope HS); Chubba Purdy (Sr. QB, Perry HS); and Tre Smith (Sr. DE, Red Mountain HS).
“Week 6 opened up region play, and the intensity level definitely went up a notch with playoff berths at stake,” said Rob Yowell, Selection Committee Chair. “The level of football being played is exceptional. These six young men showed why high school football in Arizona is on the national stage. They deserve their official nominations for the Ed Doherty Award.”
Freeman, Haen and Purdy were named on the 56-player Week 3 Watch List™ released on September 10, 2019. All six players will receive their Medallions at an upcoming school event this week. By earning these Ed Doherty Award Nomination Medallions, they will attend the end of season Ed Doherty Award Luncheon on December 14, 2019 where one athlete will become the recipient of the Ed Doherty Award.
Details on their individual performances on September 27th are as follows:
Caden Calloway - Sr. RB - Campo Verde HS
Caden Calloway busted out in Week 6 with for his 6th straight 100 yard game for the Coyotes. He logged 267yds and 3TDs in a 24-21 Coyotes win over Gilbert. Calloway leads 5A in rushing with 1,055yds and 16TDs.
Jacob Cisneros - Jr. RB - Boulder Creek HS
In a 59-43 loss to Perry during Week 6, Jacob Cisneros’ performance included 19 rushes for 186yds 3TDs, 12 catches for 157yds 2TDs and 4 KO returns for 190yds & TD. His Week 6 stats totaled 533yds of total yards and 6TDs.
Man Man Freeman – Sr. RB/DB - Phoenix Christian HS
Freeman played both ways for Phoenix Christian in a 21-16 win over Round Valley during Week 6. He rushed for 189yds, 2TDs and recorded 11 tackles for the 5-1 Cougars.
Niko Haen – Sr. QB – Sunnyslope HS
Niko Haen completed 16 of 24 passes for 366 yds and 4 TDs in a Week 6 win over Agua Fria 41- 14.
Chubba Purdy – Sr. QB – Perry HS
In his return to the lineup, Chubba Purdy was 20/30 with 304yds and 5TDs and added 104yds rushing and another TD for the Pumas in the Week 6 win over Boulder Creek 59-43. With the Week 6 stats, Purdy surpassed 5,000 yards passing and 50 TDs in his high school career.
Tre Smith – Sr. DE - Red Mountain HS
Tre Smith posted 7 tackles and 4 sacks in the 47-21 win over Basha. After Week 6, Smith leads 6A with 10 total sacks on the season.
To learn more about the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club and previous Ed Doherty Award winners, 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 32 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.
Cisneros is a Jr.