Flaherty Finalists Brainy Football Foundation’S Area Chapter Names Candidates For Annual Award
UNPUBLISHED CORRECTION: The name of football player Jeremey Williams is misspelled in this story. The correct spelling was confirmed by his mother.
Ten high school seniors, with an average grade point average of 3.91, are finalists for the Ray Flaherty Award, sponsored by the Inland Empire Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame.
The winner will be named at the fifth annual scholar-athlete banquet Jan. 18 at the Doubletree Inn in downtown Spokane.
The finalists are Nick Bozo, Ferris; Josh Cairns, Wilbur-Creston; Jeremy Engle, Liberty; Reggie Lee, University; Brian Lindgren, DeSales; Paul Nieman, Sandpoint; Derek Pegg, Gonzaga Prep; Andrew Stachofsky, Lewis and Clark; Nate Stutzke, Clark Fork; and Jeremy Williams, Ferris.
Each finalist receives a $1,000 scholarship.
The Tuffy Ellingsen Back of the Year and Jim Barber Lineman of the Year awards also will be named. The Ellingsen and Barber families have added to the scholarship fund through memorials.
More than $35,000 in scholarships has been distributed by the local chapter.
Finalists were selected from among 25 nominations submitted by area high school coaches. Each school could nominate two seniors, a lineman and a back. The athletes are judged on academics, citizenship and their football accomplishments.
Past Flaherty winners are Brian Smith, Sandpoint, 1995; Giorgio Usai, Central Valley, 1996; Paul Shogren, East Valley, 1997; and Dave Rust, Sandpoint, 1998.
This year’s guest speaker will be Mike Kramer, head coach at Eastern Washington.
The finalists:
Nick Bozo: Broke most Ferris rushing records, earning All-Greater Spokane League first-team honors while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. He finished with the No. 3 season and ranks No. 5 on the career list of GSL runners.
Josh Cairns: A three-year starter at defensive back at Wilbur-Creston, switched from receiver to quarterback as a senior. A 3.99 student, he threw for 637 yards, ran for 559 and made 56 tackles.
Jeremy Engle: A 3.97 student, he led Liberty to the B-11 semifinals, throwing for 13 touchdowns against two interceptions and adding 625 rushing yards.
Reggie Lee: Switched from guard to fullback and defensive line to linebacker as a senior. A 3.87 student, he led the team in tackles as U-Hi made the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.
Brian Lindgren: Led DeSales to back-to-back state B-11 titles while breaking most state passing records. He set a national record for career touchdown passes, since broken, with 162. A 3.93 student, Lindgren threw for 4,253 yards and 63 TDs as a senior, earning B-11 Player of the Year honors and USA Today Washington Player of the Year.
Paul Nieman: An honors program student with a 4.278 GPA, he was named All-Inland Empire League quarterback after setting numerous Sandpoint records. Among those were 316 yards passing and four touchdowns in a game, 130 completions, 2,112 passing yards and 22 TDs for the season.
Derek Pegg: Adapted to a new coach and a new system for his senior year at Gonzaga Prep and led the GSL in quarterback rating to earn All-League honors. The 3.95 student had 13 TDs and 1,442 yards passing.
Andrew Stachofsky: A 3.47 student, he is a two-time All-GSL defensive lineman for Lewis and Clark’s undefeated league champions.
Nate Stutzke: A 4.0 student, he threw 81 TD passes in four years for Clark Fork and was the All-North Star League quarterback three times.
Jeremy Williams: Earned All-GSL honors as a junior and senior at Ferris, making All-State as a junior. One of the most recruited defensive linemen in the West, he has a 3.6 GPA.
TICKETS Banquet tickets are $30, or $250 for a table of 10. They can be purchased by sending a check or money order to the Inland Empire Chapter NFF, P.O. Box 1798, Spokane, 99210-1978. The deadline is Jan. 10. For more information, call (509) 924-7768.