Scott Swanson
Austin James was named Most Valuable Player for the Sweet Home football team at an awards dessert Thursday, Nov. 16.
Coach Dustin Nichol made it clear, though, throughout the night, that the success for the Huskies, including James, a senior who rushed for 775 yards, mostly in a tandem-back arrangement with junior Hayden McDonald (841 yards), was the result of team effort.
Nichol and other coaches cited James’ versatility and unselfishness on the field and his desire to excel in making the announcement. James also was named Best Back on offense and Defensive Most Valuable Player for his play as an outside linebacker.
“He was just an athlete from the opening snap to the final play of the game,” Assistant Coach Jay Horner said. “Regardless of the score, he was always playing hard. He never, ever gave up. He was mad when you pulled him off the field. He was a great leader out there.”
Nichol cited James’ “unselfish attitude,” particularly during a “very difficult” 2016 season in which the Huskies were very young and installed a brand new offense with new positions, skill sets, “new lingo” and plays signaled in from the sideline.
“We were discombobulated,” he said. “He never once said a word about it. He was totally unselfish.”
Nichol pointed out to underclassmen that James’ patience paid off when a teammate was injured and he became one of the team’s top rushers, key to this year’s 8-2 record.
“He accepted his role the year before and he moved forward this year,” Nichol said. “An opportunity came available. Life is all about opportunities. If you’ve got a chance to step up to take an opportunity, take it.
“Things will come to those who wait.”
Nichol noted that the Huskies had one of their best years in recent history, especially on defense, playing well enough to rate as one of the top two defensive teams in the 4A Division during the season.
They also distinguished themselves in the classroom, finishing with a 3.38 team GPA, second only to Valley Catholic (3.41) in the 4A Division.
On the field, it was a record-setting season for Sweet Home on both sides of the ball. The Huskies scored 295 points in 10 games and allowed 135, putting them behind Gladstone, which allowed 136 in 11 games, in the final standings for defense. They finished the regular season ranked seventh in the state.
Junior quarterback Colton Smith completed 101 of 214 passes for a school-record 1,735 yards and 26 touchdowns, also a season record – by eight.
Nichol credited both the defensive and offensive prowess to the Huskies’ teamwork.
“This team – and I say ‘team’ because that’s what it takes them working together in order for that to happen – these guys did a great job,” he said, noting that the players navigated some big switches on defense, including from a 4-3 to a five-man front, without a hitch.
The offensive statistics, he said, “speaks volumes about our offensive line.”
“Colton Smith threw for 1,735 yards. He beat the all-time Sweet Home High School season record by 200 yards.
“I was there when (previous record-holder) Tyler (Holly) was throwing the ball and he didn’t have near the offensive line. He threw on the run most of that (2009) season.”
Senior Keegan Holly was named Offensive MVP after finishing with a team-high 28 catches for 648 yards and nine touchdowns.
Assistant Ryan Adams said Holly is a student of the game, who texts Adams “continuously” on Saturdays about college football: “Did you see that play? We should run that play. That play’s awesome.”
Adams said he would respond, “We’ll talk about it on Monday.”
He said Holly’s talent was obvious and he hopes Holly continues at the next level.
Junior Jake Swanson was named Best Back for the defense.
Adams called Swanson “Mr. Reliable,” adding “It has been a joy to see his competitive level rise.”
Seniors Austin Griffin and Bryce Coulter were named Best Offensive Linemen.
“We had 1,900 yards rushing,” Jay Horner said. “These two seniors are a big part of that.”
Griffin was also named Best Defensive Lineman.
“I could go on for a long time, but they told me I only had half an hour,” Warren half-joked. “I can’t say enough about him. He’s probably the most quiet, silent leader you could imagine. But the proof was in the pudding every time the ball was snapped. Great kid.”
Senior Bryce Nichols was named Most Inspirational for his performance as a lineman.
“He would do whatever we asked him to do,” Assistant Brent Gaskey said of Nichols, who returned this year after skipping football his junior season. “We threw him into the heart of the line. I can’t remember him ever having a bad attitude. He makes people around him better.
“We could not have done what we did without him.”
Also honored was junior Austin Olin, as Most Improved.
“What I saw last year and what I saw this year was two different kids,” Jay Horner said of Olin, who was on the practice squad as a sophomore and moved into the center position with the graduation of Josh Rice. “He had five bad snaps out of 700. That’s a pretty good failure rate. He’s had a tremendous year. Obviously, he worked very hard in the off-season. The difference from his sophomore year to this year was phenomenal.”
Practice Players of the Year were sophomores Jordan Chaney on defense and Parker Lemmer on offense.
Third-year lettermen were seniors Coulter, Kelton Gaskey, James, Holly, Conner Russell, Griffin, and juniors Nick Marler, Swanson and Hayden Nichol.
Earning their second letter were juniors Smith, Nathan Virtue, Lance Hansen, McDonald, Boe Baxter, Johnny Lynn, Noah Moore, Olin, Damion Schocker, Levi Vaird, Robbie Yunke, Austin Sills, Nate Jeppson, and senior Nichol and manager Caitlin Jiminez.
First-year letters went to sophomores Lemmer, Casey Tow, Travis Thorpe, Jackson Royer, Tye Moore, Gavin Nichols, Iakona Howerton, Jasper Korn, Chaney, Sevin Carson, David McMullen, Paul Glynn, Peyton Ullrich, and juniors Austin Stevens, Caden Knight and Jackson Gayler, along with manager Collette Valentine.