A pair of local high school football players received state recognition this week.
Hokes Bluff’s Phillip Ward was a finalist for the Alabama Sports Writers Association Defense/Special Teams Player of the Week award. The senior receiver/defensive back returned two punts for touchdowns, 77 yards and 55 yards, on consecutive second-half kicks in a 35-7 victory over White Plains. Ward also returned an interception 52 yards to set up his team’s final touchdown.
Glencoe senior running back Thomas Ozmint was nominated for the ASWA Offensive Player of the week award after finishing with 348 all-purpose yards in the Yellow Jackets’ 27-26 win over Walter Wellborn. Ozmint rushed 19 times for 187 yards and a touchdown, caught two passes for 70 yards and returned four kickoffs for 89 yards.
ASWA members from Alexander City, Andalusia, Boaz, Centre, Cullman, Decatur, Demopolis, Dothan, Florence, Gadsden, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Oneonta, Scottsboro and Tuscaloosa contributed nominees this week.