Football Hands Out 2017 Accolades

Photo of the 2017 football seniors at the banquet

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

11/21/2017 2:18:00 PM | Football

DavidsonPhotos.com

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson football wrapped up the 2017 season with the annual end of the year banquet at the Lilly Family Gallery Sunday afternoon. Coaches, family members and support staff got together to honor the 19 seniors and award winners from the past year.

Earning the Bill Gammon '70 Wildcat Award were a pair of sophomores, linebacker George Hatalowich and wide receiver William Wicks. Hatalowich led the team with 73 tackles, 7.5 for loss, a sack and an interception. Wicks ranked first in the Pioneer Football League in all-purpose yards (1516), going for 704 receiving yards, 696 in kick returns and 102 on punts.

Sophomore Bryce Perry-Martin took home the Paul Biggers '59 Defensive MVP Award. The Spring Lake, N.C., native made 57 tackles, 15.0 of those for loss, which ranked second in the conference. Perry-Martin also led the team with 5.0 sacks.

Freshman Wesley Dugger came away with Paul Barbee '59 Offensive MVP accolades. Dugger got his collegiate off to a blazing start with the best debut by a Davidson running back in program history, rushing for 196 yards and a touchdown in the opener against Brevard. The Henrico, Va., native did little to slow down the rest of the way, posting the second best single-season rushing total all-time (1131 yards) and registering eight touchdowns.

Splitting the Alex Porter '60 Specials Teams Award were seniors Brayden Sims and Trevor Smith. Sims was a force on kick and punt coverage after injuries forced to give up his holding duties. Smith reset the bar with a program best 36 made field goals, converting 12-of-14 attempts this season, also an all-time mark.

Seniors Ben Hart and Thomas Sykes earned the Bo Henderson '01 Toughness Award, while classmate Ben Rowell will be honored at a banquet in December for the Bronco Nagurski Award. Rounding out accolades for the seniors were Conrad Mueller and Ryan Woods (Prosser Sands Carnegie Award), Brendan Simpkins (Shaw Smith Investment Award), Taylor Mitchell (Scholar Athlete Award) and Ryan Samuels (Community Service Award). Mitchell is a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation National Scholar Athlete Award, while Samuels was an Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team nominee.

See below for a complete list of award winners.

2017 Davidson Football Award Winners

Bill Gammon '70 Wildcat Award: George Hatalowich and William Wicks

Paul Barbee '59 Offensive MVP: Wesley Dugger

Paul Biggers '59 Defensive MVP: Bryce Perry-Martin

Alex Porter '60 Specials Team MVP: Brayden Sims and Trevor Smith

Bronco Nagurski Award: Ben Rowell

Shaw Smith Investment Award: Brendan Simpkins

Scholar Athlete Award: Taylor Mitchell

Community Service Award: Ryan Samuels

Bo Henderson '01 Toughness Award: Ben Hart and Thomas Sykes

Prosser Sandy Carnegie Award: Conrad Mueller and Ryan Woods

Team Captains: Stockton McGuire, Ben Rowell, Jon Sheperd-Smith

Offensive Newcomer of the Year: Tyler Phelps

Defensive Newcomer of the Year: James Boyle

Special Team Newcomer of the Year: TJ Elliott

Demo Offensive Player of the Year: Damian Ostaszewski

Demo Defensive Player of the Year: Will Garrey

Demo Special Teams Player of the Year: Colin Errity

Beth Hayford Ironmen Award Winners: Brandon Becar, James Boyle, Andrew Brantley, Callen Davidson, Vincent Durham, TJ Elliott, Duncan Englehardt, Joe Gallinghouse, Will Garrey, Preston Grase, Zach Idris, Clayton Kent, Tate Kipperman, Michael Matthews, Max Mead, Conrad Mueller, Nyjay Nelson, Damian Ostaszewski, Bryce Perry-Martin, Connor Richey, Ryan Samuels, Gordon Sandorf, Steven Spears, Langston Stephens, Thomas Sykes and Steven Wolfe.