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Have you Heard?
Edmonds-Woodway junior Tony Heard is Gatorade's state football player of the year
Posted
at
5:18 pm
by Mike Cane, Herald Writer
Tony Heard was in The Herald less than two hours ago for a photo shoot related to our All-Area Football Team, which we'll announce in Tuesday's paper. Hint: Heard is on the team!
A few minutes after I left Heard, a bulky junior tailback/linebacker, with our photographer, our prep sports editor handed me a timely fax. The title, referring to Heard, was "Edmonds-Woodway High School Standout Named Gatorade Washington Football Player of the Year."
Congratulations to Heard. I actually didn't have a chance to ask him about the honor before he went home, but the press release included quotes from Heard's coach, John Gradwohl. Here's what Gradwohl said about Heard, the 2007-2008 Gatorade Washington Football Player of the Year:
“He’s one of those rare kids with all the ability in the world and he puts it to good use,” E-W coach John Gradwohl said. “He loves having the ball in his hands, and he does great things with it every single time.”
Heard is now a finalist for the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award. He is the first running back to win the Washington POY honor since Timberline’s Jonathan Stewart in 2004-2005, and Heard is the first local player to win it since Jackson’s Johnie Kirton (2003-2004).
It's pretty rare for a junior to win a Gatorade state POY award, especially in football. A lot of times talented football players don't even earn a starting spot until their senior season. But the powerful yet agile Heard (6 feet, 225 pounds) is obviously unique. The punishing tailback/linebacker rushed for 2,238 yards and 31 touchdowns to help lead the Warriors to the Class 4A state semifinals. He also tallied 63 tackles on defense.
Here's the most mind-boggling stat of all: Heard averaged 8.6 yards per carry. That's almost a first down every time he touched the ball.
Heard should be one of most sought-after Class of 2009 football recruits in the state, maybe in the country. He hasn't verbally committed yet but he said Wednesday he wants to play for a prominent Division-I program. He clearly has the talent and the desire to do it, said Gradwohl.
And Heard is more than a football stud. He has a 3.6 grade-point average and has been an active volunteer in the community, according to the Gatorade press release.
Learn more about Heard and other Gatorade award winners by clicking here.
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