LITTLE ROCK – Pine Bluff’s Claud Johnson, who led his team to the Class 6A State championship, beat out Bryant’s Chris Rycraw and North Little Rock’s Tim Johnson for the Class 7A/6A Offensive Player of the Year at the 2009 State Farm Awards on Monday night.
State Farm honored 45 finalists and their guests at the 6th annual awards banquet, presenting glass trophies to 15 winners. Rycraw received a plaque for being finalist. It was presented to him by Bryant State Farm agent Matthew Reginelli.
The event annually honors Arkansas' top offensive player, defensive player and coach of the year for each classification. The banquet was catered by MarketPlace Grill in Little Rock.
The veteran staff at Hooten's Arkansas Football selects three finalists and winners for each category. Jonesboro High lineman Tyler Fincher was named the Arkansas Air Guard Scholar Athlete of the Year.[more]
State Farm's spokesman in Arkansas, Gary Stephenson, said, "This event at the IMAX, put together by the folks at Hooten's, is the finest, state-level high school sports recognition in the nation, of which we are aware. We compliment our friends at Hooten's Arkansas Football for the excellent presentation, and certainly are proud to recognize the best of the best in Arkansas high school football at this event."
State Farm has a strong, long-standing commitment to supporting education and community involvement and is proud to honor Arkansas' finest young athletes. More information and the State Farm Awards highlight videos are coming to hootens.com.
2009 STATE FARM AWARDS WINNERS
7A/6A Offensive Player of the Year
Claude Johnson, Pine Bluff
7A/6A Defense Player of the Year
Houston Pruitt, Har-Ber
7A/6A Coach of the Year
Chris Wood, Har-Ber
5A Offensive Player of the Year
Michael Dyer, Little Rock Christian
5A Defensive Player of the Year
Brishen Mathews, Monticello
5A Coach of the Year
Van Paschal, Monticello
4A Offensive Player of the Year
Brandon Smith, Lonoke
4A Defensive Player of the Year
Braylon Mitchell, Heber Springs
4A Coach of the Year
Paul Johnston, Bald Knob
3A Offensive Player of the Year
C.J. Smith, Prescott
3A Defensive Player of the Year
Thamail Morgan, Cave City
3A Coach of the Year
Tommy Gilleran, Fountain Lake
2A Offensive Player of the Year
Ricky Brown, Bearden
2A Defensive Player of the Year
Byran Jones, Junction City
2A Coach of the Year
Josh Jones, Magazine
