Southington High School Named “Joseph Kelly” Award Winner
New Haven, CT – The Southington Blue Knights, the No. 1 team in the state’s high school football season-ending polls, is the Walter Camp Football Foundation’s choice to receive the Joseph W. Kelly Award, which is awarded annually to Connecticut’s top high school football team.
Southington Blue Knights – 2014WCFFKellyAward
It is the first time Southington has earned the honor. Southington is also the first team since 2003 (New Britain) from the Central Connecticut Conference to be recognized.
“With its potent offensive attack along with a stingy defense, Southington was outstanding on its way to winning its second straight Class LL state title,” said Walter Camp Football Foundation President James Monico. “We salute Coach Mike Drury, his staff and players on a phenomenal season.”
Southington won its ten regular-season games and then defeated Glastonbury, 42-14, in the Class LL Large semifinals on December 6. A week later, the Blue Knights blanked Norwich Free Academy, 49-0, in the championship game – completing a perfect 12-0 campaign. The Blue Knights averaged 43.4 points per game, allowing just 9.8. Southington, which also captured the 2013 Class LL state championship, has now won 20 straight games.
Coach Drury and the Southington team, along with members of the 2014 Walter Camp All-America team and Player of the Year Marcus Mariota (Oregon), will be honored at the organization’s national awards banquet, presented by First Niagara Bank, on Saturday, January 17, 2015 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven.
In addition, the Foundation will recognize three individuals – broadcasting legend Verne Lundquist (Distinguished American), former Notre Dame and Pittsburgh Steeler standout running back Jerome Bettis (Man of the Year) and former Air Force All-American and Dallas Cowboy Chad Hennings (Alumnus of the Year) – with major awards.
Also on January 17, Southington along with the seven other state football champions will be recognized at the Walter Camp Breakfast of Champions, which will be held at Anthony’s Ocean View. That morning, the Walter Camp All-Connecticut Team, High School Player and Coach of the Year will also be announced.
Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.
Walter Camp “Joseph W. Kelly Award” Connecticut High School Champions
2014 – Southington
2013 – Ansonia
2012 – Daniel Hand (Madison)
2011 – Xavier (Middletown)
2010 – Xavier (Middletown)
2009 – Notre Dame (West Haven)
2008 – New Canaan
2007 – Ansonia
2006 – Ansonia
2005 – Xavier (Middletown)
2004 – Daniel Hand (Madison)
2003 – New Britain
2002 – West Haven
2001 – New Britain
2000 – Fitch (Groton)
1999 – Bloomfield
1998 – Bloomfield
1997 – Daniel Hand (Madison)
1996 – Weaver (Hartford)
1995 – Cheshire
1994 – Cheshire
1993 – Cheshire
1992 – Cheshire
1991 – Notre Dame (West Haven)
1990 – Derby
1989 – Ansonia
1988 – Stratford
1987 – East Catholic (Manchester)
1986 – Trumbull
1985 – Hillhouse (New Haven)
1984 – Middletown
1983 – Ansonia
1982 – St. Joseph’s (Trumbull)
1981 – Naugatuck
1980 – Trumbull
1979 – Newington
1978 – Amity (Woodbridge)
1977 – Trumbull
1976 – Fitch (Groton)
###
