The Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission (ASEC) and its managed entity, the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club (GCSGC), have announced the recipients of the 2025 Week 7 Ed Doherty Award Nomination Medallions.
Tucson High senior running back/return specialist Noah Chanez is among those honored.
The Week 7 honorees also include Robert Bell, Jr. (Sr. KR, Cactus); Jeremiah Adams Curry (Sr. LB, Copper Canyon); Kody Dodson (Jr. QB, Chandler Prep); Ezekiel Estep (Sr. LB, Mesa); Brady Goodman (Sr. QB, Mountain View); Kylin Jackson (Sr. RB/DB, Bradshaw Mountain); Nathan Johannes (Sr. WR/RB, Northwest Christian); Kino Lorona (Sr. RB/LB, Hayden); Austin Schuder (Jr. QB, Valley Christian); Kevin Smith (Fr. DE, Maryvale); and Laki Wallwork (Sr. QB, Northwest Christian).
Each nominee will be presented his medallion at his respective school this week and is now in the running for the 2025 Ed Doherty Award, annually recognizing Arizona’s most outstanding high school football player. This year’s recipient will be announced at a special luncheon for the Top 10 nominees on Saturday, Dec. 13. For more information on the award, please visit www.azsportsent.com, or call 480-517-9700.
Outstanding performances from this week’s nominees include:
Noah Chanez — Sr. RB, Tucson High
Chanez had 263 yards and 5 touchdowns on 36 carries, along with a kickoff return of 83 yards for a touchdown, in a 48-33 victory over Casa Grande.
Robert Bell, Jr. — Sr. KR, Cactus
Bell had two kickoff returns for touchdowns (totaling 182 yards), three rushes for 28 yards and two catches for 13 yards with a touchdown in a 51-20 win over Apollo.
Jeremiah Adams Curry – Sr. LB, Copper Canyon
In a 49-13 win over Alhambra, Adams Curry had 13 total tackles (eight solo) with six tackles for a loss, six sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Kody Dodson — Jr. QB, Chandler Prep
Dodson completed 8 of 10 pass attempts for 178 yards and four touchdowns, adding a 7-yard rushing touchdown on his only carry. Dodson also had a 64-yard punt return in a 64-0 shutout of Lincoln Prep.
Ezekiel Estep — Sr. LB, Mesa
Estep had 11 total tackles (six solo) with a half tackle for a loss, along with a 27-yard interception return, in a 23-14 victory over Salpointe Catholic.
Brady Goodman — Sr. QB, Mesa Mountain View
Goodman completed 15 of 18 passes for 254 yards and five touchdowns, with another 25 yards on two carries, in a 48-20 win over Buena.
Kylin Jackson — Sr. RB/DB, Bradshaw Mountain
Jackson had 205 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. On defense, he deflected two passes and had an 85-yard interception return, in a 49-6 victory over Flagstaff.
Nathan Johannes — Sr. WR/RB, Northwest Christian
Johannes had 22 carries for 150 yards and two touchdowns, picking up another 162 yards and four touchdowns on six receptions, in a 63-34 win over Thunderbird.
Kino Lorona — Sr. RB/LB, Hayden
In a 51-14 win over St. David, Lorona had 20 carries for 193 yards and two touchdowns, picking up another 10 yards on two receptions. On defense, he recorded nine total tackles (five solo), with two deflected passes and a 17-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Austin Schuder — Jr. QB, Valley Christian
Schuder threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns on 19-of-25 passing. He also rushed 12 times for 166 yards and three touchdowns in a 48-38 win over Seton Catholic.
Kevin Smith — Fr. DE, Maryvale
Smith had 10 total tackles (four solo) with three tackles for a loss and three sacks for a loss of 20 yards in a 39-26 victory over North Canyon.
Laki Wallwork – Sr. QB, Northwest Christian
In a 63-34 win over Thunderbird, Wallwork completed 21 of 23 passes for 387 yards and seven touchdowns, rushing six times for another 18 yards.
Previous Southern Arizona Ed Doherty Award Nomination Medallion recipients:
Week 6
Trey Forbregd — Sr. LB, Walden Grove
Forbregd had 14 total tackles (five solo and seven for a loss); 3.5 sacks, one quarterback hurry, a caused fumble and a fumble recovery in a 35-21 win over Empire.
Week 5
Jaylee Abraham — So. RB, Desert View
Abraham rushed 18 times for 222 yards and four touchdowns, adding another 20 yards on two receptions, in a 54-26 win over Mountain View.
Zachari Haley — Sr. RB, Sabino High School
In a 40-6 win over San Tan Foothills, Haley picked up 206 yards on 12 carries with three touchdowns, adding another 15 yards on two receptions.
Cooper Kraus — Sr. LB, Buena High School
Kraus had 18 total tackles (11 solo) with a tackle for a loss in a 42-28 win over Tucson High.
Week 4 (beginning week of the nominations)
Matthew Avelar — Jr. QB, Salpointe Catholic
Avelar completed 24 of 34 pass attempts for 321 yards and four touchdowns, rallying from a 17-0 deficit to defeat Saguaro, 34-31. Avelar also added 24 yards on four rushes.
Colten Meyer — Sr. QB, Marana
In a 47-14 win over Yuma Catholic, Meyer completed 32 of 40 passes for 411 yards and five touchdowns.
About the Ed Doherty Award
The Ed Doherty Award serves as the State of Arizona’s highest individual high school football honor, annually recognizing the most outstanding player on and off the field. Recipients are selected for demonstrating remarkable ability combined with diligence, perseverance, hard work, and integrity in their pursuit of excellence, while also celebrating a commitment to academics, community, and school pride.
About the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club
The Grand Canyon State Gridiron Clubis Arizona’s leading advocate for high school football, dedicated to recognizing the state’s top student-athletes. The club presents the prestigious Ed Doherty Award to the most outstanding prep football player at the end of each season, and in 2024 introduced the Arizona High School Flag Football Player of the Year Award, now given annually to the state’s top girls’ flag football player. Through these initiatives, the club celebrates individual athletic, academic, and leadership achievements, promoting Arizona’s rich football tradition on a national stage.
About the Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission
The Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission (ASEC) is a non-profit organization created in 1988. The commission collaborates with hundreds of partners to help fulfill the mission of bringing national and international sporting events to the state; assisting in the promotion of existing events and Arizona sports teams; providing volunteer recruitment and organization for large-scale sporting events; and developing youth sports programs. In 2009, it assumed oversight of the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2012, the Grand Canyon State Games and the Lori Piestewa National Native American Games. The ASEC was also the founding organization and owner of the 2015 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl. Earlier this year, the commission was named co-owner and strategic partner for Section 7, one of the most prestigious boys’ and girls’ high school basketball recruiting events in the country. For more information on the ASEC, please call 480.517.9700 or visit www.azsportsent.com.
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