2024 High School Football

Pusch Ridge QB Newborn, Willcox RB/DB Ward Week 10 Ed Doherty Award nominees



Willcox’s Landon Ward (left) and Pusch Ridge’s Jacob Newborn are two of 12 players from Southern Arizona who are Ed Doherty Award nominees this season (Ward photo, Willcox High School, and Newborn photo, AllSportsTucson.com)

The Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission (ASEC) and its managed entity, the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club (GCSGC), announced on Wednesday the Week 10 recipients of the Ed Doherty Award nomination medallions.

Two of them are from Southern Arizona — Pusch Ridge senior quarterback Jacob Newborn and Willcox senior running back/defensive back Landon Ward.

Here is a description of what each did last week:

Jacob Newborn — QB, Pusch Ridge, Sr.
In a 22-7 upset on the road of then-No. 1 2A school Thatcher, Newborn completed 20-of-28 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns.

Landon Ward – RB/DB, Willcox, Sr.
Ward had 313 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns, along with four solo tackles, in a 39-21 victory over Benson.

This year’s Doherty Award recipient will be announced at a special luncheon in Phoenix on Saturday, Dec. 14.

For more information on the award or to purchase tickets to the ceremony, please visit www.azsportsent.com, or call 480-517-9700.

The previous nominees from Southern Arizona:

Week 9

Cedar Haynie — RB/LB, St. David, Jr.
In a 66-14 win over Desert Christian, Haynie had 156 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. He also
recorded two kickoff returns for 125 yards and 10 total tackles (including two for a loss).

Week 8

Nathan Spivey — SS/ATH, Salpointe Catholic, Sr.
In a 43-14 win over Corona del Sol, Spivey had a 54-yard punt return for a TD and a 77-yard
kickoff return for another score. He also rushed five times for 32 yards and had five tackles.

Kody Bingham – RB/DB, Thatcher, Sr.
In a 41-12 win over defending 3A state champion Sabino, Bingham rushed for 177 yards on 10
carries with four touchdowns. He also recorded six total tackles (four solo).

Kaleb Layton – QB, Walden Grove, Jr.
Layton was 22-of-26 in passing for 452 yards and six touchdowns in a 72-27 win over Sahuaro.

Week 7

Nash Moore — QB, Buena, Sr.
Moore had a 264-yard, six-touchdown performance in a 66-42 win at Casa Grande. He completed 16 of 21 pass attempts.

Week 6

Jimmy Leon – TE/DE, Mica Mountain, Sr.
Leon caught two touchdown passes, adding three sacks along with a forced fumble, in the Thunderbolts’ 41-7 win over Casa Grande.

Week 5

Kyah Francone – PK/P, Salpointe Catholic, Sr.
Francone hit two field goals of 51 and 50 yards, added three extra points on three attempts and averaged 40 yards per punt in the Lancers’ 27-23 victory over Centennial.

Matthew Kroner – WR/DB, Ironwood Ridge, Sr.
Kroner had eight catches for 214 yards and three touchdowns, along with 10 total tackles (seven solo), in the Nighthawks’ 35-9 win over Douglas.

Sebastian Lopez – QB/DB, Bisbee, Sr.
Lopez completed 17 of 27 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown, rushed 12 times for 203 yards and three touchdowns, while adding an interception and six total tackles in a 26-0 shutout of Catalina.

Week 4

Dezmen Roebuck – WR/S, Marana, Sr.
Roebuck had 10 catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns in a 36-28 win over two-time defending 5A champion Higley, setting a state record for career catches with 288.

The Ed Doherty Award nominations started in Week 3.

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