"Shut Up and Play the Game" GameDay MVP awards

Dan Goodrum week 3 MVP

Toney Foster, Jr. week 5 MVP

Travis Smith week 6 MVP

This season D1 Football began the "Shut Up and Play the Game" GameDay MVP awards given out each week to the player who best fits this description. His team may not win the game, he may not have the biggest stat total, may not even be a skill position player. This award exemplifies HEART and HUSTLE. A true difference maker. Not a media darling. A player who wins this award receives a plaque and a spirit package compliments of some of our sponsors. T-shirts will soon be added to the package.

Week 1 started out with a bang and Perry High School's Vinny Hokavar took the inaugural honors. This junior quarterback has set the standard this season, not only on the field, but at home and in the classroom.

Week 2 the award was given to Michael Hounshell of NDCL for taking his offensive line play to a new level and helping get the offense and the team on track for their first win of the season and head coach Byron Morgan's 200th victory of his career.

Week 3 was a difficult one to hand out as VASJ's Dan Goodrum put together an ourstanding display encompassing more than 250 all-purpose yards and 3 sacks in three quarters of play until the game was suspended due to lightning with the Vikings leading Maple heights 29-12. The next day the game was completed and for some reason Dan saw "zero" touches
and the game plan went too conservative allowing the Mustangs back in the game and on to victory 33-29. Nonetheless Dan deserved the award for what he did on the original night of the game.

Week 4 we had a dilemma. Too many good performances and players that made a difference, so we put the award up for a vote on the website, www.d1football.net. Ledgemont's Nick Proudfoot won the voting narrowly beating out VASJ's Toney Foster, Jr. The other nominees included Chardon's Kyle Petersen, Benedictine's Josh Lewis and Padua's Andy Dziak.


Week 5 was an easy choice....Toney Foster, Jr. from VASJ locked up the award with a follow-up against Holy Name to his breakaway game the week before against Shaw.


Week 6 the GameDay MVP was clearly Euclid's Travis Smith who exploded to help his Panthers knock off top rated Mentor 35-34.

Now week 7 is upon us and things still aren't "locked" for teams vying for playoff spots. This week is THE week in high school football here. This is the make or break week for a lot of teams. Some teams on the bubble could see their's "pop" if they don't play their hearts out. Villa Angela-St. Joseph and Lake Catholic come to mind as well as Lake's opponent Padua. NDCL also faces a critical game in order to stay in the points chase against Akron Hoban, who has no shot at all of the post season. Chardon, who's been strong all season, could be on the outside looking in if they drop this week's game to Madison. Both teams are 4-2, but Madison has only recently picked up the tempo of their play.

Who will be the GameDay MVP for week 7?

Will any of these make or break games come down to the GameDay MVP being the deciding factor?

We can only watch and see. We can only watch and enjoy northeast Ohio high school football 2007.