Shallowater, Idalou players win top honors at NFF scholar-athlete banquet

Shallowater free safety and wide receiver Chase Blackburn, left, received the top scholarship at the annual scholar-athlete awards banquet put on by the Texas Tech chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. Blackburn was one of 22 area high-school players awarded scholarships during the annual banquet Wednesday at the Overton Hotel & Conference Center.
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Chase Blackburn played football from the time he was a little boy in the Lubbock Youth Football League all the way up through his senior season this year at Shallowater. He has no firm plans to play sports in college, and if that's the case, he capped his career on a high note.

Blackburn won the most lucrative honor Wednesday night at the annual scholar-athlete awards banquet put on by the Texas Tech chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

Blackburn received the Gene Messer Auto Group/Coach Jess Stiles Scholarship worth $6,000 before a crowd at the Overton Hotel & Conference Center. The 22 high-school football players selected by the Texas Tech chapter got slices of a scholarship pie totaling $38,250 with each player receiving a scholarship of at least $1,000.

"It's really neat," said Blackburn, a free safety and receiver for the Mustangs. "I've put in a lot of work and all those guys that were up there were great, and all of them have worked very hard. It's just nice to be noticed like that."

The players were nominated by area high-school coaches based on achievement in athletics, academics, leadership and citizenship. A grade-point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale is required.

Blackburn said his GPA is about 4.1 with added points from advance-placement classes. He was named to the all-state academic elite team this year. He's played football and baseball and taken part in Future Farmers of America, UIL number sense and UIL math.

The scholarship awards were presented in order from the smallest amounts to the largest. The last two left were Blackburn and Idalou lineman Logan Sanders, who received the Kirby Hocutt Scholarship worth $5,000.

Idalou lineman Logan Sanders received a $5,000 scholarship during the annual scholar-athlete awards banquet hosted by the Texas Tech chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
Idalou lineman Logan Sanders received a $5,000 scholarship during the annual scholar-athlete awards banquet hosted by the Texas Tech chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

"I am absolutely blessed to be here," said Sanders, an offensive tackle and defensive tackle for the Wildcats. "I have such a great support system. I kind of felt like I was on a game show. My heart rate started pounding faster and faster. Whenever they announced me with one of the biggest scholarships, it's an indescribable feeling. I felt so very blessed to be part of this Lubbock community that supports me so much."

Sanders is a six-time state medalist in UIL academic competitions, including a state championship in UIL math. He's also achieved Eagle Scout status, been in one-act play and is salutatorian of his high-school class.

Matt Landers was one of two area coaches to receive a coach of the year award during the scholar-athlete awards banquet put on by the Texas Tech chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. Landers led Roosevelt to a 14-1 record and the state semifinals this past season.
Matt Landers was one of two area coaches to receive a coach of the year award during the scholar-athlete awards banquet put on by the Texas Tech chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. Landers led Roosevelt to a 14-1 record and the state semifinals this past season.

In addition to recognizing the nearly two dozen players, the Tech chapter honored multiple others. Chip Darden from Lubbock-Cooper and Matt Landers from Roosevelt, both of whom led their teams to state semifinals in 2021, each received coach-of-the-year awards.

The Pirates went 13-2 under Darden, and the Eagles went 14-1 under Landers.

Oscar Shorten received the outstanding-official award. Shorten, a South Plains chapter official since 1994, has worked three state-championship games, called NCAA football for 25 years, NCAA basketball for 24 years and pro football for 16 seasons.

The Don Black assistant coach of the year went to Coronado's Andrew Roy, who helped the Mustangs go 7-5 and make the second round of the playoffs in 2021.

Former Lubbock ISD athletics director Mark Ball received the award for outstanding contribution to amateur football during the scholar-athlete awards banquet hosted by the Texas Tech chapter of the National Football Foundation.
Former Lubbock ISD athletics director Mark Ball received the award for outstanding contribution to amateur football during the scholar-athlete awards banquet hosted by the Texas Tech chapter of the National Football Foundation.

Former Lubbock ISD athletics director Mark Ball received the award for outstanding contribution to amateur football. Ball spent 17 years as a head football coach and athletics director and 10 years as a full-time AD in Texas. He also has served on and led a long list of committees and boards.

The Distinguished West Texan Award went to John Owens, a former Texas Tech baseball player who founded PlainsCapital Corporation and PlainsCapital Bank. Owens also has served as chairman of the Texas Tech University Foundation, chairman of the Red Raider Club and president of the Tech Letterman's Association, among other positions.

Former Texas Tech baseball player and longtime businessman John Owens received the Distinguished West Texan Award during the scholar-athlete awards banquet hosted by the Texas Tech chapter of the National Football Foundation.
Former Texas Tech baseball player and longtime businessman John Owens received the Distinguished West Texan Award during the scholar-athlete awards banquet hosted by the Texas Tech chapter of the National Football Foundation.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION

Texas Tech Chapter

Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet

at the Overton Hotel & Conference Center

Recipient of $6,000 scholarship: Chase Blackburn, Shallowater

Recipient of $5,000 scholarship: Logan Sanders, Idalou

Recipients of $2,500 scholarships: Chad Pharies, Frenship; Blake Porter, Monterey

Recipient of $2,000 scholarships: Keegan Wehrman, Lubbock-Cooper; Hunter Stewart, Snyder; Diego Lopez, Coronado; William McNamara, Lubbock High

Recipient of $1,250 scholarship: Andrew Braddock, Frenship

Recipients of $1,000 scholarships: Trevor Stephens, Coronado; Kyler Jordan, Lubbock-Cooper; Major McCulley, Shallowater; Genesis Walker, Estacado; Brennen Davis, Muleshoe; Antonio Malone, Coronado; Ronald Ross, Estacado; Maverick Hernandez, Snyder; Leric Loza-Eaton, New Deal; Brock Tijerina, Andrews; Holt Gibson, Lubbock-Cooper; Brady Reed, Shallowater; Gavin Phillips, Frenship

Texas Tech scholar-athlete: Colin Schooler

Angelo State scholar-athlete: Leddy French

Coach of the year; Chip Darden, Lubbock-Cooper

Coach of the year: Matt Landers, Roosevelt

Outstanding official: Oscar Shorten

Don Black assistant coach of the year: Andrew Roy, Coronado

Outstanding contribution to amateur football: Mark Ball

Distinguished West Texan award: John Owens

Wide receiver Genesis Walker was one of two Estacado players presented scholarships Wednesday during the annual scholar-athlete awards banquet put on by the Texas Tech chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
Wide receiver Genesis Walker was one of two Estacado players presented scholarships Wednesday during the annual scholar-athlete awards banquet put on by the Texas Tech chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Shallowater, Idalou players win top honors at NFF scholar-athlete banquet