La Marque hands out awards to athletes

LA MARQUE — Because of the way senior receiver Brian Allen exemplified the fighting spirit of the La Marque Cougar traditions during the 2011 football season, he was presented the Gene Sutton Fighting Spirit Award at Monday night’s fall sports banquet.

Allen, who recently made a verbal commitment to play football for the University of Utah next fall, caught 59 passes for 942 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Cougars last season.

“I wish he would’ve caught one more against Manvel, and we would’ve went on to the fifth round,” La Marque football coach Mike Jackson joked Monday afternoon.

“But Brian created so many matchup problems that helped our offense move the ball, and he’ll do big things at Utah.”

Eleven other awards were given to La Marque football players on Monday night. Senior quarterback Emanuell Williams earned the Norman Bulaich Offensive MVP award. The Orville Etheredge Defensive MVP was senior linebacker Ken Butler.

The La Marque Times Team MVP was senior running back Tim Wright.

Christian Jackson received the Citizen’s 100 percent Award, Reggie Franklin took the Shark Award and the Mike Lowder most improved player was Trevon Del Rio.

The R.C. Robinson Sportsmanship award went to Lawrence Montegut; Kendall Hill, who recently committed to Oregon State, took the Ronnie Carelock Cougar Pride award; and Williams won the Hugh Massey Leadership award.

The Alan Weddell Booster Club Academic award went to Myles Drisdale; Shanacey Lawson took the Ronnie Kenney Offensive Lineman award.