Bridgeport's Nicewarner Wins Coach of Year at Annual Loria Awards; SHHS's Barnette Takes Top Honor
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on March 20, 2017 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
The 34th Annual Frank Loria Awards banquet honoring the top student-athletes in high school football were honored this evening at the Bridgeport Conference Center.
South Harrison's Cam Barnette walked away with the top honor on the evening. He was named the winner of the Frank Loria Award, named in honor of Harrison County native Frank Loria - Virginia Tech University’s first All-American in 1966 and first Consensus All-American in 1967 including Academic All-American Honors. 
“Frankie Paul,” as he was known to his family and friends, went on to play professionally and eventually coached at Marshall University. Loria died at the age of 23 in the tragic 1970 MU plane crash with nearly the entire football team
Bridgeport High School took home one of the top honors. Coach Josh Nicewarner, in what many believed may be a down season by recent standards, led his team to a 10-0 regular season and a 12-1 campaign that ended in the Class AA semifinals with a one-point loss to Fairmont Senior in double overtime.
South Harrison took another top honor when Corey Fowler was named lineman of the year. Lincoln's Justin Huges earned the Columbian Club Award for Academic Excellence. The Columbiann Club is the organization that has put the program on for decades.
Along with the major award winners, each member of the all-Harrison County football first team were recognized. The members of the team are chosen annually by the sports staff of The Exponent Telegram.
Members of the defensive first team honored included te following:
John Merica, Bridgeport
Mackenzie Holmes, Bridgeport
Brice Haines, Bridgeport
Chapin Murphy, Bridgeport
Nick Rush, South Harrison
Gage Jackson, Robert C. Byrd
Clifford "Bubba" Ellis, III, Lincoln
Seth Friel, Bridgeport
Tre Junkins, Robert C. Byrd
Alex Davisson, Notre Dame
Brent Barnett, South Harrison
Justin Huges, Lincoln
Dustin Marks, Lincoln
Jeramiah Reed, Liberty
Anthony Kellar, Lincoln
Broderick Lantz, Liberty
Members of the offensive first team honored included te following:
Jimmy Allison, Bridgeport
J.T. Harris, Bridgeport
Gordon Swiger, Bridgeport
Koby Kiefer, Bridgeport
Gino Messenger, Robert C. Byrd
Chase Riley, Lincoln
Freddy Canary, South Harrison
Noah Bohanna, Notre Dame
Skyler Eastman, Liberty
Dalton Westfall, Liberty
Camden Barnette, South Harrison
Hunter McGary, Lincoln
Kobie Carpenter, Lincoln
Corey Fowler, South Harrison
Hunter Moore, Lincoln
