Former Bridgeport High School standout Carson Winkie was named the 37^th Loria Award winner as the Indians made it a clean sweep at the annual Frank Loria Awards Banquet, which after a delay of more than eight months, took place as a virtual event on Wednesday.

 

Winkie also won the Frank Loria Academic Achievement Award and had previously been announced as the Frank Loria Memorial Scholarship winner.

 

The Indians’ Michael Watkins was chosen as the Loria Lineman of the Year and BHS head coach John Cole was named Coach of the Year.

 

The banquet was originally scheduled for March put kept being pushed back for COVID-related restrictions. Recently, the decision was made to have a virtual banquet and it streamed on the Harrison County Board of Education website.

 

West Virginia University head coach Neal Brown was the honored guest speaker. Honorees were also addressed by former Harrison County Superintendent Dr. Mark Manchin and current Superintendent, Dora Stutler.

 

The banquet is named in honor of Frank Loria, a Clarksburg native who was one of 75 people who died in the tragic 1970 Marshall University plane crash. This year marks the 50^th anniversary of the plane crash. Loria was a coach for the 1970 Thundering Herd football team, moving on to Huntington after a standout collegiate career at Virginia Tech.

 

The main Loria Award is given to the outstanding football player from Harrison County. The winner, as is the case with all the other awards, is chosen by county head coaches and media members.

 

Winkie’s 2019 season was certainly award worthy. He finished with 1,129 rushing yards on 211 attempts with 18 touchdowns. The first-team all-stater set a Class AA Super Six record with 43 rushing attempts in the Indians’ 21-14 win in the championship game against Bluefield, the school’s 10^th football title overall and fourth in the past.

 

Defensively, he was just as good posting 96 tackles, four for a loss, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, one defensive TD and a couple of blocked field goal attempts.

 

“He epitomizes what Frank Loria represents,” Cole said of Winkie. “He took it upon himself to mature into a good athlete, a good football player. He did that by doing what he does with everything he faces; he attacked it. He is a self-made player; a lot of that is not natural.

 

“This isn’t a knock against Carson, but he’d tell you he’s not the most gifted athlete. He just made himself as good as he possibly good and combined that with his intelligence. His intelligence made up for any shortcomings, and you saw the results.”

 

Winkie was perhaps better in the classroom than was on the football field and he is currently a student at Harvard University (where he is also a member of the football team but all Ivy League fall sports were canceled this year because of the coronavirus).

 

“Carson is just an intelligent kid,” Cole said. “Unlike some intelligent kids, he stressed himself with the toughest classes and being active in the school and community. He was in student council for four years, clubs, organizations, and sports as well.

 

Doing all of that can stress a kid. Some that have the mental capacity of Carson aren’t necessary filling their time up being a well-rounded student, taking on school and community activities, being involved in clubs and sports. You combine that with challenging himself with such an academic load and it makes the recognition well deserved.”

 

Watkins was also a two-way standout for the Indians during their run to the state title. On offense he paved the way for Winkie and company to pick up rushing yards and on defense he was third on the team in tackles with 56 and led the Tribe in sacks with 3.5.

 

“I’m happy for Michael because he worked for this,” Cole said. “He was there constantly in the weight room and the strength helped him on both sides.

 

“Michael is more known for his play on the defensive side of the line because that came natural, and most of the time, he was more than a handful. What people don’t realize is worked to become a good offensive tackle by developing technique. One he figured it out, you did not want to get the brunt of what Michael was bringing on the football field.

 

“On offense, he was more technical and defense, again, he was natural. I think what he did shows how deserving he is of this honor. I’m sure any coach we faced would tell you he not only was hard to move, but you had to account for him as well.”

 

Watkins (OL) and Winkie (LB) were also part of the All-Harrison County football team that was recognized during the banquet. Other BHS players were J.R. Coburn (OL), Austin Springer (K), Trey Pancake (LB), Devin Hill (DL), Brian Henderson (CB), Devin Vandergrift (S), J.D. Love (Utility) and Sam Romano (P).

 

Other county players on the all-county offense were Liberty’s Noah Leggett (QB), Robert C. Byrd’s Jeremiah King (RB), South Harrison’s Landon McFadden (RB), Lincoln’s Zach Snyder (WR), Lincoln’s Corey Prunty (WR), Liberty’s Elijah Kyle (WR), Robert C. Byrd’s Brock Robey (OL), Liberty’s Zach Womeldorff (OL), Liberty’s Bryce Wamsley (OL), Liberty’s Sayveon Beafore (Utility), Liberty’s Dwayne Buckhannon (Utility) and Lincoln’s Payton Hawkins (Utility).

 

The rest of the all-county defense consists of Liberty’s Seth McIntyre (LB), South Harrison’s Trey Waller (DL), Lincoln’s Colten Hovermale (DL), Liberty’s Bryce Stearns (DL), Lincoln’s Cody Griffith (DL), South Harrison’s Jacob Haddix (CB), Robert C. Byrd’s Jack Mollohan (Utility) and Robert C. Byrd’s Charles Leggett (Utility).

 

Editor's Note: Top photo of Winkie and bottom photo of Watkins from the 2019 semifinal game against Oak Glen. Third photo is of Cole during last year's Class AA state championship game agains Bluefield. All three photos by www.benqueenphotography.com. Second photo is a file shot of Frank Loria from his Virginia Tech days.