Rohrig Named Loria Winner for Second Straight Year; Indians Again Sweep Major Awards at Banquet
By Chris Johnson on March 18, 2024 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
For the second consecutive year, Bridgeport's Zach Rohrig has won the Loria Award given annually to the most outstanding football player in Harrison County.
Rohrig's honor also marked the second straight year that the Indians swept the four major awards at the Frank Loria Awards Banquet which is sponsored by the Clarksburg Columbian Club in cooperation with the Harrison County School System.
Beau Ford was named the Loria Lineman of the Year. Cale Culicerto was named the Loria Academic Achievement Award winner and the Loria Coach of the Year Award went to Tyler Phares for the second straight year. Also, Bridgeport's Aidan Sparks was the recipient of the Frank Loria Memorial Scholarship.
Monday's banquet at Bridgeport Conference Center marked the 41st year for the event which is named in honor of Harrison County native Frank Loria, a Virginia Tech University’s All-American in 1966, first Consensus All American in 1967 as well as achievements of an Academic All-American.
“Frankie Paul,” as he was known to his family and friends, went on to coach at Marshall University and was killed at age 23 in the tragic 1970 Marshall University plane crash with nearly the entire football team which was the subject of the Hollywood releases including the movie “We Are Marshall.”
Rohrig was named the Curt Warner Award winner as the state's top running back and was a repeat first-team Class AAA all-state selection after running for 1,822 yards on 237 attempts with 25 touchdowns. He also had 34 tackles, three interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on defense for the Indians, who finished 11-2 and advanced to the Class AAA state semifinals.
He is the third player in county history to win the award twice joining Robert C. Byrd's Jeremiah King and Bridgeport's Brett Hathaway.
It's great, I think the award is a testament to the season we had," Rohrig said. "We had a great year and it being my senior season, winning it again, it's amazing."
Ford, also a first-team all-state selection, was one of top blockers that paved the way for the most prolific offense in school history as BHS set school records for rushing yards with 5,420 and rushing touchdowns with 82.
Culicerto earned second-team all-state honors as he intercepted four passes, broke up 14 passes and had 42 tackles with three for a loss. In the classroom, he has a GPA of 4.17.
Sparks had 48 tackles, 13 for a loss, seven sacks and three fumble recoveries and was the up-back for the Indians' record-setting offense.
Phares' coaching record at BHS after three years is now 33-6.
"I'm proud as can be for who those kids have become as individuals, not just athletes, but student athletes," Phares said. "They come from great families, they are great kids.
"I'm lucky to be a coach in such a great community and lucky to be a part of these kids' lives."
In addition to Rohrig, Ford Culicerto and Sparks, BHS players honored for making the All-Harrison County football team as first-team selections were Josh Love, Ryan Jones, Jackson Rubenstein, Wes Brown Jr., Tanner Hathaway, Donovan Williams and Cam Martin.
Other all-county first team selections honored were Lincoln's AJ Bart, Liberty's Jenson Dodd, Lincoln's Brayden Edgell, Robert C. Byrd's Armondo Motero, South Harrison's Lucas Rush, Liberty's Isaiah Heflin, Lincoln's Liam Gallagher, Lincoln's Riley Lanham, Lincoln's Maddox Perine, Liberty's Brock Benedum, Lincoln's Gerald Parado, Lincoln's Noah Sears, Liberty's Jayce Clevenger, Lincoln's Aidan Rice and Lincoln's Cade Riley.
Former WVU men's basketball coach Bob Huggins served as guest of honor at the banquet.
Editor's Note: Photo of the BHS contingent at the Loria banquet by Joe LaRocca. Stay tuned to Connect-Bridgeport for a Loria photo gallery by LaRocca on Tuesday.
