Cotton wins “Mr. Football” honors as Trenton salutes 2016 Bulldog football team

The Trenton High School commons hosted the end-of-the-season football banquet on Tuesday night, with the young men representing the Bulldog football team honored, and awards and letters given, following an evening meal.

Trenton, in its first season in the Grand River Conference, had a successful debut, splitting the GRC 11 championship with Maysville, as the Wolverines and Bulldogs both finished with 6-1 conference records.  That achievement earned THS its first football conference championship of any sort since 1983.  Trenton finished the season with a 7-4 record, including the program’s first district victory in the new playoff format (at Lathrop).  Trenton’s season ended with a district semifinal loss to eventual District 8 runner-up Lexington.  The Minutemen gave the Bulldogs two losses this season (including a Week 2 loss at C.F. Russell Stadium).  Trenton avenged its Week 1 loss at Lathrop with a district win against the Mules, but a Week 9 loss at Gallatin cost Trenton a chance at sole possession of the GRC title.

Named “Outstanding Freshman” at Tuesday night’s banquet was Carson Burchett.  Carson Radcliff was named “Outstanding Sophomore”, with Lathan Croy the “Outstanding Junior”.  Defensive tackle Isaiah Coon was named “Hit-Man of the Year’, with Spencer Harris honored with the “Hustle and Desire” award, and Cole Schilling as “Most Improved”.

Other honors went to Alex Parrack as Scout Team Player of the Year, Colton Colston for “Special Teams” Player of the Year, and Jadan Whitney as “Offensive Lineman” of the Year.

The three biggest awards went to two seniors and a junior, as Mason Owen took home the Bulldogs defensive player of the year honors, while senior fullback Austin Burkeybile was named offensive player of the year.  For years, Trenton’s “Mr. Football” has gone to a player that “exemplifies Trenton football with both on-the-field actions and off, seen as a player that youngsters can admire and look up to”.  For the 2016 season, Trenton’s Mr. Football award was given to senior linebacker and tight end Connor Cotton.

The banquet concludes Brandon Boswell’s third season as head coach of the Trenton Bulldogs, with THS looking towards an off-season of lifting and building up the underclassmen for bigger roles for the 2017 edition of THS football.