PN-G’s Johnson, Newton’s Foster win Smith Awards
Published 9:50 am Thursday, February 22, 2018
BEAUMONT — Port Neches-Groves quarterback Roschon Johnson captured the Offensive Award and Newton linebacker Corbin Foster nabbed the Defensive Award at the Annual Willie Ray Smith Awards Football Banquet Wednesday night honoring the best football players in Southeast Texas.
PN-G’s Johnson passed for 2,654 yards and 32 touchdowns and rushed for 1,406 yards and 26 TDs in helping the Indians advance to the third round of the postseason.
The Eagles’ Foster notched 240 tackles and five sacks for the Class 3A Division II state champions.
Joining Foster as a Defensive Finalist were West Orange-Stark linebacker Davien Teate, Vidor linebacker Joey Ciccio and Beaumont West Brook linebacker Donald Collins.
Joining Johnson as Offensive Finalists were Port Arthur Memorial running back Elijah Hines, Newton running back Darwin Barlow and Nederland running back Devon Simmons.
The Smith Awards is considered Southeast Texas’ Heisman Trophy. It was created in 1992 and first given out in 1993.
Smith won 235 games and two state championships in 33 seasons as coach at Beaumont Charlton-Pollard, Orange Wallace and Lufkin Dunbar.
Here are the past Willie Ray Smith Award winners:
1993: Dexter Hebert, Kelly
1994: Jay McGuire, Silsbee
1995: Jeffery Spikes, Burkeville
1996: Elijah Burkins, Thomas Jefferson
1997: Bryan Bock, Bridge City
1998: Offense: Chip Ambres, West Brook; Defense: Charles Sias, WO-S
1999: Offense: Beaux Daville, Orangefield; Defense: Rod Gulley, Newton
2000: Offense: Dustin Long, PN-G; Defense: Gayron Allen, WO-S
2001: Offense: Sean Yoder, Nederland; Defense: Jermaine Hope, WO-S
2002: Offense: Tony Eckert, Lumberton; Defense: Ricky Wilson, Lincoln
2003: Offense: Matt Peebles, Bridge City; Defense: William Bryant, Jasper
2004: Offense: Jamaal Charles, P.A. Memorial; Defense: William Morrissey, Silsbee
2005: Offense: Jamaal Charles, P.A. Memorial; Defense: Brian West, Ozen
2006: Offense: Kenneth Beasley, WO-S; Defense: Sean Weatherspoon, Jasper
2007: Offense: Micah Mosley, Nederland; Defense: Earl Thomas, WO-S
2008: Offense: Cody Hussey, Lumberton; Defense: Tramain Thomas, East Chambers
2009: Offense: Christian Micheal, West Brook Defense: Kevin Robinson, WO-S
2010: Offense: Jeremy Johnson, Silsbee; Defense: Jacoby Hale, Central
2011: Offense: Fred Ford, Kirbyville; Defense: Colin Garrett, West Brook
2012: Offense: Terrence Singleton, P.A. Memorial; Defense: Corbin Carr, Nederland
2013: Offense: Montana Quirante, Vidor; Defense: Montana Quirante, Vidor
2014: Offense: Patrick Reed, Silsbee; DeShawn Washington, Nederland
2015: Offense: Michael Jacquet, Central; Defense: Deionte Thompson, WO-S
2016: Offense: Jack Dallas, WO-S; Defense: Steven Tims, WO-S
2017: Offense: Calvin Tyler, Silsbee; Defense: Kary Vincent, PA Memorial
2018: