Congratulations to Will Long
2009/2010 Alex Ufema Award Winner

 

HIGHLAND PARK - Indian Valley Lewistown Sentinel 2/16/2010Will Long was revealed as the recipient of the 2009 Alex Ufem HIGHLAND PARK - Indian Valley senior Will Long was revealed as the recipient of the 2009 Alex Ufema Award on Friday evening, an honor given annually to the top performer in Mifflin County high school football. Long excelled at both the quarterback position as well as strong safety on the defensive side of the ball, his coach said. "He's a very athletic player, but he's very intense and physical at the same time," Warriors coach Tom Shearer said. "He has a great will to win and do well - that's probably one of his best attributes." In the 2009 season, Long was a part of 10 offensive touchdowns - five on the ground and another five through the air - in his eight games. He also added a touchdown on defense with an interception return for a score against Bellefonte late in the season. As a quarterback, the senior completed 36 of 70 passes and 458 yards, averaging 57.3 yards passing per game. Long also utilized Indian Valley's option attack to run for 319 yards on 57 attempts. He averaged nearly 40 yards per contest on the ground with a per-carry average of 5.6 yards. Shearer said that Long was a very deserving candidate of the extra recognition. "We had a few other guys that we could've put up - it's always hard to pick just one," he said. "But Will stood out - he was first-team defense and a second-team quarterback (in the Mountain League), so that helped also." Being able to play both sides of the ball for the Warriors is something that says a lot about a player according to Indian Valley's second-year coach. "He did well on both sides of the ball," Shearer said. "So it wasn't like he was taking a break on one side of the other. He was strong on both sides." Lewistown's Doug Randall was the runner up in balloting this year. The Ufema Award is presented annually by MERF Radio. Nominees from Lewistown and Indian Valley High School are voted on by local media, including The Sentinel. Indian Valley athletes have won or shared the award 16 of the past 17 years. It was first presented after the 1978 football season. I

Iron Kettle Football travels to Kuwait:
"Coach Brian Heckert's Son-in-law and former Indian Valley Warrior, Garrett Dixon was recently deployed to Kuwait. Where most soldiers ask for Hartley's Potato Chips, chocolate or some kind of junk food in their care packages, all Dixon asked for was a "nice football".  He explained to his wife; Jamie, that every year at super bowl time the soldiers have there own super bowl called the "toilet bowl." It is when junior Non Commissioned Officers play against junior enlisted soldiers. Dixon told his wife that they provide footballs for them in Kuwait but because of the sand the balls become too smooth to play with and loose their grip. In efforts to find her husband a football Dixon's wife called her dad; Coach Heckert.

Coach Heckert told Coach Tom Shearer the situation and later that week Coach Shearer delivered the Iron Kettle game ball to Heckert's house to be sent to Kuwait. The ball arrived just in time for the "Toilet Bowl."  Although Dixon's team did not win, he helped his team by catching a touch down pass. The Iron Kettle ball will now be used as the "game only" ball in the football league for the soldiers through out the year

Dixon sends his Thanks to Coach Shearer, Coach Heckert and The Indian Valley Warriors for all their support!"

By Jamie Dixon

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