BY JOHN DECOSTE
Kings County Register
The Valley Minor Football Association was recognized for an outstanding year in minor football and a large increase in registration when Football Nova Scotia handed out its annual awards Jan. 24 at the Halifax Westin.
The Nova Scotia and Maritime champion Bantam Bulldogs brought home their share of awards, including head coach Larry Priestnall, who received the Doug Quackenbush Memorial Coach of the Year Award. This marked the second year in a row a Valley coach was the provincial coach of the year. Steve Melanson won the same award for 2007.
Priestnall, a former FNS president, continues to be very much involved with football, heading up the Valley team in the spring U-17 football league and serving as running backs coach for the provincial U-17 team that will play in the 2010 Football Canada Cup tournament in Wolfville.
Each Nova Scotia minor football team was awarded offensive and defensive MVP awards. Iain MacMillan of the Bantam Bulldogs was named offensive MVP for both the Bantam and Varsity (U-20) divisions. Jacob Gee was the Bantam Bulldogs’ defensive MVP.
At the Peewee level, Zach Gouthro of the Peewee Bulldogs was offensive MVP. Sam Bigelow was named defensive MVP. At the Atom level, Mike Ogilvie was the defensive MVP and Benjamin Best the offensive MVP.
As well as the team awards, Isaiah Crossland-Belle and Kyle McMullin were among the recipients of Larry Uteck Memorial Fair Play Awards.
