CLOSE VOTING, QUARTERBACKS, SWITCHES AND A GYMNAST

Publication: THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE
Published: 11/07/1997
Page: P1B
Headline: CLOSE VOTING, QUARTERBACKS, SWITCHES AND A GYMNAST
Byline: MITCH VINGLE

The views from here:

- Everyone seems to have an opinion on this season's Kennedy Award.

Mine is still forming.

But the top slot on my ballot will be filled with one of two names:
Nitro's J.R. House or Linsly's Ed Drummond.

Reason?

The wording on the Kennedy Award ballot.

Voters are to cast their ballots for "the outstanding high school or
preparatory school football player of the state of West Virginia.'

Not for the most valuable player. Not for the player having the best
season. The most outstanding.

The only other stipulation is "he must be an undergraduate of a
recognized West Virginia high school or preparatory school, have
passing grades and be free from any professionalism.'

Which brings us to House and Drummond. Clearly the two most
outstanding players in the state.

- That House missed Nitro's first four games and still leads the state
in touchdown passes is quite an accomplishment.

House probably won't finish as the leader, though. While he and the
Wildcats have completed their season, Moorefield's Will Fisher has a
Saturday game at Wheeling Central. Fisher has 21 TD passes to House's
22. Gilmer County's Joey Frashure, whose team plays host to Braxton on
Friday, has 20.