Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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April 16, 2011

Touchdown Club ready with football hardware

By BRIAN WOODSON Bluefield Daily Telegraph

BLUEFIELD — It will be an award-winning day at the Bluefield Parks and Recreation Department today when the Southwest Virginia Touchdown Club hosts its 2nd Annual “KICK-OFF” Awards Luncheon.

One of three chapters of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in Virginia, the SWVA Touchdown Club will host its annual awards banquet at the Bluefield Auditorium.

Doors open at 10:30, with lunch served at 11 a.m., at a cost of $7. An awards ceremony will follow around 1 p.m. It is open to the public.

According to Bill Millhorn, one of four founders of the SWVA Touchdown Club, awards will be presented to a select group of football players and supporters of the sport from across Southwest Virginia.

In addition, all the players that participated in last year’s inaugural Blue & Gray All-Star game played at Patrick Henry High School in Glade Spring, Va., will receive ring during the ceremonies.

The Mike Compton-coached Gray team defeated the Blue team 22-12 last year. Honaker’s Doug Hubbard was the coach on the losing side.

Today’s ceremonies will be attended by Ron Dilatush, director of membership for the NFF and the College Hall of Fame.

Among the top awards being presented today are the Coach Fred Selfe Award, Mike Compton Outstanding Lineman Award, Carroll Dale Outstanding Receiver Award, Sonny Wade Outstanding Quarterback Award and the “Bullet Bill” Dudley Running back Award.

Wade and Compton are expected to be in attendance today.

Two regional football supporters will be also be given the Distinguished American Award and Amateur Football Award, while former Emory & Henry sports information director Nathan Graybeal will also be among the honorees.

This year’s Blue & Gray All-Star game will be played at Mitchell Stadium in Bluefield on Friday, June 24. Chilhowie’s Larry Russell and Castlewood’s David Scammell will serve as coaches of the 7:30 p.m. event.

Sixty players participated in the game last year. Among the local players who were listed on last year’s rosters were Darius Carper and Nathan Sturniolo of Graham, Cody Lee of Richlands, Jon Corner of Tazewell, Haysi’s Chris Fleming and Dakota Meade of Honaker.

—Contact Brian Woodson

 at bwoodson@bdtonline.com

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