by Steve Wilmoth
TriCitiesSports.com
December 10, 2009

JOHNSON CITY -- WJHL-TV 11 Connects and Watauga Orthopaedics brought together twelve of the best high school football players from the Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia areas for its 3rd Annual Awards Banquet in Johnson City Thursday night.

Each of the tweleve weekly winners from the 2009 season, their families and coaches were invited to the event. Each player was introduced with their segment from 11 Connects Sports played during their introduction.

Four individual awards were presented beginning with the Viewer's Choice Award that went to John Pratt of Holston High School. Pratt edged Dobyns-Bennett's Chris Sensabaugh in on-line voting held earlier this week.

Second runner-up and winner of a $500 scholarship was Chorpee Sumo of David Crockett High School. First runner-up went to quarterback Wes Quarles of Greeneville who earned a $750 scholarship.

Tennessee High quarterback Taylor Harmon was named as the Watauga Orthopaedics Player of the Year and was awarded a $1000 scholarship and the Trophy named after Watauga Orthopaedics Founder Dr. Howell H. Sherrod, a lifelong supporter of area amateur athletics.

Harmon surveyed the other weekly winners and didn't think much of his chances at the top award.

"The competition here was really good and knowing who I was up against, I really didn't think that I had a chance," said Harmon.

Harmon led the Vikings to a perfect regular season and number one ranking in the state for most of the season. He exits Tennessee High with virtually every school record for passing.

Harmon came away from the awards banquet even more impressed with the support of high school football in the area.

"I want to thank everyone who supports high school football," said Harmon, "especially Watauga Orthopaedics and Wellmont. The banquet was nice and this whole experience has been really cool."

Harmon joins an impressive group of Player of the Year Award Winners including Thomas Jones, Julius Jones, Heath Miller, Gerald Sensabaugh and Heath Miller - all of whom are now playing in the National Football Leauge.

Here is the complete list of the 2009 weekly winners:

Week 1 - Eric Pearcy, Sullivan North
Week 2 - Ashton Zanoni, Sullivan South
Week 3 - Dusty Clark, Gate City
Week 4 - Landon House, Cherokee
Week 5 - Chorpee Sumo, David Crockett
Week 6 - Brett Johnson, Marion
Week 7 - Chris Sensabaugh, Dobyns-Bennett
Week 8 - Andrew Jessee, Lebanon
Week 9 - Taylor Harmon, Tennessee High
Week 10 - Brett Price, Hampton
Week 11 - Wes Quarles, Greeneville
Week 12 - John Pratt, Holston