Council Rock North senior Brandon McIlwain was named the Maxwell Club’s Pennsylvania Player of the Year at Thursday night’s 31st Annual Pennsylvania High School Awards Dinner.
(Photo by Jarrad Saffren)
McIlwain wins the PA High School Football Version of the Heisman Trophy
By Jarrad Saffren
On Thursday night, the Maxwell Football Club transformed the lobby of the Drexelbrook Catering Ballroom into a Pennsylvania high school football museum.
Large, blown-up, almost life-sized color photographs of recent stars lined the hallway. Local fans will recognize the names. Dan Connor, Austin Scott, Brett Gordon, Pat Devlin, and others. A scene from their glory years recreated for coaches to reminisce, for current players to appreciate who came before them.
All of those players have one thing in common: They won the Maxwell Club’s Pennsylvania High School Player of the Year award. At Thursday night’s 31st Annual Pennsylvania High School Awards Dinner in Drexel Hill, one Suburban One League player, maybe the greatest SOL football player of all-time, joined those greats in the museum.
Shortly after 9 p.m. eastern standard time, former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, current ESPN talking head, and the most enthusiastic football ambassador since John Madden left the spotlight, Ron Jaworski, stepped to the podium and talked about, what else? Why football - especially high school football - is awesome. At the end of his speech, and after three hours of eating, socializing, and celebrating our American obsession, Jaws cleared his throat and made the big announcement.
Sixty-one high school football stars sat in chairs in front of the stage. Each had been introduced individually and handed a Mini Max Award trophy for “excellence in football,” “academic achievement,” and “community service.” But only one would win the coveted PA POY.
“And the winner of the 2015 Pennsylvania Player of the Year award is…Brandon…McIlwain,” said Jaws.
McIlwain’s father Roddy and sister were sitting at a table at the front of the ballroom. They sprang out of their seats and cheered along with all of the non-McIlwains at the table. McIlwain, cool and collected as always, smiled, shook hands with the players sitting around him, and walked onto the stage.
“I just want to thank my family, my coaches, my teammates, my friends, God, the Maxwell Club, everyone really. So many people were there for me and helped me along the way,” said McIlwain.
Then he walked to the middle of the stage as Jaws thanked everyone for coming and told them the next stop on McIlwain’s victory tour.
“He will be on-stage at the Maxwell Football Club’s National Awards Gala on March 10 at the Tropicana in Atlantic City,” said Jaws. “He’ll be up there with NFL Player of the Year Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers quarterback), NFL Coach of the Year Ron Rivera (Carolina Panthers), College Coach of the Year Dabo Swinney (Clemson), and College Player of the Year Derrick Henry (Alabama running back). Brandon will be right there with the biggest names in the sport.”
McIlwain will also be a candidate for the Maxwell Club’s Jim Henry Award, which honors the most outstanding player in the PA/NJ region.
Whether he wins or not, (But who are we kidding, is that really a question? Brandon McIlwain wins awards. He just does.), McIlwain will be in front of 2,000 people and next to guys who play and coach on TV. Pretty soon, he could be one of them. McIlwain’s friends, coaches, and trainers all say he can be a first round pick in the NFL Draft. Now the ambassador is saying it too. “Hey when Brandon’s ready I’ll be breaking him down,” said Jaws. “I’ll bring him down to my office at NFL Films, put the tape on, and let’s go. Absolutely. Getting him ready man.”
McIlwain overheard Jaws and grinned from ear to ear. Roddy slapped him on the shoulder and laughed as if to say, ‘Jaws can’t wait to talk about you on ESPN!’
But then, of course, the South Carolina commit was more humble than pie.
“I mean I couldn’t even believe it to be honest. It was surreal,” said McIlwain. “The whole event is so well put-together. It’s such an amazing thing. And then to be able to go to the Maxwell awards, with the likes of Derrick Henry, Cam Newton, Ron Rivera, and Dabo Swinney, it’s just a blessing.”
Newton is one of McIlwain’s favorite players. But McIlwain does not think the Carolina Panthers star has seen him play, even on Internet highlight videos.
“I’m not sure. He might have,” said McIlwain.
If Newton hasn’t already, he definitely will soon.
McIlwain took home the big trophy, but 12 other SOL players also won Mini Max awards. They are listed below.
David Kretschman - Abington
Jack Lamb - Central Bucks East
Luke Kohler - Central Bucks South
Eddie Shields - Central Bucks West
Brandon Mack - Cheltenham
Kyle Hickey - Council Rock South
Maurice Jackson - Harry S. Truman
Hunter Kelly - Neshaminy
Keith Earle - North Penn
Matt Pierce - Souderton
Justin Hill - Springfield
Ryan Stover - Upper Dublin
Christian Leighton - Upper Moreland
- Log in to post comments
