The Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club (GCSGC) announced the recipients of the Week 5 Ed Doherty Award Nomination Medallions on Tuesday. Six players were recognized for outstanding play during their respective games on Friday, September 20: Kadin Beler (Sr. QB, Arcadia); Tommy Christakos (Sr. WR/K, Chaparral); Rand Jensen (Sr. QB, American Leadership Academy - Queen Creek); Kelee Ringo (Sr. DB/ATH, Saguaro); Ty Thompson (Jr. QB, Mesquite) and Daniel Wood (Sr. RB/LB/KR, Highland).

“It was another impressive week of outstanding performances on the gridiron by Arizona athletes, and each week it certainly becomes more difficult to select Medallion Nominees," said Rob Yowell, Selection Committee Chair. “These six players gave memorable performances this week and are deserving of the honor and recognition."

Beler and Ringo were named on the 56-player Week 3 Watch List™ released on Sept. 10. All six players will receive their Medallions at an upcoming school event this week. By earning these Ed Doherty Award Nomination Medallions, they will attend the end of season Ed Doherty Award Luncheon on Dec. 14, 2019, where one athlete will become the recipient of the Ed Doherty Award.

Details on their individual performances on Sept. 20 are as follows:

 

Kadin Beler Sr QB - Arcadia HS

Arcadia High School senior QB Kadin Beler passed for 399 yards and 5 TDs, and ran for another score in the Titans 55-27 Week 5 win over Shadow Mountain, leading the Titans to the team's 5-0 start for the second straight season.

 

Tommy Christakos Sr WR/K - Chaparral

In his season debut delayed due to a hip injury, Christakos led Firebird scoring in Week 5 with a 37 yd TD reception, a 6 yd TD pass and a 37 yd FG to mark all of the Firebirds first half points in the 38 -24 loss to Saguaro HS. In addition to going 3/3 on PATs, all of his five kickoffs were touchbacks.

 

Rand Jensen Sr QB - American Leadership Academy - Queen Creek

In a Week 5 win over Yuma Catholic, Rand Jensen passed for 310 yds and 6 TDs. So far this season, Jenson leads 3A with 1,339 yds passing, 25 TDs with no interceptions for the 5-0 Patriots.

 

Kelee Ringo Sr DB/ATH - Saguaro HS

The talented defensive back stepped into the offensive backfield for the injury stricken Sabercats during the past two weeks. The results in Week 5 were impressive performances on both side of the ball as Ringo rushed for 148 yds and 2 TDs on 11 carries and logged one interception in the 38-24 win over Chaparral.

 

Ty Thompson Jr QB - Mesquite HS

In a Week 5 55-32 win over Buckeye, Thompson logged 470 yds passing and 8 TDs. Five games into the season, he has already posted 1,678 yds passing and 22 TDs for the 4-1 Wildcats.

 

Daniel Wood Sr RB/LB/KR - Highland HS

Daniel Wood provided an outstanding two-way Week 5 performance in the Hawks 40-7 win over Basha. Wood rushed 10 times for 150 yds and a TD, recorded 3 sacks on defense and returned a kickoff 65 yards.

 

From release.