Senior Jake Roy leads long list of Corvallis stars to earn Valley League honors

By Steve Gress
Mid-Valley Sports

Whenever the Corvallis High football team needed a big play on defense, Jake Roy seemed to be there.

Roy helped lead a defense that allowed just 50 points as the Spartans rolled to an 8-1 record and second-place finish in the Valley League.

The Spartans play their first playoff game since 1992 when they host Summit on Friday at 7 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. and are located on 16th Street, behind the scoreboard and at the Buchanan Street parking lot. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students. No league passes are accepted.

On Monday night, Roy was named the Valley League's Defensive Player of the Year.

"I'm in shock," Roy said Wednesday afternoon. "There are great kids in the league like (McNary's) Taylor Hermes. And you've got (Jon) Richards from Sprague. To be put atop of those kids is wonderful, it's amazing."

Also gaining first-team honors on the defense were Kurtis Magee (back), Mike Reeves (line) and Cory Dickson (punter). Nick Emmons (line), J.J. Manning (linebacker) and Max Chaney (back) were named to the second team. Aric Ross (line) was a third-team selection, while Harrison Harter (linebacker) and Brad Hendrix (back) were honorable mention picks.

"It's well deserved," Roy said. "We work hard in practice, and those 10 other guys that are right next to me, they deserve as much as I have gotten. I feel our defense is defense of the year in my mind. They deserve it as much as I do."

Added coach Chris McGowan: "I think it was very appropriate and nice to see all those guys get recognized. I told them it's nice to get those awards, but you would trade them all for the team. It's kind of a little icing on the cake, but you don't want to focus too much on that. You move on and do the best you can as a team."

Defensive coordinator Ron Sather was named Assistant Coach of the Year, while McGowan was named Coach of the Year in his second season at the helm.

"They help set the tone and know the time when to push us," Roy said.

McKay quarterback Josh Riddell was named the Offensive Player of the Year.

The Spartans had two players make first-team on offense, with tight end Aaron McKimmy and kicker Magee being honored. Magee drilled a 51-yard field goal in a 20-0 victory over McNary, a kick that is believed to be a school record.

Receiver Billy Clontz was the lone Spartan to be named to the second team, while fellow receiver Dickson was an honorable mention pick along with Ben Elliott, who was named as a guard and center.

Crescent Valley senior Jon Dowd was a second-team selection at receiver. West Albany's Andrew Murphy was a second-team quarterback and first-team defensive back. Matt Noble was a first-team pick at defensive line.