Yukica award finalists are Lancers' Miles, Astros' Michaud and Sabers' Bright
Nov. 16—Souhegan running back/linebacker JJ Bright, Londonderry lineman Ty Miles and Pinkerton Academy running back/defensive back Caden Michaud are the three finalists for the inaugural Yukica Player ofthe-Year Award, which will be given annually to the most outstanding NHIAA football player regardless of class or division.
This year's three finalists are all seniors.
Bright (RB/LB) Souhegan
Bright helped Souhegan advance to the Division II semifinals. He rushed for 1,471 yards and 21 touchdowns on 116 attempts, caught 18 passes for 356 yards and three TDs and finished third on his team in tackles.
Miles (OT/DT) Londonderry
A dominant two-way lineman, Miles has earned 14 Division I scholarship offers and has verbally committed to play college football at Holy Cross. His Londonderry team earned the No. 4 seed for the Division I playoffs and will face Pinkerton Academy in Saturday's semifinals.
Michaud (RB/DB) Pinkerton
Michaud helped Pinkerton finish first in Division I Central and earn the top seed for the Division I playoffs. Entering Saturday's Division I semifinals against Londonderry, Michaud has run for 916 yards and 13 touchdowns on 105 carries, and has six receptions for 196 yards and a TD. He has scored 16 total touchdowns.
The Yukica Award is sponsored by the Joe Yukica/New Hampshire Chapter of the National Football Foundation.
The winner will be announced next Thursday.
The three finalists were selected from a list of 10 semifinalists chosen by the Yukica Player-of-the-Year committee. The finalists and this year's winner were determined by a vote of NHIAA head coaches and statewide media.
Semifinalists: Ryder Aubin (QB/LB/DB) Dover, JJ Bright (RB/LB) Souhegan, Max Durkin (OL/DL) Portsmouth, Brody Helton (RB) Bedford, Scott Hershberger (RB/DB) Campbell, Mike MacDonough (QB) Bishop Guertin, Caden Michaud (RB/DB) Pinkerton, Ty Miles (OL/DL) Londonderry, Memphis Patterson (OL/DL) Pelham, Kevin Sheridan (TE/DE) Bedford.
