Phipps shares the glory
GROVE CITY — Wes Phipps gave some love to his offensive linemen.
Huddled around the Grove City High junior running back at Forker Field, the linemen hoisted Phipps up for a photo with the Butler Eagle Scoring Trophy.
Phipps became the first Grove City player to win the award, which is handed out each year to the Butler County area football player who scores the most points.
Phipps ended the nine-week scoring trophy period with 18 touchdown and 114 points.
“I couldn't have done it without them,” said Phipps, heaping praise upon Jordan Patterson, Travis Wanner, Shawn Seybert, Jibrin Ahmed, Tony Turner, Ross Caruso and tight end Chauncey Miller.
It's no wonder Phipps is a team favorite.
“He was voted a captain as a sophomore,” said Grove City football coach Jeff Bell. “That tells you how the other kids think of him.”
Phipps, who also is an accomplished wrestler, placing third at the PIAA Wrestling Championships last year as a sophomore, had a nose for the end zone.
Grove City's running game is about as balanced as they come. Five players finished with more than 400 yards rushing each. Phipps trailed Erik Record as the Eagles' leading rusher for much of the season until passing him in the final game.
“I'm just really thankful — the guys we have here blocking like they did all year,” Phipps said. “With our offense, you don't get the ball 30 times a game, so it's special. Everyone on the team has a part, and I just tried to do mine the best that I could.”
Phipps edged Adam Rumburg-Goodlin of Knoch and Austin Miele of Mars.
“He deserves every bit of the recognition he is getting,” Bell said. “He practices as hard as anyone. He's all out on every play in practice.”
Phipps wears thick shoulder pads and the No. 40 jersey for good reason.
He grew up as a big fan of Tampa Bay fullback Mike Alstott. He's now a big follower of Cleveland running back Peyton Hillis. Both Alstott and Hillis wear No. 40 and are big, bruising backs.
“Those guys, you can definitely look up to,” Phipps said. “You'd want to play like them.”
As good as Phipps has been running the football, he might be better at stopping other people from gaining yards.
Phipps prides himself on being an impact player on both sides of the ball.
As the Eagles' middle linebacker, he made all the defensive calls and led the team with more than 10 tackles per game.
He might have won the Butler Eagle Scoring Trophy, but he earned a spot on the Sweet 16 Defensive Team.
It's the first time the scoring trophy winner wasn't on the Sweet 16 Offensive Team.
“I like being versatile,” Phipps said. “I like showing that I am capable of helping the team on both sides of the ball.”
