Elite Company
Not that there's a special jacket or a secret handshake, but last season, Wes Phipps joined a small club of football stars that have a similar distinction — defending the Butler Eagle Scoring Trophy.
As a senior, the Grove City running back recorded 144 points — 24 total touchdowns — through the first nine games last season to repeat the title.
The year before, Phipps rolled up 114 points.
In all, there have been five players who have won two titles since the trophy started back in 1990.
The other four? Freeport's Ron DeJidas (1991-92), A-C Valley's Mike Leach (1998-99), Karns City's Josh Fiscus (2003-04) and Mars' Bill Bair (2006-07).
Phipps helped guide the Eagles to the District 10 Class AAA title and reach the PIAA quarterfinals, then went on to capture the PIAA Class AA wrestling title at 182 pounds.
Ironically, Leach also won a state title — in the javelin in the spring of 2000.
After keying the Eagles' postseason run, Phipps finished with 31 touchdowns for 186 points.
With Phipps off to Penn State for wrestling, it remains to be seen who will take the title this year, perhaps a junior looking to make his mark and join the fraternity.
<B>Year Winner (School) Points</B>1990 Brian Kurn (Freeport) 1041991 Ron DeJidas (Freeport) 1141992 Ron DeJidas (Freeport) 1581993 Rick Belles (Karns City) 801994 Cory Hooks (Union) 1181995 Jeremy Scherer (Karns City) 841996 Jason Hackwelder (A-C Valley) 1321997 Steve Spiker (A-C Valley) 1241998 Mike Leach (A-C Valley) 1461999 Mike Leach (A-C Valley) 1982000 Josh Kniess (Slippery Rock) 1922001 Billy Graham (Karns City) 1862002 Matt Carnahan (Karns City) 1522003 Josh Fiscus (Karns City) 116Travis Sarver (Slippery Rock)2004 Josh Fiscus (Karns City) 1162005 Paul Ferrese (Mars) 962006 Bill Bair (Mars) 1502007 Bill Bair (Mars) 2042008 Jono Powell (Slippery Rock) 1022009 James Shope (Moniteau) 1362010 Wes Phipps (Grove City) 1142011 Wes Phipps (Grove City) 144
