1962 Awards

 1962 Award Winners

Most Valuable Player - LB Scotty Williams LOU
For just the second time in NAAF history, a defensive player will take home the MVP award, and for the second time, it will be Scotty Williams. The veteran LB made a huge impact in his first season with the Thunder, returning to the top of the league in tackles and forced fumbles. His leadership on and off the field was a major reason the team was able to maintain the success they had this season. A much-deserved MVP award for Williams.

Playoff MVP - RB Scott Mallard-White
While there were many players that deserve the nod on the championship-winning Thunder, you can’t really go against 369 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns in 3 games. Mallard-White was a major reason the Rouge were able to overcome the odds and make the McCallister Cup as the East division’s 3rd seed. 

Offensive Player of the Year - QB Jean Matieau OTT
It was quite a split vote for the offensive player of the year with 3 of the 4 nominees being tied in terms of votes. Matieau would ultimately be the only one to receive more than 3 votes and would take home his second OPOY award. Despite being 36, Matieau continues to add more hardware to his collection and proves why he is one of the best. 

Defensive Player of the Year - DB Neville Falkner PRO
In just his second season in the league, Falkner has already made a major impact by creating plenty of problems for teams trying to throw the ball against the Gold Stars. He becomes the second Gold Stars’ DB to take home the award with DB Lee Wolfe taking home 3 of the first 5 DPOY.

Special Teams Player of the Year - K Nimrod Handsworth LDN
The man. The myth. The legend. Nimrod… Handsworth has continued to crush it proving he is one of the best kickers in the NAAF in taking home his record 3rd straight STPOY award (something the 5-time winner, K Thomas McFadden, was unable to accomplish).

Rookie of the Year - LB Orion Carter BUF
Probably not the expected winner of this award, but Orion Carter made a strong impact in his first season with the Blue Wings. He managed to lead the way in tackles among rookies this season which likely put him up as one of the most consistently productive rookies this season. 

Coach of the Year - Emil Riddle LOU
Riddle becomes the first coach to win 3 coach of the year awards. He did it while leading the Thunder to a strong 9-3 season while being at the top of the power rankings in 11 of the 12 weeks of the season. Riddle is a great coach and was able to implement several new pieces into the team smoothly and continue to grow the team into the contender they are today.

Breakout Player of the Year - WR Zachariah Pembroke BUF
Moving on from the Athletics was clearly the right decision for Pembroke and he broke loose in Buffalo shooting right to the top of the league lead in receiving touchdowns. With a young star QB in Charles Lemieux throwing his way, there is a lot of potential that Pembroke can continue his trend up at the top WR in Buffalo. 

1962 All-Stars

WEST ALL-STARS
QB Charles Lemieux BUF (1)
RB Clifford Russell LDN (1)
OL Georgio Stephan BUF (2)
OL Magnus Gunnersson LDN (5)
OL Elliot Winterbottom LI (4)
OL Bernhard Altermann LOU (3)
OL Cliff Strauztenberger LOU (8)
WR Zachariah Pembroke BUF (1)
WR Ed Edwards IND (1)
WR Piers Key LOU (2)
TE Paul McDowell LDN (1)

DL William Sanderson IND (6)
DL Vernon Spears LI (6)
DL Richard Blunt LDN (1)
DL Bjorn Sigmarsson LOU (1)
LB Scotty Williams LOU (11)
LB Gene Bensen LI (1)
LB Harrison Bennett IND (1)
DB Jackson Miles LDN (4)
DB Alexander Bradley LOU (8)
DB Kelly Kirkland IND (3)
S Johnny Berger LOU (3)

K Nimrod Handsworth LDN (3)

EAST ALL-STARS
QB Jean Matieau OTT (7)
RB Scott Mallard-White MTL (4)
OL Graham Chambers BOS (5)
OL Sal Valcano BOS (4)
OL Harrison Ward MTL (1)
OL Nicholas Waller PRO (1)
OL Ward Briscoe ATH (1)
WR Mackenzie Jones OTT (5)
WR Chester Bennett OTT (4)
WR Sammy Moss PRO (2)
TE Eli Grant MTL (1)

DL Calias McDonough PRO (7)
DL Pat Butler ATH (1)
DL Olaf Viktorsson OTT (9)
DL Hubert Tessier MTL (1)
LB Brent Harper BOS (7)
LB Rusty McVee PRO (7)
LB Konrad Aust BOS (5)
DB Neville Falkner PRO (2)
DB Lawrence Ralph BOS (1)
DB Mingan Oliver OTT (4)
S Garet deVale MTL (2)

K Johnnie Berg BOS (4)

1962 League Leaders

Passing Touchdowns
1 - QB Jean Matieau OTT - 21
2 - QB Charles Lemieux BUF - 21
3 - QB Connor O’Rourke PRO - 20
4 - QB Gene Bishop MTL - 17
5 - QB Riley Kiernan LDN - 15

Rushing Touchdowns
1 - RB Clifford Russell LDN - 14
T-2 - RB Scott Mallard-White MTL - 12
T-2 - RB Rodney Clark LOU - 12
T-2 - RB Jimmy Golden BUF - 12
T-2 - RB Kendall Morgan - 12
T-2 - RB Marcus Devonshire PRO - 12

Receiving Touchdowns
1 - WR Zachariah Pembroke BUF - 11
2 - WR Mackenzie Jones OTT - 9
T-3 - WR Chester Bennett OTT - 8
T-3 - WR Sammy Moss PRO - 8
T-5 - WR Ed Edwards IND - 7
T-5 - WR Piers Key LOU - 7
T-5 - WR Taylor Karis MTL - 7
T-5 - WR Cedric Peterson PRO - 7

Interceptions
T-1 - DB Neville Falkner PRO - 6
T-1 - S Johnny Berger LOU - 6
T-3 - DB Jackson Miles LDN - 5
T-3 - DB Alexander Bradley LOU - 5
T-4 - DB Lawrence Ralph BOS - 4
T-4 - S Garet deVale MTL - 4
T-4 - DB Mingan Oliver OTT - 4
T-4 - S Frazier Brooks BUF - 4

Forced Fumbles
1 - LB Scotty Williams LOU - 7
2 - LB Brent Harper BOS - 6
T-3 - DL William Sanderson IND - 5
T-3 - DL Olaf Viktorsson OTT - 5
T-4 - DL Vernon Spears LI - 4
T-4 - LB Gene Bensen LI - 4
T-4 - DL Calias McDonough PRO - 4
T-4 - LB Rusty McVee PRO - 4

45th McCallister Cup Host - Long Island Stadium - Hempstead, NY - Capacity: 40,450
The McCallister Cup will make its return to Long Island this season with the 40,450 seat stadium getting ready to host for the second time. The last time the game was here, the 0-10 Long Island team managed to turn things around and go 6-3-1 and make the final that season, the Raiders are certainly hoping to replicate the turn around this season.