1968 NAAF Award Nominations

1968 NAAF Award Nominations

MVP

QB Nathaniel Braddock BOS
While the Independents didn’t have overall success, Braddock managed to have himself a heck of a season, throwing a league-leading 25 passing touchdowns, while only throwing 4 interceptions all season. Braddock also had to deal with a coaching change midseason and still managed to be an elite QB and one of the only reasons Boston was able to still remain competitive throughout the season.

DL Bernhard Hartmann OTT
Hartmann may not have outclassed fellow defenders in terms of statistics, but Hartmann was a key factor in the league’s best defence. He often found his way into the backfield, blowing up run plays, or grabbing sacks, for which he was 3rd in the league. Even when he didn’t get to the backfield, Hartmann was one of the best when it came to batting and deflecting passes at the line, causing a lot of QBs to often second guess their throws.

RB Max Tracy TOR
Right from the start of the season, Tracy was easily the best player on the resurgent Steelheads team, scoring at a rate of almost 2 touchdowns a game. While he did finish the season with a crushing leg injury, he still put up 22 touchdowns (2 off of RB Jimmy Golden’s record), and led the Steelheads to a 7-5 record after having gone 2-10 last season.

Offensive Player of the Year

QB Nathaniel Braddock BOS - 25 Passing Touchdowns (1st), 1st in Passing Yards, 4 Interceptions (1st)
Once again, Braddock was easily the best QB this season statistically, leading in all 3 of the most important categories. Clearly, he is out to prove to the world that he is still one of the best in the game.

QB Charles Lemieux BUF - 21 Passing Touchdowns (T-3rd), 3rd Passing Yards, 6 Interceptions (2nd)
Lemieux didn’t have as dominant of a season, but down the stretch, the QB led the Blue Wings to score 30+ points in 4 of their last 5 games to get the Blue Wings to the postseason. He also made an impact in the lack of mistakes, only throwing 6 interceptions all season.

WR Ed Edwards IND - 12 Receiving Touchdowns (2nd), 1st in Receiving Yards
Edwards certainly was not in the spotlight when compared to Zachariah Pembroke, Casey Coleman, or Taylor Austin, but he had a strong season for the Victors. He quietly climbed his way to the top after a tough start to lead the league in receiving yards this season.

RB Max Tracy TOR - 22 Rushing Touchdowns (1st), 1st in Rushing Yards
Tracy was an explosive running back this season with his 22 touchdowns. He also had a long lead on the rushing yard total this season being one of the strongest rushing seasons in NAAF history.

Defensive Player of the Year

DL Wayne Baxton HFX - 6 Forced Fumbles (1st), 1st in Sacks
Baxton was the runaway winner at the start of the season being a lethal force off the edge for the Mariners, however, his second half was pretty average. He still maintained the league lead in sacks and forced fumbles being a key part of the Mariners’ defence.

LB Dallas Dillard LDN - 4 Forced Fumbles (T-2nd), 1 Interception, 1st in Tackles
Dillard did not get boatloads of recognition, but he was easily the best and most consistent part of the Tigers’ defence this season. He created 5 turnovers and ate up a lot of tackles this season edging out LB William Washington II for the league lead.

DL Bernhard Hartmann OTT - 3rd in Sacks, 3 Forced Fumbles (T-8th), 1st in Knockdowns
Hartmann again will not wow statistically, but in only his second season, he was one of the best D-linemen in the league and should continue to be a dominant force on the Royals' D-line.

DB Neville Falkner PRO - 8 Interceptions (1st), 1 Defensive Touchdown, 3rd in Passes Defended
Falkner continued to be the king of the hill when it came to DBs in the NAAF, once again leading the league in interceptions. While teams have continued to throw away from the star DB, he still managed to have the 3rd most passes defended in the league.

Special Teams Player of the Year
I have decided to award this to the kicker with the most points scored this season as that has been the winner almost every year. Here were the top 3 without points written to give some suspense.
K Albert Wickerweaver HFX
K Henderson Schumacher LI
K Ira Foster OTT

Rookie of the Year

DB Lamar Brown MTL - 2 Interceptions (1st Rookies)
Brown was not one of the guys many expected to be here, but the young DB was a key factor for the Rouge defence this season, especially after the team traded DB William Quincy at the deadline. Brown caught a pair of picks and was consistently making key open field tackles.

DL Arthur Bradshaw PIT - 4th in League in Sacks, 3 Forced Fumbles (T-8th in League)
Bradshaw’s impact on the Pittsburgh defence was immediately seen, often ploughing through his block to get into the backfield. He put up enough sacks to be 3rd in the league this season. He also caused 3 fumbles to help his offence with great field position. The fans of Pittsburgh have already fallen in love with Bradshaw as one of the stars of the team.

LB Judge Barrett TOR - 3 Forced Fumbles (T-8th in League), 1st in Rookie Tackles
Barrett didn’t become quite the fan-favourite that Bradshaw had become, but he still had a strong season in the Toronto defence filling a hole that had been left by Daniel Carpenter 2 seasons ago. Barrett would rack up the tackles and fumbles to show that he is ready to be an NAAF star and a defensive leader for the Steelheads.

Coach of the Year

HC Roy Aguirre LDN - Record: 6-6
Writing off the Tigers this season was more of a mundane task for reporters this season, as many saw them as old and dysfunctional, but in spite of injuries, players being traded, and the doubters, Aguirre led the Tigers to a respectable 6-6 record this season, just narrowly missing out on the postseason.

HC Jean Matieau OTT - Record: 10-2
Everyone knew Matieau would one day be the head coach of the Royals, but very few expected that he would take the Royals, who missed the playoffs each of the last 4 years, to the top of the league with a 10-2 record. Matieau’s knowledge of the game served him well as he did boost the Royals' offensive output with a new QB under centre, but also help to craft the league’s best defence this season. The Royals appear to be back and Matieau is the main reason why.

HC Ronald Martin TOR - Record: 7-5
There’s lots of credit that has to go to Ronald Martin who for the 4th time in the last 5 seasons managed to lead the Steelheads to defy expectations. After the rough 2-10 season, Martin got the Steelheads back to the top of the West Division despite having a patchwork defence. RB Max Tracy certainly gets a lot of credit, but Martin’s coaching has always made this Steelheads team a threat.

Breakout Player of the Year

S Marc Bellecourt OTT - 4 Interceptions, 1 Defensive Touchdown
Bellecourt slowly took over the starting S spot from team captain S Randall Green this season. While Green is an excellent player, Bellecourt earned it with 4 interceptions and a defensive touchdown as well as a Defensive Player of the Week in Week 6. He also was one of the best tackling safeties in the season. He could have easily risen to the top had he not split as much time with Green, but clearly, the Royals have their future safety in Bellecourt.

WR Taylor Austin PIT - 11 Receiving Touchdowns (3rd), 4th in Receiving Yards
Austin finally showed why the Blacksmiths traded up for him in the 1966 draft. Austin’s speed and route running helped create a lot of scoring chances for the Blacksmiths this season. His chemistry with Louis Vaughn is clear as day as the two helped turn the Blacksmiths' offence from one of the lowest scoring to one of the highest.

QB Louis Vaughn PIT - 22 Passing Touchdowns (2nd), 2nd in Passing Yards
Vaughn was asked all season if he could step up and be the guy for the Blacksmiths after they had taken him 1st overall in 1966. Vaughn answered with a stellar 3rd season, getting to 2nd in the league in passing touchdowns and passing yards. He still had some interception issues, but the young star is clearly making a name for himself and showing a bright future for the Blacksmiths.