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La’Darius Jefferson of Muskegon named the 10th winner of the State Champs Mr. Football Award
Muskegon – La’Darius Jefferson of Muskegon was named the 10th recipient of the State Champs Mr. Football Award on Wednesday brought to you by Hungry Howies.
Jefferson was presented with the award in the school cafeteria at Muskegon High.
He is the first player from Muskegon to win the award.
The other three finalists were quarterback Max Wittwer of Utica Eisenhower, quarterback Bryce Veasley of West Bloomfield and linebacker-tight end Ovie Oghoufo of Farmington Hills Harrison.
Wittwer suffered a knee injury in the seventh game of the season and reinjured the knee in the first round of the playoffs. He did not return to the field after that. Wittwer was the online vote winner.
The other three players reached the state finals and Jefferson’s team was the only one to win a state (Division 3).
“It shows the hard work we put in as a team,” Jefferson said. “In my junior year, I never thought I’d win this award.
“You should always keep your mind on the prize. I thought it would be a tight race between me and Bryce. I knew he had a great season. I thought winning the state title put me over the top.”
Jefferson rushed for 245 yards and four touchdowns on 32 carries to lead Muskegon to a 28-10 victory over Harrison and Oghoufo in the finbal.
For the season Jefferson rushed for 2,095 yards and 33 touchdowns on 225 carries good for a 9.31 average. He threw a school record 21 touchdowns as he completed 67 of 117 passes for 1,205 yards and two interceptions.
“Dream big,” Muskegon coach Shane Fairfield said. “Our kids can find role models on the street or they can look here in the halls. As much as players like Jefferson don’t understand that the freshmen and others look up to them. He doesn’t realize what a hero he is in these young men’s lives.
“It’s been quite a year.”
Jefferson (6-2, 210) played defense (linebacker) at times as a junior but this season he was all about playing quarterback. As for the next level he would prefer to play quarterback over any other position.
He’s received scholarship offers from Indiana and Michigan State, and there are other schools that have shown interest including Georgia Tech.
He has scheduled an official visit to MSU on Dec. 8 and to Indiana in January.
“I’ve been in contact with Georgia Tech,” he said. “I’d prefer to play quarterback. I’d like the rock in my hands.”
