Lineman of the Year | Trench Trophy Award, Inc.

Lineman of the year award

Since 2003 the Trench Trophy has named the Western New York Lineman of the Year, below you will find the recipients of the award.

2023

Marcus

Harrison

St. Francis

Red Raiders

Height:

6'-8"

Weight:

338

Played both ways . . . Never gave up a sack in 4 years . . . 1st Team All WNY . . . 1st Team All-Catholic . . . 3.2 GPA . . . Committed to Georgia.

2022

Rashard

Perry

Bennett

Tigers

Height:

6'-4"

Weight:

243

Section VI Class AA Player of the Year . . . Section VI Defensive Player of the Year . . . Class AA Co-Player of the Year by the New York State Sportswriters Association . . . Signed to play at Syracuse

2021

Gavin

Susfolk

Canisius

Crusaders

Height:

6'-5"

Weight:

245

First Team All-WNY. . . 2-Year Starter. . . Anchored both lines.. . . First Team All Catholic. . . Wants to continue football career

2019

Teryon

Vernon

Maritime-H.S.

Maritime/ Health Sciences

Falcons

Height:

6'-4"

Weight:

260

First Team All-WNY. . . Anchored both lines.. . . Section VI Class B Champion.. . . All-State First Team. . . Wants to continue football career

2018

Tyler

Doty

St. Joe's

Marauders

Height:

6'-5"

Weight:

285

3 Year Starter. . . First Team All-WNY. . . Played on both sides of the ball . . .Team Captain . . . NYS Catholic shot put and discus Champion. . . Committed to UB

2017

Jeremiah

Sanders

South Park

Sparks

Height:

6'-3"

Weight:

285

3 Straight First Team All-WNY selection. . .2016 Trench Trophy Underclassman . . . Played both ways. . . 13 sacks. . . 117 tackles . . . 3 forced fumbles. . . 3 fumble recoveries. . . Plans to attend JUCO at ASA College on Scholarship

2016

Nathan

Emer

Iroquois

Chiefs

Height:

6'-5"

Weight:

249

4 year starter. . . 2015 Large School Trench Trophy Underclassman . . . Played both ways. . . 12 sacks. . . 52 tackles . . . 6 fumble recoveries. . . First Team All-WNY. . . Looking to play Division I football

2015

Jake

Fuzak

Williamsville South

Billies

Height:

6'-5"

Weight:

273

4 year starter. . . Played both ways. . . 68 tackles and 8.5 sacks his senior year. . . Recorded Pick 6. . . First Team All-WNY. . . Represented U.S. in International Bowl vs. Canada. . . Headed to UB

2014

Joe

Mistretta

Jamestown

Red Raiders

Height:

6'-2"

Weight:

290

3 year starter. . . .2-Way starter . . . 86 tackles and 5 sacks his senior year. . . First Team All-WNY. . . Academic average of 93. . . Considering Edinboro, UB, and Syracuse

2013

Jeremiah

Bill

Hamburg

Bulldogs

Height:

6'-2"

Weight:

265

2-Way starter. . . Known for excellent technique. . . . Very consistent player. . . Second Team All-WNY. . . Plans on continuing football career. . . Considering UB, Universty of Rochester, and Cornell

2012

Ryan

Hunter

Canisius

Crusaders

Height:

6'-5"

Weight:

315

Dominant force on both sides of the ball. . . 0 sacks given up all year. . . . Made over 50 tackles on defense despite constant double-team. . . Made his presence felt in Championship game against Timon. . . First Team All-WNY. . . . . . Verbal commitment to Bowling Green

2011

Devon

Leach

Orchard Park

Quakers

Height:

6'-3"

Weight:

290

Anchored Class AA State Champion line at left gaurd. . . Excelled at run-blocking. . . . Named Offensive Line MVP of Class AA State Championship. . . First Team All-WNY. . . Squats 650 & benches 350. . . Plans on continuing football career. . . Will play for Yale while studying pre-med & biology

2010

Dylan

Anna

Pioneer

Panthers

Height:

6'-1"

Weight:

225

Anchored both lines, playing guard on offense and tackle on defense. . . Frequently double-teamed on defense. . . Team Co-Captain. . . Second Team All-WNY. . . Led Panthers to 7-2 record. . . Plans on continuing football career. . . Considering attending St. John Fischer College.

2009

Jasen

Carlson

Southwestern

Trojans

Height:

6'-3"

Weight:

300

Trojans were 42-4 in his four years as a starter. . . Had 51 tackles. . . . Part of Trojans' 29-game winning streak. 47-foot shot putter. . . Anchored both lines. . . Plans on attending the University at Buffalo.

2008

John

Urschel

Canisius

Crusaders

Height:

6'-4"

Weight:

275

Dominant on the field and in the classroom with a 94 academic average. . . 2008 team captain. . . Named to 2008 pre-season All WNY team. . . 2008 First Team All WNY. . . Named to the All-Catholic first team in all 3 of his years as a starter. . . Considering Stanford, Princeton, & Cornell.

2007

Nicholas

Christman

Sweet Home

Panthers

Height:

6'-2"

Weight:

285

Named Defensive MVP in the Far West Regionals against Aquinas. . . Repeat first teamer. . . Shared Defensive Player of the Year in Class A North with Christian Nestark of Grand Island.

2006

Gil

Rodriguez

Frontier

Falcons

Height:

6'-2"

Weight:

245

Tough, hardnosed, two-way down lineman. . . Controlled both sides of the line this season. . . Played guard on offense and tackle on defense. . . Known for his hustle and pankake blocks. . . Great blocker at the second level. . . Gil plans on attending college and playing football at the next level.

2005

Jesse

Jesonowski

Iroquois

Chiefs

Height:

6'-5"

Weight:

260

Dominated both sides of the line for the Chiefs. . . .Moved to tackle to protect the blind side of QB. . . Made all the Chiefs' line calls. . . . Played a key role in Chiefs' homecoming win. . . Had 30 tackles and three sacks. . . . Considering Holy Cross and Central Connecticut for architecture.

2004

Jason

Weber

Orchard Park

Quakers

Height:

6'-0"

Weight:

265

Class AA South Defensive Player of the Year and the RWS Class AA Defensive Player of the Game. . . . Led team in tackles with 90, 4 sacks, 4fumble recoveries. Paved way for Andy Pace's 1,277-yard season . . . 3 year varsity starter. . . . Considering Toledo, Albany.

2003

John

Livingston

Eden

Red Raiders

Height:

6'-1"

Weight:

285

Paved the way for a ground game that gained more than 3,200 yards in 12 games. "For a 285-pound kid, he never came off the field," coach Doug Beetow said. "When we needed him, he even played on kickoffs. He's a special kid." Will attend the University at Buffalo.

Past Weekly Nominees

Every week we honor between five and seven players as our weekly nominees. These players receive an award book and are then eligible to be finalists or Hall of Fame Inductees at the end of that season.

Week One Nominations:
Brandon Randle - Burgard
Alex Haney - Lockport
Justin Kindt - Depew
LaMar Russel - Cardinal O'Hara
Rich Zee - East Aurora

Week Two Nominations:
Matt Gioia - West Seneca West
Mike Enouch - Fredonia
Jerid Bradley - Catt. / Little Valley
John Domres - Amherst
Chris Smith - St. Francis

Week Three Nominations:
Doug Ingraham - Grand Island
John Wood - St. Joes
Gary Coughlin - Timon St. Jude
Eric Rogers - Burgard
Garvie Freeman - South Park

Week Four Nominations:
Ryan Amos - Cleveland Hill
David Filighera - West Valley
Adam Lake - Albion
Alex Port - North Tonawanda
Adam Rosner - Depew
Doug Worthington - St. Francis

Week Five Nominations:
Andy Benk - Lockport
Robert Colpoys - Niagara-Wheatfield
Keith Domon - Tonawanda
Gary Maull - Olean
Mike Rathbun - Maryvale

Week Six Nominations:
Jerod Allen - Medina
Matt Graham - Orchard Park
John Livingston - Eden
Pat Neligh - Southwestern
Kyle Van de Velde - Lancaster

Week Seven Nominations:
Andrew Daines - Niagara Falls
Brad Maderer - Alden
Mike McGuire - Williamsville North
Joe Sidari - Medina
Josh Solem - Springville

Week Eight Nominations:
Mat Derx - Portville
David Dix - Hamburg
Steve Gaiser - West Seneca West
Justin Oddo - St. Joe's
Rob Webb - Lewiston-Porter
Justin Weber - Orchard Park

Week Nine Nominations:
Jerome Chambers - Lockport
Anthony Symanski - Lafayette
Matt Langsworthy - Southwestern
Jake Keller - Eden
Mike Antonelli - Grand Island

Week Ten Nominations:
Andy Sickles - Randolph
Joe Podlucky - Grand Island
Matt Miller - Portville
John Boyd - Orchard Park
Kevin Thie - St. Francis
Damon Fortner - Burgard