The following article first appeared on the DTC3 website. Click here to see the original article.
DTC Communications “Player of the Year” John Ross Hord
Each season, DTC Sports selects an outstanding player from the DTC service area for the DTC Communications Player of the Year. This year, the honor went to Smith County High School senior, John Ross Hord.
Hord was chosen based on his outstanding performance throughout the 2019 regular season. He was twice named DTC Sports Player of the Game during the season, for his performance against the Gordonsville Tigers in Week 2, and again in Week 7, as the Owls won an important Region 4-3A game over Sequatchie County.
Offensively, throughout the ten games of the regular season, Hord rushed for 1,048 yards on 156 carries – an average of 6.7 yards per carry – and scored 18 rushing touchdowns. Additionally, Hord caught 14 passes for another 123 yards and added another score. In total, on offense, Hord tallied 1,171 total yards and 19 touchdowns, good enough to score 114 of the Owls’ 294 total points this season.
Hord was equally as important on the defensive side of the ball for Smith County, as he registered 90 total tackles – which ranked second on the team – logged six tackles for loss, had one interception and a fumble recovery from his linebacker position. Hord’s efforts helped the Owls earn a 6-4 overall record, a 4-1 record in Region 4-3A – good enough for a second-place finish – and a first-round home playoff game against Sweetwater on Friday night, November 8.
Hord finished his career at SCHS with 2,361 rushing yards on 487 carries (4.8 YPC) and scored 37 TD. He also caught 45 passes for an additional 447 yards and 3 TD. Hord was also among the team leaders in tackles on defense during all four years of his tenure. His career stats put Hord among the best players to ever suit up for the Smith County Owl football program.
In addition to Hord’s individual award, DTC Communications also presented Smith County High School head football coach Scott Murray, and the Smith County High School Football Program, a check for $500 for having this year’s DTC Communications Player of the Year. Tom Duggin of DTC Sports made the presentations to Hord and Coach Murray during a pep rally at the school, Friday afternoon, before the playoff game with Sweetwater.
“DTC Communications is proud to be a community partner with the local schools in our service area, and we are equally proud to recognize the accomplishments of the outstanding student-athletes within the area,” said Chris Townson, CEO of DTC Communications. “I want to personally congratulate both John Ross Hord and the Smith County High School football team for their remarkable accomplishments throughout the 2019 high school football season.”
Hord becomes the third Smith County Owl to win the DTC Player of the Year Award, joining Jalen Manning (2013), and Carson Hackett (2017). Other past winners include Lucas Phillips (2012) and Steven Jennings (2014, 2015) of DeKalb County, and Seth Price (2016) and Deramus Carey (2018) of Watertown.
DTC Sports and DTC Communications are proud to recognize Smith County High School senior running back/linebacker John Ross Hord as the DTC Communications Player of the Year, and proudly congratulate both he and the Smith County High School football team for their outstanding accomplishments in 2019.
DTC Communications is proud to continue their long-standing support of its communities and the athletic programs within these communities.
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