For a list of the other Gatorade State Football POYs, click here.

THE WINNER: Andrew Ford

THE BASICS

School: Cedar Cliff (Camp Hill, Pa.)
Grade: Senior
Position: QB
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 180 pounds

Athletic achievement: He threw for 2,776 yards and 35 touchdowns this past season on 161-of-238 passing (67.6 percent), leading the Colts (9-2) to a berth in the Class AAAA district playoffs. A returning Class AAAA Third Team All-State selection as named by the Pennsylvania Football News, Ford earned invitations to the Elite 11 quarterback camp and Nike’s The Opening this past summer. He completed 225 of 339 attempts for 2,957 yards and 35 touchdowns as a junior last season.

Academic excellence: Ford has maintained a 3.80 GPA.

Exemplary character: He has volunteered as a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

THE PRAISE

“On the football field, he is an incredible athlete,” said Chad Weaver, head coach at rival Red Land (Lewisberry, Pa.). “His numbers don’t do it justice, as he is a complete leader. He is able to put the players in the correct positions and makes sure they are running what is going to work best. Off the field, he is a great young man.”

THE FUTURE: Ford has verbally committed to Virginia Tech.