Mike Self-FCT Sports Editor

By Staff
FLORENCE - Red Bay senior Kurt Kennedy was announced on Thursday as this year's winner of the American Benefits Corporation-Mizeman Trophy Award.
The announcement was made at an awards ceremony held Thursday morning at the new Comcast Cable studio in downtown Florence.
Kennedy beat out 22 other nominees, including fellow finalists Maurice McCulloch of Russellville and Chris Nance of Deshler, for the award, which is designed to honor players of smaller physical stature.
Mizeman nominees must be less than six feet tall and weigh less than 175 pounds.
Kennedy was nominated by Red Bay coach Dale Jeffreys and received the highest number of points in voting done by broadcasters, sports writers, and the general public in northwest Alabama.
Kennedy, a 5-foot-9, 165-pound quarterback/defensive back, finished the season with more than 3,000 all-purpose yards and 28 total touchdowns.
He had 1,428 passing yards, 777 rushing yards, 659 kickoff return yards and 383 punt return yards.
Kennedy also excelled on defense for the Tigers as a safety, registering 86 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions.
Kennedy credited his teammates for helping him post his impressive numbers.
Jeffreys said Kennedy was certainly worthy of the award.
He's the kind of player you can trust," Jeffreys said. "He really leads by example."