TD Club gives out preseason awards

With the start of much anticipated high school football season right around the corner, The Touchdown Club of Houston held its 43rd annual Touchdowner of the Year Dinner at the J.W. Marriot. Bruce Matthews was selected as the recipient of this award, which is voted on by the board of directors of the TD Club and awarded for "extraordinary contributions and outstanding achievements reflecting honor and sportsmanship". Previous winners include Bear Bryant (1971), Roger Staubauch (1984) and Earl Campbell (1998) among many others. Matthews was an offensive lineman for the Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans for 19 years, making the Pro-Bowl in 14 of them. He is the epitome of consistency and was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007. As well as this award, the TD Club also selected thirty of the best high school players in the area for the Pre-Season All-Greater Houston team. And let me tell you folks, it was a star studded event. Some of the top players in the country, much less Houston, were in attendance. Ranked #4 in the country according to rivals.com, Russell Shepherd (LSU) made this team as an athlete even though he plays QB at Cy-Ridge. Eisenhower's Craig Loston (Clemson), ranked #21 in the country, and was 1 of 5 defensive backs picked. Every player was given a plaque for being selected, as well as having their accomplishments read aloud by Fort Bend athletic director Keith Kilgore. Other players in the house included Hightower QB A.J. Highsmith (Miami), Chavez DE Michael Brockers (LSU), Lamar RB Kalvin Guyton (Texas A&M), and Clear Creek DB Marcus Davis (Texas) just to name a few.