As the 2016 varsity football season came to a close, the 5A Inland Empire League honored many Lewiston players and coaches Nov. 4 with top awards ranging from MVP to Coach of The Year.
Colton Richardson, LHS senior and the Bengals’ quarterback, received the 2016 most valuable player award.
His coaches and teammates described Richardson to the Purr as an intelligent, selfless and resilient winner. Richardson, being a three-year varsity starter for LHS football, announced on Nov. 23 that he will continue his family’s football legacy at the University of Idaho. He will play for Moscow beginning in Fall 2017, according to the Lewiston Tribune.   
Meanwhile, Bengals’ head coach Shawn Nilsson won the title of coach of the year. Nilsson has been a coach at LHS for 28 years, taking the head coach position five years ago.
   “[Coach Nilsson] really gave me a chance to prove myself” said varsity senior Lane Grant.
   Along with Richardson, two other Lewiston seniors earned awards at this ceremony — safety and kicker Grant, and punter and offensive lineman Dustin McLean.
  “[We] worked hard and focused on getting better as a team,” said Grant about this season›s football bunch.  
  The following Bengals received honorable mentions from the league: senior Matt Baldeck, OL; junior Nicholas Blume, OL; senior Keeshawn Clarke, RB/WR; senior Jaret Driskill, WR; senior, Kyler Fletcher, S.;  junior Troy Hanes, DB; and junior, Braeden Wilson, WR.
  “They’re a very special group,” Nilsson said, “one as a coach, you don’t forget.”