The newly created Ronnie Littleton Award was presented to Dax Goff today in an assembly of Bearcat and Lady Bearcat athletes.
The assembly also saw the presentation of the Bearcat male and female athletes of the year, known all state awards, and recognition of 24 Bearcat scholar athlete awards for 24 senior high athletes who have a grade point average of 3.8 or better.
Goff winning the Littleton award – he also won the Male Athlete of the Year Award – is fitting since he broke Littleton’s single season rushing record that had stood for 44 years.
“Littleton graduated from Booneville High School in 1979 and for more than four decades has been the standard against which all Bearcat greats are measured.
Due to injuries and a playoff format that guaranteed only a conference champion a postseason berth, Ronnie played in only 35 games but he still ran for just over 4,000 and was the only Bearcat to do so until 1999.
Littleton was also the first three-time 1,000-yard rusher. In 1978 Littleton ran for 1967 yards and led the Bearcats to the state title game for the first time in school history.
That stood as the single season record until Goff ran for 2323 yards this year.
Littleton still holds the record for rushing yards in a playoff game, a record he set in 1978 with 248 yards against Pulaski Oak Grove – today’s Maumelle. That was also a career high in a run dominant era when a three touchdown lead typically meant a game was decided.
Littleton was also feared as a return man due to his speed and was a superior track athlete excelling in both sprints and hurdle events.
Sadly, Littleton left us in 2017.
This year the Ronnie Littleton award was created to recognize Bearcats of today who embody the spirit of Littleton, who was the consummate quiet leader who let his play do his talking.
Male Athlete Of The Year Nominees
Dax Goff: All State in football. Goff ran for a school record 2323 rushing yards, 29 rushing TDs, 31 total TDs, and threw two touchdown passes. He ran more than 200 yards six times including single game school record 307 against West Fork. He was also the leading tackler for the Bearcats with 116. Goff won the long jump for Class 3A in the state indoor meet and was second in both the long jump and triple jump. He has hit nine home runs and came into this week batting .614 with 34 RBI.
Brooks Herrera: Herrera shot a low-round 79 in the district golf tournament in later September to lead Bearcats to a conference title after being on three runner-up teams. That came despite a summer injury from which he wasn’t fully released until October. Herrera played in eight games in football after release and had 20 tackles. In baseball Herrera is 5-2 as a pitcher and is hitting .375 with team high 18 stolen bases and he has hit two home runs.
Jace Washburn: Washburn was All Conference in football where recorded 48 tackles with 11 pass breakups and team high three interceptions. In basketball was also all conference with averages of nine points, seven rebounds, a steal, and almost two assists per game after joining team in December. In baseball is hitting .473 while playing as a utility guy and seeing time at pitcher (3-0), catcher, first, third, shortstop, and centerfield.
Female Athlete Of The Year Nominees
Leigh Swint: She was often the only golfer for Lady Bearcats and qualified for state golf tournament as individual. She shot a low round 39 in a 9-hole event in Pottsville. Swint was All State in basketball with averages of 14 points (a high of 30 against Paris) almost six rebounds, three steals, and three assists per game. In softball she is hitting .415 with 10 doubles and a home run.
Lexi Franklin: She qualified for the state tennis tournament with her doubles partner Linley Garrett and they reached quarterfinal round. She was all conference in basketball with over 11 points, four rebounds, three steals, and three assists per game. In softball Lexi has surpassed 600 career strikeouts with 166 this season. She is hitting .426 with six doubles and four home runs. She has nine wins in the circle.
Karmen Kent: Was All Conference in volleyball where she was a team leader in kills for a team that made state tournament. In basketball she was also All Conference with six points, team high in rebounds at six per game along with a steal, and an assist. In softball she is hitting .328, has three doubles, a triple, and has 10 RBI. Kent is also a member of the Cheer Cats.
“We realize that being an athlete is only part of the journey. First and foremost you’ve got to take care of business in the classroom, right? You give your best effort in the classroom just like you do on the practice field or in the weight room,” athletic director Josh Walker said before announcing the scholar athlete awards. “Your best effort because you’re a Booneville athlete."
Bearcat Scholar Athlete Awards: Peyton Tatum, Johnny Barnes, Karmen Kent, Dunn Daniel, Emma Mikles, Laney Parrish, Camdyn Dove, Leigh Swint, Kalynn Horton, Sara Ulmer, Layla Byrum, Natalie Miller, Linley Garrett, Dax Goff, Marcos Mullor, Kylie Lunsford, Angie Brown, Ellie Smith, Jace Washburn, Mary Haynes, Farrah Stringer, Shelbie Myers, Noah Harrel, and Wesley Fonseca.
All State Awards: Dax Goff (football), Cody Elliott (football), Lilly Downs (volleyball), Savannah Coker (cheer), Leigh Swint (basketball). C.J. Johnson was also named to the All State Tournament team.
Any all state awards for baseball and softball will be announced following the respective seasons.
GOFF WINS INAUGURAL RONNIE LITTLETON AWARD
