KENNEDY AWARD.

It is West Virginia's high school version of college football's Heisman Trophy.

It's symbolic of the Mountain State's schoolboy Player of the Year and has been annually presented by the sponsoring W.Va. Sports Writers Association since 1947.

Determined by balloting of the WVSWA membership, the award trophy is funded by Wheeling's WesBanco Bank via the estate of the late HARRISON KENNEDY. The Wheeling native originated the award after the New York City stockbroker, and Downtown Athletic Club member, became chairman of the Heisman Trophy selection committee.

With regular-season play wrapping up this weekend in the Mountain State, it's time to pinpoint leading contenders for the award a couple of weeks before the ballots are distributed to the voting electorate.

Here's some of the top candidates, listed alphabetically:

JUSTIN FOX, Magnolia - This third-year starting junior is one reason the Blue Eagles were 9-0 entering Friday night's finale at Grafton after finishing last season as the state Class AA runner-up to the Bearcats. Versatility is the trademark of the quarterback-defensive back-kicker-returner who has accounted for more than1,000 total offense yards and 13 touchdowns via passing, rushing, pass interception and punt returns. He's also kicked 37 conversions and three field goals. The son of one of Paden City's most honored three-sport athletes, JEFF FOX, is seeking to become only the second Blue Eagle to be so honored. Ex-Blue Eagle MARK CISAR is one of only five state athletes to win the award twice.

TYLER HARRIS, South Charleston - The quarterback-linebacker led the Black Eagles to the state Class AAA title last season and to an 8-1 record entering this weekend. He has accounted for more than 1,800 total offense yards and 27 touchdowns and impressed on defense.

LOGAN MOORE, Fairmont Senior - Another two-way stalwart at quarterback-defensive back, the three-year regular replaced the last Kennedy Award winner for the Polar Bears, KYLE ALLARD, and hasn't missed a beat. Moore has led Senior to an 8-1 record entering the weekend while passing for over 2,000 yards and 24 touchdowns, rushing for eight scores, and making key defensive plays.

COTEY WALLACE, Brooke - The first-year quarterback starter is one of the reasons the Bruins are rated No. 1 in W.Va. Class AAA ranks and were unbeaten entering Friday night's regular season finale at Musselman. In nine games, he accounted for 1,969 total offense yards and 27 touchdowns - 17 passing and 10 rushing. The second-year defensive back regular also scored on a fumble return. No Bruin has won the award although do-in-all quarterback JEFF SWEITZER placed a close second in 1986.

ALLAN WASONGA, Parkersburg - He could be the state's top college prospect and the junior running back capped his regular season last week. He averaged nearly 10 yards a carry with 2,110 yards on 215 rushes and scored 28 touchdowns including one pass reception score. The only negative in the resume is that the Big Reds sport only a 6-4 record which might influence some of the voters.

TRAVIS WHITTEN, Westside - The state's leading scorer helped his team to a 9-1 regular- season record while amassing 37 touchdowns. He rushed for 2,044 yards and 25 scores; landed 14 passes for 443 yards and eight TDs; and return four kicks for touchdowns.

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SMORGASPORTS:

(1) The West Virginia University men's basketball team has received its highest preseason ranking in five decades. The Mountaineers are ranked No. 5 in their national rankings by The Sporting News, the nation's oldest sports' publication. The top four ranked teams are, in order, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State and North Carolina.

(2) What has happened to the Big Ten football conference? It used to be called the Big Two (Ohio State and Michigan) and the Little Eight because the Buckeyes and Wolverines dominated play for several years. But recent results have shelved that theory. Last week, Michigan got waxed by a 1-6 record Illinois team, 38-13, which hadn't defeated a Division I team. Earlier, Ohio State lost to a 1-5 record Purdue team which had only defeated a weak Toledo team. The Big Ten leader is unbeaten Iowa, which had to block a field goal to nip Northern Iowa, 17-16 and survived a 24-21 victory against Arkansas State. Yikes!

(3) The area may claim a world champion this coming week. The World Series of Poker finals in Las Vegas, Nev., will be televised Tuesday night and the chip leader qualified for the event at Wheeling Island Hotel, Casino & Race Track. He's DARVIN MOON from Oakland, Md., who leads the nine-player table with more than 58-million chips, almost twice as many as any other player. The champion will be $8.5-million richer!

(4) Enjoy the weekend.