SHEFFIELD TWP. — Anthony Hitchens made plenty of trips to the stage to pick up various awards at Clearview’s football banquet Wednesday night.

But he saved the best trip for last.

Hitchens, a standout tailback and linebacker for the Clippers, was named the 2009 Lorain County Golden Helmet Award winner. The award’s sponsor, Coca-Cola, presented the trophy to the senior to close the evening.

“I knew there were a lot of great athletes in our conference and our county and stuff, so I really wasn’t expecting it to go to me,” Hitchens said. “But I’m happy to have it. I haven’t been this happy in a long time. I’m very excited and I’m going to enjoy it with my teammates.”

Clearview coach Mike Collier read off Hitchens’ school records — including 3,864 career rushing yards, 364 career points scored and 174 points scored in a season (this year) — before Hitchens was given the Golden Helmet.

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Hitchens gained 1,428 yards rushing this season and scored 21 touchdowns, guiding the Clippers to an 8-2 record and a Patriot Athletic Conference Stripes Division championship.

“There’s been a lot of tremendous athletes to come through Clearview High School,” Collier said. “But in my opinion, he’s not only one of the best athletes to ever play at Clearview High School, he’s one of the best athletes in this area.”

The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder, who started at tailback for the bulk of his high school career, also earned the Division IV Northeast Lakes District co-offensive back of the year and the Lorain County small-school offensive back of the year honors.

He was also named to the Division IV All-Ohio first-team for the second straight season, and was the player of the year in the PAC.

“This award means a lot to us and to our community and to our team,” Hitchens said. “If I can do it, they know they can do it if they just work at it. You have to be accountable to your teammates.”

Collier mentioned multiple times how humble Hitchens was and how quick he is to credit his teammates.

“You hate to say that this is a once-in-a-lifetime kid, but it’s a possibility that, in my career, I may not see another kid of his quality,” Collier said. “He’s a first-class kid. Obviously, he has the football talent, but just what he does off the field, just the way he carries himself, the way he’s a leader … he just does all the intangibles that make a successful program.

“He was a great leader for us, and I hope those attributes rub off on a number of players that we have here.”

Hitchens rushed for over 1,500 yards during his junior season, helping the Clippers go 10-0 during the regular season and earn a playoff berth. Losses to Wellington and Buckeye by a combined seven points wound up costing the Clippers a second straight trip to the postseason, being edged out by Pemberville Eastwood for the eighth and final spot in their region thanks to third-level points.

Hitchens earned his fourth varsity letter and was given the team’s captains award, a scholar-athlete award for having a GPA of 3.0 or higher and the Clippers’ offensive back of the year award.

Hitchens has narrowed his college choices to Kansas, Iowa and Indiana. Iowa wants him as a safety, Kansas as a running back and Indiana as an “athlete.” It doesn’t matter to Hitchens what position he plays, as long as he’s playing on Saturday afternoons next year.

“I’m not going to force anything or commit early,” he said. “I’m just going to let the pieces play and eventually sign with one of them. I just want to get on the field, that’s all that matters to me.”

Hitchens said his most memorable moment from this season was “Senior Night,” when his Clippers defeated Brookside 36-6 in their final game at Tom Hoch Field. Hitchens rushed for 183 yards on 22 carries with two touchdowns in that game.

“I remember crying with my brothers on the football field and smiling at each other at the same time,” he said. “You don’t know whether you should smile or cry. We were happy that we won, but we were sad that it was over. That was probably the moment I’ll always take away with me.”

Hitchens made a bold prediction about the future of the Golden Helmet.

“I think, in the next few years to come, you’re going to see another Golden Helmet from right here at Clearview,” he said. “There’s some good athletes in junior high and some underclassmen that can do just as well as I did.”

Contact Dan Gilles at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

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