(11-29-19) The 2019 SSN Mercer County Player of the Year is Parkway’s Nick Hawk (6’0 200 Sr). Hawk helped to lead the Panthers to a 4-6 season under 1st year Head Coach Joel Henkle. It is the best record for the black and gold in over ten years, when they also went 4-6.
One of the main reasons for the Panthers success this season was Nick Hawk. Hawk ended his career as the all-time rushing leader at Parkway with 2,778 yards and 27 career TDs. Impressive numbers for any player in the Midwest Athletic Conference.
In 2019 he led Mercer County in scoring with 16 TDs and 1 2-point conversion for 98 points. Hawk was also the 2nd leading rusher in the county with 955 yards on 171 carries and just 29 yards behind county leader Celina’s Cooper Jones.
His highlight game of the year in the last game of his high school career at St. Henry when he rushed for 227 yards (runs of 23, 20, 79, 37 and 20 yards) on 27 carries and three touchdowns.
How good was Hawk? Against MAC co-champion and D VI State Semifinalist Anna he rushed for 162 yds on 17 carries and 2 TDs. During the season he would rush for over 100 yards, including the Delphos St. John’s game he had on 16 carries for 127 yards with 3 TDS and in the season opening win over Crestview he rushed for 126 yards on 15 carries and 2 TDs (one TD on his only reception).
Hawk was impressive on Special Teams as well this season including a 94 yard kick-off return against Ft. Recovery.
Playing in the MAC can be a challenge, so it is impressive that when the All-Conference team came out Hawk was named a 1st team running back and a 2nd team defensive end.
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