Austin Scott

2002 Winner

Parkland High School

Austin Scott did it all in his final season at Parkland High School. He broke the Pennsylvania high school records for rushing yards (3,863), touchdowns (53) and scoring (318 points) while leading the Trojans to the PIAA Class AAAA championship.

In the title game against Woodland Hills, Scott scored on the first play from scrimmage, a 61-yard run, then added four more touchdowns and finished with 251 yards rushing as Parkland rolled to an easy 34-12 victory.

There were many excellent candidates for the 18th annual Jim Henry Award, presented to the area’s High School Player of the Year, but the Maxwell Football Club felt Scott’s overall accomplishments stood out. The 6-1, 195-pound Scott, who was a Parade Magazine All-American choice, will attend Penn State in the fall.

The previous state record for rushing yards in a season was held by James Mungro, now with the Indianapolis Colts, who ran for 3,089 yards at East Stroudsburg High School in 1995. Scott easily surpassed that mark as he averaged a dazzling 10.9 yards per rushing attempt and helped Parkland become the first school from the Lehigh Valley region to claim the Class AAAA title.

Scott missed all but one game of his junior season with a knee injury, but a 36-carry, 289-yard effort in the 2002 opener against Bethlehem Catholic convinced Scott - and everyone else - that he was back in top form.
He rushed for more than 200 yards in 11 of the Trojans’ 14 games. He went over 300 yards four times and his personal best was 402 yards in a 49-13 win over Bethlehem Freedom High School.

“I’ve been coaching 33 years and he’s the best I’ve ever seen,” said Jim Morgans, head coach at Bethlehem Freedom. “He has great speed, but his vision is outstanding, too. Plus, I’ve noticed he does something the great college players do. They’ll be going in one direction and instead of planting a foot and cutting back, they actually hop. He does that.”

Scott also participated in track, wrestling and powerlifting at Parkland High School. He is active in the community, serving as a volunteer with the South Parkland Youth Football Association and a mentor at the Springhouse Middle School and Kernsville Elementary School.

In his letter recommending Scott for the Henry Award, Gary McCartney, the Superintendent of the Parkland School District wrote: “(Austin) spoke with…and provided autographs for all who asked after every game. He responds to letters from the elderly who watched him play on television (many of our games were televised on local cable) and has a sincere and humble ‘thank you’ for all who congratulate him…Penn State has recruited an incredible football player and an even better person.”