Chris Keys had a sensational 2018 season, and in turn that translated into the Lumpkin County Indians making a playoff run out of the tough region 7-AAA. For Keys’ effort, the senior forward is our BLITZ Soccer Player of the Year.

26 goals and 5 assists to go with it. What a year for the Indians captain! An 8-9-1 overall record doesn’t justify how important Keys was to Lumpkin County.

VOTING RESULTS

Our panel of 18 voters, made up of media reporters/broadcasters, former BLITZ players, former coaches and a couple of fans, submitted their Heisman-style ballots for the five finalists for the award:

HISTORY OF SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR

The Dawson County streak is over after winning this award five straight years. Keys is the first Lumpkin player to ever win the award for the boys, and continues the trend of forwards winning it in eight out of nine seasons.

2018 – Chris Keys – Lumpkin County SR F
2017 – Dennis Pyetsukh – Dawson County JR F
2016 – Dennis Pyetsukh – Dawson County SO F
2015 – Brandon Lund – Dawson County SR F
2014 – Brandon Lund – Dawson County JR F
2013 – Brooks Fulford – Dawson County JR GK
2012 – Jose Lara – Habersham Central SR F
2011 – Vincent Thomas – Union County SR F
2010 – Nolan & Sawyer Hemmer – Habersham Central SRs F/D

LOOKING AHEAD – THE NEXT FAVORITE(S)

Junior Tito Diaz for Rabun County is the obvious choice here as he’s the only returning finalist for 2019. However, Dawson County breeds talent, so someone is sure to come out of the woodwork there as a front-runner, or perhaps a Habersham, White, Union or Lumpkin player…or someone completely unexpected.