By BRIANA HARRIS / Staff Writer

PELHAM – The Central Alabama Football Officials Association recently awarded Pelham High School’s football program with the Florey Dow Sportsmanship Award for the 2016 football season.

The association selects two schools – a 1A-3A school and a 4A-6A school – to win the award, said Pelham Head Coach Tom Causey. Pelham won the award for the 4A-6A division and Prattville Christian Academy won in the 1A-3A division.

Officials rate schools on their professionalism and sportsmanship starting as soon as they arrive on campus until when they leave campus.

The schools are rated on 10 categories: head coach, assistant coaches, players, fans, parking, security, dressing room, chain crew, field and hospitality.

In November Causey and his wife attended a banquet in Montgomery where he accepted the award on behalf of the football program.

Causey said having good sportsmanship is a part of building a quality football program.

“We’re on the right track,” Causey said. “We’re not there yet, but we’re on the right track. It all starts with sportsmanship – it’s how you treat people and it’s a part of determining the kind of person our players will be in the future.”

Causey said the award is also a credit to the school system, PHS administrators, teachers and students.