Winn credits team

— Dayton Winn combines natural giftedness, tough-mindedness and natural athleticism, but credits his team for any success he has. The 5’8” 147-pound running back was named to the NWA Media Small Schools Football team.

“I think it’s really cool,” Winn said of the honor. “I couldn’t have done it without the whole team.”

“Pound for pound, he’s as tough a football player as you can get,” Tony Travis, head Blackhawk football coach, said.

“He ran more than 1,500 yards this season and that’s usually breaking tackles and making cuts. He’s got great vision.”

Winn is working on putting on weight - good weight. He weighed 143 during the season but is working to build muscle, he and Travis said, to build physical endurance and become bigger and stronger.

“It’s just awesome. I love football,” the junior said, adding that he would like to play in college and become a high school football coach.

“He’s physically and mentally tough, he has a solid foundation.

That, coupled with vision and natural athleticism ... with his competitiveness, makes him a total package,” Travis said. “It’s important to realize that footballis not an individual sport, but the ultimate team sport. This is a reflection on the whole team. He didn’t get one yard on his own.”

“I just try and be a leader. We work out and try to get better in off season,” Winn said.

Sports, Pages 9 on 12/21/2011