FLORENCE. –The public is invited to meet 2016 Harlon Hill Trophy winner Justin Dvorak of the Colorado School of Mines at the Florence/Lauderdale Tourism Visitor’s Center in McFarland Park on Friday, January 6 at 9:30 a.m. The event is free and open to everyone.
Dvorak is the 31st winner of the award, created in 1986 and named for Shoals native Harlon Hill. Dvorak will officially receive the award at 11:30 Friday at a luncheon at the University of North Alabama.
Dvorak, a native of Tomball, Texas, led his team to a share of the Rocky Mounatin Athletic Conference title and Colorado School of Mines advanced to the second round of the NCAA playoffs. Mines was second in the nation in points per game (47.5) and passing yards per game (359.8) and first in total offense with 566.8 yards per game.
Dvorak was first-team All-American by the Associated Press and the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association, named RMAC Offensive Player of the Year in his final season, as well as D2CCA Super Region 4 Offensive Player of the Year. He led NCAA Division II with 4,584 passing yards and 53 touchdowns, rushing for eight more. His 380.2 total offense yards per game ranks second in D-II and his 172.4 rating is sixth.
Dvorak also led the nation with 366 points responsible for. He enjoyed a record-breaking season as he established the Mines and RMAC career records for passing yards (13,466), total offense yards (14,608), and passing touchdowns (134); the latter mark ranks second all-time in D-II. Dvorak threw for four or more touchdowns 10 times and five or more five times.
Dvorak becomes the second Hill Trophy winner from the Colorado School of Mines, joining 2004 winner Chad Friehauf. He also gives the RMAC its fourth Hill winner in the last 13 years, with Chadron State’s Danny Woodhead winning in 2006 and 2007.
