By LORI LYONS, Journal Sports
First things first.
There is a very good football player in Buffalo, New York, who plays quarterback for the Buffalo Bills. His name is Josh Allen.
This story is not about him.
This story is about a very good football player in Bossier City, La., who plays left guard on the offensive line for the Airline Vikings. His name is Josh Allen too. So is his dad’s. They’ve heard all the jokes.
“My teammates, everybody,” the Louisiana Allen said. “It happens a lot.”
This Allen is one of 21 Shreveport-Bossier seniors who were named to the fourth annual National Football Foundation McNaughton Chapter Scholar-Athlete Watch List. Nominees must have at least a 3.2 grade point average, have won all-district honors and be involved in extracurricular activities.
In the spring, one Watch List standout will receive a $1,000 college scholarship award, from those 14 recognized with a Griffin’s Game Ball presented weekly by KTBS and Southern Classic Chicken in honor of the late Bob Griffin, the longtime sports journalist who was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
Others will be among nominees for eight more $1,000 scholarships issued by the McNaughton Chapter.
Allen said he didn’t quite realize what the honor meant when informed by his coaches that he was a nominee.
“I really didn’t think much of it,” the young history buff said. “Usually, offensive linemen don’t get the recognition so I said, well it will probably go to somebody else. So I didn’t expect to get it. I was shocked. It really does mean a lot to me, knowing what I do every day is being recognized. Being an offensive lineman, it’s really rare.”
Equally rare, perhaps, is a Louisiana boy who doesn’t spend his free time hunting and fishing. Allen prefers tossing the football around with his 5-year-old brother, Colton.
But Allen wasn’t always a Louisiana boy. Born in Florida to his Air Force dad Josh, Sr., and mom Maryann, Allen lived in at least five different places, including Alabama and Guam, before his family landed in the Bossier City area and Barksdale Air Force Base the summer before his freshman year. Before moving to Louisiana, the family lived in South Dakota.
“I do miss the snow,” he said. “I’ve been all over the place.”
It’s no wonder that Allen dreams of becoming a pilot and is currently researching colleges where he can study aviation.
But for now, his focus is football and helping to keep the Vikings on their quest for an undefeated season. It hasn’t always been easy, as the Vikings have been involved in several epic high-scoring battles, most notably the 69-68 win over Captain Shreve on Oct. 4. Last week Airline beat Natchitoches Central 76-52.
“It’s ridiculous,” he said. “Especially since where I came from in South Dakota we were not a good team. We were like 0-10. Now, moving here is like a complete culture shock. I like the tight games because they’re more exciting but I’m really tired. We had one game where we kind of blew them out and I was like, ‘Yesss.’ I don’t have to go back in every five seconds.”
Contact Lori at sportslyons@gmail.com