BAINBRIDGE – The National Football Foundation, sponsor of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Heisman Trophy, selected two Bainbridge Island residents to be among the eight finalists identified from more than 130 candidates nominated by Puget Sound area high schools for the NFF 2017 Scholar Athlete Awards.

O’Dea senior center/linebacker Jack Markowitz was selected as the Lineman of the Year from among the four lineman candidates. Markowitz was an All Metro selection for the state champion Irish and has a 3.9 cumulative GPA. He will study engineering the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland next fall.

Kyle Bierly, Bainbridge High School senior running back/linebacker, was one of four finalists for Back of the Year honors. Bierly was an All Metro selection and has a 4.0 cumulative GPA. He will play football next year for Pomona College in Claremont, California, and plans to major in mathematics.

The NFF program, now in its 52nd year, recognizes high school senior football players for their academic achievements, excellence on the football field, and contributions to their communities.