OKEECHOBEE — Okeechobee High School Brahman football coaches handed out the end of the year awards for the 2020 season this week.

Okeechobee returned to the playoffs this year and notched their first winning record in four seasons.

The offensive MVP award was given to sophomore Lee Edouard. He was unexpectedly thrust into the quarterback position early in the season after Michael Burgarelli went down with an injury. Edouard racked up 1,125 yards rushing with 10 touchdowns on the ground, as well as 459 yards through the air with five passing touchdowns.

The defensive MVP went to sophomore Troy Young, who recored 85 tackles, two sacks, and seven tackles-for-loss for the Brahmans.

The Brahman award was given to senior Jihad Yamin for the way he represented the Brahmans on and off the field this year. Yamin has already received an offer from Baldwin Wallace University to continue his academic and athletic career.

Coaches also recognized three senior players who have stuck with the program throughout their time in high school, Joshua Surez, Sebastian Sims and Tyrone Thomas.

All three players stuck with the team as it went through a rebuilding phase in 2018 and 2019, ultimately helping guide the Brahmans back to the playoffs in 2020. The trio was awarded their jerseys from last year for their dedication to Okeechobee football.

Overall, head coach Ty Smith says the coaching staff think the team over-performed in 2020. Injuries, especially along the offensive line, could have been an easy excuse for the Brahmans losing games this year. But Okeechobee found a way to overcome them and stay competitive all year, even in the midst of a worldwide pandemic.

Okeechobee fielded a young team in 2020, and a lot of the core players from that team should be back next season.