Shane Hulmes and Cole Ordway already had enough memories from their high school football careers to last a lifetime.

Hulmes was a key part of four straight District 11 championship teams at Northwestern Lehigh, three that made it to the state finals and one that won a PIAA title in 2024.

Ordway was the driving force behind a renaissance of Easton football. As the quarterback, he helped the Red Rovers go from 3-8 in 2023 to a 10-game winning streak and an 11-2 record in 2024.

Then as a senior last fall, Ordway put up record-breaking numbers and Easton set a school mark by going 13-0 before losing to eventual state champ La Salle College High School in the state quarterfinals. The Rovers then bounced back with a rout of rival Phillipsburg on Thanksgiving to finish 14-1.

On Sunday, Hulmes and Ordway got one special memory to take with them from their storied scholastic careers.

Hulmes and Ordway were the big winners at the 66th annual National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Lehigh Valley Chapter Scholar-Athlete Dinner at the Northampton Banquet and Event Center.

Hulmes was the winner of the Edward J. Watto Award as the small school (Class 4A-1A) scholarship honoree.

Ordway was the recipient of the Albert M. Beneck Award as the large school (5A, 6A) scholarship winner.

It was the second year in a row that a Northwestern Lehigh player won the small school award as Hulmes followed in the footsteps of 2025 winner Eli Zimmerman. Ordway was Easton’s first honoree since R. Scott Deschaine in 1975.

In addition, Palmerton’s Logan Anthony, who is already enrolled as a student and part of the football program at Rutgers, was the winner of the Michael “Guut” Gurdineer Award as the most outstanding lineman in the Lehigh Valley.

In all, 34 area high schools and six local college teams had scholar-athlete representatives honored as the event had the feel of Lehigh Valley football’s “Oscars” with more than 300 in attendance.

East Stroudsburg University coach Jimmy Terwilliger was the keynote speaker and did an outstanding job as a pinch-hitter for former Lehigh coach Kevin Cahill who was supposed to speak. Cahill took over at Yale last week and couldn’t attend.

Shane Hulmes

The Bucknell commit was listed in the event’s program as a 6-foot-3, 213-pound tight end/linebacker who ranked in the top 6% of his class with a GPA of 4.0 or higher.

He is a member of the National Honor Society, a team captain and was a three-time first-team all-state selection on defense and a four-time all-league choice on both sides of the ball. He was chosen as the Colonial League’s defensive player of the year last year.

“This is a huge honor and a prestigious award,” Hulmes said. “There are a lot of great student-athletes here, so I am honored to accept this award.”

Northwestern Lehigh’s seniors went 57-5 over their football careers, 46-2 over the last three years. Hulmes was there for it all.

“It was a really cool run we had and it started with the coaches and the players. Once we made it to that first state championship game, we saw the kind of impact it made on the community,” Hulmes said. “It was a really special thing. And then we made it back the last couple of years — a really special experience that I will cherish forever. It was an awesome time.”

Hulmes said that seeing all of the scholar-athletes at the banquet reinforced the idea that “if you work hard in the classroom and work hard on the field, the results will show and you will be rewarded. I’m a Tiger for life, but I am excited for the next chapter.”

Cole Ordway

Ordway is listed at 6-foot and 180 pounds and also has a 4.0 GPA and ranks in the top 6% of his class. A member of the National Honor Society, student council, Future Educators of America and the Key Club, Ordway earned all-state and all-league accolades and was chosen offensive player of the year by several entities in addition to being a Mini-Max winner from the Maxwell Club.

After compiling more than 2,500 yards in total offense and 20 touchdowns as a junior, his senior season was even better. He threw for 1,402 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushed for 1,977 yards and 36 touchdowns while setting a dozen records for the Red Rovers.

“I definitely was a little surprised and then nervous that I had to give a little speech,” Ordway said. “I wasn’t ready for that. But it’s definitely a great feeling and honor.”

Ordway said that he had many highlights to choose from when looking back, but said, “To be able to play with all of the guys I grew up with was just special. And then being so successful as a team is something we’ll always hold on to.”

He said that the top highlight was beating Parkland for the district championship and added it was extra special “because a lot of people didn’t pick us to win.”

Growing up in a sports-oriented community like Easton, Ordway said, “Growing up here and being raised here, I always dreamed of playing here. To be able to do it is something very special.”

Easton coach Matt Senneca said Ordway was special.

“This award is very deserving of a student who has worked very hard for it,” Senneca said. “All of the accomplishments he had on the field and then you top it off with an award like this makes it even more special. I am definitely going to miss coaching him, that’s for sure. He’s a 4.0 kid with all honors classes and playing and excelling at multiple sports. I never worried about putting too much on his plate. I knew he could handle everything I wanted him to do and I think he’s going to do great at West Chester.”

Before he becomes a Ram, Ordway will play baseball for Easton this spring. He was an all-league shortstop last season.

Logan Anthony

The 6-foo-4, 315-pound Anthony ranked in the top 33% of his class with a GPA of 3.8. He was an all-league and all-state selection as an offensive guard and chosen as the Colonial League’s lineman of the year. He was also a Mini-Max winner chosen by the Maxwell Club.

He was also active in the school and community with organizations such as SADD, the environmental club, the Leo Club and Avedium and also volunteered with the Bo Tkach Memorial Foundation Turkey Day Trot and the Palmerton Lighting Committee for Christmas trees.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has helped me along the way and thank everyone who puts this banquet together and gives this award,” Anthony said. “I think linemen should be recognized. They don’t get it all the time. I feel blessed and super thankful that I’m here among my peers.”

Anthony is already at Rutgers getting acclimated to college football.

“I’m the first one from Palmerton to go to the Big Ten and I love it there so far,” he said. “The workouts and the academics are challenging, but I am prepared to get better. But playing at Palmerton meant a lot to me, especially my coaches. [Mike] Falcone was so big in my development and with my workouts and helping me get recruited. And [head] coach Chris Walkowiak reached out to every school for me. I was truly fortunate to have those guys and the faculty and staff with me at Palmerton. I wouldn’t trade my high school for any other.”

Other honors

Parkland was saluted for having the highest team GPA among Class 6A schools in the state.

Bob Novogratz, a former Northampton and Army standout on both the offensive and defensive lines, was recognized for his induction into the NFF College Hall of Fame.

Novogratz earned the Knute Rockne Award as Lineman of the Year from the Touchdown Club of Washington, D.C. and also was named Lineman of the Year by the Los Angeles Times in 1958. He ended his college career by playing in the East-West Shrine Game.

Following his graduation from West Point, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and served for 28 years in the U.S. Army with tours of duty in Vietnam and Korea. He received the Legion of Merit Award and the Vietnamese Honor Medal before retiring as a colonel.

Also, the new inductees for the NFF Lehigh Valley Chapter Hall of Fame are Jim Pokrivsak, Mark Farnan, Gerry Nicholas, Robert Dougherty, Doug Leonzi, Dave Steckel, Terry Stoudt and the late Kevin Hoffman. The Hall of Fame banquet will be held on May 1 in Northampton.