Bonny Eagle’s Horton, Cony’s Mills named Gaziano Lineman Award winners

Casey Mills, left, of Cony and Thomas Horton of Bonny Eagle.

Thomas Horton of Bonny Eagle and Casey Mills of Cony were named Saturday as winners of the 2021 Frank J. Gaziano Lineman Awards, given to Maine’s top senior linemen in high school football.

Horton was honored as the top offensive lineman and Mills as the top defensive lineman. Each receives a $5,000 scholarship from National Distributors Inc. of South Portland, which has been sponsoring the annual awards since 2010.

Horton is also one of three finalists for the 2021 Fitzpatrick Trophy, which is expected to be announced in March. A guard, he registered 42 knock-down blocks and allowed no sacks this fall.

Mills, a defensive end, had 87 tackles, eight sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery as a senior.

The runners-up for the awards each will receive a $1,000 scholarship from Key Bank, a new co-sponsor this year. They are: Seth Beyea of Thornton Academy and Reeve Twitchell of Leavitt, finalists for the offensive lineman award; and Jack Boutaugh of Leavitt and Cody Ruff of Thornton Academy, finalists for the defensive lineman award.