MINERSVILLE - Mahanoy Area's Tyler Cavenas' 6-5, 270 pound massive body left many a mark on opponents during not just this past football season, but the last three.

Cavenas was a three-year starter for the Golden Bears and helped lead the Bears to the Eastern Conference Class A runner-up this past fall.The accolades continued following his last game on his home turf and hit an all-time high on Sunday night when he was named the 2014 Schuylkill County Scholar-Athlete from among 14 others from area high schools at the 53rd annual banquet at Hillcrest Hall.TIMES NEWS Area representatives included Marian's Lucas Damian, Panther Valley's Kyle Ferryman and Tamaqua's Michael Kelly.Cavenas not only excelled on the football field, but helped the Golden Bears to the Schuylkill League and District 11 championships in basketball this year. Last spring, he won Schuylkill League and District 11 gold in the shot put and discus.Ranked second in his class, Cavenas will continue his football career and education at Lehigh University following graduation in June.Cavenas was proud to represent Mahanoy Area at the fete. And it was only fitting that the last Golden Bear to receive the award, James Rhoades Jr. back in 1989, was in attendance to present him with the $1,000 scholarship called the James J. and Mary Edith Rhoades Charitable Foundation Award.The fourth Mahanoy Area football player to receive the award, he joins Rhoades, Dan Lucyk (1964) and John McElhenny (1970)on the list."This one ranks right up there because it isn't just for football, it's also for academics," he said afterwards.In his senior season, Cavenas was All-County, All-Area and an All-State first team choice. He was also honored as the Lineman of the Year by the Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association and Pennsylvania's male pick for the Wendy's National High School Heisman Award.Cavenas has also been chosen to play in the PFSCA East-West All-Star game in Altoona.Damian, who was THE TIMES NEWS Defensive Player of the Year and will continue his football career and education at Duquesne University.Ferryman, who was a team captain for the Panthers his sophomore, junior and senior year, will play football and further his education this fall at Moravian College.Kelly, who was known for his outstanding defensive play for the Raiders, will attend Penn State Hazleton campus in the fall and his hopes are to move on to University Park and major in engineering.Schuylkill Haven coach Mike Farr, president of the Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association, honored 2013 Hall of Fame inductees that included Blue Mountain's Dick Ketz, Tamaqua's Walt Ligenza, Minersville's Joseph Willinsky and Panther Valley's Gino Poli.Aso recognized were Schuylkill County football teams that came away with post-season awards this past season. Those included North Schuylkill, Eastern Conference Class II runner-up and head coach Wally Hall; Pine Grove, Tri-Valley League champions and head coach Jeff Sampson; Schuylkill Haven, District 11 Class A champions and head coach Farr; Marian, Eastern Conference Class A champions and head coach Stan Dakosty; Williams Valley, District 11 Class A runner-up and head coach Bill Savage; and Mahanoy Area Golden Bears, Eastern Conference Class A runner-up and head coach Dave Holman.Also recognized were Hall of Fame members Dick Jones and Nick Barbetta who passed away during the past year.Other Scholar-Athletes who were honored included Blue Mountain's Shane Grapsy, Minersville's Luke Heffron, Nativity BVM's Brady Morgan, North Schuylkill's Matthew Smarkanic, Pine Grove's Jared McCabe, Pottsville's Thomas Campion III, Schuylkill Haven's Michael Feryo, Shenandoah Valley's John Storm, Tri-Valley's Tanner Coleman and Williams Valley's Aaron Imboden.North Schuylkill Superintendent Dr. Andrew Smarkanic gave the "Educator's View of a Scholar Athlete" speech.