Holden Langston receives the Virgil Starks Academic Excellence Award at the Football Banquet. | Joy Haynes

Hartselle football head coach Bob Godsey considered the 2014 football season a success.

“Anytime you beat Athens, Cullman and Austin in the same season, it’s a good year.” Godsey said during a speech at the football awards ceremony Sunday afternoon.

The awards ceremony was held in the Hartselle High School auditorium with a crowd of more than 100 players and families in attendance.

The only individual award, the Virgil Starks Academic Excellence award, went to Holden Langston who had the highest GPA with a 3.9.

Godsey thanked the coaching staff, parents, field crew, video crew, junior high coaches, photographers, media guide designers, radio broadcasters, cheerleaders and more. He said the number one purpose of the entire program is to challenge the guys and make them better men.

“We want them to improve mentally, physically,  emotionally and spiritually to help them to be better husbands, fathers, friends and sons,” Godsey said.

He said this year’s group accomplished everything they did by improving every day.

“They played in the toughest region in the toughest class in the state, but they just went to work,” Godsey said. “When a lot of people didn’t believe in them, they showed patience, trust and growth. They came to practice with a smile on their face and made improvements every day. It is a humbling position to lead this great program that has such tradition.”