NATCHEZ — Ole Miss football coach Houston Nutt may have gotten three standing ovations Thursday night, but Cathedral senior Harrison Burns walked away with the biggest award at the 28th annual National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Awards Banquet.

Burns, the son of Laura and Paul Burns, won the $2,250 scholarship given by the foundation to the Miss-Lou student-athlete who gives his all in the classroom, on the field and in the community.

Burns, a kicker and offensive lineman, as well as a soccer player for the Green Wave, was selected as the school’s 2009 STAR student for his 30 ACT score and for his extracurricular activities at the school and in the Miss-Lou.

“Harrison’s been an outstanding student-athlete at Cathedral,” Green Wave coach Craig Beesley said in his introduction of Burns, who will attend Clemson University in the fall. “He’s just a tremendous athlete, good in the classroom and a pleasure to coach. He’s just a good kid.”

Vidalia High right guard and center Jake Martin received the second place scholarship of $2,000 at the Miss-Lou Chapter’s banquet, which was at the Natchez Eola Hotel.

Martin, the son of Joey and Kathy Martin, was named all-district, all-metro and all-parish his senior season with the Vikings, and will attend Nicholls State University in the fall.

“When Jake came into my dressing room for the first time, I thought, ‘Oh, my gosh, he’s going to get killed,’” said Vidalia coach Dee Faircloth. “But he made a living of staying in the weight room. That scrawny little kid developed into one of our strongest weight-lifters.”

Jackson Bryant, a receiver and defensive back for the Trinity Episcopal Saints, won the third place award of $1,750. Bryant, the son of Priss and Tom Bryant, was elected Mr. Trinity High and is also the 2008 MPSA Class AA State Championship Low Medalist in golf.

Melvin Davis of Natchez High, T.J. Johnson of Adams County Christian, Drew Loomis of Huntington and Levior Pryor of Ferriday High received scholarships of $1,000 each.

Houston Nutt, the event’s featured speaker, opened the banquet by noting that the last three coaches to speak at the banquet had been fired, and said he was starting a new tradition.

The coach, about to start his second year in Oxford after coaching nine years at Arkansas, told stories of his team, including the Rebels’ 31-30 defeat of eventual national champion Florida, made the audience laugh and applaud loudly at the event’s opening.

He said he agreed to speak at the banquet for a very specific reason.

“Somebody cared enough to have this banquet to put on for young men who are excelling,” Nutt said. “This community cares enough — these coaches, these parents care enough for you. All you have to do is be trustworthy, committed and caring.”

He reminded the players being honored that they were unique and could all do great things, but he said they had to have the right attitude to succeed.

The scholarship recipients were nominated by their respective schools and ranked by a selection committee at Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

Also honored were Floyd Eppinette, a former three-sport letterman and member of the foundation who was given the Distinguished American Award, and Robert A. Barrett, who was named the 2009 Contributor to Amateur Football.