EWU's Jim Townsend on ballot for Piesman Trophy

Little did Jim Townsend know that his 62-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Cal Poly in September would be up for an award in December.

The Eastern Washington University junior defensive end out of Okanogan, Wash. High School is one of 18 finalists nationally for the Piesman Trophy (rhymes with Heisman), an annual award given by SB Nation to a “lineman who does something special with the ball in his hands.”

Fans may vote for up to five of the finalists at: www.sbnation.com/a/piesman-trophy-2018. Among the 18 finalists are just three from NCAA Football Championship Subdivision schools (...