SOUTH PORTLAND — Six finalists have been named for the fourth annual Frank J. Gaziano Memorial Offensive and Defensive Lineman Awards, according to Jeff Kane, president of National Distributors, Inc. and Frank Gaziano’s son-in-law.

Sanford’s Jed Scott is one of three finalists for the Offensive Lineman Award, along with Greg Grinnell of Cheverus and Ethan Liberty of Skowhegan. The finalists for the Defensive Lineman Award are Jacob Fogel of Portland, Colin Richards of Mt. Blue and Luke Washburn of Oak Hill.

“Jed Scott being named a finalist for the Gaziano Trophy is very exciting,” said Sanford head football coach Mike Fallon. “All of us in the Sanford football community are very proud of him.

“This past season, Jed was outstanding on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he was our road grader; we ran behind him a lot and also used him in pulling situations on a regular basis, where he would be the first blocker at our point of attack. He moves well, and has a great football motor. He played with the pedal to the metal all the time, and this was often times infectious to his teammates.”

Fallon said Scott didn’t start playing football until his freshman year, and missed his entire sophomore season due to injury. A “raw” player, as Fallon put it, the 6-foot-2, 285-pound Scott used a “great work ethic” to become one of the SMAA’s top linemen the past two seasons.

Scott was a team captain, and made the SMAA All-Academic team the past two seasons.

“His teammates and coaches hold him in high regard,” said Fallon.

The scholarship and awards program for senior Maine high school football linemen was created in 2010 in memory of Frank J. Gaziano, founder of National Distributors, Inc., and a former college All-American and professional football player with a lifelong passion for local sports. The awards are presented to student-athletes who epitomize the character, leadership, and perseverance of Gaziano, and who are selected by the awards committee based on their strong leadership on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.

The first-place offensive and defensive lineman winners and four runners-up for the largest high school scholarship award of its kind in the country will be announced at a ceremony on Jan. 25 at 1 p.m. at the Augusta Civic Center. The guest speaker for this year’s banquet will be Gabby Price, head coach at Husson University.

The offensive and defensive first-place winners each receive a scholarship of $5,000, a trophy and a leather jacket. Four runners-up receive a $1,000 scholarship, trophy and leather jacket. Funding for the $14,000 in scholarships provided by National Distributors Inc. in South Portland.