Hancock (8-0) and Verndale (8-0) both finished unbeaten during the high school football regular season in 2021. As a result, Coaches Chad Christianson of the Owls and Mike Mahlen of the Pirates shared the District 9-west South Coach of the Year award. Players from their teams and Wheaton/Herman-Norcross captured the top individual awards in the District. Award winners were voted on by the District coaches.