ANN ARBOR, MI —Alex Grace finished in the Final Five of the 2014 Michigan High School Football Player of the Year Award for the second consecutive year.

But the Swan Valley star finished out of the top spot Saturday when another Alex, Birmingham Brother Rice quarterback Alex Malzone, took home the second annual award. Ithaca quarterback Travis Smith, who attended Saturday's trophy presentation, was the first Player of the Year winner.

"It's hard to be upset because all of the players were great," Grace said. "I know Alex, and he's a great quarterback. He's going to have a great career at Michigan. Being with those players is an honor."

The other members of the Final Five included Khari Willis from Jackson Lumen Christi, Tyree Jackson from Muskegon Mona Shores and Mike Weber from Detroit Cass Tech.

Grace finished second in the voting behind Malzone, with Weber third, Willis fourth and Jackson fifth.

Grace owns the state single-season rushing record with 2,962 yards as a junior. He finished with 7,551 yards in his career, the third most in state history but most for a three-year varsity player.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound tailback also owns the state record with eight consecutive 200-yard games and finished with 23 consecutive 100-yard games.

Grace averaged 209.75 yards and 2.75 touchdowns per game.

Grace, who finished third in the Division 2 200-meter state finals in 2013, hopes to follow in the footsteps of Tim Shaw of Livonia Clarenceville, who is second in the state in career rushing with 7,813 yards.

Shaw went on to star at linebacker for Penn State before playing in the NFL.

"Right now, Western's coaches are looking at putting me at the SAM (linebacker) position," Grace said. "I kind of like it. Even when I run, I enjoy contact. I got to play some linebacker this season, although it was frustrating because it seemed teams ran away from me.

"I wanted to get some more hits in."

Grace hopes to add at least 10 pounds before the summer without sacrificing his speed that was timed at a 4.38-second 40-yard dash in a Midwest recruiting combine at Wixom.

"I'm looking forward to it," Grace said. "But I'm also looking forward to running the 100, 200 and 4x400 relay in the state meet.

"I've got a lot of work to do and some weight to gain."