The Daily Advertiser sports department was the most celebrated in the Division II class at Sunday’s annual Louisiana Sports Writers Association writing contest banquet in downtown Natchitoches.

The Advertiser won both Section of the Year and the Division II overall sweepstakes with 33 points (besting the Houma Courier with 20 points) and sports editor Kevin Foote won the Prep Writer of the Year award.

Lafayette’s Dan McDonald — writing for numerous publications including Louisiana Open golf coverage for the Daily Advertiser — was honored as the SportsWriter of the Year after collecting 15 total points with four firsts, one second and a third.

Foote also won first place in Prep Event for his Carencro state semifinal win game story. McDonald won first place for his Louisiana Open Pro Event coverage. Other first-place awards for the Advertiser included Bruce Brown for his prep feature on pole vaulter Morgann Leleux and Josh Parrott in pro features for his look at former UL catcher Jonathan Lucroy.

The Advertiser also won first and second place in Special Sections for the UL bowl section and the annual prep football preview.

Gannett Louisiana LSU writer Glenn Guilbeau won a first place for his column comparing Les Miles and Nick Saban.

Story of the Year was produced by Roy Lang of the Shreveport Times on Alabama recovering from devastating tornadoes.

The contest was for work during the 2011 calendar year.