FOOTBALL: Take a look at SOSA’s All-Area team

Brock Netter, Staff Writer

Needless to say, this football season was as successful as they come. And it’s still going at this point. 

Southern Ohio Sports Authority was right there every step of the way, covering individual milestones, improbable feats and wins that changed history.

After a fun-filled year, take a look at our All-Area team, which consists of 35 area players who were at their best throughout the fall season.

Jake Allen | Jackson | Offensive Line | Junior

Allen is the next big-time talent, and colleges are starting to notice. His move to guard this year gave him a chance to show how agile, aggressive off the ball, and quick in the open field he is. No one who is 6-foot-3, 290 pounds should be able to move like that, but Allen is different. He was named all-FAC, the Division III District Lineman of the Year and will soon be All-Ohio.

Anthony Bishop | West | Athlete | Sophomore

Make no mistake about it; Bishop is now the face of Senator football and fans got a glimpse of what he brings to the table. Helping his team to a playoff victory this season, he ended the year with 202 carries for a team-high 1,560 yards and found the end zone 14 times. He was named the SOC II co-Offensive Player of the Year and first-team all-district.

Michael Bock | Logan Elm | Running Back | Senior

Bock simply had a knack for finding the end zone, and made it a habit. The Braves’ plan to gash defenses with the run worked out to eight wins, including a playoff contest. The senior back toted the ball 294 times for 1,659 yards and 24 touchdowns. He was named first-team MSL and first-team all-district.

Evan Brower | Zane Trace | Lineman | Senior

Zane Trace started 0-3, but quickly turned things around to win six of their last seven games behind Brower in the trenches. He never gave up a sack offensively, and had 60 tackles, including 6 1/2 tackles for loss defensively. That’s for a team that allowed just 12 points per game in conference play. He was named the SVC Offensive Lineman of the Year and first-team all-district.

Caden Cutright | Unioto | Defensive Back | Senior

When the ball is in the air, Cutright is going to find it no matter what. He’s the ultimate ballhawk, and had no problems proving it. He intercepted seven passes — again — and set a new school record for interceptions in a career with 15, helping the Shermans to another Gold Ball. He was named the SVC Defensive Back of the Year and first-team all-district. 

Blaise Davison | South Gallia | Linebacker | Junior

Anytime there was an open hole, Davison was quick to fill it and make the tackle. All season long, he was bringing the lumber from his linebacker spot as he helped the Rebels to seven wins and a playoff victory. He was the SOC I co-Defensive Player of the Year and the Division VII District Defensive Player of the Year.

Ison Emment | Wheelersburg | Defensive End | Junior

It took some time for Wheelersburg to become, well, Wheelersburg. Once it did, Imment’s play on the defensive side hit another level. He became the wrecking ball the Pirates needed up front, finishing the season with over 50 tackles, 15 for loss, and five sacks for the SOC II champion Pirates. He was the SOC II Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-district honoree.

Landon Evans | Wheelersburg | Offensive Line | Senior

Offensive linemen have been a surplus in Wheelersburg, and Evans is the latest example. A mountain of a player at 6-foot-5 and just under 300 pounds, he paved the way in the trenches for the Pirates to win nine games and make a regional final. He was the SOC II Offensive Lineman of the year and first-team all-district.

Austin Gautier | Nelsonville-York | Running Back | Junior

Gautier only had six carries last year. He was given the full work load in the backfield this season, and it proved to be the perfect fit. Helping the Buckeyes to eight wins and the TVC title, he finished with 972 rushing yards and found the end zone 13 times. He was named the TVC Offensive Player of the Year and first-team all-district. 

Ben Griffin | Unioto | Lineman | Senior

Griffin plays with a certain level of tenacity that every coach needs from an offensive lineman. He’s quick off the ball, a nasty run-blocker and gets pure enjoyment out of making pancake blocks to spring his playmakers. His work in the trenches helped propel the Shermans to a conference title, earning him Division IV Lineman of the Year honors. 

Seth Hart | Athens | Linebacker | Senior

Hart is a thumper. He sniffs out the football like a bloodhound, never afraid to put his body on the line to make the tackle. Helping the Bulldogs to a double-digit win season, the senior finished the season with 128 tackles, 17 for loss and 7 1/2 sacks, earning TVC Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-district honors.

Jack Hayden | Fairland | Athlete | Senior

Look up ‘versatility’ in the dictionary, and Hayden’s picture will show. He was a true Swiss Army Knife, finishing the season with 506 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, 306 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, and 306 passing yards and four touchdowns. He was named first-team OVC and first-team all-district.

Chase Heiland | Portsmouth | Running Back | Senior

Teams knew Heiland was coming, but stopping him was a completely different thing. Leading the Trojans to eight wins and a playoff victory over Amanda-Clearcreek this season, he ran for 1,298 yards and found the end zone 17 times. One of the best backs in the OVC, he was named first-team OVC and first-team all-district.

Marcel James | Unioto | Defensive Line | Senior

The Shermans had some question marks offensively, but defensively, James was the enforcer. As the leader of the defensive front, he came up with 56 tackles, 15 1/2 for loss and five sacks, leading a defense that allowed just 8.9 points per game to another nine-win season. He was the SVC co-Defensive Lineman of the Year and the Division IV District co-Defensive Player of the Year. 

Josh Johnson | Ironton | Defensive Back | Senior

Usually anytime quarterbacks see 1-on-1 on the outside, they attack the mismatch. However, it was the opposite with Johnson. He’s a game-changer who made anyone pay for visiting his island, so much so that teams often refused — understandably so — to throw his direction. The 6-foot-3 Penn State commit was named the Division V District Defensive Player of the Year. 

Nolan Johnson | Jackson | Running Back | Senior

Johnson understood the workload he was about to take on in replacing Cade Wolford, and Jackson rode his legs to a lot of critical wins. The University of Army commit capped off his career by running for 1,497 yards with 17 touchdowns. He was the FAC Player of the Year and the Division III District Offensive Player of the Year. 

Mason Kelly | Waverly | Quarterback | Senior

Kelly is just the latest example of outstanding quarterback play to come through Waverly. He finished his senior year by throwing for 2,318 yards and 26 touchdowns, compared to just four interceptions, leading the Tigers to six wins and a playoff victory. He was the SOC II Co-Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-district selection.

Aiden Layne | Ironton | Lineman | Senior

Every great defense usually has a stud tackle up front that causes chaos and blows up plays in the backfield. Layne is that guy for the Tigers. Part of a unit that gave up just 10.3 points per game, he was a constant game-wrecker who made a habit of beating offensive linemen off the snap. Racking up 49 tackles, he was named the Division V District Lineman of the Year. 

Tucker Leist | Eastern | Receiver | Senior 

The Eagles had athletes all over the field, but on the outside, Leist showed himself to be one of the most valuable receivers in the area. With a burst to blow by defenders and the ability to go up and get it, he helped his team to an SOC I title by hauling in over 50 catches for over 1,000 yards and nearly 20 touchdowns. He was named the SOC I Player of the Year and was a first-team all-district selection.

Cartae Ligon | Chillicothe | Running Back | Freshman

Just a freshman, Ligon was often the best overall player on the field. While the Cavaliers didn’t have the season they wanted to have, Ligon’s numbers speak for themselves. He rushed for 1,104 yards and 10 touchdowns and never ran for less than 136 yards in conference play. He’ll continue to raise eyebrows as his career progresses. He’s the real deal.

Eric Manley | Eastern | Quarterback | Junior

Eastern asked Manley to switch to quarterback this season. That choice paid off with another undefeated regular season and a regional final appearance — the school’s first-ever. The junior signal caller led his Eagles to 13 wins, passing for more than 2,500 yards and 35 touchdowns. He was named the Division VII District Offensive Player of the Year, and returns to a reloaded team next season. 

Daniel Medinger | Rock Hill | Offensive Line | Junior

Rock Hill had a simple plan: run the ball and let Medinger clear a path. It worked out routinely, leading to the team’s best season in over 15 years. At 6-foot-4, 285 pounds, the junior’s stock has slowly been rising and colleges are beginning to take notice. He’s quick off the ball, nimble in the open field and runs over defenders. He was named first-team all-district.

Kaden Murphy | Coal Grove | Running Back | Junior

Among a slew of great running backs in Southeast Ohio, Murphy’s name is towards the top of the list. Leading the Hornets to a 6-4 mark, he ended the season with 177 carries for 1,565 yards and 21 touchdowns. His efforts earned him first-team OVC and first-team all-district honors. He’s got one more year to terrorize the opposition. 

Alex Pero | Athens | Running Back | Senior

Pero was the catalyst last season in Athens’ run to the playoffs. This season, he was part of the program’s best season in 10 years. The senior standout compiled 1,205 rushing yards and scored 14 times, helping the Bulldogs to 10 wins and a playoff victory. He was named first-team TVC and first-team all-district.

Bryce Perkins | Logan Elm | Linebacker | Senior

Perkins was a running back’s worst nightmare from his middle linebacker position. He could read a play with ease, which led to him racking up a ridiculous 109 tackles, eight for loss, and a pair of forced fumbles for the eight-win Braves. He was named first-team MSL and was the Division IV District co-Defensive Player of the Year. 

Braylon Robertson | Paint Valley | Running Back | Senior

Robertson rewrote Paint Valley’s record books, and he didn’t even need the full 10 games to do so. The 5-foot-8 workhorse carried the ball 173 times to the tune of 1,466 yards and 19 touchdowns, setting a new school record for rushing yards in a career with 4,982 yards — among the other eight records he owns. He was named the Division VI District co-Offensive Player of the Year.

Trey Robinette | Miami Trace | Quarterback | Senior

Robinette has been a fixture for Miami Trace since stepping onto the field, and he saved his best season for last. Leading the Panthers to seven wins, he completed 61 percent of his passes, finishing the year with 1,577 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was named first-team FAC and first-team all-district.

Owen Ruff | Fairfield Union | Running Back | Senior

Ruff provided the Falcons with a much-needed glimmer of hope for the future last season, and then doubled down this fall. He led Fairfield Union to another winning season and a playoff berth with 1,224 total yards of offense, finding the end zone 17 times. He was named first-team MSL and first-team all-district. 

Carter Runyon | Northwest | Running Back | Senior

He gets the ball, runs past defenders, or flat-out over them, then gets up and gets ready to do it all over again. Runyon’s simple formula helped the Mohawks win five games as the senior back tallied 1,230 yards on the ground and 20 touchdowns. He was named first-team SOC I and first-team all-district. 

Braden Schreck | Ironton | Quarterback | Senior

Schreck has been waiting three years for his chance under center, and he’s unquestionably made the most of it. Heading into Ironton’s state semifinal game against West Liberty Salem, he’s thrown for 2,802 passing yards and 34 touchdowns, alongside 428 rushing yards and seven more scores. He was named first-team all-district. 

Anthony Stamper | Rock Hill | Athlete | Senior

Stamper was everything for Rock Hill. Helping the Redmen to eight wins, including a playoff victory, he set a new single-season rushing record with 1,449 yards alongside 21 touchdowns. But defensively, he added 43 tackles and six interceptions, showing how valuable he was on both sides of the ball. He was named the Division VI District Defensive Player of the Year. 

Shaun Terry | Ironton | Receiver | Senior

Ironton decided to feed Terry the ball more, and it’s the easiest decision it could have made. He’s the most dynamic player in Southeast Ohio and a touchdown waiting to happen. Up to this point for the regional champion Tigers, he’s caught 76 passes for 1,391 yards and 20 touchdowns. He was named the Division V District Offensive Player of the Year and will add All-Ohio status soon. It’s a crime for him not to be in Ohio’s Mr. Football conversation.

Brewer Tomlison | Eastern | Lineman | Junior

Inside Division VII, there wasn’t a better lineman on both sides of the ball than Tomlinson. Defensively, he was a menace that offensive linemen couldn’t block. Offensively, the Eagles ran behind his 275-pound frame to the tune of 4,000-plus total yards of offense and a regional runner-up finish. He was named the Division VII District Lineman of the year.

Buddy Wilson | Piketon | Running Back | Senior

Wilson’s season was cut short by an injury, but the damage he caused was more than enough to earn his spot. In eight games this season, the senior back toted the ball 123 times for 1,085 yards and 14 touchdowns for the seven-win Redstreaks. He was named the SVC Offensive Back of the Year and first-team all-district.

Kade Woods | West | Lineman | Senior

Offensively, he was creating holes. Defensively, he was plugging them. Either way, Woods was making good things happen for his team and has done so since he took the field. He was the leader of a unit that allowed his guys to run for 271 yards per night and score 38 rushing touchdowns. He was named the SOC II Lineman of the Year and the Division VI District Lineman of the Year.

Honorable Mention Selections

Bodhi Wolford, Jackson; Blake Hoops, Unioto; Austin Bump, Ironton; Mason Pollard, Waverly; Elijah Brown, Wheelersburg; Mason Parker, West; J.T. Williams, Portsmouth; Quentin Cremeans, Fairland; Landon Inman, Nelsonville-York; Caleb Saunders, Paint Valley; Xander Mowery, Wheelersburg; Ryan Seimetz, Jackson; Bryce McGraw, Notre Dame; Cooper Enochs, Miami Trace; Isaiah Saleh, Fairfield Union; Leo Martin, Athens; Isaac Coy, Unioto, Aaden Dunn, Zane Trace, Brady Moore, Eastern; Luke Gullion, Piketon; Hudson Phalin, Circleville; Hunter Collins, Wellston; Luke Dimel, Vinton County; Tristan Wood, Valley; Isaac Taylor, Huntington; Jamar Young, Hillsboro; Aaron Walters, Logan Elm; Brayden Hanshaw, South Point; Aden Osbourne, Washington; James Sheets, South Gallia; Will Jones, Symmes Valley; Colton Campbell, Northwest; Sebastian Billasano, Waverly; Conner Frazier, McClain; Austin Magill, Adena

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