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

Brock Netter, Editor

Needless to say, this football season was as successful as they come.

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 40 area players who were at their best throughout the fall season.

Anthony Aaron | Valley | Running Back | Senior

Aaron was the bellcow that simply never stopped moving. He was quick to hit an open hole and possessed a powerful center of gravity that made him tough for defenders to tackle. Leading the Indians to eight wins, he racked up over 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, earning first-team all-district honors.

Jake Allen | Jackson | Offensive Line | Senior 

There’s a reason why Allen signed with the University of Charlotte. All you have to do is watch him play. He’s quick off the ball, a nasty run-blocker and gets pure enjoyment out of racking up pancakes to spring his playmakers. His work in the trenches helped propel the Ironmen to nine wins, earning him first-team FAC, Division III Lineman of the Year and first-team All-Ohio honors.

Julian Baker | Miami Trace | Running Back | Junior

Teams knew Baker was coming, and stopping him was still almost impossible. Leading the Panthers to nine wins this season, he ran for 2,182 yards and found the end zone 34 times. It’s easy to see why college programs are salivating to get him on campus. He was named all-FAC, first-team all-district and third-team All-Ohio.

Anthony Bishop | West | Running Back | Junior

Bishop wasn’t a secret by any stretch. But he took his game to an entirely new level this season, becoming elite with the ball in his hands. Lifting the Senators to six wins, including a playoff victory over Summit Country Day, he ran the ball for 1,613 yards and 16 touchdowns, earning himself first-team SOC, Division VI co-Offensive Player of the Year, and second-team All-Ohio honors. 

Cody Braden | Unioto | Running Back | Senior

It’s quite possible that no player in the area meant more to their team than Braden did to the Shermans. Leading his team to its second-ever playoff win, he finished the season with 1,314 rushing yards on 151 carries and found the end zone 23 times. He was named the SVC’s Offensive Player of the Year, the Division IV District Player of the Year, SOSA’s co-Player of the Year and a first-team All-Ohioan.

Trevin Brooks | Portsmouth | Linebacker | Senior

Brooks was a running back’s worst nightmare from his middle linebacker position. He’s a thumper and could read a play with ease, which led to him racking up 88 tackles — 11 for loss — and a pair of sacks for the eight-win Trojans, which included a playoff win over Amanda-Clearcreek. He was a first-team OVC and first-team all-district selection, as we as an All-Ohioan.

Blake Brower | Zane Trace | Defensive Line | Junior

Lining up against No. 77 had offensive linemen shaking in their cleats every Friday night. Brower was that good, and as advertised, every time he stepped onto the field. He was ZT’s leader up front, ending the season with 68 tackles, 12 for a loss, and 8 1/2 sacks. That helped the Pioneers earn a playoff victory. He was a first-team SVC, first-team all-district and second-team All-Ohio selection.

Elijah Brown | Wheelersburg | Running Back | Senior

Give Brown the football and either line up to get your block knocked off or get out of the way. You’re on the tracks when he’s coming through? No bueno. The senior went out in style, tallying over 1,000 rushing yards alongside 20 touchdowns, leading the Pirates to 14 wins and a regional title. He was named first-team SOC and first-team all-district. 

Jake Brown | Northwest | Quarterback | Senior

Brown has been a special talent since he stepped onto the gridiron, and now he leaves massive shoes to fill in McDermott. He topped off his senior year by throwing for 1,370 yards and 20 touchdowns, while adding another 1,034 rushing yards on top of 11 more scores on the ground. Balance at its finest. He was named the SOC Player of the Year and a first-team all-district honoree.

Bronx Carpenter | Symmes Valley | Quarterback | Sophomore 

The Vikings have an incredibly bright future, and much of that is because of how lethal Carpenter played under center. He led them to nine wins, including a playoff victory over Trimble, as he threw for 2,332 yards and 30 touchdowns. Those numbers earned him first-team SOC I, first-team all-district and second-team All-Ohio honors.

Landyn Carruth | Unioto | Offensive Line | Senior

Carruth may not appear, from the eye test, to be an offensive lineman. But once you see him play, it’s easy to see why he’s in the trenches. He plays with quick feet, aggressive hands and speed in the open field, while leading his guys up front in an offense that scored 41.4 points a game. He was named first-team all-district and second-team All-Ohio. 

Luke Cassidy | Notre Dame | Quarterback | Senior

Cassidy has been a fixture for Notre Dame since stepping onto the field as a freshman, and he saved his best season for last. Leading the Titans to eight wins, he threw for 644 yards and eight touchdowns, while running for 1,034 yards and 24 scores. He was named first-team SOC, first-team all-district and third-team All-Ohio.

Blaise Davison | South Gallia | Linebacker | Senior

Davison was a heat-seeking missile who loved nothing more than making a tackle and wrecking game plans. His Rebels won seven games and made a playoff appearance behind his leadership, racking up 78 tackles — 12 for loss — from the middle of the defense. He earned himself first-team all-district and second-team All-Ohio honors. 

Kayden Edwards | Ironton | Quarterback | Junior

Leading an offense that averaged 43.7 points per game, Edwards was terrific all year long. He was the Tigers’ signal caller en route to an 8-2 record, passing for 1,167 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for an additional 762 yards and 10 more scores. He was named first-team all-district and second-team All-Ohio. 

Ison Emnett | Wheelersburg | Defensive Line | Senior

Consistent. Unselfish. Leader. Captain. Those words sum up who Emnett is as a player on the field, and a young man off the field. He made the switch from fullback to guard this season, and Wheelersburg’s offense hummed like a well-oiled machine. Defensively, he was still the game-changer, racking up over 50 tackles and leading the team in tackles for loss, earning first-team All-Ohio honors. 

Austin Gautier | Nelsonville-York | Running Back | Senior

What Gautier might not have had in height, he more than made up for with his grit and the way he played the running back position. Helping Nelsonville to 12 wins and a regional final appearance, he carried the ball 217 times to the tune of 1,437 yards and 16 touchdowns. He earned first-team all-district and first-team All-Ohio honors for his efforts.

Adam Guthrie | Miami Trace | Offensive Line | Senior

It’s impossible to miss Guthrie on a football field. Or, probably just in everyday life. He’s 6-foot-7, 290 pounds and has no issue moving players out of the way on the gridiron. The Clemson University signee created holes for his guys to run through. His presence on the offensive line helped the Panthers win nine games as he collected first-team all-district and first-team All-Ohio selections.

Cooper Heimbach | Wheelersburg | Kicker | Senior

Kickers are players, too, and the Pirates possessed the best in the area and, probably, the state. Time and time again, the Ohio University signee was the weapon that made sure the Pirates came away with points as he drilled 18-of-21 attempts through uprights, including a school-record 53-yarder. He also hit three field goals in the program’s state semifinal win over Cardinal Mooney. He was a first-team All-Ohioan, and rightfully so.

Frankie Hirsch | Huntington | Quarterback | Junior

In what will go down as one of the best individual seasons in Huntington’s history, Hirsch was the guy to make it happen. He was calm in the face of adversity and made the big plays when needed, ending the season with 1,253 passing yards and 17 touchdowns for the six-win Huntsmen. He was the Division VI co-Offensive Player of the Year and a second-team All-Ohioan,

Brice Johnson | Zane Trace | Running Back | Junior

He gets the ball, runs past defenders, or flat-out over them, then gets up and gets ready to do it all over again. That was Johnson’s formula to success and it worked all year, helping the Pioneers to seven wins and a playoff victory as he tallied 1,380 yards on the ground and 21 touchdowns. He was named first-team SVC and first-team all-district.

Hayden Jones | Waterford | Running Back | Junior

The Wildcats had athletes all over the field, but in between the tackles, Jones was hard to bring down. With quick feet to cut and a burst to blow by defenders, he helped the Wildcats to nine wins and a playoff victory as he ran 116 times for 1,096 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also passed for seven touchdowns. He was named first-team all-district and second-team All-Ohio.

Caeleb Layton | Nelsonville-York | Defensive Line | Senior

Layton was an absolute wrecking ball all year long. Helping the Buckeyes win 12 games, including a pair of playoff victories, he led a defense that gave up just 10.4 points per night with a ridiculous 136 tackles, 55 for a loss, and 19 sacks. He was the TVC Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-district selection.

Cartae Ligon | Chillicothe | Running Back | Sophomore

Ligon understood the workload he was going to undertake, and Chillicothe was going to ride with him until the wheels fell off. The sophomore standout capped off an outstanding season with 2,156 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns for the six-win Cavaliers. He was the FAC Player of the Year, SOSA’s co-Player of the Year, the Division III Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-Ohioan.

David Long | Unioto | Linebacker | Senior

For the last two seasons, Long has made a name for himself as one of the best linebackers in the area. He sniffs out the football like a bloodhound and he’s never afraid to put his body on the line to make the tackle. Helping the Shermans win a third consecutive Gold Ball, he finished with 85 tackles, including 10 1/2 for loss, and earned first-team all-district honors.

Eric Manley | Eastern | Quarterback | Senior

Manley’s presence under center made Eastern cool and collected, yet complete and dangerous. The proof is in the numbers. Helping the Eagles claim another SOC title in the process, he threw for 2,243 yards and 30 touchdowns. He was the SOC I Player of the Year, the Division VII District Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-Ohioan.

Grant McPherson | Fairfield Union | Linebacker | Senior

The Falcons have been trending upwards over the last three seasons, and it took a massive step in the right direction with McPherson in the middle of the defense. Helping the Falcons win seven games, including the program’s first playoff victory since 2001, he finished with 76 tackles and 11 for loss, earning third-team All-Ohio honors. 

Ryan Meeker | Wheelersburg | Offensive Line | Senior

Offensively, he was creating holes. Defensively, he was plugging them. Either way, Meeker made things happen for his team and has done so since he took the field. He was the leader of a unit that scored 34.8 points per night, while leading a defense that allowed 9.2. He was the SOC III Lineman of the Year, the Division V District Lineman of the Year and a first-team All-Ohioan.

Daniel Medinger | Rock Hill | Rock Hill | Senior

When No. 74 is in the open field leading a block, opponents usually made a business decision to get out of the way. A mountain of a player at 6-foot-5 and just under 300 pounds, he paved the way in the trenches for the Redmen to win six games, including a playoff victory over Dayton Christian. He was the Division VI District Lineman of the Year and a second-team All-Ohioan.

Kaden Murphy | Coal Grove | Running Back | Senior

Murphy was circled on every opponent’s game plan and there was still nothing they could do to stop him. Leading the Hornets to eight wins and a conference title this season, he ran for 2,025 yards and found the end zone 26 times. As one of the best backs in Southern Ohio, he was the OVC Player of the Year, the Division V District Player of the Year and a first-team All-Ohioan.

Will Odenthal | Nelsonville-York | Offensive Line | Senior

Nelsonville-York had a simple plan: run the ball and let Odenthal clear a path to run through. It worked out routinely, leading to the Buckeyes all the way to a regional final. At 6-foot-5, 280 pounds, he’s quick off the ball, nimble in the open field and straight runs over defenders. He was named first-team all-district and second-team All-Ohio.

Aden Osborne | Washington | Wide Receiver | Junior

Osborne has a chance to go down as the greatest receiver in Washington history if he puts together another season like this one. In a pass-heavy offense, the junior hauled in 85 catches for 1,304 yards and 16 touchdowns, helping the Blue Lions win six games, including a playoff win over New Richmond. He was named all-FAC, first-team all-district and third-team All-Ohio.

Hudson Phalin | Circleville | Quarterback | Senior

Phalin has had the juice since he first stepped onto the gridiron, and he’s constantly been a game-changer since. In his last ride under center, he led Circleville to eight wins and its first playoff victory since 2007, throwing for 1,346 yards and eight touchdowns in addition to 812  rushing yards and 15 more scores. He was named first-team MSL and first-team all-district. 

Braylon Rucker | Wheelersburg | Quarterback | Senior

QB1. Rucker saved his best season for last and took Wheelersburg all the way to the state championship game. Along the way, the senior signal-caller completed over 75 percent of his passes, throwing for over 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also running for nine scores. He was named first-team SOC, first-team all-district and first-team All-Ohio. 

Ryan Seimetz | Jackson | Athlete | Senior

Put Seimetz anywhere, and he’s going to make plays. Offensively and defensively. Undoubtedly, he was the heart and soul of the Ironmen, carrying the ball 131 times for 930 yards and 16 touchdowns, alongside 30 catches for 520 yards and eight scores. Defensively, he had over 100 tackles. He was named all-FAC, first-team all-district and second-team All-Ohio. 

Mason Shepherd | Eastern Meigs | Defensive Line | Senior

It seemed like Shepherd was literally everywhere for the Eagles. When you hear of the “big nasties,” he fits that bill to a tee. If you had him lined up in front of you, you knew you were in for a long night. Guiding the Eagles to seven wins and a playoff berth, the defensive wrecker finished with 62 tackles, 27 for a loss, and 13 sacks, earning himself first-team All-Ohio honors. 

Tommy Stai | Amanda-Clearcreek | Running Back | Senior

Amanda-Clearcreek had a number of guys who could break off big plays, but Stai was the go-to guy when it was needed most. A touchdown waiting to happen, he finished the season with over 1,405 yards rushing and 25 scores, while adding five touchdown receptions. He was named first-team all-district and first-team All-Ohio.

Anthony Sutton | Athens | Running Back | Senior

It was impossible to ignore what Sutton was doing in the opening weeks of the season. He was running wild, finding the end zone with ease. He was the driving force behind a 9-2 season for Athens as he racked up 1,516 yards on 160 carries and 18 touchdowns, earning himself first-team TVC and first-team all-district honors. 

Brewer Tomlison | Eastern | Offensive Line | Senior

Tomlison was a man among boys. While doing the dirty work, he was a part of an offensive line that allowed his team to tally nearly 5,000 yards of total offense and win a third straight Gold Ball in undefeated fashion. He was the SOC Offensive Lineman of the Year, the Division VII Lineman of the Year and a first-team All-Ohioan. 

Boston Webb | Eastern | Wide Receiver | Junior

In a season where Eastern clinched its third-straight Gold Ball, Webb turned himself into the go-to receiver that couldn’t be stopped. As part of a 10-win squad, he finished the year with 48 catches for 1,218 yards and 20 touchdowns, including an OHSAA record seven against South Gallia. He was named first-team SOC I, first-team all-district and first-team All-Ohio.

Zayne Williams | Ironton | Linebacker | Senior

Williams is a manchild. An intimidating force in the middle of a defense that plays with a level of aggression unmatched. When he’s not running the football from his tailback spot, he’s finishing tackles at a premium level. He ended the season with 30 tackles, including nine for a loss, helping the Tigers to an eight-win season. He was named the Division V District Defensive Player of the Year.

Honorable Mention Selections

Hudson Williams, Zane Trace; Joey Wright, Westfall; Liam Mathey, Unioto; Braden Adkins, West; Luke Kouns, Wheelersburg; Jaylen Bender, Valley; Nolan Barnett, Valley; Brady Doss, Wheelersburg; Jack Montgomery, Eastern; Asher Maynard, Symmes Valley; Jackson Fields, Symmes Valley; Zach Berry, Fairfield Union; Auri Travis, Circleville; Gary Kemmeling, Amanda-Clearcreek; Weston Wheatley, Athens; Alec Thompson, Nelsonville-York; Luke Orsborne, Trimble; Dylan McCutcheon, Waterford; Matt Marcum, Eastern Meigs; Mason Dumpert, Hillsboro; Sam Pfeifer, Washington; Connor Rutherford, Chillicothe; Bodhi Wolford, Jackson; Cooper Enochs, Miami Trace, Max Canady, Gallia Academy; Wyatt Callicoat, Fairland; Brady Murrell, Rock Hill; Caden Turner, Coal Grove; Jacob Roth, Portsmouth; Caleb Jacobs, Ironton

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