Monarch linebacker Gabe Powers pressures an opposing quarterback on this play. Powers (36) has been named the Central District Division I defensive player of the year. (Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson)
Jon Alder wide receiver Jackson Izzard gains yardage after a catch. Izzard is the Division III Central District offensive player of the year. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
The specials awards just keep coming in for local high school football players.
The Ohio High School Prep Sports Writers today announced the All-Central District teams for Divisions I-VII.
The Union County area is home to defensive and offensive players of the year.
Marysville High School junior linebacker Gabe Powers was named the Division I district defensive player of the year.
Jonathan Alder High School senior wide receiver Jackson Izzard was named the district’s offensive player of the year for Division III.
Powers, 6-4, 215-pounds, finished the season with 81 tackles, including seven for losses. He recovered two fumbles and intercepted one pass, as the Monarchs’ (6-2) defensive unit yielded just 14 points per game.
The Monarchs captured the Cardinal Division championship in the Ohio Capital Conference.
Izzard helped lead the Pioneers to an 8-1 record and the Kenton Trail Division crown in the Central Buckeye Conference.
He caught 68 passes for 771 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Powers and Izzard are among several local gridders who earned first-team accolades in their respective divisions.
Editor’s note: due to space restrictions in today’s newspaper, only first-team honorees will be profiled. Second team and special-honorable mention players will be profiled in Friday’s Journal-Tribune.
Other first-team honorees were as follows:
Marysville-D I
-Ryan Kern: the senior running back rushed for 1,105 yards on 150 carries with 13 touchdowns;
-Gavin Rohrs: the junior offensive lineman helped MHS rush for 2,878 yards.
KERN
ROHRS
Jonathan Alder-D II
-JT Keith: the senior quarterback completed 163 passes in 245 attempts (67%). He threw for 17 touchdowns;
-Jonathan Keith: the junior defensive back finished with 56 tackles on the season;
-Logan Shafley: the junior defensive lineman tallied 35 tackles (10 for loss) and a pair of sacks;
-Alec Schrock: the senior offensive lineman was the Pioneers’ top-rated player on that unit.
JT KEITH
JONATHON KEITH
SHAFLEY
SCHROCK
North Union-D V
-Trevor Moran: the senior running back led the 8-2 Wildcats with 1,198 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns;
-Trevyn Feasel: the senior defensive back intercepted four passes, one of which went for a touchdown. He also had 39 tackles;
-Isaiah Radcliff: the senior defensive back totaled 60 tackles and broke up five passes;
-Chaz Reeder: the senior defensive lineman notched 12 tackles for losses (out of 38 total tackles) and had four sacks;
-Kyle Daley: the senior offensive lineman was tops on that unit for NU;
MORAN
FEASEL
RADCLIFF
REEDER
Fairbanks-D VI
-Tanner Ufferman: the junior linebacker finished with 64 tackles and recovered one fumble. A total of four of his tackles went for losses;.
-Riordin Stauffer: the junior linebacker totaled 47 tackles (nine for losses) and five sacks. He picked off two passes and returned one for a touchdown;
-Joe Kinsley: the junior defensive lineman finished with 33 tackles, 11 of which went for losses;
-Billy Reed-Bodey: the senior offensive lineman graded at 88% blocking efficiency and did not allow a sack. He finished the season for the 4-3 Panthers with 19 pancake blocks.
FHS linebackers Riordin Stauffer (top) and Tanner Ufferman (19) have earned Central-District first-team honors. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
KINSLEY
REED-BODEY