2021 all-district football: TRAC has 31 first-team selections

Nov. 18—The Three Rivers Athletic Conference had 31 first-team selections Wednesday on the 2021 Northwest Ohio all-district team chosen by a 10-member media panel representing the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association.

Central Catholic is still alive in the Division II Ohio high school football playoffs, and the fifth-ranked Fighting Irish (11-2) are also well represented.

The Irish, who have won four straight TRAC titles, had nine first team selections. That list includes senior linebacker Chris Jackson, who was named D-II district defensive player of the year. Central's Greg Dempsey was named coach of the year.

Joining Jackson on the first team from Central are seniors Sam Lee (receiver), Brent Rombach (offensive lineman), Mar'Teion Adams (OL), Dylan Fisher (defensive lineman), Peyton Reasonover (defensive back) and Cole Tishler (punter), and juniors Chris Edmonds (running back) and Tyler Jackson (DL).

The other top awards in Division II went to another TRAC team, as two Fremont Ross players were honored.

Little Giants senior Ethan Green was named lineman of the year, and junior quarterback Kaden Holmes was selected offensive player of the year. Green, a two-way lineman who will play at the University of Cincinnati, was chosen to the all-district first team offense.

Joining Green and Holmes on the first team were four teammates — seniors Johan Silver (kicker) and Kalijah Alejandro (DB), and juniors Bryson Hammer (receiver) and Mason Villarreal (LB).

Holmes was 160 of 289 passing for 2,214 yards and 28 touchdowns for the Little Giants, and rushed for 791 yards and 10 TDs.

There were six players from Northern Lakes League champion Anthony Wayne picked to first team spots in D-II — seniors Evan White (OL), Jack Bauer (OL), Kyle Pawlicki (DL), Bryce Kahl (LB) and Jeffrey Mold (DB), and junior Joe Caswell (RB). Caswell, the NLL player of the year, rushed for 1,452 yards and scored 22 touchdowns for the Generals.

The other D-II first team spots went to St. John's Jesuit seniors Nate Friesner (LB) and Julius Jackson (DB), St. Francis de Sales senior Trey Talboo (receiver), and Lima Senior junior Anthony Mosley (DL). Talboo had 98 receptions for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Knights.

The top awards on the Division I all-district team were split between Whitmer and Findlay, the runner-up and third-place teams in the TRAC.

Whitmer senior linebacker Jayden Gibson was chosen defensive player of the year, and the Panthers' Ken Winters was named D-I coach of the year.

Findlay senior receiver Ben Ireland was picked as offensive player of the year, and junior Luke Montgomery, a highly recruited two-way lineman for the Trojans, was selected as lineman of the year.

Joining Gibson on the D-I first team were five Whitmer teammates — seniors Bryce Keller (OL), Grant Craig (OL), Jaylen Young (RB) and Khamrin Boecker (DB), and junior Domanick Rodebaugh (LB).

Four other Findlay players were picked to the first team — seniors Sam Weihrauch (LB), Brayden Layne (DB) and Max Roth (punter), and freshman quarterback Ryan Montgomery, who with his older brother has also become a high-profile college recruiting target.

NLL runner-up Perrysburg put seven players on the D-I team, a group that included seniors Michael Seney (OL), Alijah Beverly (DL), Josiah Brown (DL) and Kanyon Gagich (DB), and juniors Jack Borer (receiver), Connor Walendzak (RB) and T.J. Takats (QB).

Three players from City League champion Start were chosen to the D-I first team — seniors Marcus Ensley (DL) and Champ Zaborski (LB), and junior Corvell Morgan (receiver).

Included on the Division III all-district first team were Rogers senior receiver Isaiah Sweeny and junior defensive lineman Devin Smith, and Southview junior defensive back Elijah Thomas.

In Division IV, Beau Carmon of Port Clinton was named coach of the year after guiding the Redskins (12-1) to a Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division title, and to a spot in Friday's Region 14 championship game.

Three of Carmon's players were named to the D-IV first team — seniors Josh Hurst (receiver) and Tyler Webb (DB), and juniors Ethan Ranzenberger (OL) and Cam Gillum (QB).

Three players from Northwest Ohio Athletic League member Wauseon were chosen to the D-IV first team — seniors Jonas Tester (receiver) and Matthew Shaw (DL), and junior Jude Armstrong (DB).

Other area players included on the D-IV first team were Rossford senior Gavin Linkous (DL), Bryan senior Korbin Shepherd (RB), and Napoleon senior Tanner Rubinstein (LB).

In Division V, repeat Northern Buckeye Conference champion Otsego was well represented after a second straight unbeaten regular season and a two-year 21-2 run, getting seven first team selections.

Knights senior quarterback Joseph Dzierwa shared the D-V offensive player of the year honors with Elmwood junior running back Mason Oliver, and Otsego senior linebacker Devin Coon was chosen as defensive player of the year.

Elmwood's Greg Bishop, whose Royals were NBC runners-up, and Lakota's Mike Lento shared D-V coach of the year honors.

Otsego's other first team selections were seniors Trent Leiter (RB), Chase Helberg (receiver), Clay Battin (OL) and Caden Hartman (DL), and junior Brady Nicely (DB).

Dzierwa passed for 1,836 yards and 24 touchdowns, and Oliver rushed for 1,818 yards in nine regular-season games, and had 25 TD's. Coon, also a receiver and kicker, had 103 tackles in Otsego's nine regular-season games.

Joining Oliver as first team selections from Elmwood were seniors Logan Bomer (OL) and Gunner Endicott (LB).

Three players from Liberty-Benton earned first team recognition in D-V — seniors Ashton Price (DL) and Toby Collert (LB), and junior Devin Montalbine (OL).

Lakota seniors Kinzer Dussell (OL) and J Matz (DB) received first team honors, as did Genoa seniors Aiden Hemmert (kicker) and Merced Diaz (DB).

Others on the D-V first team included Lake senior Conner Moore (DL), and Oak Harbor senior Jack Zeitzheim (LB).

Archbold closed the regular season at 10-0 and ranked No. 1 in Ohio in Division VI, and the three-time defending NWOAL champion Blue Streaks had five players named to the all-district first team.

Streaks senior quarterback DJ Newman shared D-VI offensive player of the year honors with Lincoln Mollenkopf of North Robinson Colonel Crawford, and Archbold's David Dominique shared top coaching honors with Kenny Krouse of Tinora and Jonathon Mershman of Carey.

Joining Newman on the first unit were four Archbold teammates — seniors Gavin Bailey (receiver) and Cayden Alvarado (LB), and juniors Hayden Dickman (OL) and Devon Morris (DL).

NWOAL runner-up Liberty Center, which upset Archbold in last Saturday's Region 22 semifinals, had three players named Owen all chosen to the first team — seniors Owen Johnson (LB) and Owen Long (DB), and junior Owen Box (OL).

Also named to the D-VI first team were Gibsonburg senior Tyler Schooley (OL) and junior Connor Smith (RB), and Ottawa Hills junior punter Emilio Duran, who averaged 44.2 yards on his 25 punts for the Green Bears.

In Division VII, Blanchard Valley Conference champion McComb had five first team selections and two top individual honors. Panthers senior defensive lineman Eli Franks shared lineman of the year honors with Edon senior Cassius Hulbert.

Joining Franks on the D-VII first team were four teammates — seniors Dylan Swisher (OL) and Ka'Von Bailey (receiver/athlete), and juniors Andrew Swisher (LB) and Camden Glaser (DB).

In addition to Hulbert, Toledo Area Athletic Conference champion Edon had another top individual honoree in senior quarterback Drew Gallehue, who was 248-of-348 passing during the regular season for 3,998 yards and 50 touchdowns, and named D-VII co-offensive player of the year.

The Bombers' Bob Olwin shared top coaching honors with Tim Goodwin of Marion Local and Brian Colatruglio of Hopewell-Loudon. Other Edon players named to the first team were seniors Gannon Ripke (receiver) and Henley Dye (LB).

Patrick Henry sophomore receiver Landon Johnson was also chosen to the D-VII first team.