Canton South's Poochie Snyder, trio of standout Stark WR/DBs earn first-team All-Ohio football

The Repository
·3 min read

Canton South and Fairless each had multiple representatives on the All-Ohio football teams released today for Divisions IV and V. South placed three players on first, second or third team in Division IV, highlighted by record-setting quarterback Poochie Snyder and wide receiver Tavon Castle. Fairless has four players on the Division V team, including two-way standouts Brody Pumneo and Luke Yoder.

The All-Ohio teams are sponsored by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association and chosen by a panel of sports writers and broadcasters from across the state. The Ohio High School Athletic Association released the Division VI and VII teams Monday. The all-state teams in the remaining three divisions will be released Wednesday and Thursday.

Snyder earned first-team All-Ohio honors after putting together perhaps the most prolific season ever by a Stark County quarterback in leading the Wildcats to the Division IV state playoffs. The junior threw for more than 3,000 yards and rushed for more than a 1,000. He gained 4,732 yards of total offense and accounted for 56 touchdowns this season.

His 1,156 rushing yards ranked ninth in the county this season. His 10.4 yards per carry led the county among players with at least 400 rushing yards. He ran for 21 TDs. As a passer, he completed 70.3% of his 306 attempts for 3,567 yards and 35 TDs, with just five interceptions.

Canton South's Tavon Castle catches a pass during a high school football game against Sandy Valley at Brechbuhler Stadium on Friday, September 2, 2022.
Canton South's Tavon Castle catches a pass during a high school football game against Sandy Valley at Brechbuhler Stadium on Friday, September 2, 2022.

Castle joins Snyder on first-team All-Ohio after leading Stark County with 1,195 receiving yards on 75 catches. He average 15.9 yards per catch, scoring 10 TDs.

South linebacker Ethan Fricke earned third-team All-Ohio honors. The junior led the Wildcats in tackles with more than 130 and also played running back.

In Division V, Pumneo earned first-team honors as a receiver and Yoder made the first team at defensive back. Together, they helped the Falcons share the PAC-7 title for the second straight year and reach the playoffs again. Fairless also won a home playoff game for the first time in program history this year.

Pumneo caught a school-record 81 passes this season, gaining 1,060 yards (13.1 average) with 12 TDs. He was selected PAC-7 Specialist of the Year, stood out as elite cover cornerback and is the school's all-time leading receiver in touchdowns, receptions and yards.

Yoder was a four-year defensive starter for Fairless, intercepting 14 passes over his career. He also set a single-season school record with 1,178 receiving yards this past season on 69 catches (17.1 average) with 15 TDs.

Fairless teammates Tom Fox and Carson Colucci earned third-team All-Ohio honors. Fox anchors the Fairlesss offensive line as a tackle, starting 37 of a possible 42 games over his four seasons in the program. Colucci threw for 2,536 yards with 29 TDs and eight interceptions, as he was 186-of-268 passing.

Also from the area, five West Branch players earned a spot on the Division IV All-Ohio team, led by senior QB Dru DeShields who accounted for 4,611 yards of total offense and 62 total TDs. West Branch enjoyed a 9-1 regular season and won an EBC title before reaching the regional finals.

West Branch QB Dru DeShields throws a pass in Week 8 at Alliance, Oct. 7, 2022.
West Branch QB Dru DeShields throws a pass in Week 8 at Alliance, Oct. 7, 2022.

DeShields threw for 3,932 yards on 269-of-421 passing with 46 TDs and just three interceptions. He also rushed for 679 yards and 16 TDs on 106 carries. He was a Northeast Inland District Offensive Player of the Year.

Mitchell Coffee joins him on the first team as an offensive lineman. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound senior helped West Branch average 45.6 points per game over his three years as a starter at right tackle.

Three West Branch players earned second-team All-Ohio — receiver Christian Martig, defensive lineman Thomas Egli and linebacker Michael Kanagy.

Martig caught 82 passes for 1,140 (13.9 average) with 15 TDs. Egli totaled more than 70 tackles up front, recovering two fumbles and making an interception. Michael Kanagy, a hybrid linebacker/safety, totaled more than 60 tackles, made two interceptions and stood out at receiver, too.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Poochie Snyder of Canton South earns All-Ohio football honors