Four area standouts to play in NCOFCA All-Star Classic

Jun. 10—BELLVILLE — Four recent graduates will play in the annual North Central Ohio Football Coaches Association All-Star Classic, which resumes after a year off in 2020.

This summer's game will be played on June 18 at Clear Fork High School. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.

Suiting up for the North roster — coached by Ashland's Sean Seder — includes Norwalk's Ethan Phillips, New London's Kenyon Cathey, Willard's Zarian Stevens and Plymouth's Adler Horne. The South team will be coached by Lucas' Scott Spitler.

An NCAA Division II Ashland University recruit, Phillips was a unanimous first team selection on offense and defense in the SBC Lake Division in 2020. He was also the OPSWA Div. III Northwest District Offensive Player of the Year and earned All-Ohio first team honors.

In just nine games for the Truckers (5-4), he caught 62 catches for 834 yards and 4 TDs. He broke the catches in a season program mark held by Corey Olaniyan (60, 2003), and the yardage topped the old record held by Joseph Hinckley (791, 2013).

Philips also totaled big yardage again as a kick and punt returner, while also running the ball for a TD. All told, he touched the ball 85 times for 1,504 yards from scrimmage (17.7 average) with six TDs for the Truckers (5-4).

Cathey — headed to Walsh University for football — finished with 86 tackles and one sack on defense, where he was a first team All-Firelands Conference selection. He also added 576 yards and 8 TDs rushing and caught 21 passes for 325 yards and a TD.

Stevens finished with 120 tackles with five sacks and a fumble recovery for the Crimson Flashes en route to being tabbed honorable mention All-SBC Bay in 2020.

Horne was a second team All-FC selection and honorable mention Northwest District in Div. VII on the defensive line in 2020.

Gates for the All-Star Classic will open at 5 p.m. on June 18. Pre-sale game tickets are available for $8 each. Those interested can contact Andrea Johnson at Blackstone Insurance Agency (419-884-0095). Tickets will be available at the gate for $10 each.

During halftime of the game, a place-kicking competition will be held. The competition is open to all current high school students in grades 9-12. Anyone interested in participating can contact Johnson or email ncoallstars@outlook.com.