OFFENSE
Noah Mallen
Canton South, receiver-defensive back, 6-2, 180, senior
• NBC’s top pass catcher. Led Stark County in receptions, second in yards and receiving TDs. ... Caught 61 passes for 1,037 yards and 14 TDs. ... Totaled 38 tackles, one for loss. ... Intercepted four passes and broke up five others.
Stuart Svetlak
Central Catholic, offensive line-defensive line, 6-2, 200, senior
• At guard, blocked for offense that rushed for 1,867 yards and 23 TDs despite numerous injuries and opponents keying on run. ... Totaled 47 tackles and 32 assists playing at tackle, end and linebacker.
Tim Moody
Central Catholic, offensive line-defensive line, 6-3, 235, senior
• Two-time all-county first team. ... Helped young, beat-up Central team run for 1,867 yards. ... Totaled 29 tackles, 20 assists, nine tackles for loss and four sacks. ... Forced two fumbles.
Sean Woodall
East Canton, offensive line-defensive line, 5-10, 265, senior
• Two-way starter for Hornets. ... Good pulling guard for East Canton rushing attack. Played center as a junior. ... At defensive tackle, totaled 42 tackles and seven tackles for loss. ... Registered five sacks and a fumble recovery.
James Laisure
Aquinas, offensive line-defensive line, 6-3, 250, junior
• A right tackle, top lineman for offense that rushed for 2,738 yards — second only to McKinley in Stark County — and a county-best 39 TDs. Knights averaged 6.3 yards a carry. ... Allowed one sack all season. ... Added 14 tackles on defense.
Josh Lyon
Canton South, quarterback, 6-3, 185, junior
• Smart, efficient passer. ... Threw for 1,913 yards and 20 TDs. ... Completed 66.2 percent of passes while being picked off only twice. ... Led South to 7-3 season after program gained seven combined wins the previous three seasons.
Hunter Wells
Fairless, quarterback, 6-4, 175, junior
• Always the focal point for Fairless opponents. ... Threw for 2,342 yards, 18 TDs and 12 interceptions. Completed 56.1 percent of passes. ... Ran for 129 yards and two TDs. ... Already has 4,786 yards and 34 TDs passing in career.
Shawn Kirk
Marlington, quarterback-defensive back, 5-11, 185, junior
• Totaled 1,584 yards and 10 TDs running-throwing. ... Completed 55 of 110 passes for 833 yards, six TDs and three interceptions. ... Averaged 4.4 yards a carry. ... Kicked two field goals, averaged 36.5 yards a punt. ... Made 19 tackles and one interception.
Jake Riley
Minerva, quarterback-linebacker, 6-3, 215, senior
• Two-time all-county first team. ... Rushed for 649 yards and 11 TDs, averaging 5.7 yards a carry, despite missing four games because of knee injury. ... Threw for 509 yards and five TDs. ... Made 39 tackles, two for loss. ... A 1,200-yard rusher a year ago.
Dymonte Thomas
Marlington, running back-linebacker, 6-1, 190, senior
• NE Inland Offensive Player of the Year, NBC Player of the Year. ... Four-time Repository Stark County first team. Three-time first-teamer for NBC and NE Inland. ... Rushed for 1,270 yards and 18 TDs. Career 4,587 rushing yards rank eighth in county history. ... Made 70 tackles. ... Career totals of 360 tackles and 61 TDs. ... Michigan recruit.
Bryan Wilkins
Aquinas, running back-defensive back, 6-1, 195, senior
• Mix of speed and power. ... Ran for 1,067 yards and 17 TDs, averaging 6.1 yards a carry. ... Aquinas’ leading rusher past two seasons. ... Also a corner, made 30 tackles and broke up four passes. ... Blocked one kick. ... Getting MAC interest.
Zak Lemke
Tuslaw, running back-defensive back, 5-7, 160, senior
• Ran for 666 yards and four TDs, averaging 5.6 yards a carry. Caught 11 passes for 100 yards and one TD. ... Totaled 52 tackles, including 42 solo. ... Picked off three passes, returning two for TDs. ... Returned fumble 32 yards for another score. ... Averaged 31.1 yards a punt.
Cody Brewer
Tuslaw, specialist-quarterback, 6-3, 195, senior
• PAC-7 Specialist of the Year. ... Perfect 30-for-30 on PATs. Scored 122 points overall. ... Ran for 966 yards and 15 TDs, averaging 5.4 yards a carry. ... Threw for 1,422 yards, 11 TDs and 11 interceptions. ... Averaged 35.2 yards a punt.
Jeremy Mahaffey
Fairless, running back, 5-9, 155, sophomore
• Fairless’ top rusher and receiver with 1,479 combined yards of offense and 14 TDs. ... Ran for 909 yards and 12 TDs. Averaged 9.1 yards a carry. ... Caught 44 passes for 570 yards and two TDs.
DEFENSE
Joel Rich
Aquinas, defensive end-tight end, 6-4, 230, senior
• Disruptive force off edge. ... Totaled 70 tackles, 16 QB pressures and 4.5 sacks. ... Aquinas’ leading receiver with 23 catches, 257 yards and six TDs. ... Averaged 13.7 yards on six carries. ... Two-time all-county first team. ... Boston College recruit.
Josh Fuchs
Central Catholic, defensive end-running back, 5-10, 205, senior
• Despite missing time with hamstring injury, totaled 41 tackles, 16 assists and team highs of 13 tackles for loss and seven sacks. ... Returned interception for a TD. ... Rushed for 686 yards and five TDs. ... Caught one TD pass.
Sam Groff
Sandy Valley, linebacker-quarterback, 6-0, 195, senior
• Two-time all-county first team. ... Totaled team highs of 65 solo tackles and 78 assists. ... Accumulated 2,075 yards passing-rushing and 18 overall TDs. ... Passed for 1,103 yards, four TDs and nine interceptions. Ran for 972 yards and 14 TDs.
Tyler Bowman
Northwest, defensive end-fullback, 6-3, 230, senior
• Two-time all-county first team. ... Totaled 78 tackles, nine tackles for loss and four sacks. ... Rushed for 154 yards and two TDs as fullback, averaging 8.1 yards a carry. ... Caught one TD pass.
Josh Kenny
Canton South, linebacker-fullback, 6-1, 225, senior
• South’s top tackler with 99, including four for loss. ... Totaled 4.5 sacks and five QB hurries. ... Forced five fumbles, recovered two. ... Broke up five passes. ... Rushed for 344 yards and 11 TDs, averaging 5.2 yards a carry. ... Caught seven passes for 153 yards and one TD. ... Four-year starter.
Cory Stuffelbeam
Central Catholic, linebacker-running back, 6-2, 210, senior
• Two-time all-county first team. ... Central’s top tackler who was forced to play five different offensive positions because of Central’s injuries. ... Totaled 61 tackles, 31 assists and six for loss. ... Ran for 269 yards and one TD. ... Threw for one TD. ... Averaged 32.6 yards a punt.
Eric Rude
Aquinas, linebacker-running back, 5-7, 175, senior
• Two-time all-county first team. ... Top tackler on defense that allowed 8.5 points a game during regular season. ... Totaled 158 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions. ... Ran for two TDs, averaged 9.2 yards a carry. ... Led Aquinas in tackles past two seasons, accumulating 255.
Steven Masters
Marlington, linebacker-running back, 5-9, 170, junior
• Totaled 37 tackles and three sacks for Dukes defense that allowed an average of 11.1 points through first eight games. ... Scored two defensive touchdowns. ... Rushed for 243 yards and three touchdowns on 58 carries.
DJ Blair
Tuslaw, linebacker-receiver, 5-11, 175, senior
• Two-time all-county first team. ... Led Mustangs with 158 tackles, including 108 solo. ... Rushed 54 times for 261 yards and four TDs. ... Caught 30 passes for 373 yards and four TDs. ... Averaged 24.6 yards a kick return.
Gino Tortora
Aquinas, linebacker-receiver, 5-10, 180, senior
• Totaled 68 tackles and six pass breakups for Aquinas team that earned consecutive playoff appearances for the first time in 26 years. ... Caught seven passes for 113 yards and three TDs.
Josiah Moore
Aquinas, cornerback-running back, 5-7, 165, senior
• NE Inland Defensive Player of the Year. ... Totaled 75 tackles, eight pass breakups, four interceptions and three fumble recoveries. ... Blocked four PATs and one punt. ... Rushed for 801 yards and 12 TDs, averaging 8.3 yards a carry. ... Made 10 catches for 100 yards. ... Averaged 29.9 yards a kick return, taking one back for a TD.
Travis VanVoorhis
East Canton, defensive back-running back, 5-10, 170, senior
• Bounced back impressively from major knee injury last season. ... His 105 tackles were 48 more than next Hornet. ... Added seven tackles for loss, four interceptions and three fumble recoveries. ... Returned one pick for TD. ... Rushed for 674 yards and seven TDs, averaging 6.1 yards a carry. ... Caught eight passes for 148 yards and one TD.
Jake Walker
Marlington, defensive back-receiver, 5-8, 155, junior
• Dukes’ shutdown corner. ... Totaled 43 tackles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries, returning one 97 yards for a TD. ... Caught 24 passes for 432 yards and two TDs.
John Strasser
Canton South, defensive back, 5-8, 170, senior
• Second-leading tackler with 77 for defense that allowed 17.6 points a game. ... Totaled four tackles for loss and three sacks at strong safety. ... Broke up six passes. ... Averaged 13.4 yards a punt return and 28.8 a kick return. ... Blocked one kick.
