Harding lands four players on All-Ohio squad

Fitch's Davanzo Tate and Chaney's Ed McElroy and Keilen Dykes were also first-teamers.
VINDICATOR STAFF/WIRE REPORTS
COLUMBUS -- Warren Harding High, which will play Cincinnati Elder for the state championship, was represented by four players on the first team of the 2002 Associated Press Division I All-Ohio football team.
The Raiders (14-0) had three players earn defensive honors -- linebacker James Johnson, defensive back Mike Phillips and punter Mike Kokal. They were joined by offensive end Treymayne Warfield.
Davanzo Tate of Austintown Fitch was also named to the first team as a defensive back.
In Div. II, Chaney running back Ed McElroy and defensive lineman Keilan Dykes were named to the first team. They were joined by Howland offensive lineman Ryne Nutt and Canfield defensive back Tom Rogers.
Players of year
Strongsville running back Brandon Murphy, who ran his career totals to more than 80 touchdowns and almost 7,000 rushing yards, was the Div. I player of the year on offense. His fellow big-school honorees were Elder defensive lineman Tony Carvitti, linebacker Curt Lukens of North Canton Hoover and Cleveland St. Ignatius defensive back and receiver Tony Gonzalez. They all shared the defensive player of the year award.
Murphy, a 5-foot-7, 170-pound senior tailback, ran for 1,907 yards and 27 touchdowns in eight games this season -- missing the final two because of a broken hand. Murphy finished his career with stats that rank him among the top five backs all-time in Ohio in touchdowns and yards. His 6,982 career rushing yards are the most ever by a Division I back. He averaged 9.2 yards a carry throughout high school. Carvitti, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound senior, had 18 sacks during the regular season.
Lukens, a 6-3, 205-pound senior who has signed to play next year for Ohio State, had 15 tackles for losses including eight sacks. On offense, he had 20 catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 520 yards and eight more scores.
Gonzalez, a 6-0, 195-pound senior, also was a two-way standout. He had four interceptions, 43 tackles and broke up 13 passes as a defensive back. On offense, he had 33 catches, averaging 27.8 yards per reception, and scored 11 touchdowns for the Wildcats.
The Div. I coaches of the year were Elder's Doug Ramsey, Jack Johnson of Pickerington and Hudson's Tom Narducci.
Spartans named
Boardman's Tom Zetts (quarterback) and Mike Villagrana (defensive lineman) were named to the Div. I second team. Named special mention were Kevin Tuminello of Boardman, Richard Davis and Stefon Alexander of Warren Harding and Robert Hill of Austintown Fitch.
Louisville linebacker Curtis Elsass was the defensive player of the year in Div. II. The offensive award was split between quarterbacks Brad Maurer of Kings Mills Kings and Gary Whaley of Louisville.
Elsass had 15 tackles for negative yardage and three sacks before his season ended with a knee injury in Week 9. The 5-9, 190-pound senior helped Louisville to a perfect record and the No. 1 ranking in the poll by also rushing for 943 yards and 16 touchdowns as a tailback.
Maurer, a 6-1, 190-pound senior, passed for 1,658 yards and 25 TDs and ran for 674 yards and 13 more scores as Kings went 10-0.
Whaley also was an integral part of Louisville's poll championship, completing 122-of-214 passes for 1,766 yards and 20 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He is a 6-1, 185-pound senior. The division's top coaches were Jeff Buchanan of Pataskala Watkins Memorial, Maurice Douglass of Trotwood-Madison and Maple Heights' Jeff Rotsky.
Canfield offensive lineman J.J. Rousher and linebacker Mike Turjanica were named to the second team in Div. II.
Named special mention were Chris Hlinka of Chaney, Tim Dewberry and Justin Kucek of Canfield, Brad Samsa of Howland, and Jared Zirillo, Dan Suznevion, Andre Dawson, Chris Green, Justin Campbell and Andrew Evans of East Liverpool.