STAFF/WIRE REPORTS

STAFF/WIRE REPORTS
COLUMBUS -- Three South Range High football players have been honored on the 2003 Associated Press Divisions V and VI All-Ohio teams announced Wednesday.
Senior quarterback Ryan Maxwell, junior running back Ben Johnston and senior linebacker Russell Dawson were selected to the second team after leading the unbeaten Raiders into the Div. V playoffs.
Mineral Ridge senior kicker Brian Palmer and Warren John F. Kennedy linebacker Jimmy Kokrak represented the area on the Div. V first team.
The Raiders were joined on the second team by Warren JFK senior end Shane Golden and senior linebackers Jay Yorty of Lisbon, Adam Fast of Columbiana and Nick Bjelac of Newton Falls.
In Div. VI, Lowellville senior defensive lineman Steve Carchedi and Southington senior defensive back Kevin Swiger were first-team selections, while the second team consisted of Lowellville senior running back Jeff Peterson and McDonald junior defensive back Tyler Stanley.
Statewide
Three standout running backs, a brawny lineman, a two-way star and a mobile linebacker were the top honorees on the teams selected on the recommendation of a state media panel.
In Division V, the offensive players of the year were Dalton running back Derek Jackson, Marion Pleasant lineman Ed Hunt and Lewisburg Tri-County North running back Eric Wright.
Amanda-Clearcreek defensive back/wide receiver/running back Raymond Sowers was the top defender.
And Amanda-Clearcreek's Ron Hinton and Bill Inselman of Hamler Patrick Henry shared the coaching honors.
Columbus Grove running back Blaine Maag was the offensive player of the year in Division VI with East Canton's Dan John selected as the defensive player of the year. Centerburg's Brad Burchfield and Windham's Joe Baum were the coaches of the year.
The honorees' credentials separate them from the pack:
UJackson (5-foot-8, 183 pounds, senior) carried 316 times for 2,018 yards and 25 touchdowns. He piled up almost 5,000 rushing yards and 58 TDs in his career.
UHunt was the cornerstone of Pleasant's successful run in both the regular season and playoffs. At 6-4 and 285 pounds, the senior guided the Spartans to a 10-0 record this year and a state playoff title a year ago.
UWright picked up 2,089 yards and 36 touchdowns -- in nine games.
UOn defense, Sowers intercepted eight passes for 120 return yards when not making big plays on offense.
In his 13th year, Inselman had just five starters back from a 9-2 season in 2002 and came right back with a 9-1 mark. Hinton coached Amanda-Clearcreek to another state title bid despite a tough schedule and lots of injuries.
Friday's showdown
Amanda-Clearcreek (13-1) meets Columbus Academy (12-2) in the Division V state title game Friday at Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
In Division VI, Maag was the go-to guy in Columbus Grove's drive to the state title game. The 6-1, 185-pound junior rushed for 1,731 yards and 31 touchdowns for the No. 1-ranked team during the regular season.
Columbus Grove (14-0) takes on Maria Stein Marion Local (11-3) in the championship game Saturday at Canton Fawcett Stadium.
John, a 5-9, 190-pound senior, was a force on defense for East Canton. He had 17 tackles for minus yardage and five sacks, intercepted a pass, recovered two fumbles and caused one.
On offense, he ran for 1,562 yards and 20 touchdowns, returned a kickoff for a score and also handled the team's place-kicking duties.
Baum took Windham to an 8-2 record in his 12th year. Burchfield guided Centerburg to a 7-3 mark and its first trip to the playoffs.