Falcons' finest Fitch High's Brian Mellott and Fred Weidenthal were named first team all-state.

VINDICATOR STAFF/WIRE REPORTS
COLUMBUS -- Ferocious linemen, quick scatbacks and mobile defenders grabbed the top awards on the 2004 Associated Press Division I and Division II All-Ohio high school football teams released Monday.
In Div. I, the offensive award was shared by Lakewood St. Edward lineman Alex Boone and Canton McKinley's record-setting tailback, Ryan Brinson. Cincinnati Colerain's brick wall on defense, Terrill Byrd, was the top defensive player, with Colerain's Kerry Coombs sharing the coaching award with Cleveland Glenville's Ted Ginn Sr.
Defending state champion and No. 1-ranked Avon Lake dominated the top honors in Div. II, with running back Bobby Doyle selected as the offensive player of the year and lineman Stephen Zywotek taking the defensive award. Steve Hale of Powell Olentangy Liberty, Tallmadge's Joe Vassalotti and Rich Turner of Parma Normandy are the top coaches.
Local players cited
Several area players received mention on the all-state teams.
In Div. I, Austintown Fitch offensive lineman Brian Mellott and defensive back Fred Weidenthal, and Warren Harding receiver Mario Manningham and offensive lineman Dante Campbell were all named to the first team. Fitch running back Mike Eliseo and Warren Harding offensive lineman Rocco Cironi were selected to the second team, and John Mang and Frank Cardone of Austintown Fitch, and Roger Matlock of Warren Harding were named special mention.
In Div. II, Canfield's Jordan Ferns, a wide receiver, and Kyle Banna, a linebacker, were named to the second team, along with Howland's Dustin Rose (offensive line) and Lance Smith (running back). There were no area first team selections.
Special mention was given to Kory Jackson and Mike Rosa of Chaney, Jamie McNally of Canfield, and Kyle Van Fosson, Lou Ward and Tim Lawson of East Liverpool.
Boone is a 6-foot-8, 320-pound senior who graded out at more than 90 percent on his blocking assignments, did not surrender a sack and totaled 47 "pancake" blocks for St. Ed.
Top back
Brinson, a 5-9, 175-pound senior, carried 177 times for 1,685 yards and 16 touchdowns during the regular season, adding six catches for 128 yards and two more scores. He owns most of McKinley's game, season and career rushing and scoring records.
Coombs guided Colerain to its perfect record, the AP poll title and a spot in this Saturday's Division I state championship game against McKinley at Fawcett Stadium. Ginn Sr., father of budding Ohio State returner/receiver Ted Ginn Jr., helped Glenville become the first Cleveland public school to advance to the regional finals. A week later, the Tarblooders extended that even further, to the state semis.
Doyle, a 5-10, 195-pound senior, racked up 2,210 yards rushing and 37 touchdowns for Avon Lake, which is back for a shot at its second consecutive Division II title in Friday night's showdown against Columbus Brookhaven.
A 6-3, 243-pound senior, Zywotek was a force on the defensive front, totaling 14 sacks, causing three fumbles and recovering six fumbles.
In only the school's second year of existence, Hale led Liberty from a 1-9 mark to an 8-2 season and a playoff berth. With Vassalotti at the controls, Tallmadge went from 4-6 a year ago to its first playoff appearance -- and then all the way to the state semis.
Turner inherited a losing program at Normandy but went 4-6 in 2003 -- one more win than in the previous two years combined -- and then guided the Invaders to an 8-2 mark this year and its first playoff spot in 23 years.