Photo

Akise Teague

Photo

Photo by: Geoffrey Hauschild

Keil’n Thurston

Staff report

Ursuline High teammates Akise Teague and Keil’n Thurston were accorded top honors on The Associated Press Division V All-Ohio football team on Wednesday.

Teague (5-foot-8, 176 pounds, senior), who was named Mr. Football, was selected offensive player of the year. He finished the season with 1,756 yards and 26 touchdowns rushing, and 25 receptions for 545 yards and five TDs. He also returned three interceptions for touchdowns, and had a kickoff return for a score.

Thurston (6-0, 210, sr.) was selected as co-defensive player of the year. He led an Irish defense that allowed just 170.5 yards per game, including just 83.4 yards per game rushing.

Those two, along with teammate and offensive lineman Zach Conlan (6-0, 305, sr.), were named to the first team.

Ursuline linebacker Jordan Markota (6-2, 215, sr.) was named to the second team, while Jeff Podolsky was named honorable mention.

Other second-team honorees were Crestview quarterback Carter Hill (6-0, 199, sr.) and Mineral Ridge running back Dan Skiba (6-0, 190, sr.), while United quarterback Josh McLaughlin (6-0, 180, sr.) and South Range defensive back Phillip Arsufii (6-0, 160, sr.) were selected to the third team.

Also selected special mention were Ryan Powell of United, Jeff Stickle of Crestview and Ethan Witmer of South Range.

In Div. VI, McDonald’s Nick Rota was selected to the first team as a linebacker. Rota (6-1, 175), a senior, led the Blue Devils to a 9-3 record and the Inter Tri-County League Tier Two championship.

McDonald allowed just 191.9 yards per game, and only 65.4 yards per game passing.

Rota was joined on the all-state team by teammates Matthias Tayla (6-3, 205 sr.), at third team quarterback, and Nick Puntel, who was named special mention.

Columbiana’s Matt Douglas, a 6-3, 255 junior, was named to the second team offensive line.

Also named to the third team were ends Trey Griffith (6-1, 175, sr.) of Southern Local, and Ryley Sheptock (6-1, 175, sr.) of Western Reserve; and Western Reserve punter John Rosati (6-2, 178, sr.).

Selected to the special mention team were Tyler Powell and Ed Crump of Western Reserve, Devan Miller of Lowellville, Josh Melhorn of Southern Local, Wade Prueitt of Mathews and Seamus Johnson of Sebring.

In total, 65 area players were recognized on the all-state team this year.