Schuler, Bowden,

Leonard, Roscoe

also first-teamers

Staff report

Joe Alessi was at his best against the toughest competition South Range faced in the Inter Tri-County League. That much was evident in the numbers.

Those numbers enabled Alessi, the Raiders’ senior running back, to be named the Associated Press All-Ohio Division VI Offensive Player of the Year.

Alessi rushed for 2,507 yards and 38 touchdowns on 195 carries for South Range (7-3). He averaged 12.9 yards per rush.

“Joe’s best games came against our best opponents,” Raiders coach Dan Yeagley said in nominating Alessi for All-Northeast Inland District and All-Ohio consideration.

Alessi, the district player of the year, ran for 312 yards and five touchdowns against Crestview, 309 yards and four TDs against United, 328 yards and five TDs against Columbiana and 291 yards and three TDs against Springfield.

Alessi finished his high school career with 4,392 yards and 67 rushing touchdowns. He scored 70 total touchdowns.

Springfield senior Mark Schuler joined Alessi on the Division VI first team as a punter. Schuler averaged 40 yards per punt for the Tigers (7-4).

The All-Ohio teams for Divisions V and VII also were released on Wednesday.

Liberty sophomore quarterback Lynn Bowden and Ursuline senior linebacker Tyler Leonard were first-team selections in Division V.

Bowden ran for 1,943 yards and 25 TDs and passed for 889 yards and 14 TDs for the Leopards (10-2).

Leonard had 75 tackles, 13 sacks and 10 tackles for loss for the Irish (8-5). He also recovered three fumbles.

Warren JFK senior punter Michael Roscoe was the only area first-team selection in Division VII.

Roscoe averaged 36.2 yards per punt for the Eagles (2-8).