Irish linebacker D-IV’s top defender in district

high school football

Staff report

Ursuline linebacker Jabbar Price was named the Division IV Defensive Player of the Year on the Associated Press Northeast Inland All-District football team, which was released Monday.

Price, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound senior, was one of four Mahoning Valley players to be voted as a Player of the Year in balloting by a media panel last week.

The others — all Offensive Players of the Year — are Crestview running back Zach Hicks, Brookfield quarterback Augustus Necastro and Mathews running back Bryan Leipply.

Price and his Ursuline teammates are members of the area’s lone remaining team still alive in the Ohio High School Athletic Association playoffs. Ursuline (8-5) will meet Steubenville (12-0) in a state semifinal Saturday night at Boardman’s New Spartan Stadium. The Irish also defeated Chardon NDCL 13-3, Peninsula Woodridge 27-20 and Mantua Crestwood 41-13 in the playoffs.

Price, a three-year starter on both sides of the ball for the Irish, had 85 tackles, including 18 for losses and 12 sacks. He forced four fumbles and recovered two. The Ursuline co-captain has scholarship offers from Ohio and Toledo.

Hicks, a 5-8, 165-pound senior, rushed for 1,694 yards and scored 30 touchdowns as the Rebels finished 10-3. Crestview advanced to the Division V regional final last week before losing to Canton Central Catholic, 33-6. The Rebels got there by beatting Berkshire 56-36 and LaBrae 27-7 in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Necastro, a 6-2, 195-pound senior, was 116 of 208 and passed for 1,899 yards and 25 touchdowns to lead the Warriors to a record of 10-2 and a Division VI regional semifinal berth. Brookfield’s season ended in a 27-17 loss to Kirtland. The Warriors opened the playoffs with a 39-28 win over Lisbon.

Leipply, a 5-10, 215-pound senior, rushed for 2,031 yards and 22 touchdowns to lead the Mustangs (7-3) to Division VII playoff berth. Mathews lost to Toronto 49-7 in a first-round game. His regular-season numbers came in nine games after the Mustangs’ game against Newbury was canceled.

Two Mahoning Valley coaches were recognized for their teams’ huge turnarounds with Coach of the Year honors.

Salem’s Ron Johnson earned the award in Division IV after the Quakers finished 10-2 and advanced to a regional semifinal against Steubenville before bowing out, 46-7.

Warren JFK’s Jeff Bayuk led the Eagles to an 11-2 record and a North Coast League title. His team was coming off back-to-back 2-8 seasons before Bayuk turned things around in 2015, guiding Warren JFK to a regional final appearance before bowing out against Mogadore, 35-7. The Eagles beat Sandusky St. Mary Central Catholic 28-7 and Toronto 40-6 in the first two rounds of the playoffs.