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PIQUA — It took Piqua High School football coach Bill Nees a couple of loud yells and a whistle to get the attention of his players.

When everyone finally did listen up, he gave the announcement they had all been waiting for Wednesday. "It's official guys, Brandon Saine is Mr. Football."

Not only the team, but the crowd gathered at the Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant— where the squad was being treated to a free meal — gave the 6-foot-1, 219-pound running back a huge round of applause.

Saine, who has signed to play at Ohio State, is the 20th winner of the Ohio Associated Press Mr. Football award.

He didn't officially get the news until Nees received a phone call Wednesday. "It's a pretty amazing feeling," Saine said. "I felt like I played well enough to deserve it and we played well enough as a team. But you never know until it actually happens.

"I couldn't have done it without the offensive line (Ben Davis, Lee Middleton, Adam Grissom, Kyle Perkins and David Spiggle). They've opened awesome holes all year."

Through 14 games, Saine has gained 2,035 yards on 281 carries and run for 30 TDs. He's caught 19 passes for 345 yards and five TDs and has 400 return yards and a kick return for a score.

Piqua (12-2) meets Pickerington Central (13-1) in the Division II state final Friday night.

His resume not only includes the Mr. Football award, but the state record in the 100-meter dash (10.31 seconds), four state track titles and a national championship in the 60-meter dash. Saine also carries a 3.6 grade-point average.

"Brandon is a great football player who is also a great sprinter," Nees said. "He's got the speed to turn the corner on people, but he'd just as soon run between the tackles and hit people."

Area Mr. Football winners

Brandon Saine, Piqua, 2006

Ryan Brewer, Troy, 1998

Curtis Enis, Mississinawa Valley, 1992

Bob Hoying, St. Henry, 1990

Piqua's big day

What: Division II state title game vs. Pickerington Central

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Massillon