This was supposed to be Wayne’s year and it was, until a Division I, Region 3 final against Pickerington Central. Wayne’s last-play, 17-14 defeat by Central last Friday at London put an end to an unprecedented big-school run by any area program. The Warriors (11-1-1) had played in the previous two D-I state championships and three since 2005, all ending in losses.
“Our kids will tell you that’s what they play for,” Wayne coach Jay Minton said last week. “That’s the way you want it, making the playoffs and going deep into the playoffs. If we don’t do it, we don’t have anybody to blame but ourselves.”
Trotwood-Madison (D-III), Alter (D-IV) and Midwest Athletic Conference rivals Coldwater (D-V), Marion Local (D-VI) and Minster (D-VII) all will play in state semifinals this weekend. The winners advance to next week’s season-ending state championships at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.
Wayne can take solace in dominating the D-I All-Area team and its seven first-team selections. With a roster full of all-stars, it was senior Matt Wilcox who stood out most. That wasn’t difficult for the rare four-year starter, because he excelled at receiver, running back, kick returner, punt returner and defensive back.
The only two-way player for the Warriors, Wilcox is the D-I defensive player of the year. Offensively, he’s amassed 3,740 all-purpose yards and 47 touchdowns in his career.
Also a shutdown secondary presence, he’ll likely switch to defense at the next level. He’s verbally committed to Bowling Green State University. Wayne was 49-6-1 in his four seasons.
Springboro senior receiver Nick Kovacs is the D-I offensive player of the year. He led the Greater Western Ohio Conference with 89 catches for 1,159 yards and 13 touchdowns despite defenses geared to stop him. In 34 career games Kovacs totaled 203 catches for 2,850 yards and 37 touchdowns, making him one of the more prolific receivers in area history.
Kovacs has committed to Toledo.
Minton has a grip on the D-I coach of the year honor because Wayne has separated itself from other area D-I programs. In all, the Warriors have played for four D-I state championships under his guidance, including his debut season at Wayne in 1999.
Divisions II-III: Like Vandalia-Butler grad (and Detroit Lions rookie starter) Taylor Decker before him, Miamisburg senior Josh Myers is the area's next big hope as a decorated offensive lineman at Ohio State. A massive and mobile 6-foot-6, 310-pounder, Myers was the first to commit to OSU's recruiting class of 2017 way back when he was a sophomore and was among the nation's most sought-after OL recruits.
Myers and an outstanding senior Vikings class are big reasons Miamisburg reversed its course and became an area D-II power. Never before had Miamisburg (10-3) won a playoff game, but with Myers, the offensive player of the year, anchoring the line the Vikings advanced to a D-II, Region 8 final, losing to two-time defending state champ Cincinnati La Salle.
At 5-10, 170, it’s hard to distinguish Trotwood-Madison senior Kobe Vinegar from the rest of the undersized Rams. A steady wealth of big-time plays and an infectious leadership style sets the defensive player of the year apart.
Having switched to the GWOC American South Division, Trotwood made a dominant defensive statement following Vinegar’s lead, allowing 34 points through Week 8. Trotwood (11-2) will play nemesis Toledo Central Catholic (13-0) in a state semi on Saturday at Lima Spartan Stadium. TCC has defeated Trotwood three times in the previous four seasons, including the 2012 D-II state title game.
Troy coach Matt Burgbacher rewrote the m.o. for rebuilding a program. One of several successful area small-school coaches to land a big-school coaching position in recent years, when Burgbacher left Fort Loramie he inherited a proud Trojans program that was on an 8-22 slide. Troy (2-8) didn’t fare any better in his 2015 debut season.
But that all changed this fall. Troy stunned Trotwood 10-6 in the season opener, went 9-1 in the regular season and fell to Miamisburg in a D-II, Region 8 semifinal to complete a historic 10-2 turnaround. Ironically, both losses were to Miamisburg. That was more than enough to earn Burgbacher coach of the year.
Divisions IV-V: Alter senior David Rueth has been everything as advertised during a knockout career. That's saying something, especially after veteran Knights coach Ed Domsitz labeled Rueth among the best linebackers ever to play for the Knights' vaunted defense.
A proven run-stopper, Rueth also excelled as a punt returner and was in goal for Alter’s march to a D-II boys state soccer championship. The defensive player of the year is a hard-hitting reason Alter (13-0) will play defending state champ Columbus Bishop Hartley (11-2) in a D-IV state semi on Friday at London’s Bowlus Field.
Coldwater quarterback Dylan Thobe had to wait until his senior year to become a full-time starter, but he’s delivered like a veteran. The offensive player of the year has completed 131 passes in 223 attempts for 2,153 yards, 19 touchdowns and just five interceptions.
Just as impressive, Coldwater (12-1) will play Coshocton (12-1) in a D-V state semi at Lewis Center Olentangy Braves Stadium on Saturday. Coldwater is the four-time defending state champion.
Bob Skidmore is every longtime assistant coach’s hero. A Spartans assistant the previous 29 seasons that included the mid-1990’s state-title teams under then head coach Jay Niswonger, Skidmore landed the position after Kris Ketron unexpectedly resigned.
Coming off a 5-5 season in which the Spartans squandered a 4-0 start, Valley View responded with a 9-1 regular season, losing only at unbeaten Franklin. The Spartans (10-2) were knocked out of the D-IV, Region 16 semifinals bythen-unbeaten Cincinnati Wyoming, but not before Skidmore earned coach of the year honors.
Divisions VI-VII: The end of an era came when Marion Local defeated Mechanicsburg in an epic D-VI, Region 24 regional final last weekend, 26-15. Mechanicsburg posted its second straight 10-0 regular season. Also loaded with an all-star lineup, none of its stars shone brighter than quarterback Kaleb Romero.
A senior, Romero reset every Indians significant season and career offensive record, most of which were his own. He rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and passed for more than 1,300 yards, pushing his four-year career total to more than 10,000 yards of offense and 84 touchdowns.
Like most small-school players, he also was a two-way standout, excelling at defensive back, too. And football isn’t the offensive player of the year’s best sport. A three-time D-III state champ, he signed to wrestle at Ohio State.
Troy Christian (9-2) pushed Covington to the limit in a Week 5 showdown, losing 27-26. A D-VII playoff rematch appeared in the making until the Eagles were derailed by Upper Scioto Valley in their opener.
In the middle of Troy Christian’s success was Seth Douglas. The senior defensive player of the year was a four-year starter on the D-line. His team-high 49 tackles, including 15 for loss, helped make a smooth transition for first-year coach Ryan Jones, who succeeded Steve Nolan.
As well as Jones fared in his debut season, Tyler Cates of Covington was better. Having left Twin Valley South, Cates succeeded Dave Miller and his record-setting run with the Buccs. Covington responded with a 10-0 regular season and won its first state poll title. Covington (11-1) fell in a D-VII, Region 28 semifinal to defending state champ Fort Recovery.
• The Cox Media Group Ohio All-Area football teams were based on coaches’ nominations.
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