Benfer named FC Offensive and Defensive POY

Monroeville standout Evan Benfer is in rare territory in the history of the Firelands Conference. The senior two-way star was named both the FC Offensive Back and Defensive Back of the Year in a rare sweep of both speciality awards, the league announced on Nov. 12. Benfer — who will be in contention to repeat as Northwest District Defensive Player of the Year in Division VII — played quarterback and safety for the Eagles, who shared the FC championship with St. Paul this season. Through the air, Benfer was 61-of-101 passing for 755 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. But it was on the ground where he dominated. He ran 143 times for 1,422 yards with 25 TDs. On defense, he had 79 tackles and two interceptions. Benfer was injured late in the first half of Monroeville's 28-19 loss to Warren JFK in a second-round playoff game on Nov. 8 at Marsh Field. Benfer's teammate, junior guard Brycen Dunlap, earned FC Offensive Lineman of the Year honors. The Eagles averaged 342.8 yards and 42.3 points per game this season in 12 games. Also repeating as a specialty award winners was St. Paul senior Tristan Nickoli, the FC Defensive Lineman of the Year. Like Benfer, Nickoli is expected to be a two-time All-Ohioan defender after he finished with 67 tackles (10 for loss) and six sacks for the Flyers (6-5, 6-1). Other first team selections on offense for Monroeville included senior running back Landen Roeder (901 yards, 14 TDs); senior tackle Jaxson Hedrick; and junior kicker Landon Stein (58-of-67 extra points, 5-of-9 field goals. Defensive first team selections for the Eagles included Hedrick (28 tackles, one sack) and Dunlap (41 tackles) on the line; along with senior Landin Hershiser (50 tackles, two sacks, three fumble recoveries) and Roeder (46 tackles) at linebacker. St. Paul first-team offensive players included junior running back Nick Pocos (661 yards, 5 TDs); junior receiver Landon Fries (40 catches, 530 yards, 5 TDs); Nickoli at guard; and senior tackle Ben Blum. The Flyers averaged 21.2 points and 252.2 yards per game in 11 weeks. On first team defense for the Flyers with Nickoli was sophomore linebacker Rafael Gross (115 tackles, two sacks, three fumble recoveries) and Fries (44 tackles, one sack, two fumble recoveries) at defensive back. For Western Reserve (7-4, 5-2), junior receiver Brexton Fraelich (33 catches, 625 yards, 3 TDs) and junior defensive lineman Travis French (45 tackles, three sacks) were both first team. South Central senior Aaron Hauler was first team at defensive back with 65 tackles, four pass breakups and two blocked kicks. He was also the first team punter with a 40.3-yard average. Hauler also ran for 713 yards and 12 TDs and passed for 936 yards and 6 TDs as an honorable mention pick at quarterback. Monroeville's Tylor Nester was named the FC Coach of the Year. Nester just finished his fourth year as head coach of the Eagles, who finished 10-2 overall and 6-1 in the FC. Monroeville earned a share of the FC title for the first time since 2020 and won a playoff game for the first time since 2016. The Eagles had five straight shutouts during the regular season and trailed for just 10 seconds in 10 weeks while also finishing No. 8 in the Division VII Associated Press state poll. -------------------------------- 2024 Firelands Conference football teamsFIRST TEAM OFFENSEQuarterback: Evan Benfer, Monroeville, Sr.Backs: Nick Pocos, St. Paul, Jr.; Colton Wittman, Mapleton, Sr.; Landen Roeder, Monroeville, Sr.Receivers: Landon Fries, St. Paul, Jr.; Tyson Ringler, Crestview, Sr.; Brexton Fraelich, Western Reserve, Jr.Tight end: Karter Goon, Crestview, Jr.Guards: Tristan Nickoli, St. Paul, Sr.; Brycen Dunlap, Monroeville, Sr.Center: Jeremy Leber, Crestview, Sr.Tackles: Ben Blum, St. Paul, Sr.; Jaxson Hedrick, Monroeville, Sr.Kicker: Landon Stein, Monroeville, Jr. DEFENSELine: Jaxson Hedrick, Monroeville, Sr.; Brycen Dunlap, Monroeville, Jr.; Travis French, Western Reserve, Jr.End/Outside linebackers: Tristan Nickoli, St. Paul, Sr.; Landen Roeder, Monroeville, Sr.Linebackers: Rafael Gross, St. Paul, So.; Gavin Barker, Crestview, Sr.; Landin Hershiser, Monroeville, Sr.Backs: Landon Fries, St. Paul, Jr.; Tyson Ringler, Crestview, Sr.; Evan Benfer, Monroeville, Sr.; Aaron Hauler, South Central, Sr.Punters: Gavin Barker, Crestview, Sr.; Aaron Hauler, South Central, Sr. Offensive Lineman of the Year: Brycen Dunlap, Monroeville.Offensive Back of the Year: Evan Benfer, Monroeville.Defensive Lineman of the Year: Tristan Nickoli, St. Paul.Defensive Back of the Year: Evan Benfer, Monroeville.Coach of the Year: Tylor Nester, Monroeville. SECOND TEAMOFFENSEQuarterback: Hayden Keith, Western Reserve, Jr.Backs: Brock Houck, St. Paul, Sr.; Ayden Reymer, Crestview, Jr.; Landyn Wiegel, Western Reserve, So.; Ethan Keefe, Plymouth, Jr.Receivers: Colt Clark, Monroeville, So.; AJ Bores, Monroeville, Sr.; Cole Frankart, South Central, Jr.Guards: Travis French, Western Reserve, Jr.; Garet Garwood, Mapleton, Jr.Center: Hunter McClure, Plymouth, Sr.Tackles: Nathanial Kradlak, Monroeville, Sr.; Landon Gamble, South Central, Sr.Kicker: Nate Griffin, St. Paul, So. DEFENSELine: Ben Blum, St. Paul, Sr.; Jack Stephens, Crestview, Jr.; Alex Hamons, South Central, Jr.; Noah Robinson, Plymouth, Sr.End/Outside linebackers: Logan Friges, Crestview, Sr.; Will Taylor, Western Reserve, Jr.Linebackers: Nick Pocos, St. Paul, Jr.; Jack Stieber, St. Paul, Sr.; Colton Wittman, Mapleton, Sr.Backs: Colt Clark, Monroeville, So.; Ethan Pomerich, Monroeville, Jr.; Derek Ackerman, Monroeville, Jr.; Dom Edwards, Western Reserve, Jr. HONORABLE MENTIONOFFENSEQuarterback: Jarrett Menci, New London, So.; Aaron Hauler, South Central, Sr.; Grant Kuhnle, St. Paul, So.; Liam Kuhn, Crestview, So.Receivers: Hayden Dobias, Western Reserve, Jr.; Trey Knoll, South Central, Sr.Tight end: Nate Sandor, St. Paul, Jr.Guards: Noah Robinson, Plymouth, Sr.; Montgomery Cline, Crestview, So.Center: Lucas Smith, South Central, So.; Hayden Ryan, Monroeville, Jr.Tackles: Braylon Witherspoon, Western Reserve, Jr.; Lukus Jenkins, Mapleton, Fr.; Alex Baca, St. Paul, Jr.Kicker: Lincoln Distl, Plymouth, So. DEFENSELine: Caleb Carpenter, Western Reserve, Jr.; Adam Roth, St. Paul, Sr.; Sam Clinker, Monroeville, Sr.End/Outside linebackers: Logan Dubois, Mapleton, Sr.; Tyson Welch, Mapleton, Sr.; Greyson Fisher, South Central, So.; Maverick Myers, Monroeville, Jr.; Bransen Hider, Crestview, Jr.Linebackers: Hunter Chandley, New London, Jr.; Lyric Clouse, New London, Fr.; Austin Kolb, Western Reserve, So.; Hunter McClure, Plymouth, Sr.; Cooper Clearly, Monroeville, So.; Logan Conroy, Mapleton, Sr.Backs: Diton Farnsworth, South Central, Sr.; Owen Wright, Plymouth, Sr.; Joe Kososky, Crestview, Sr.