Benfer repeats as NW district Defensive POY

FINDLAY — Monroeville standout Evan Benfer continues to bring in specialty awards. The senior safety is a repeat selection as the Division VII Northwest District Defensive Player of the Year, which was announced Wednesday night. The district teams were selected by an Ohio Prep Sports Media Association media panel with writers from Norwalk, Bucyrus, Celina, Defiance, Findlay, Fremont, Lima, Mansfield, Tiffin and Toledo. Benfer shared the award with Maria Stein Marion Local linebacker Drew Lause and Edgerton defensive back Braden Leppelmeier. In 12 games this season, Benfer finished with 79 tackles and two interceptions on defense. As the team's quarterback, Benfer totaled 755 yards and 10 touchdowns through the air and 1,422 yards and 25 TDs on the ground for the Eagles (10-2). Benfer was joined on the first team by junior offensive lineman Brycen Dunlap, senior kicker Landon Stein and senior defensive tackle Jaxson Hedrick. Dunlap blocked for an offense that averaged 342.8 yards and 42.3 points per game this season for the Firelands Conference co-champions. Stein was 58-of-67 on extra points and 5-of-9 on field goal attempts for 73 points, while Hedrick 28 tackle sand one sack, and was also a top offensive lineman. Earning second team for Monroeville (10-2, 6-1), which also finished No. 8 in the final Associated Press poll, was senior running back Landen Roeder (901 yards, 14 TDs) and senior linebacker Landin Hershiser (50 tackles, two sacks, three fumble recoveries). Sophomore Colt Clark (linebacker), senior AJ Bores (receiver) and senior Nathaniel Kradlak (offensive line) were honorable mention for Monroeville. FC co-champion St. Paul (6-5, 6-1) also put three players on the first team, led by returning All-Ohioan Tristan Nickoli on the defensive line. He finished with 67 tackles (10 for loss) and six sacks. Offensive lineman Ben Blum anchored a unit that averaged 21.2 points and 252.2 yards per game to earn first team. Junior Landon Fries was selected as first team athlete for the Flyers after he finished with 609 yards and 11 TDs rushing; 530 yards and 5 TDs receiving; and 427 yards and 3 TDs on kick and punt returns. Sophomore Rafael Gross (115 tackles, two sacks, three fumble recoveries) was second team at linebacker for St. Paul, while sophomore kicker Nate Griffin and junior running back Nick Pocos were honorable mention. Area honorable mention selections included South Central senior Aaron Hauler and junior Cole Frankart; and Plymouth's Ethan Keefe and Noah Robinson. Also, first-year St. Paul head coach Chris Doughty shared Coach of the Year honors with Columbus Grove's Andy Schafer, Mohawk's Eric Daniel and Crestline's Hastings Robinette. In his first year succeeding Hall of Fame coach John Livengood, Doughty and the Flyers overcame several injuries and an 0-3 start to finish 6-1 down the stretch to win a share of the FC title and earn a home playoff game. It marks the second straight year an FC coach took home the honor after Monroeville's Tylor Nester received the award in 2023. ----------------------------- OPSMA 2024 Northwest District football teams FINDLAY — The 2024 All-Northwest District football teams, as selected by an Ohio Prep Sports Media Association media panel from the district. DIVISION VIIFirst teamOffenseEnds- Trevon Baxter, Columbus Grove, 5-11, 175, jr.; Kahne Hayman, Sycamore Mohawk, 6-0, 200, sr.; Victor Hoelscher, Maria Stein Marion Local, 6-2, 180, sr.; Max Radabaugh, Edon, 6-0, 160, sr.Linemen- Kyle Ungruhn, Maria Stein Marion Local, 6-4, 240, sr.; Will Frimel, Minster, 5-10, 220, sr.; Ty Meyer, Columbus Grove, 5-2, 210, sr.; Dalton Amos, Ada, 6-2, 265, sr.; Cameron Bagent, Tiffin Calvert, 6-5, 285, sr.; Garrett Rinehart, Sycamore Mohawk, 6-4, 210, sr.; Brycen Dunlap, Monroeville, 6-2, 260, jr.; Ben Blum, Norwalk St. Paul, 6-3, 280, sr.Backs- Trent Barraza, Columbus Grove, 6-2, 190, sr.; Parker Hess, Maria Stein Marion Local, 5-11, 185, sr.; Nolan Hopson, Dola Hardin Northern, 5-9, 180, sr.; Maddox Underwood, Upper Scioto Valley, 5-11, 165, sr.; Grant Smith, Gibsonburg, 5-10, 180, so.Quarterbacks- Justin Knouff, Maria Stein Marion Local, 6-2, 185, sr.; Ben Bogner, Sycamore Mohawk, 6-0, 185, sr.; Brogan Stephey, Minster, 6-1, 180, sr.Tight end- Brady Basinger, Columbus Grove, 6-2, 205, so.Athlete- Landon Fries, Norwalk St. Paul, 5-11, 165, jr.; Levi Green, Ada, 5-8, 160, sr.Kickers- Carson Bills, Maria Stein Marion Local, 5-10, 165, sr.; Landon Stein, Monroeville, 6-1, 160, sr.; Evan Verhoff, Columbus Grove, 5-6, 150, jr. Defense Linemen- Kylan Mayes, Columbus Grove, 6-1, 270, sr.; Adam Winner, Maria Stein Marion Local, 6-1, 200, sr.; Tristan Nickoli, Norwalk St. Paul, 5-8, 200, sr.; Jaxson Hedrick, Monroeville, 6-6, 245, sr.; Quinn Westhoven, Leipsic, 6-2, 199, Sr.; Dan Hockensmith, Lucas, 5-9, 210, sr.; Beau Sanders, Upper Scioto Valley, 5-11, 195, so.Linebackers- Drew Lause, Maria Stein Marion Local, 6-0, 205, sr.; Landen Houston, Columbus Grove, 5-10, 205, sr.; Andrew Miller, Pandora-Gilboa, 6-0, 215, sr.; Brayden Shoop, McComb, 6-1, 175, sr.; Luke Foster, Gibsonburg, 6-2, 220, jr.; Owen Patrizi, Sycamore Mohawk, 5-9, 160, jr.; Cohen Hulbert, Edon, 6-1, 210, sr.; Caden Falke, Lima Central Catholic, 6-0, 205, jr.Backs- Evan Benfer, Monroeville, 6-0, 165, sr.; Grant Eversole, Columbus Grove, 5-11, 180, sr.; Braden Leppelmeier, Edgerton, 5-10, 160, sr.; Kaleb Bish, Sycamore Mohawk, 6-1, 180, sr.; Ayden Cavinee, Arlington, 6-1, 200, jr.; Reece Walby, Gibsonburg, 5-10, 170, so.Punters- Xander Wilson, Dola Hardin Northern, 6-1, 180, sr.Offensive Players of the Year- Trent Barraza, Columbus Grove; Brogan Stephey, Minster.Defensive Players of the Year- Evan Benfer, Monroeville; Drew Lause, Maria Stein Marion Local; Braden Leppelmeier, Edgerton.Linemen of the Year- Kyle Ungruhn, Maria Stein Marion Local; Dan Hockensmith, Lucas; Kylan Mayes, Columbus Grove.Coaches of the Year- Andy Schafer, Columbus Grove; Chris Doughty, Norwalk St. Paul; Eric Daniel, Sycamore Mohawk; Hastings Robinette, Crestline. Second teamOffenseEnds- Jayce Brecht, Leipsic, 6-2, 162, sr.; Scottie Krontz, Edgerton, 6-3, 155, sr.; Kendol Brigle, Edon, 6-3, 165, jr.; Dylan Heitkamp, Minster, 5-8, 160, sr.Linemen- Hunter Wassermann, Gibsonburg, 6-2, 250, so.; Parker Kelley, Edon, 6-1, 250, sr.; Elijah Gibbs, McComb, 5-11, 265, sr.; Eli Luginbill, Pandora-Gilboa, 6-2, 245, sr.; Colten Ahrens, Maria Stein Marion Local, 6-3, 220, sr.; Kegan Arnold, Lucas, 6-0, 235, sr.; Gianni McKee, Lima Central Catholic, 6-0, 285, sr.; Patrick Stacklin, Mt. Victory Ridgemont, 6-3, 225, sr.Backs- Cal Warnement, Tiffin Calvert, 6-0, 180, sr.; Cian Glennon, Crestline, 6-0, 200, sr.; Mason Howard, Mt. Victory Ridgemont, 5-9, 175, jr.; Landen Roeder, Monroeville, 5-7, 160, sr.; Joel Walkup, Edgerton, 6-1, 205, sr.Quarterbacks- Jack Phillips, New Washington Buckeye Central, 6-1, 185, jr.; Kyler Sapp, Edon, 6-1, 200, sr.; Brady Parker, Lima Central Catholic, 6-3, 185, so.Athlete- Charlie Werling, St. Henry, 6-2, 200, jr. Defense Linemen- Brodi Hipsher, Dola Hardin Northern, 6-3, 240, sr.; Layton Blankemeyer, Columbus Grove, 6-1, 175, sr.; Spencer Waugaman, Gibsonburg, 5-10, 215, sr.; Carter Wolph, Tiffin Calvert, 6-4, 205, sr.; Issac Muhlenkamp, Maria Stein Marion Local, 6-1, 205, sr.; Colton Bailey, Mt. Victory Ridgemont, 6-3, 225, sr.; Josh Mueller, Delphos St. John's, 6-2, 260, sr.Linebackers- Carter Cook, Tiffin Calvert, 6-0, 185, sr.; Rafael Gross, Norwalk St. Paul, 6-1, 180, so.; Bryant Meier, Maria Stein Marion Local, 5-10, 170, sr.; Ray Caudill, Lucas, 6-0, 205, sr.; Troy Spencer, Waynesfield-Goshen, 5-10, 185, sr.; Jevin Henderson, Mt.Victory Ridgemont, 5-11, 160, sr.; Ryan Roberts, Upper Scioto Valley, 5-11, 195, jr.; Landin Hershiser, Monroeville, 5-11, 200, sr.Backs- Chase Meyer, Pandora-Gilboa, 5-8, 145, jr.; Ty Lammers, Leipsic, 6-3, 168, sr.; Logan DeMoss, Tiffin Calvert, 6-0, 160, jr.; Ryan Homan, Maria Stein Marion Local, 6-1, 175, sr.; Grant Dicke, New Bremen, 6-0, 179, sr.; Gavin Barraza, Columbus Grove, 5-8, 155, jr.Punters- Cory Gerten, Pandora-Gilboa, 5-11, 165, jr. Honorable mention- Griffin Cooley, Montpelier; Brady Guegold, Lucas; Matthew Quatman, Lima Central Catholic; Mason Howard, Ridgemont; Kayleb Hickman, Ada; Landon Saltzman, Vanlue; Parker Gallaspie, Pandora-Gilboa; Ben Burkholder, Pandora-Gilboa; Lane Lee, Pandora-Gilboa; Madden Amador, McComb; Grady Schroeder, McComb; Octavion Gonzales, McComb; Haiden Ebright, McComb; Colin Foreman, Leipsic; Andrew Allen, Ada; Landon Simon, Ada; Zack Zimmerman, Ada; Marc Kirkendall, Leipsic; Kaine Fisher, Ada; Mason Stewart, Dola Hardin Northern; Wyatt Pore, Dola Hardin Northern; Brody Walter, North Baltimore; Luke Long, North Baltimore; Lyzaya Berg, Leipsic; Cam Mooney, Gibsonburg; Antonio Salazar, Gibsonburg; Grant Dawson, Gibsonburg; Chuy Rodriguez, Gibsonburg; Cameron Moyer, Tiffin Calvert; Nolan Lee, Tiffin Calvert; Brady Coffman, Mohawk; Conner Moyer, Tiffin Calvert; Colt Clark, Monroeville; AJ Bores, Monroeville; Nathanial Kradlak, Monroeville; Ethan Keefe, Plymouth; Noah Robinson, Plymouth; Cole Frankart, Greenwich South Central; Aaron Hauler, Greenwich South Central; Nick Pocos, Norwalk St. Paul; Nate Griffin, Norwalk St. Paul; Alec Phillips, New Washington Buckeye Central; Corbin Bloomfield, New Washington Buckeye Central; Parker Bowman, Crestline; Kody Lawhorn, Crestline; Derek McCunn, Crestline; Matthew Hefner, New Washington Buckeye Central; Carter Giesige, Crestline; Buck Arnold, Lucas; Hayden Sharps, Montpelier; Brian Guillen, West Unity Hilltop; Logan Pontius, Montpelier; Keegan Gray-Wyckoff, Antwerp; Ethan Heitkamp, Maria Stein Marion Local; Cole Albers, Minster; Ian Homan, Minster; Connor Schmiesing, Minster; Gabe Bornhorst, Minster; Caleb Couse, Minster; Rogan Muether, New Bremen; Vince Wilker, New Bremen; Carter LaGuire, St. Henry; Alex Post, St. Henry; Griffin Burns, Marion Local; Brady Fuerst, Columbus Grove; Chris Crnkovich, Lima Central Catholic; Layden Porter, Waynesfield-Goshen; Louis Knotts, Lima Central Catholic; Jameson Rader, Columbus Grove; Grant Breitigam, Waynesfield-Goshen; Michael Quatman, Lima Central Catholic; Jayce Kaufman, Waynesfield-Goshen; Xavier Stuck, Ridgemont.