Seventeen from area earn All-FC first team

The usual suspects dominated the All-Firelands Conference football teams, released on Monday with the conclusion of the 2025 season for all teams in the eight-team league. Outright champion Monroeville (9-3, 7-0) finished with seven players on the first teams on offense and defense and claimed four of the five specialty awards as well. Senior interior lineman Brycen Dunlap was the Lineman of the Year on both offense and defense for the Eagles. The 6-foot-2, 275-pound standout anchored a Monroeville offense at guard and filled the middle at defensive tackle. The Eagles averaged 349 yards and 34 points per game on offense, while Dunlap finished with 42 tackles and three sacks on defense. Junior quarterback Colt Clark was the Offensive Back of the Year for Monroeville. He was 81-of-147 passing for 1,235 yards and 17 touchdowns and also ran 131 times for 1,019 yards and 15 TDs on the ground. The third specialty award among players went to St. Paul junior linebacker Rafael Gross, who was the FC Defensive Back of the Year. Gross finished with 134 tackles (13 for loss) with two sacks and a forced fumble in 11 games. Fifth-year head coach Tylor Nester was the Coach of the Year after guiding the Eagles to back-to-back FC championships, including the first outright title since 2002. Other first-team selections for the Eagles included senior running back Connor Bores (918 yards, 13 TDs) and junior tackle Alec Schafer on offense. Junior linebacker Cooper Cleary (75 tackles, 2 interceptions) and Clark (81 tackles, one sack) as a defensive back joined Dunlap on the first-team defense. Western Reserve (9-3, 6-1) put four players on both the offense and defense first teams. Junior running back Landyn Wiegel (1,202 yards, 26 TDs) and senior receiver Brexton Fraelich (46 catches, 861 yards, 9 TDs) were first-team selections. They were joined by senior center Blake Welch and senior guard Will Taylor, who anchored a WR offense that averaged 375 yards and 34 points per game this season. On defense, Welch (67 tackles, 4 sacks) was first team on the line, and Taylor (75 tackles, 1 INT) was first team at inside linebacker. They were joined by Fraelich (35 tackles, 1 INT) at defensive back and senior Travis French (43 tackles, 1 sack) on the line. St. Paul (5-6, 4-3) also had seven players on the two first teams. That group was led by senior Landon Fries, who earned All-FC first team at three different positions. Fries was first team at receiver, where he caught 40 passes for 580 yards with 5 TDs. He also ran for 454 yards and 10 TDs. He was first team at outside linebacker with 49 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, and six pass breakups, and was first team punter after accumulating a 34.7-yard average on 26 punts. Other first-team choices on offense for the Flyers included senior running back Nick Pocos (805 yards, 8 TDs) and junior kicker Nate Griffin, who was 3-of-4 on field goals — including a game-winner in the final seconds at Tiffin Calvert on Sept. 5 — and 41-of-45 on extra points. Joining Gross and Fries on the first team defense was junior defensive back Levi Rospert (54 tackles, 4 INTs, 2 FRs, 9 PBUs). Also on the first team were South Central senior offensive tackle Alex Hamons and senior defensive back Cole Frankart, who also caught 47 passes for 604 yards and 3 TDs as a second-team receiver for the Trojans (3-7, 3-4). Second team selections for Monroeville included Schafer (39 tackles, 4 sacks) on the defensive line and junior Isaac Krueger (64 tackles, 4 sacks) at outside linebacker. For Western, French was second team at guard, and senior Braylon Witherspoon joined him at tackle, along with senior wide receiver Hayden Dobias (32 catches, 361 yards, 1 TD). Senior Dom Edwards (85 tackles) was second team at defensive back for the Roughriders. St. Paul senior Alex Baca was second team at guard, where he blocked for fellow second team choices in junior Grant Kuhnle (1,768 yards, 16 TDs) at quarterback and senior tight end Connor Lindenberger (26 catches, 453 yards, 6 TDs). Earning second team on defense for the Flyers were junior defensive lineman Kade Houck (51 tackles, 4 sacks) and senior outside linebacker Nate Sandor (82 tackles, 2 sacks). South Central junior center Lucas Smith was second team, as was Hamons on the defensive line; junior Greyson Fisher (88 tackles) at inside linebacker and senior Troy Ayers (4 INTs) at defensive back. Junior running back Isaiah Miller (750 yards, 6 TDs) and junior punter Lincoln Distl were second team for Plymouth (1-9, 1-6). Senior linebacker Hunter Chandley was second team for New London (3-7, 1-6). -------------------------------- 2025 All-Firelands Conference football teamsFIRST TEAMOffenseQuarterback: Colt Clark, Monroeville, Jr.Running backs: Landyn Wiegel, Western Reserve, Jr.; Connor Bores, Monroeville, Sr.; Nick Pocos, St. Paul, Sr.Receivers: Brexton Fraelich, Western Reserve, Sr.; Landon Fries, St. Paul, Sr.Center: Blake Welch, Western Reserve, Sr.Guards: Brycen Dunlap, Monroeville, Sr.; Will Taylor, Western Reserve, Sr.Tackles: Alec Schafer, Monroeville, Jr.; Alex Hamons, South Central, Sr.Tight end: Karter Goon, Crestview, Sr.Kicker: Nate Griffin, St. Paul, Jr. DefenseLine: Brycen Dunlap, Monroeville, Sr.; Travis French, Western Reserve, Sr.; Blake Welch, Western Reserve, Sr.Inside linebackers: Rafael Gross, St. Paul, Jr.; Cooper Cleary, Monroeville, Jr.; Will Taylor, Western Reserve, Sr.Outside linebackers: Landon Fries, St. Paul, Sr.; Jack Stephens, Crestview, Sr.Backs: Colt Clark, Monroeville, Jr.; Levi Rospert, St. Paul, Jr.; Brexton Fraelich, Western Reserve, Sr.; Cole Frankart, South Central, Sr.Punter: Landon Fries, St. Paul, Sr. Offensive Lineman of the Year: Brycen Dunlap, Monroeville.Offensive Back of the Year: Colt Clark, Monroeville.Defensive Lineman of the Year: Brycen Dunlap, Monroeville.Defensive Back of the Year: Rafael Gross, St. Paul.Coach of the Year: Tylor Nester, Monroeville. SECOND TEAMOffenseQuarterback: Grant Kuhnle, St. Paul, Jr.Running backs: Ayden Reymer, Crestview, Sr.; JJ Guilliams, Mapleton, Sr.; Isaiah Miller, Plymouth, Jr.Receivers: Cole Frankart, South Central, Sr.; Hayden Dobias, Western Reserve, Sr.Center: Lucas Smith, South Central, Jr.Guards: Travis French, Western Reserve, Sr.; Montgomery Cline, Crestview, Jr.Tackles: Alex Baca, St. Paul, Sr.; Braylon Witherspoon, Western Reserve, Sr.Tight end: Connor Lindenberger, St. Paul, Sr.Kicker: Keith Abshire, Crestview, Sr. DefenseLine: Alec Schafer, Monroeville, Jr.; Kade Houck, St. Paul, Jr.; Alex Hamons, South Central, Sr.Inside linebackers: Bransen Hider, Cresview, Sr.; Greyson Fisher, South Central, Jr.; Hunter Chandley, New London, Sr.Outside linebackers: Nate Sandor, St. Paul, Sr.; Isaac Krueger, Monroeville, Jr.Backs: Max Durbin, Crestview, Sr.; Dom Edwards, Western Reserve, Sr.; Dylan Burge, Crestview, Sr.; Troy Ayers, South Central, Sr.Punter: Lincoln Disl, Plymouth, Jr. HONORABLE MENTIONOffenseQuarterback: Brayden Viock, South Central, Jr.; Hayden Keith, Western Reserve, Sr.; Liam Kuhn, Crestview, Sr.Receivers: Carson Keener, Crestview, Jr.; Jackson Mitchell, New London, So.; Levi Rospert, St. Paul, Sr.Center: Hayden Ryan, Monroeville, Sr.Guard: Rafael Gross, St. Paul, Jr.Tackles: Lukus Jenkins, Mapleton, So.; Bronson Rose, Crestview, Jr.Tight end: Ryan Morris, Mapleton, Sr. DefenseLine: Maverick Myers, Monroeville, Sr.; Nick Pocos, St. Paul, Sr.; Grant Anderson, Plymouth, Sr.; Casey Bailey, Plymouth, Sr.; Lucas Smith, South Central, Jr.; Travis Steel, South Central, So.; Caleb Carpenter, Western Reserve, Sr.; Garet Garwood, Mapleton, Sr.; Mason Spring, Mapleton, So.Inside linebacker: Dixon Blanton, South Central, Sr.; Austin Kolb, Western Reserve, Jr.Outside linebackers: Casey Fries, St. Paul, Fr.; Colton Koch, Monroeville, Sr.; Jaxon Speicher, New London, Sr.; Wyatt Barber, Crestview, So.Backs: Ethan Pomerich, Monroeville, Sr.; Ben Trimmer, Plymouth, Sr.; Coper Roe, Western Reserve, Jr.; Lincoln Distl, Plymouth, Jr.Punter: Oliver Harrison, New London, Sr.