KARL PEARSON
Even though no area teams qualified for the state football playoffs this year, it was still one of the most productive in recent memory, especially in Ashtabula County.
That means area teams are well represented on the Associated Press All-Northeast Lakes District team announced Thursday night. All 10 schools that fielded a team this year had at least one player named to the first team in their respective divisions.
One person received special recognition at the district level. Edgewood coach Joe Kearney, who guided the Warriors to the biggest reversal of form in county history from one year to the next by producing a 7-3 record, is the Division III Coach of the Year.
The area’s top representation on the all-district team went to Perry, which has seven players on the Division IV squad, for which only one team was picked. Offensively, the Pirates have placekicker Braden Ferrell, tight end Anthony Kukwa and running back Ben Perko on the team. Defensively, Perry has linemen David Wallie and Chad West and secondary personnel Mitchel Hokavar and Erik Petrecca on the team.
Grand Valley has the most first-team players of any Ashtabula County squad in the Division V ranks, in which only one team was selected. The Mustangs have Mitchell Lake on the offense at end. On defense, GV has lineman Logan Nye and linebacker Tommy Jusko. GV also has A.J. Henson, who was an important force for the team at quarterback, running back, linebacker and punter, as an all-around athlete for the defensive unit.
Two area teams has five total players on the Division II team, for which a first and second team were selected. Lakeside has three players on the first team. Tackle Anthony Colucci is a repeat member of the first team offensively, while Levi Halsey is on the defense at linebacker and multi-talented Joe Kelly is in the secondary. Second-team members for the Dragons are running back Derrell McCaleb and defensive lineman Shawn Dell.
Madison has a similar representation in Division II. The Blue Streaks are led by quarterback-running back Miles Iverson and lineman Seth Boggs on offense and lineman Ty Law on the first defensive unit. They also have placekicker Eric Gavorski and defensive lineman Brandon Filipasic on the second team.
Northeastern Conference champion Geneva has three players on the first team in Division II and another on the second unit. All three Eagles on the first team are on defense, including quarterback-defensive back Tyler Erb in the secondary, two-way lineman David Leishman on the defensive front and running back-defensive lineman Tom Padavick in that area as well. Wide receiver Jimmy Haines is on the second team.
Kearney is joined by three of his players on the Division III team. They are running back Devon Anderson and linemen Josh Bilbie and Ethan Colby on the first offense.
Conneaut has one player on the first team in Division III. Steven Joslin is in the secondary for the Spartans.
One Jefferson player is also on the Division III first team. He is defensive lineman Kyle Hass.
Rounding out the selections from Ashtabula County is Pymatuning Valley’s Nick Marshall at linebacker in Division IV.
L.T. Smith of Riverside is the area’s lone player in Division I. He is at on the first team at defensive back.
One other person with area ties is also recognized. Pymatuning Valley graduate Mike Bell, a member of the Ashtabula County Football Hall of Fame and now the coach at Lake Catholic, is the Division II district Coach of the Year. He leads the Cougars into the Elite Eight of the playoffs this today.
