KARL PEARSON
Experience is the best teacher, it is said. In large part, that statement seems to apply to the 2009 Star Beacon Ashtabula County football team.
Two of the top award winners from the 2008 team earned similar distinctions this time around. Geneva’s Tyler Erb, who was the Defensive Back of the Year a year ago, has been elevated to status as the overall Player of the Year for his excellence offensively and defensively in leading the Eagles to the top record in Ashtabula County (8-2), a second straight Northeastern Conference title and nearly into a Division II, Region 5 state playoff berth.
Lakeside’s Anthony Colucci repeats as the Offensive Lineman of the Year. The starting left tackle for the Dragons, Colucci helped them rack up 3,371 yards of total offense and 2,504 rushing yards.
Several of the other top award winners have had previous experience on the honor squad. Lakeside running back Derrell McCaleb, for instance, shares Offensive Back of the Year honors after earning first-team offensive honors last year. He did so by rushing for 1,012 yards and scored 13 touchdowns despite being hobbled by a hip flexor injury.
McCaleb’s teammate, Joe Kelly, earns a similar promotion this year, moving up from first-team status in the defensive backfield to Defensive Back of the Year honors. He had four interceptions this season and recorded 125 total tackles. He also filled in at quarterback in the latter portion of the season to earn team MVP honors.
The other two special honorees move up in stature to their awards. Geneva junior Tommy Padavick was a force for the Eagles on both sides of the ball, rushing for more than 1,000 yards. But he was chosen Defensive Lineman of the Year by recording 63 total tackles, including seven sacks and a safety from his tackle spot as he jumps from second-team defensive status last year.
Edgewood’s Devon Anderson shares honors as the Offensive Back of the Year, advancing from the second team last year, where he served at running back. He just missed the 1,000-yard rushing barrier, finishing at 995 yards while averaging 8.1 yards per carry. He scored 15 rushing touchdowns, also returned a kickoff and a punt for scores and had a receiving touchdown. He scored six touchdowns in the final game against Conneaut. He was also a force for the Warriors (7-3) on defense as they made the biggest turnaround in county history after going winless the year before.
Geneva tops the list of selections on the first team with nine. In addition to Erb and Padavick, the Eagles also have running back Nelson Marquez, receiver Jimmy Haines and placekicker Ryan Colby on the first offense and linemen David Leishman and Aaron Vannatter, defensive back Cory Morrow and punter Gary Dodge on the first defense.
Lakeside has seven players on the first team. Joining McCaleb and Colucci on the first offense are quarterback Kyle George and wide receiver Rashaad Bell. Kelly is joined by defensive end Shawn Dell, down lineman Corey Wareh and linebacker Levi Halsey on the first defense.
Six Edgewood players are members of the first team. Joining Devon Anderson on the first offense are his brother Matt at running back, guard Ethan Colby and tackle Ryan Pope. Down lineman Josh Bilbie and defensive back Brian Joslin are on the first defense.
Grand Valley has four first-team members. Wide receiver Mitchell Lake, tight end Logan Nye and A.J. Henson, who put up big numbers at quarterback, linebacker and as a punter to earn designation as an overall athlete. Tommy Jusko is a first-team linebacker.
Four Jefferson players are also on the first team. Running back Connor Cleveland, center Tyler Lake and tackle Shane Teter are on the first offense. Defensive end Kyle Hass is on the first defense.
Pymatuning Valley has two first-team players. They are linebacker Nick Marshall and defensive back Kyle Kiser.
Completing the first team are two players from Conneaut. They are linebacker Chris Poore and defensive back Steven Joslin, who joins his cousin, Edgewood’s Brian Joslin, on the first team.
In addition to Colucci, Erb, Kelly and McCaleb repeating as first-team selections, other repeat members of that unit are Geneva’s Vannatter, Lakeside’s George, PV’s Marshall and Jefferson’s Hass.
Ten players move up from last year’s second team to the first squad. In addition to Padavick, they are GV’s Henson, Jusko and Nye, Geneva’s Ryan Colby, who played at SS. John and Paul last year, and Haines, PV’s Kiser, Jefferson’s Teter and Lakeside’s Halsey.
Seven more players advance to the first team from honorable-mention status. They are Edgewood’s Matt Anderson, Bilbie, Colby and Brian Joslin, Geneva’s Leishman, Jefferson’s Tyler Lake and Lakeside’s Dell.
There are some younger players on the first team. They include juniors Dodge, Marquez and Padavick of Geneva, Matt Anderson of Edgewood, Dell of Lakeside, Kiser and Marshall of PV and Poore of Conneaut. Sophomores on that unit are GV’s Henson and Lake, Jefferson’s Cleveland and Geneva’s Morrow.
Lakeside is the dominant force on the second team with nine selections. Dragons on the second offense are Brendan Hester at wide receiver, Dustin Offenburg at guard, Josh Jones at tackle and placekicker Adam Flaugher. Second-team defenders are down lineman Devonte Morris, linebacker Glenn Haines and defensive backs Frank Clayman and Bruce Cox.
Seven Jefferson players are on the second team. They are quarterback Colin Cicon, running back Josh Simon, tight end Matt Moyer and wide receiver Brian Rosenburg on offense and down lineman Joey Severino, linebacker Andy Santiago and punter Jake Hommes.
Edgewood has five second-team members. They are running back Stefan Dobriansky, tight end Justin Rodriguez and guard Brent Reinhart on offense and down lineman Steven Ball and linebacker Bobby Dragon on defense.
Four GV players are on the second team. They are Jacob Susman at running back, James Anderson at center, Trenton Doing at defensive end and Seth Bixel at defensive back.
Geneva has three second-team players. They are offensive tackle Aaron Turk, linebacker Tim Costello and defensive back Quaid Traves.
Two PV players are on the second team. They are running back Kurtis Marsh and defensive end Josh Kirby.
Completing the second defense is Conneaut’s Michael Toney.
Three players are repeat second-team selections. They are GV’s Susman, Jefferson’s Simon and Lakeside’s Jones.
Five more move up from honorable mention to the second team. They are Jefferson’s Hommes and Moyer, Edgewood’s Dobriansky, Geneva’s Traves and Lakeside’s Haines.
The second team includes a number of talented youngsters. It starts with juniors Cicon and Severino of Jefferson, Conneaut’s Toney, GV’s Bixel and PV’s Kirby. But the future looks particularly bright with sophomores Lakeside’s Clayman, Cox and Hester, Edgewood’s Dragon, Geneva’s Costello, Jefferson’s Santiago and PV’s Marsh.
