Fresh off its best season in program history, the Riverside football team continues to pile up postseason honors.
Head coach Dave Bors has been named the co-Division II coach of the year in Ohio, and six of his players earned first, second or third team All-Ohio as the Ohio Prep Sports Writers Association released its Division II and Division III All-Ohio teams on Dec. 7.
Bors piloted the Beavers to a 9-1 regular-season record, an unblemished 6-0 mark in the Western Reserve Conference and a pair of playoff wins before bowing out to Hudson in a regional semifinal. The 11-2 record is the best in program history.
Bors was also named the winner of The News-Herald’s Bob Ritley Award as the area’s coach of the year.
High school football: OPSWA Division II, Division III All-Ohio football teams
Joining him on the All-Ohio list, in voting done by media members from around the state, are first-team defensive end Collin Fairbanks, and a quintet of second-teamers in quarterback Mikey Maloney, receiver Jake Elly, offensive lineman Nick Lulow, kicker Sean Kerwood and linebacker Jason Ryan.
Also in Division II, Mayfield has a pair of third-team All-Ohioans in receiver Nick Biega and linebacker Joe Barch.
The Division III All-Ohio team is loaded with News-Herald area players, with 25 of them appearing on first, second or third teams.
Numerous other student-athletes from the area can be found on the honorable mention list.
Chardon leads the Division III contingent, with seven All-Ohioans — first-teamers Cooper Felger and Alex Kisley on the defensive line, linebacker Heath Fetchik and defensive back Trey Liebhards, second-teamers Logan Bryant (offensive line) and Leo Colombi (defensive back), and third-team quarterback Alex Henry.
For a closer look at the area All-Ohioans:
Division II
• Riverside's Maloney, the winner of The News-Herald's Tony Fisher Award as player of the year, threw for 2,289 yards and 28 touchdowns, with 677 rushing yards and 15 scores behind a line anchored by first-teamer Lulow.
• Riverside's Fairbanks piled up more than 30 tackles for loss this year as a major disruptive force on the defensive line, with linebacker Jason Ryan adding 75 tackles despite getting double-teamed on most nights.
• Riverside's Kerwood was the area's top kicker, going 57-for-57 on conversion kicks with an area-best eight field goals.
• Riverside's Elly finished with just under 900 yards receiving.
• Mayfield's Joe Barch and Nick Biega both earned third-team honors. Barch had 96 tackles and 27 TFLs in the middle of the Wildcats' defense at linebacker, while speedster Biega averaged 23 yards per catch with 10 touchdowns at receiver.
Division III
• Chardon's Kisley (87 tackles, 21 TFLs) and Felger (48 tackles, 14 TFLs) spearheaded Chardon's ferocious defense on the line, while linebacker Fetchik (121 tackles, 17 TFLs) and defensive back Liebhardt (eight interceptions, seven PBUs) dominated their positions.
• Second-team Hilltoppers Bryant (as Chardon's top offensive lineman) and Colombi (as a ball-hawking safety) were strong all season, while third-teamer Henry led the team in rushing this year.
• Kenston haa a number of All-Ohioans as well. Quarterback Nikko Georgiou, a 2,000-yard passer, is a second-teamer along with versatile running back Sean Patrick and powerful lineman Sean Doyle. Earning third-team recognition is linebacker Ben DiMarco, who had more than 120 tackles this year.
• Gilmour's All-Ohioans include receiver Tommy McCrone and Rocco Hice on second team, as well as quarterback Jake Kavcic and defensive lineman Louka Babic on third team.
• University's All-Ohioans include receiver Brian Kellen II and defensive lineman Christopher Sean Jackson on second team, with defensive back George Minello on third team.
• Representing Hawken are second-teamer's Dominic Johnson (running back) and defensive lineman Chris Shea.
• Hawken linebacker Davon Badley, with more than 120 tackles, is a first-team Division III selection, NDCL kicker Gianni Spetic is a second-teamer, and Benedictine lineman Anthony Iliano is a third-teamer.
• VASJ has a pair — defensive back Dante Landers on second team and defensive back Bo Jackson on third team.
The Division I All-Ohio teams will be released on Dec. 8 at noon.
