State Wide Top Performers

It’s that time again! High school playoffs in Ohio are getting ready to kick off, but what an end to a regular season, they called it. This State-wide article is highlighting some of the top players and performances from around the state. Big shoutout to the Prep Redzone Ohio team as we’ve got you covered from all across the state. Here are some of the best performances from the regular season broken down by region.<span id="more-59129"></span> <h2><strong>NORTHWEST OHIO:</strong></h2>   <h4><strong>Cade Zimmerly </strong></h4> <h4><strong>2021, Perrysburg </strong></h4> Cade has been a dominant force on the offensive line for the Yellow Jackets all season long. This football team has enjoyed the success of the tune of Cade’s 10 pancake average per game. Perrysburg has gone 6-0 in the regular season winning the NLL title. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/9645929/5f72050e0662430b20c3d8ec" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>   <h4><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="34207" first="Tae’Shaun" last="Johnson"]</strong></h4> <h4><strong>2021, Central Catholic</strong></h4> Central Catholic has one of the most balanced football attacks in the state and a lot has to do with Mr. Johnson. Johnson is committed to playing football at Bowling Green State University next fall and has the potential to get reps as a freshman. As for at Central Catholic, the Irish had to take a two-week hiatus due to the virus and Johnson picked up where he left off making plays in space while waring up for the playoffs. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/10828442/5f7b86f6a022ab03f07c248e" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <h4><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="34243" first="Thomas" last="Zsiros"]</strong></h4> <h4><strong>2021, St. John’s Jesuit </strong></h4> Thomas has been one of the most prolific football players in the state this season. His elevated play in 2020 has been special to watch as the University of Toledo commit has completed dominated his opposition. The combination of [player_tooltip player_id="34202" first="Brady" last="Lichtenberg"] and [player_tooltip player_id="34243" first="Thomas" last="Zsiros"] has been lethal all season and let the tape do the talking. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/9913067/5f5d10b13448c408e06a312f" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <h4><strong>Ethan Green</strong></h4> <h4><strong>2022, Fremont Ross </strong></h4> The Little Giants of Fremont Ross has a true oxymoron on their hand with Ethan Green. Standing a 6’7 and weighing in at 255 pounds, Green has proved that he has Division 1 talent to go with his size. Ethan has earned two Mid-American Conference offers with his latest being Toledo. His ability to drive players into the ground and to make smart adjustments is part of the reason Green is seeing success on the wrestling mats and the football field. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11380079/5e17fea4bed66102d801bd69" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <h2></h2> <h2><strong>SOUTHEAST OHIO:</strong></h2> <h4><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="34181" first="Reid" last="Carrico"]</strong></h4> <h4><strong>Ironton Sr. RB</strong></h4> 74 carries, 931 yards (12.6 YPC), 15 rushing TDs (Ohio State verbal - LB) <a href="https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hudl.com%2Fprofile%2F9665605%2FReid-Carrico&data=02%7C01%7C%7C5d6238fb65b244cebc0508d8693940d8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637375041899727726&sdata=iE340goLbbpkeCPxsRzRXUY5v6XdgIhfEhGMymYZSXg%3D&reserved=0">https://www.hudl.com/profile/9665605/Reid-Carrico</a>   <h4><strong><span style="font-size: 1.5rem;">Haydn’ Shanks</span></strong></h4> <h4><strong>Waverly Sr. QB</strong></h4> 121-of-184 passing (66%) 1,699 yards, 20 TD, 4 INT <a href="https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hudl.com%2Fprofile%2F8370454%2FHaydn-Shanks&data=02%7C01%7C%7C5d6238fb65b244cebc0508d8693940d8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637375041899737722&sdata=UUgrq2e3wwSz8flO7OtUpbdJt%2FpK0UghlEXfWcbzChk%3D&reserved=0">https://www.hudl.com/profile/8370454/Haydn-Shanks</a>   <h4><strong style="font-size: 1.5rem;">[player_tooltip player_id="34408" first="Will" last="Futhey"]</strong></h4> <h4><strong>Waverly Sr. WR </strong></h4> 30 receptions, 592 yards, 10 TD <a href="https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hudl.com%2Fprofile%2F8368397%2FWill-Futhey&data=02%7C01%7C%7C5d6238fb65b244cebc0508d8693940d8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637375041899747717&sdata=UXwdM%2BHjhq4N6ugIcafoHoDbEXqpFMezNcqKRKHmOo8%3D&reserved=0">https://www.hudl.com/profile/8368397/Will-Futhey</a>   <h4><strong><span style="font-size: 1.5rem;">[player_tooltip player_id="34361" first="Kurt" last="Taylor"]</span></strong></h4> <h4><strong>(Vincent) Warren Sr. QB </strong></h4> 81-of-136 passing (60%) 1,265 yards, 14 TD, 4 INT <a href="https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hudl.com%2Fprofile%2F10588063%2FKurt-Taylor&data=02%7C01%7C%7C5d6238fb65b244cebc0508d8693940d8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637375041899747717&sdata=620w3boTr1Sj61ZmKrQ8YaelYYGo5wo6RG0vwqeEyVw%3D&reserved=0">https://www.hudl.com/profile/10588063/Kurt-Taylor</a>   <h4><strong style="font-size: 1.5rem;">Evan Gandee</strong></h4> <h4><strong>(Vincent) Warren Sr. WR </strong></h4> 40 receptions, 741 yards, 9 TD <a href="https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hudl.com%2Fprofile%2F9950264%2FEvan-Gandee&data=02%7C01%7C%7C5d6238fb65b244cebc0508d8693940d8%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637375041899757711&sdata=yZqFStGQGeBYYIuDgq7VbU7Np4z94R7rDwlh76Q%2BhUc%3D&reserved=0">https://www.hudl.com/profile/9950264/Evan-Gandee</a>   <strong>NOTES:</strong> Ironton is the No. 1 seed in Division V, Region 19, and will be looking to get back to Stark County in hopes of winning the D5 crown. The Fighting Tigers will host the (Williamsport) Westfall-New Lexington winner Oct. 17. Waverly ended Wheelersburg’s reign as Southern Ohio Conference Division II (SOC II for the second reference) and earned the No. 4 seed in Division IV, Region 16. The Tigers will return to action Oct. 17 when they host the (Cincinnati) Shroder-Norwood winner. At 5-1, this is a far cry from the Warren squads that went 0-10 in 2017 and 2-8 in 2018. The eighth-seeded Warriors will entertain the 25th-seeded (Columbus) East Tigers in Saturday’s First Round of Division IV, Region 15 playoffs. A Warren win secures a Second Round home game against Circleville or (New Concord) John Glenn.   <h2><strong>NORTHEAST OHIO:</strong></h2>   <h4><strong>Willtrell Hartson ’23</strong></h4> Sophomore RB Willtrell Hartson 22 carries 188 yards Massillon Washington: In the biggest game of his young career in the biggest and most historic rivalry in the state, Willtrell leads his team to a 35-7 victory longtime rival Canton Mckinley. Willtrell finished with 2tds on 22 carries with 188 yards. He will be a load these next two years. <h4><strong>Owen Brainbridge ’22</strong></h4> Junior QB Owen Brainbridge: Owen led the bulldogs totaling 413 yards for 4 rushing TDs and 2 passing TDs in a high scoring game vs. Nordonia, pulling off the win in dramatic fashion 53-47. <h4><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="34389" first="Kentrell" last="Marks"] ’22</strong></h4> Junior RB [player_tooltip player_id="34389" first="Kentrell" last="Marks"] Valley Forge: In a dominating fashion, Junior RB [player_tooltip player_id="34389" first="Kentrell" last="Marks"] rushed for 251 yards and 4TDs vs. Elyria Catholic. He continues a dominating stretch racking up big-time yards and D1 offers in the process. <h4><strong> [player_tooltip player_id="34212" first="Ian" last="Kipp"] ’21</strong></h4> Senior QB [player_tooltip player_id="34212" first="Ian" last="Kipp"] Mentor: Kipp and the Cardinals dominated Strongsville winning 41-7. Kipp did more than his fair share, tying Chicago Bears QB and Mentor Cardinal Alum Mitchell Trubisky single game putting up 6 passing TD’s. <h4><strong>Dylan Dominguez ’22</strong></h4> Junior RB Dylan Dominguez South Range High School: Dylan helped his team finish the abbreviated regular season 6-0 as they head into the playoffs. South Range dominated Hubbard winning 44-14 in the regular-season finale behind their workhorse running back who had 188 yards and 3 TDs at the half. He finished the game with 199 yards on 18 carries—a dominant performance giving a preview of what is to come for the Raiders in the playoffs.   <h2><strong>SOUTHWEST OHIO: </strong></h2>   <h4><strong>Markus Allen (Northmont)</strong></h4> The former Michigan commit had a huge 4th quarter catching 2 TD’s, the last one of which gave the Thunderbolts the win an outright league championship. On the night Allen tallied 14 catches for 224 yards and 3 touchdowns. The schools Allen is currently weighing are Wisconsin, Penn State, Oregon State, Washington State, Cincinnati UVA, and others.   <h4><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="34251" first="Cade" last="Rice"] (Northmont)</strong></h4> Rice was on the other end of the passing connection to Markus Allen. Rice was 27-42 for 307 yards and 4 touchdowns on the evening. Rice is getting some attention from D1 midmajors.   <h4><strong>Brogan McCaughey (St. Xavier)</strong></h4> The 2022 QB went off in a big 62-37 win over Cleveland St. Ignatius. McCaughey threw for 567 yards and 5 touchdowns on 39 of 51 pass attempts. Brogan is getting interest from Cincinnati, Miami of Ohio, and Akron.   <h4><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="34196" first="Liam" last="Clifford"] (Saint Xavier)</strong></h4> Clifford, the aforementioned McCaughey’s main target, also had a career night on Saturday as he caught 12 balls for 300 yards and 2 touchdowns. Clifford is committed to playing receiver next fall in Happy Valley at Penn State University. Clifford’s older brother, Sean is the starting quarterback for Penn State.   <h4><strong>Josh Thornhill (Lakota East)</strong></h4> Thornhill did a job on both sides of the ball. On offense, he had 3 rushes for 88 yards and a touchdown. On defense, he had 2 interceptions, and one of those he returned for a touchdown. Thornhill now has interceptions in the last 3 games for a total of 4 on the season which leads the Greater Miami Conference. Thornhill doesn’t currently have an offer. He’s a kid that would make a nice addition to a D3 backfield, offense, or defense.  