Race heats up for the Matt Wilhelm award

Sports Editor Jon Behm checks in with an update on how candidates for the Matt Wilhelm award, given to The Morning Journal’s high school football player of the year, fared in Week 6.

The Matt Wilhelm Award is presented to The Morning Journal’s football player of the year. The Matt Wilhelm Award watch list is fluid and can change from week to week. In alphabetical order: • Darren Anders, North Olmsted, Sr.: Showed his versatility, scoring four touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving and one kick return), in a 42-20 win over Lakewood. For the season, Anders has 503 yards and nine touchdowns on 86 carries, adding seven receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown, a kickoff return for a touchdown and four sacks on defense. • Brandon Coleman, Columbia, Sr.: Rushed 13 times for 169 yards and four touchdowns, adding two receptions for 49 yards to go with seven tackles (five solo), two tackles for a loss and an interception on defense, in a 42-14 win over Lutheran West. For the season, Coleman has 949 yards and 15 touchdowns on 87 carries and seven receptions for 109 yards, adding 34 solo tackles (8.5 for a loss), a sack and an interception on defense. • Daylin Dower, Lorain, Jr.: Rushed 10 times for 46 yards in a 31-23 loss to Cleveland Heights. For the season, Dower has 809 yards and six touchdowns on 55 carries, adding 11 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown. • Cameron Engrish, Elyria Catholic, Sr.: Was 13-for-18 for 155 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in a 63-14 win over Parma. For the season, Engrish is 92-for-149 for 1,462 yards and 18 touchdowns with five interceptions. • Michael Finnegan, Rocky River, Sr.: Was 18-for-30 for 171 yards, a touchdown and an interception in a 21-16 loss to Bay. For the season, Finnegan is 89-for-147 for 1,196 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions along with a rushing touchdown. • Andrew Gooch, Midview, Sr.: Was 18-for-34 for 266 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 52-16 loss to Berea-Midpark. For the season, Gooch is 117-for-219 for 1,573 yards, 11 touchdowns and three

interceptions. • David Griffin, Elyria Catholic, Sr.: Caught four passes for 64 yards and a touchdown in a 63-14 win over Parma. For the season, Griffin has 26 receptions for 430 yards and five touchdowns, adding a kickoff return for a touchdown and 33 tackles (15 solo), a tackle for a loss and a pick-six on defense. • Ross Hartman, Rocky River,

Sr.: Had three solo tackles (one for a loss), adding 13 carries for 64 yards and a touchdown on offense, in a 21-16 loss to Bay. For the season, Hartman has 47 total tackles (30 solo), nine tackles for a loss, two sacks and a forced fumble on defense, adding 196 yards and three touchdowns on 51 carries and 73 yards on eight catches on offense. • Michael Howard, Olmsted Falls, Sr.: Rushed four times for 72 yards in a 27-2 win over Amherst. For the season, Howard has six receptions for 206 yards and three touchdowns, adding 35 carries for 432 yards and four touchdowns and a kickoff return for a touchdown. • Ryan Maloy, Avon, Sr.: Was 11-for-22 for 184 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, adding three rushes for 37

yards and a 23-yard touchdown reception, in a 42-7 win over Westlake. For the season, Maloy is 70-for-117 for 893 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions, adding 350 yards and four touchdowns on 53 carries and a touchdown reception. • Jacob May, Westlake, Sr.: Was 12-for-21 for 96 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions in a 42-7 loss to Avon. For the season, May is 84-for-148 for 1,007 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions, adding three rushing touchdowns as well. • Jack Mikolich, Avon Lake,

Sr.: Was 12-for-25 for 290 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions, adding two carries for two yards and a touchdown, in a 35-21 win over North Ridgeville. For the season, Mikolich is 61-for-98 for 1,081 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions, adding 105 yards and four touchdowns on 22 carries. • Konner Riggs, Avon Lake, Sr.: Rushed 15 times for 83 yards in a 35-21 win over North Ridgeville. For the season, Riggs has 852 yards and 12 touchdowns on 134 carries. • Blake Ruffner, Firelands, Sr.: Caught seven passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-0 win over Brookside. For the season, Ruffner is 52-for107 for 742 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions, adding 77 carries for 417 yards and six touchdowns and seven receptions for 74 yards and two touchdowns on offense, and 34 tackles (19 solo) and a fumble recovery on defense. • Khennedy Scagliozzo, Amherst, Sr.: Rushed 21 times for 32 yards in a 27-2 loss to Olmsted Falls. For the season, Scagliozzo has 1,136 yards and 17 touchdowns on 145 carries, adding a kick return for a score. • Jack Spellacy, Olmsted Falls, Sr.: Rushed 25 times for 148 yards and two touchdowns, adding a reception for 24 yards, in a 27-2 win over Amherst. For the season, Spellacy has 642 yards and 10 touchdowns on 93 carries, adding three receptions for 60 yards and two touchdowns. • Andrew Veverka, Bay, Sr.: Rushed eight times for 32 yards and a touchdown in a 21-16 win over Rocky River. For the season, Veverka has 494 yards and nine touchdowns on 84 carries, adding two interceptions and eight tackles (four solo) on defense.