The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Wilhelm Award chase reaches Week 10
As the quest for the playoffs closes in during Week 10, so does the quest for the Matt Wilhelm award, given to The Morning Journal football player of the year. Jon Behm has an update on the candidates.
The Matt Wilhelm Award is presented to The Morning Journal’s football player of the year. This year’s award will be presented during a special edition of Varsity Chalk Talk at the Westlake Hooley House on Nov. 12.
The Matt Wilhelm Award watch list is fluid and can change from week to week.
In alphabetical order: • Darren Anders, North Olmsted, Sr.: Rushed 33times for 196yards and three touchdowns, adding a four-yard touchdown pass, in a 56-54 win over Berea-Midpark. For the season, Anders has 1,271 yards and 16touchdowns on 188carries, adding 14 receptions for 106yards and a touchdown, a kickoff return for a touchdown, a passing touchdown and nine sacks on defense. • Leighton Banjoff, Elyria Catholic, Sr.: Rushed 14 times for 175yards and three touchdowns, adding two receptions for 66yards and a touchdown, in a 51-14win over Normandy. For the season, Banjoff has 1,021yards and 13 touchdowns on 126carries, adding 14receptions for 214 yards and two touchdowns to go with 81tackles (37 solo), two sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions and two touchdowns on defense. • Brandon Coleman,
Columbia, Sr.: Rushed 11 times for 232yards and four touchdowns, adding four tackles (three solo), a tackle for a loss and an interception on defense, in a 49-14win over Fairview. For the season, Coleman has 1,344yards, 20 touchdowns and a two-point conversion on 117carries and seven receptions for 109yards, adding 39solo tackles (10.5 for a loss), a sack and two interceptions on defense. • Daylin Dower, Lorain, Jr.:
Rushed 17times for 174yards and four touchdowns in a 39-2win over Bedford. For the season, Dower has 1,123yards and 11touchdowns on 92carries, adding 15receptions for 204yards and a touchdown. • Drew Engle, Clearview, Sr.:
Rushed 17times for 137yards, three touchdowns and a twopoint conversion in a 36-14 win over Lutheran West. For the season, Engle has 933 yards, 14touchdowns and a two-point conversion on 156 carries. • Cameron Engrish, Elyria Catholic, Sr.: Was 8-for-19for 195yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in a 5114win over Normandy. For the season, Engrish is 116-for-202 for 1,857yards and 23touchdowns with eight interceptions. • Michael Finnegan, Rocky River, Sr.: Was 21-for-31 for 268yards and three touchdowns in a 47-20win over Parma. For the season, Finnegan is 146-for-224for 1,811yards, 15touchdowns and seven interceptions along with a rushing touchdown. • Andrew Gooch, Midview, Sr.: Was 14-for-23for 304 yards and five touchdowns in a 49-14win over Lakewood. For the season, Gooch is 167-for309for 2,549yards, 21touchdowns and four interceptions. • Teddy Grendzynski, Olmsted Falls, Sr.: Was 2-for-2 for 79yards and a touchdown, adding 10carries for 43yards, a 34-31win over Avon Lake. For the season, Grendzynski is 34-for-67for 1,008yards, 12touchdowns and two interceptions, adding 52carries for 414yards, 10touchdowns and a two-point conversion. • Ryan Maloy, Avon, Sr.: Was 12-for-23for 154yards and a touchdown, adding 132yards and a touchdown on six carries, in a 47-27win over Amherst. For the season, Maloy is 100-for-166for 1,374yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions, adding 531yards and five touchdowns on 72carries and a touchdown reception. • Jacob May, Westlake, Sr.: Was 18-for-28for 250yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 42-21win over North Ridgeville. For the season, May is 141-for-253for 1,810yards, 20touchdowns and 12interceptions, adding five rushing touchdowns as well. • Jack Mikolich, Avon Lake, Sr.: Was 15-for-25for 213 yards and two interceptions, adding seven carries for 57 yards and a touchdown, in a 34-31loss to Olmsted Falls. For the season, Mikolich is 101-for-169for 1,688yards, 16touchdowns and seven interceptions, adding 184yards and seven touchdowns on 43 carries. • Dylan Naylor, Keystone, Jr.: Rushed 13times for 68 yards, adding 10tackles on defense, in a 49-7loss to Buckeye. For the season, Naylor has 1,005yards and 17 touchdowns on 145carries, along with seven receptions for 65yards and a touchdown, adding 95tackles (69solo), three interceptions and a fumble caused on defense. • Konner Riggs, Avon Lake, Sr.: Rushed 25times for 131 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-31loss to Olmsted Falls. For the season, Riggs has 1,354yards and 20touchdowns on 220carries. • Blake Ruffner, Firelands, Sr.: Was 21-for-34for 117 yards and an interception, to go with 164yards and two touchdowns on 17carries, in a 64-28loss Black River. For the season on offense, Ruffner is 77-for-148for 972yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions, adding 101 carries for 635yards and nine touchdowns, and 19receptions for 207yards and three touchdowns. For the season on defense, he has 57tackles (31solo), a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on defense. • Khennedy Scagliozzo, Amherst, Sr.: Rushed 25times for 187yards and three touchdowns in a 47-27loss to Avon. For the season, Scagliozzo has 1,587yards and 23touchdowns on 231carries, adding three kick returns for touchdowns. • Jack Spellacy, Olmsted Falls, Sr.: Rushed 29times for 332yards and four touchdowns in a 34-31win over Avon Lake. For the season, Spellacy has 1,559yards, 23 touchdowns and a two-point conversion on 172carries, adding four receptions for 120 yards and three touchdowns.