The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
WHO WAS GRIDIRON BEST OF THE 2010S?
Adam Schabel breaks down his selections of The Morning Journal coverage area’s best in high school football in the 2010s. Midview graduate Dustin Crum, shown in 2016, threw for 2,615 yards and 32 touchdowns as a senior and was named as quarterback on the team. Who else made the list?
It wasn’t easy having to choose among so many talented area players from the past 10seasons. However, I was able to choose 26players who stuck out among the best of the best.
Here is the all-decade team for The Morning Journal coverage area, spanning 2010-2019.
OFFENSE
(in alphabetical order by position)
QB Dustin Crum, Midview
Crum’s play as a Middie made this difficult choice a bit easier. He racked up numerous accolades, including being named the inaugural Matt Wilhelm Award winner for the 2016season. This award is given to the Morning Journal coverage area’s top player for his outstanding play, and Crum’s play as a senior in 2016 stood out. He completed 173of 279passes (62%) for 2,615 yards and 32 touchdowns. On the ground, he added 1,557 yards rushing and 14touchdowns on 198carries. Crum also impressed during his junior and sophomore seasons. Despite missing several games due to injury his junior year, he still completed 73% of his passes (154-for-210) while passing for 2,296yards and 29 touchdowns. He also ran for 605yards and five scores on 121carries. Crum passed for 2,615yards and 32touchdowns during his sophomore season. For his career, he totaled 8,585yards passing with 103touchdowns and just 19interceptions. On the ground for his career, he ran for 3,447yards and 38touchdowns. If those stats weren’t impressive enough, Crum racked up a whopping 141 career touchdowns. He is currently the starting quarterback for Kent State.
RB Nick Best, Bay
Best helped turn around a 1-9program into a playoff contender during his senior season in 2014. The Rockets made the playoffs in Best’s senior season for the first time since 1993 and advanced to the state elite eight for the first time in school history. He was hard to stop during his junior season, as he averaged 132.2yards per carry. Best’s success carried over into his senior season, where he rushed for 2,177yards on 328carries and scored 33times, all of which are school records. Best set 12school records, including rushing attempts in a game (42), rushing yards in a game (376) and rushing touchdowns in a game (seven), among others. Best finished his career with 4,171total rushing yards and 59career touchdowns, both school records.
RB Brandon Coleman, Columbia
Coleman was a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the ball. After suffering a season-ending ACL tear during his junior season, he came back his senior season and made his presence known. During his senior campaign in 2018, Coleman ran for 1,698yards and 23touchdowns on 148carries. He averaged a whopping 11.5yards per carry. Coleman also passed for a score and hauled in 11catches for 102yards. On defense, he racked up 74tackles (48solo) with 12.5tackles for loss. Coleman also tallied one sack and two interceptions. He was a bruising back who now plays linebacker for Kent State.
OL Chase Farris, Elyria
Farris couldn’t be beat and was a sensational pass protector. He played football for Ohio State and signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He also played for the Patriots, the Alliance of American Football’s Atlanta Legends and the XFL’s DC Defenders.
OL Sam Gerak, Avon
Gerak was a versatile lineman who rotated all over the Eagles’ line during his junior and senior seasons. This is so he could face the best defender on the opposing team. Gerak racked up 126 knockdowns during his senior year in 2016and was ranked as a top-20player in Ohio by ESPN. Gerak racked up numerous accolades, including being named Avon’s team MVP, the Southwestern Conference’s Most Valuable Offensive Lineman and was also a Lombardi Award winner. This award is given to Lorain County’s top offensive lineman. Gerak is currently an offensive lineman for Northwestern.
OL Jimmy McKenna, Avon
McKenna was the anchor on the Eagles’ offensive line during his 2017senior season. Avon’s offense averaged 394yards per game, including 206.6yards on the ground, en route to a 13-1season. The Eagles made a state semifinal appearance in 2017. McKenna helped protect quarterback Ryan Maloy, who was named The Morning Journal’s Player of the Year and Matt Wilhelm Award winner for the 2017season. Maloy completed 72.4% of his passes and passed for 2,453yards and 21touchdowns. McKenna also paved the way for running back Tony Eberhardt to run for 867yards (7.2yards per carry) on just 121carries. Eberhardt also scored 14touchdowns. McKenna is currently an offensive lineman at Purdue.
The 6-foot-7, 315pound Taylor anchored the offensive and defensive lines for the Panthers. He made it nearly impossible for defenders to get past him, often blocking opponents well past the line of scrimmage. Taylor surrendered no sacks in his senior season of 2019. He helped protect quarterback Steven Navalinsky, who completed 63% of his passes for 2,411yards and 26 touchdowns. Taylor will be playing football at Pittsburgh in the fall.
OL Sam Vas, Olmsted Falls
Vas was a team captain and team MVP during his senior season in 2016. He helped block for a Bulldogs’ offense that racked up 4,500yards and 53touchdowns. He helped lead Olmsted Falls to the playoffs during his junior and senior seasons and the Bulldogs made a regional final appearance in 2016. Vas is currently an offensive lineman at Valparaiso.
WR Logan Bolin, Midview
Bolin was unstoppable on the outside, racking up 3,992career receiving yards (school record) to go along with 62total touchdowns. During his senior season in 2015, he scored 30touchdowns to go along with 1,375 yards receiving. That mark was topped by his 1,410receiving yards (school record) during his junior year. Bolin set 12school records, including receiving yards in a game (310) and touchdown receptions in a game (six) among others. He also set four Lorain County records with receptions in a career (236), touchdown catches in a season (21), touchdown receptions in a career (53) and 37consecutive games with a reception. Bolin also set eight state records. He was also a stellar defensive back, racking up 229career tackles and setting a school record with 11career interceptions. Bolin is currently a wide receiver for Ashland.
WR Carson Toy, Avon Lake
Toy was an offensive threat for the Shoremen during his career. He racked up 1,238yards receiving and 14touchdowns during his senior year in 2016. He was also a solid contributor during his junior season, posting 50catches for 710yards and three scores. Toy was also a defensive weapon, tallying 52tackles and five interceptions in 2016.
TE C.J. Conrad, Keystone
Conrad was tough to bring down. He scored nine touchdowns during his senior campaign in 2014and led Keystone to its first ever playoff berth. He also racked up 47catches for 579yards and six scores during his junior season. He averaged 12yards per catch that year. Conrad played football at Kentucky and was signed by the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He is currently a free agent.
K Harry Hebert, Avon Lake
When Hebert trotted onto the field for an attempt, it was assumed he wasn’t going to miss because he rarely did. During his junior season, he was a perfect 50-for-50on point-after attempts and went 6-of-7on field-goal attempts with a long of 33 yards. Hebert continued his dominance into his senior campaign in 2019, when he nailed a school-record 13field goals and went 52-of-52on point-after attempts. He was also an outstanding punter.
ATH Demario McCall, North Ridgeville
McCall was a jack-of-all-trades for the Rangers. He racked up 4,577career rushing yards on 461carries with a 9.93yards per carry average. McCall also tallied 70career rushing touchdowns, three of which were receiving, two were kickoff returns for scores and one was an interception return for a touchdown. He set the Lorain County record for rushing yards in a game with 445. He also set North Ridgeville records for yards in a game and yards in a season. During his senior season in 2014, McCall racked up 2,842all-purpose yards and 38touchdowns in 10games. He scored 230of his team’s 336points (68.5%) in 2014. McCall also returned seven kickoffs for 251yards and one score as a senior, which is good for an average of 35.9yards per return. As if it wasn’t implied already, McCall did it all for the Rangers. To add to his resume, he started at quarterback for the final two games of 2014, while also being a lock down defensive back. McCall tallied 29tackles (26solo), four interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. McCall is currently a running back at Ohio State.
DEFENSE
(in alphabetical order by position)
DL Rashod Berry, Lorain
The 6-foot-4, 260pound Berry was a solid player for the Titans on both sides of the ball. During his senior season in 2015, he recorded 11tackles for loss, six sacks and six forced fumbles. Berry also caught 37passes for 578yards and 11touchdowns as a tight end. He played football at Ohio State and signed with the Patriots in April as an undrafted free agent.
DL Brian Mihalik, Avon Lake
The 6-foot-7, 245pound Mihalik was a force off the edge for the Shoremen. He graduated from Avon Lake in 2011and played football at Boston College. He was drafted by the Eagles in the seventh round of the 2015NFL Draft. Mihalik also played for the Steelers, Lions and Giants. He is currently a free agent.
DL Aaron Miller, Firelands
Miller was a force to be reckoned with for the Falcons and was a part of a defense in 2015that shut out four straight opponents. During his senior season in 2015, he tallied 82tackles (61solo) and 20of those tackles combined for 81yards lost. Miller also had five sacks, 23quarterback pressures, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
DL Tracy Sprinkle, Elyria
Sprinkle was dominant as a Pioneer. He played football at Ohio State and played in the NFL for the Panthers, Browns and Texans. Sprinkle also played in the Alliance of American Football and in the XFL for the DC Defenders.
LB Naz Bohannon, Lorain
Bohannon was all over the place for the Titans on defense, playing defensive end and linebacker in his career. As a junior, he posted 37tackles, four for a loss, and six sacks. He also batted down five passes, forced three fumbles and recovered a pair. As a senior in 2016, Bohannon made big play after big play. He tallied 79tackles, eight for a loss, racked up five interceptions and a blocked punt. Bohannon also scored three times on defense. He currently plays basketball for Youngstown State.
LB Jake Jones, North Olmsted
Jones set a pair of North Olmsted records with tackles in a season (169) and tackles for a loss (26) as a senior in 2014. He also racked up nine sacks and an interception for the Eagles. Jones played football for one season at Baldwin Wallace.
LB Jamir Malone, North Ridgeville
Malone was a top-tier defensive player for the Rangers for three seasons and was a hard hitter. As a sophomore, he tallied 81 tackles (30solo), 12for a loss, one sack and a forced fumble. During Malone’s junior season, he racked up 120tackles, 25for a loss, totaled four sacks and a forced fumble. As a senior in 2017, he tallied 67tackles (32solo), 11for a loss, and five sacks. Malone is currently a linebacker at Elon.
DB Ross Douglas, Avon
Douglass was a stud on both sides of the ball. He scored 24 touchdowns and ran for 1,363yards during his senior season. During his junior year, Douglas carried the ball 175times and racked up 1,019yards and 15touchdowns. He also caught 10 passes for 150yards and one score. Douglas recorded 40tackles, 13pass breakups and one interception as a junior. As a senior, he recorded three interceptions. Douglas played football at Michigan and Rutgers and is currently a defensive assistant on the Rutgers football coaching staff.
DB Jimmy Hoke, Bay
During Hoke’s three years (36games) as a varsity starter from 2014-16, the Rockets won more games in that stretch than in any other three-year period in the history of the program. Hoke was a part of a defense that surrendered very few points in 2016. During his senior campaign, he racked up 88tackles, five for a loss and three interceptions.
DB Michael Howard, Olmsted Falls
Howard didn’t surrender a touchdown in his junior or senior seasons. As a junior, he racked up 58 tackles, one interception and 12passes defensed. As a senior in 2018, he tallied 45tackles and seven passes defensed. Teams rarely threw to Howard. He used his speed to rack up 900yards on offense and 12touchdowns, with two of those scores coming on kickoff returns. Howard is currently a wide receiver at Gannon.
DB Sam McGuigan, Lorain
McGuigan was the defensive leader for the Titans and was all over the field. As a junior, he tallied three interceptions, a defensive score and seven passes defensed. As a senior in 2015, McGuigan racked up 72tackles, including 20first hits, coupled with two interceptions, a fumble recovery, a blocked kick and a defensive touchdown. McGuigan currently plays football at Youngstown State.
P Alex Beckman, Avon Lake
Beckman transferred to Avon Lake for his senior season in 2015 and helped the Shoremen in a big way. He punted 35times for a total of 1,277yards. He averaged 36.5yards per punt and often pinned teams back within their own 20-yard line.
ATH Jacob Shackelford, Keystone
Shackelford was a stud for the Wildcats on both sides of the ball. He had a pick-six during his senior season in 2019. On offense, Shackelford completed 96of 153passes for 1,341yards and 14touchdowns. He also had 108rushes for 1,061yards and 17touchdowns. He accounted for 32touchdowns for Keystone. Shackelford was the winner of The Morning Journal Matt Wilhelm Award as well as the Golden Helmet Award in 2019. Keystone went 9-1in 2019, won the inaugural Lorain County League title and hosted its first ever home playoff game. Shackelford is heading to Ashland where he will play defensive back.