Area well represented on football all-district

Five area coaches earn coach of the year honors and a handful of players getting special recognition.

The News-Herald coverage area is heavily represented in this year’s all-district football team, with five coaches earning coach of the year honors and a handful of players getting special recognition as well.

Voting was done by members of the Northeast Lakes District media members. This voting is the first step in a process that

leads to All-Ohio honors.

Earning coach of the year honors are Mentor’s Matt Gray in Division I, Chardon’s Mitch Hewitt in D-III, Lake Catholic’s Marty Gibbons in D-IV, Kirtland’s Tiger LaVerde in D-V and Wickliffe’s Marce Porcello in D-VI.

Gray led Mentor to the D-I state semifinal round, where the Cardinals lost last week to Pickerington Central.

Hewitt has led Chardon to an undefeated record heading into

this weekend’s D-III state final four, where the Hilltoppers will play Tiffin Columbian on Nov. 13.

Gibbons has led Lake Catholic to its first state final four since 2010. The Cougars play BloomCarroll in a D-IV state semifinal Nov. 14.

LaVerde has led Kirtland to an undefeated season so far, with the Hornets prepping for a D-V state semifinal against Tontogany Otsego on Nov. 14.

Porcello led Wickliffe to an

undefeated regular season and into a third-round D-VI playoff game, where the Blue Devils lost a close one to Creston Norwayne.

Several players are also named the district player of the year in their respective divisions, including:

• Mentor’s Ian Kipp, who is the D-I offensive player of the year. The senior quarterback threw for 2,048 yards and 26 touchdowns this year, while rushing for 384 yards and seven scores.

• Chardon’s James Pettyjohn, who is the D-III offensive player of the year. He has run for 1,319 yards and 17 touchdowns so far for the Hilltoppers.

• Chardon linebacker Vince Ferrante, who is the D-III defensive player of the year.

Ferrante is the Hilltoppers’ leading tackler and had 10 stops and an interception in last week’s regional championship game.

• Kirtland’s Mason Sullivan, who is the D-V offensive player of the year. He has run for 1,186 yards and 17 touchdowns for the state final four-qualifying Hornets.

• Kirtland’s Joey Grazia, who is the D-V defensive player of the year. He has 30 pass breakups and five interceptions heading into the state final four round.

• Wickliffe’s Chase Fortkamp, who is the D-VI offensive player of the year. He ran for 1,604 yards and 25 touchdowns this year.

• Wickliffe’s Zak Esteves, who is the D-VI defensive player of the year. He had 77 tackles, 23 TFLs, and three sacks for the Blue Devils this year.

DAVID C. TURBEN — FOR THE NEWS-HERALD Chardon running back James Pettyjohn is the Division III offensive player of the year in the Northeast Lakes District, as voted by the Ohio Prep Sports Writers Association.