Linemen Essinger, Montgomery, defenders Koch and Swisher earn POY nods in NW district

Two-way standouts in the trenches and in the backfields earned some of the top honors in the 2022 all-Northwest District football selections, as determined by a panel of representatives of the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association and released on Wednesday. Findlay's Luke Montgomery in Division I and Arlington's Rylar Essinger in Division VII were named linemen of the year. McComb's Andrew Swisher (Div. VII) and Columbus Grove's Tadd Koch (Div. VI) were the defensive players of the year in their respective divisions. One of the most highly-recruited athletes ever to come out of Findlay High School, Montgomery was a four-year starter for the Trojans. The 6-foot-5, 287-pound tackle was honorable mention all-state as a freshman and second-team as a sophomore on defense, then first-team last year on the offensive side of the ball. Montgomery, who will soon be heading to Ohio State under the early enrollment plan, was the only lineman in the Three Rivers Athletic Conference to earn first-team all-league honors on both offense and defense (34 tackles) this season. Essinger, a 6-3, 244-pound senior, was named lineman of the year on both sides of the ball in voting by Blanchard Valley Conference coaches. Essinger anchored an offensive line that opened the way for a league-leading 271.9 yards a game on the ground, while also coming up with 16 tackles for loss and 51 total stops on defense. Swisher also doubled up in the all-BVC selections. The 5-11, 180-pound senior was tabbed the BVC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year after registering 95 total tackles and 18 tackles for loss on defense, and accounting for 1,233 yards rushing, 152 receiving and 20 touchdowns on offense. Defense was a strength of Columbus Grove's team and Koch headed up an elite linebacking corps that was at the heart of that defense. A 6-3, 240-pound senior, Koch had 133 tackles and edged teammate AJ Schafer in voting for Northwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year. In Division I, Montgomery was joined on the all-district first unit by Findlay High teammates Donovan Harris at receiver (45 receptions, 436 yards, 6 TDS), running back Dallas DeLaCruz (1,020 yards, 7 TDs), quarterback Ryan Montgomery (1,787 yards passing, 22 TDs), kicker Owen Clevenger (32-37 PATs, four FG), linebacker Nathan Riegle (44 tackles, 5 sacks) and defensive back Tucker Oliver (72 tackles, 4 ints.). Playoff teams Elmwood and Liberty-Benton in Division V and Carey and Columbus Grove in Division VI were well-represented in the all-district selections. Elmwood's high-octane offense saw running back Mason Oliver (1,610 yards, 19 TDs), quarterback Hayden Wickard (2,452 yards passing, 26 TDs) and receiver Mason Mossbarger (35 receptions, 782 yards, 11 TDs) all earn first-team honors. Zach May, the defensive lineman of the year in the Northern Buckeye Conference, offensive lineman Jimmie Palmer, linebacker Cannon Endicott (82 tackles) and defensive back Micah Oliver (5 ints.) were also first-team picks for the Royals, with linebacker Adam Meyer landing on the second team. Receiver Lincoln Garlock (57 recps., 839 yards, 8 TDS), senior lineman Devin Montalbine, defensive lineman Trevor Otley (70 tackles, 27 tfl) and kicker Cason Doolittle (49-49 PATs, three FG) were first-team and quarterback Kam Garlock (2,411 yards passing, 389 rushing, 35 total TDs) was second team for Liberty-Benton. Ottawa-Glandorf linebacker Cy Rump (83 tackles) was also a second-teamer in Division V. Carey linebacker Landen Kemerley, an all-Ohio pick on the Blue Devils state championship team of 2021, was first-team all-Northwest Ohio in Division VI after recording 24.5 tackles for loss among his 98 total stops. Linemen Brock Bushong on offense and Nathan Brodman (95 tackles, 9 sacks) on defense, were also first team, with quarterback Lance Rickle (1,013 yards passing, 879 rushing, 22 TDs), linemen Matt Allomong and Gage Summit (83 tackles) and defensive back Jordan Mattimoe (4 ints.) on the all-district second team. Linebackers Koch and Schafer (75 tackles) head up Columbus Grove's first-team selections. Running back Trenton Barraza (1,256 yards, 11 TDs), defensive lineman Dillon Byran (60 tackles) and defensive back Shep Halker (55 tackles, 3 ints.) were also first team, with offensive linemen Kylan Mayes and Mitch Douglas second-team picks. Van Buren's Jackson Gregory, who averaged a BVC best 38.5 yards per punt, was second-team all-district at that position. In addition to Swisher, McComb's Braxton Althauser, who had 681 yards rushing, 327 receiving and returned a punt and an interception for two of his 23 total touchdowns, was a first-team pick as an athlete. Offensive lineman Nick Bormuth, defensive lineman Wilson Grubb (59 tackles, 18 tfl, 5 sacks) and defensive back Camden Glaser (35 tackles) were also first team and Owen Deweese (OL) and Montana Pierce (88 tackles) were second-team for the Panthers. Pandora-Gilboa had five first-team all-district picks in running back Ethan Luginbill (1,527 yards, 29 TDs), receiver Aidan Morris (55 recps., 910 yards, 12 TDs), linebacker Wyatt Russell (127 tackles), kicker Elam Suter (56-59 PATs, two FG) and offensive lineman Braden Hagemeier. Colin Harris (54 recps., 789 yards, 9 TDS) was a second-team receiver for the Rockets. Arlington's Jared Griggs joined Essinger on the all-district team, earning a first-team spot as an athlete after throwing for 978 yards, rushing for 629 and accounting for 16 touchdowns. Linebacker Lucas Fenstermaker (52 tackles) and defensive back Jake Vermillion (30 tackles 2 ints.) were second-team picks for the Red Devikls. Leipsic's Hayden Hiegel (1,185 yards rushing, 18 TDS) and lineman Ethan Zeisloff were also second-team all-district, along with Ada defensive lineman Lester Amos (18 tfl). Upper Sandusky's potent passing attack earned the Rams a number of spots in the Division IV selections, with junior quarterback Kaden Holman (2,484 yards passing, 365 rushing, 29 total TDs) a first-team pick and receiver Evan Hill (64 recps., 860 yards, 8 TDs) and offensive linemen Collin Bills landing second-team honors. Linebacker Levi Allen (163 tackles) and defensive back Gavin Frey (4 ints.) were also first-team picks for the Rams. BOWLING AMF Sportsman Lanes MORNING GLORIES LEAGUE HIGH GAME: Pam Oates, LaRiche Chevy, 186. HIGH SERIES: Oates 495. SUNSETTERS LEAGUE HIGH GAME: Pam Oates, Shear Vanity Salon, 192. HIGH SERIES: Oates, 525. PRIME TIMERS LEAGUE HIGH GAME: (men) Richard Rader 213, (women) Deb Schade 180. HIGH SERIES: (men) Neill Otto 565, (women) Schade 473. PREP FOOTBALL REGIONAL FINALS Division I (all games Friday, 7 p.m.) Region 1 1 Lakewood St. Edward (12-1) vs. 3 Mentor (9-3) at Euclid Community Stadium Region 2 2 Springfield (11-1) vs. 8 Powell Olentangy Liberty (8-5) at London Bowlus Field Region 3 1 Gahanna-Lincoln (12-1) vs. 3 New Albany (10-3) at Historic Crew Stadium Region 4 1 Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller (12-1) vs. 3 West Chester Lakota West (13-0) at Princeton Jake Sweeney Automotive Stadium Division II (All games Friday, 7 p.m.) Region 5 1 Akron Hoban (12-1) vs. 3 Hudson (13-0) at Twinsburg Tiger Stadium Region 6 1 Avon (12-1) vs. 3 Toledo Central Catholic (12-1) at Sandusky Perkins Region 7 1 Massillon Washington (11-1) vs. 2 Uniontown Lake (12-1) at Parma Byers Field Region 8 4 Kings Mills Kings (12-1) vs. vs. 10 Cincinnati Anderson (8-5) at Mason Atrium Stadium Division III (All games Friday, 7 p.m.) Region 9 1 Chardon (11-1) vs. 2 Canfield (11-1) at Ravenna Region 10 1 Parma Heights (10-2) vs. 10 Parma Padua (8-5) at Maple Heights Stadium Region 11 3 Col. Bishop Watterson (12-1) vs. 5 Carroll Bloom-Carroll (12-1) at St. Francis DeSales Alumni Stadium Region 12 1 Hamilton Badin (13-0) vs. 3 Tipp City Tippecanoe (11-1) at Trotwood-Madison Division IV (All games Saturday, 7 p.m.) Region 13 1 Beloit West Branch (12-1) vs. 6 Jefferson Area (10-3) at Niles McKinley Bo Rein Stadium Region 14 1 Cleveland Glenville (12-0) vs. 6 Van Wert (12-1) at Tiffin Columbian Frost-Kalnow Stadium Region 15 2 Steubenville (11-2) vs. 4 Gnadenhutten Indian Valley (10-3) at St. Clairsville Red Devils Stadium Region 16 1 Cincinnati Wyoming (13-0) vs. 2 Cincinnati Taft (11-2) at Lakota West Firebird Field Division V (All games Friday, 7 p.m.) Region 17 1 Canfield South Range (13-0) vs. 3 Perry (11-2) at Berkshire Great Lakes Cheese Stadium Region 18 1 Liberty Center (13-0) vs. 2 Elmwood (12-1) at Perrysburg Region 19 1 Ironton (13-0) vs. 2 Canal Winchester Harvest Prep. (13-0) at Waverly Raidiger Field Region 20 1 Germantown Valley View (12-1) vs. 2 Milton-Union (12-0) at Piqua Alexander Stadium Division VI (All games Saturday, 7 p.m.) Region 21 1 Kirtland (13-0) vs. 3 Mogadore (11-0) at Nordonia Region 22 3 Columbia Station Columbia (13-0) vs. 5 Columbus Grove (11-2) at Clyde Region 23 1 Beverly Fort Frye (12-1) vs. 3 Bellaire (9-4) at Zanesville Region 24 1 Marion Local (13-0) vs.2 Allen East (12-1) at Wapakoneta Division VII (All games Saturday, 7 p.m.) Region 25 1 Warren John F. Kennedy (11-1) vs. 3 Danville (11-2) at New Philadelphia Quaker Stadium Region 26 2 Antwerp (13-0) vs. 4 Lima Central Catholic (9-4) at Findlay Donnell Stadium Region 27 1 Newark Catholic (10-1) vs. 2 Hannibal River (12-1) at Cambridge McFarland Stadium Region 28 2 Fort Loramie (11-2) vs. 5 New Bremen (10-3) at Sidney Memorial Stadium