Fremont's Football Fab Four: Awards for the area's best
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
No player was more of a threat with the ball in his hand than Bellevue junior quarterback Alec Foos.
Using quickness running the ball and efficiency throwing it, Foss accounted for over 3,100 yards of offense and 47 touchdowns, earning district Player of the Year honors.
Foos ended his season with 314 carries for 1,715 yards and 28 touchdowns while completing 85 of 139 attempts for another 1,387 yards and 19 touchdowns with just two interceptions.
While Gibsonburg quarterback Ryan Clark’s numbers (123-for-198, 2,298 yards, 31 touchdowns, five interception) and impact on his team are comparable to Foss’, and Clyde receiver Zach Rieman (56 catches, 1,302 yards, 15 touchdowns) was the area’s most dangerous weapon on the perimeter, Bellevue’s reliance on Foos in both the run and passing game, pushes him over the top.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
While standing out is easier with the ball in one’s hand, doing so on the defensive side of the ball is more difficult but two players managed to do so above the rest.
Clyde linebacker/safety Jake Jenne capped a stellar career with the Fliers this season by earning first team all-conference and all-district honors. Jenne made 114 tackles with two for loss and a sack and also intercepted two passes and broke up another six.
But when it came to standing out, Fremont Ross’ Jarren Hampton did so with great frequency. The Little Giants senior defensive back caught six interceptions, returned two for touchdowns – including a program-record 98-yard return and five pass break-ups. He also made 32 tackles, 15 assists, eight tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.
Jenne’s overall leadership however, on and off the field, for a Clyde defense that returned just two starters from a season ago, gives the Flier senior the edge as Defensive Player of the Year
COACH OF THE YEAR
Two fine candidates could be named Coach of the Year.
Ryan Carter took a Clyde program that entered the season longer on tradition than returning experience. If the Fliers were to have a down year, this was supposed to be it. Yet Clyde remained among the area’s elite.
On the other hand, Bellevue’s Ed Nasonti won his 200th career game en route to the program’s first league championship in 11 years and a regional title game. The Redmen had an impressive balance between offensive prowess and defensive rigidity.
Given the strength of the Sandusky Bay Conference, in which four legitimate contenders emerged and made the playoffs, and the Fliers’ eventual co-championship in the SBC, Carter edges out coach of the Year honors.
TEAM OF THE YEAR
If there was any doubt about the legitimacy of the Bellevue Redmen, given they were the only Northern Ohio League team to make the postseason, those concerns were vanquished in the playoffs where the Redmen played their best football of the season.
Bellevue’s defensive shined in shutting down two solid offenses in Wauseon and Kenton Ridge, and the offense fought to the end against a powerful team from Hartley Bishop in the regional championship.
On their way to playing in Week 13 of the season, Bellevue won its first NOL title in 11 years, advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2012 and was the last area team still standing.