County has 47 players, 1 coach on All-NE Inland District team

Friday, November 19, 2004

Chris Beaven, Canton Repository

A record-setting running back and a do-it-all leader at quarterback would be a good start to any football team.

Adding two big hitters at linebacker and an impact player at defensive end gives that team a chance to beat anyone.

Five Stark County stars who fit those bills can be found on the 2004 All-Northeast Inland District Football Team. The team was selected by a media panel representing the nine-county district.

The team, released today, features 47 Stark County players, highlighted by five players and a coach who received top individual honors.

That group features McKinley running back Ryan Brinson, GlenOak linebacker Jay Bednar, Lake quarterback John Rutan, Louisville linebacker Austin Power and Northwest defensive end Josh Lowery. Power, a junior, is the lone underclassman. The coach is Ron Kuceyeski of Alliance.

Brinson and Bednar earned honors as the offensive and defensive player of the year, respectively, in Division I. Rutan and Power were offensive and defensive players of the year, respectively, in Division II. Lowery was defensive player of the year in Division III, the same division that named Kuceyeski coach of the year.

Brinson shared his honor with Warren Harding receiver Mario Manningham, a Michigan recruit.

Brinson’s impact is unmatched by any Division I back in the area. He led a McKinley turnaround from back-to-back 3-7 seasons to a spot in Saturday’s regional finals.

Brinson has rushed for a school-record 1,986 yards this season. He owns school records for career yards (4,353), single-game rushing (335) and career scoring (312).

This is Brinson’s third year as a first-team all-district pick.

Bednar was called “the heart and soul” of GlenOak by head coach Jack Rose. He is the co-defensive player of the year with Brunswick linebacker Marko Cosic, whose team meets McKinley this week.

Bednar led the Golden Eagles to their first playoff win in school history. He made a team-high 102 tackles in the regular season with seven tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.

In Division II, Rutan and Power are repeat first-teamers.

Rutan has passed for 1,041 yards with eight TDs and has rushed for 568 yards and five more TDs. His Blue Streaks meet unbeaten Brookhaven in a regional final tonight.

Power led Louisville in tackles for the second straight year with 79 first hits and 112 tackles in the regular season. He had five sacks and 10 tackles for loss.

Lowery was the outright winner as Division III defensive player of the year. He is a three-year starter who has been a leader on three playoff teams. His Indians play in the regional finals for the second straight year, meeting Thornville Sheridan on Saturday.

Lowery has made 19 sacks and 32 tackles for loss over the last two seasons.

As coach of the year in Division III, Kuceyeski guided Alliance to the playoffs for the first time since 1996. The Aviators then won a playoff game for the first time before losing to Northwest last weekend.

Alliance finished the season 9-3, winning the Metro Athletic Conference championship.

Bulldogs, Eagles top D-I

Looking at the rest of the first-team picks, Brinson and Bednar are joined by three teammates each in Division I.

McKinley’s other honorees are offensive linemen Brian Arena and Bill Jones and linebacker Theo Goodright.

Arena and Jones opened holes for Brinson and others, as McKinley averages 252.6 yards rushing per game. Arena also stands out on the defensive line. Goodright is the team’s second-leading rusher with 617 yards and top tackler with 105 stops during the season.

GlenOak’s other picks are defensive end Brandon Long, linebacker Nick Roman and defensive back Tony Frisbee.

Long, a Michigan State recruit, made 66 tackles with 12 for losses and five sacks. Roman made 93 tackles with 10 for losses and four sacks. Frisbee had 60 tackles with eight for losses, with three interceptions and 11 pass breakups.

Jackson is represented by a trio of players — linebacker Matt Harmon, defensive back Corey Irwin and punter Gabe Mullane. They led the Polar Bears to the playoffs for the first time since 2001. Harmon made 80 tackles. Irwin intercepted three passes and was a dangerous return man. Mullane averaged 39.5 yards a punt.

Perry had two first-team picks, kicker Adam Richards and defensive end Luke Kolic. Richards hit four field goals and starred on the line. Kolic had 73 tackles, with six for losses and seven sacks. He caused three fumbles, recovered three fumbles and intercepted three passes, taking one back for a TD.

Massillon is represented by defensive lineman D’Angelo McClendon. He made 7 1/2 tackles for loss.

Also in Division I, Green had three first-team picks with receiver Jesse Zimmerman, quarterback Billy Cundiff and defensive back Pat Zimmerman.

Cundiff completed 72 of 112 passes for 1,050 yards with 15 TDs and four interceptions before breaking his ankle in Week 7. Jesse Zimmerman finished with 39 catches for 666 yards and 10 TDs. Pat Zimmerman had 57 tackles and two interceptions and caught 24 passes for 471 yards and five TDs.

D-II features eight Blue Streaks and Leopards

The Division II team features four players apiece from Lake and Louisville.

The Blue Streaks are Rutan, offensive lineman Corey Dirrig, tailback A.J. Workman and defensive back Adam Campbell.

Dirrig is a two-year starter at strong-side tackle. He helped open holes for Workman, who has rushed for 1,544 yards and scored 27 TDs. Campbell intercepted five passes, and leads the team with 38 catches.

Louisville’s picks are Power, receiver Drew Kuhn, defensive lineman Kyle Sankbeil and linebacker Justyn Beadling.

Kuhn gained 1,437 all-purpose yards, scoring 11 TDs and leading the team with 33 catches for 573 yards. Beadling had 89 tackles and intercepted four passes, taking two back for TDs. Sankbeil made five tackles for loss.

Also honored in Division II is Timken defensive back Haywood Freeman. He intercepted three passes, taking one back for a score. He also recovered two fumbles, returning one for a TD. He led the team with 30 catches for 380 yards and a TD.

NETWORK

Hoover Vikings Football

2004 Northeast Ohio Inland District Selections