2004 All-Federal League Football Team

2004 All-Federal League Football team,

as chosen by the League's coaches.

November, 2004

Canton Repository

First Team Defense

Brandon Long, GlenOak DL 6-3 230 Sr.

Kevin Samy, Jackson DL 6-2 250 Sr.

Mike Craig, Fitch DL 6-0 220 Sr.

Luke Kolic, Perry DL 6-4 210 Sr.

Nick Roman, GlenOak LB 6-1 210 Sr.

Jay Bednar, GlenOak LB 5-10 210 Sr.

Matt Harmon, Jackson LB 6-0 205 Sr.

Theo Goodright, McKinley LB 5-10 175 Sr.

Matt Kapas, Lake LB 5-10 190 Sr.

Corey Irwin, Jackson DB 6-0 155 Sr.

Fred Weidenthal, Fitch DB 5-11 177 Sr.

Adam Campbell, Lake DB 5-11 180 Sr.

First Team Offense

John Rutan, Lake QB 5-11 195 Sr.

John Mang, Fitch QB 5-10 185 Sr.

A.J. Workman, Lake RB 5-11 185 Sr.

Mike Eliseo, Fitch RB 5-10 193 Sr.

Ryan Brinson, McKinley RB 5-9 175 Sr.

Nathan Logan, North Canton WR 6-1 185 Sr.

Frank Cardon, Fitch TE 6-3 226 Sr.

Bryon Arena, McKinley OT 6-1 282 Sr.

Brian Mellott, Fitch OT 6-3 245 Sr.

Jon Basso, Jackson OG 5-10 200 Sr.

J.R. Miller, Fitch OG 6-1 238 Sr.

Levi George, Boardman OC 6-2 270 Jr.

Adam Richards, Perry PK 5-10 260 Sr.

Second Team Defense

Mike Kirksey, McKinley DL 5-10 190 Jr.

Jon Hart, Lake DL 5-11 205 Sr.

Mike Roach, Perry DL 6-4 265 Sr.

Ryan Ware, Boardman DL 5-11 200 Sr.

Jamie Craven, Jackson LB 6-1 195 Jr.

Dave Morckel, Lake LB 5-11 190 Jr.

Jamie Kyriakades, GlenOak LB 6-0 195 Sr.

Jeff Vaughn, McKinley LB 5-10 200 Jr.

Kellen Showes, McKinley DB 5-11 175 Sr.

Tony Frisbee, GlenOak DB 6-0 175 Sr.

Nigel Taylor, Fitch DB 5-9 170 Sr.

Chris Kessler, Jackson DB 5-9 165 Sr.

Spc Matt Cox, Jackson Spc 5-10 170 Sr.

Second Team Offense

Mike Hartline, GlenOak QB 6-6 180 Jr.

Jeff Tallman, Perry RB 5-9 180 Sr.

Mike Nemeth, Jackson RB 6-0 190 Sr.

B.J. Penn, GlenOak RB 5-7 160 Sr.

Kyle Mauro, Jackson WR 6-1 160 Sr.

Sean Kostelnik, North Canton WR 5-10 170 Sr.

Jake Shelton, Jackson TE 6-4 240 Sr.

Nate Whiteman, North Canton OT 6-4 240 Sr.

Corey Dirrig, Lake OT 6-4 290 Sr.

Ryan Palmer, GlenOak OG 6-7 280 Jr.

Mark McGlynn, Fitch OG 6-1 244 Jr.

Bill Jones, McKinley OC 5-10 280 Sr.

Zach Campbell, McKinley PK 6-0 150 Soph.

Honorable Mention

North Canton: Jason Foote, Joe Pope, Caleb Cross

Boardman: Jerry Pasquale, Nick Ress, Nate Tascik

Fitch: Dane Stilgenbauer, Joe Stryffeler, Stas Cherney

GlenOak: D.J. Willaman, Brian NcNew, Dave DeMarco

Jackson: Eric Abrams, Lambert Budzinski, Max Puterbaugh

McKinley: Antwon Hight, Harriel Moore, Anthony Robinson

Lake: Ben Chlebina, Ryan Holcomb, Nick Bair, Ted Durbin

Perry: Devyn Hoffner, Derrick Semilia, Josh Mayes, Ryan Clokey

Gabe Mullane, Jackson P 6-2 170 Sr.

Player of the Year: Ryan Brinson, McKinley

Coach of the Year: Neal Kopp, Austintown Fitch

Record-breaking Brinson wins Federal MVP award

Monday, November 8, 2004

Chris Beaven, Canton Repository

Records don’t last long with Ryan Brinson running the football.

The McKinley High School senior tailback seems to break a mark every time he breaks a long run.

That’s why Brinson became the easy pick to become the Federal League’s Player of the Year in a recent vote of the league’s eight head coaches.

The league also voted Austintown Fitch head coach Neal Kopp the Coach of the Year, giving newcomers a sweep of the two individual

honors. Kopp guided the Falcons to the league title.

Fitch players represented more than a quarter of the 26-man All-Federal League first team.

Fitch and McKinley both are in their first year of football competition in the Federal League, with Boardman the third new member. Longtime league members Jackson, GlenOak and Lake also are well-represented, too, with at least three guys apiece on the first team.

Brinson, though, is the star of stars after as memorable a season by a tailback in Stark County in some time. His running, as well as his play at safety, helped McKinley make an impressive turnaround and qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2001.

Over the last six weeks, Brinson broke McKinley records for career rushing (4,187), single-game rushing (335), single-season rushing (1,820), most yards in a road game (262) and career scoring (300).

Two of the marks fell on long runs by Brinson. He became the career rushing leader with a 76-yard TD run against Perry. The season record fell on a 68-yard TD against Massillon.

Brinson set the scoring mark in style, too. He passed DeMarlo Rozier’s total of 294 points by returning an interception 24 yards for a score in Saturday’s first-round playoff win at Green.

“Listening to other coaches who’ve been at McKinley a long time,” second-year McKinley head coach Brian Cross said, “they’ve told me he’s the best back that’s ever played here. To hear that from guys who have been here 20, 24, 26 years, you know he’s something special.”

Fitch’s season could be called something special after the Falcons went 9-1 in the regular season, 6-1 in the league. They did it with a powerful running game and tough defense. That’s why their first-team representatives are quarterback John Mang, tailback Mike Eliseo, tight end Frank Cardon, tackle Brian Mellot, guard J.R. Miller, defensive lineman Mike Craig and defensive back Fred Weidenthal. All seven are seniors.

The league’s other back to eclipse 1,000 yards was Lake senior tailback A.J. Workman. He went for 1,337 yards, earning the third running back spot on the first team.

Lake’s other honorees are three other seniors, quarterback John Rutan, linebacker Matt Kapas and defensive back-receiver Adam Campbell.

Rutan accumulated 1,461 yards of total offense. Kapas made 81 tackles. Campbell had five interceptions, and caught 33 passes.

Jackson had five first-team picks, all seniors. They are guard Jon Basso, defensive lineman Kevin Samy, linebacker Matt Harmon, defensive back Corey Irwin and punter Gabe Mullane.

Basso anchored an entirely new offensive line, helping the Polar Bears reach the playoffs for the first time since 2001. Samy, a Miami of Ohio recruit, battled through a bad ankle to record four sacks and five tackles for loss. Harmon made 65 tackles and intercepted two passes in his third year as a starter. Irwin is a top-notch cover guy, who also excelled returning kicks. Mullane averaged 36.5 yards per punt.

McKinley and GlenOak, which meet in a second-round playoff game, had three picks apiece. Brinson was joined by senior teammates Bryan Arena, a tackle, and Theo Goodright, a linebacker-fullback.

Arena’s work up front helped Brinson break records, as the Bulldogs average 255.2 rushing yards and 26.5 points per game. Goodright made 105 tackles, including five sacks and four tackles for loss, recovered three fumbles, and has rushed for 578 yards.

All three of GlenOak’s picks came on the defensive side of the ball, seniors Brandon Long at defensive line, and linebackers Jay Bednar and Nick Roman. Their work helped GlenOak win a playoff game for the first time Saturday.

Long has committed to Michigan State after making 66 total tackles with five sacks and 25 quarterback hurries. Bednar was the emotional leader of the defense, registering 102 tackles. Roman made 93 tackles, 10 for losses and four sacks.

Perry places two seniors on the first team, defensive lineman-tight end Luke Kolic and kicker-lineman Adam Richards.

Kolic, a three-year letterman, made 73 tackles, including six for loss and seven sacks. He also intercepted three passes, forced three fumbles and recovered three fumbles. Richards, in addition to playing offensive tackle, hit four field goals.

North Canton is represented by senior receiver Nathan Logan. He caught 37 balls for 500 yards and four TDs.

Boardman’s lone first-team pick is junior center Levi George, a three-year starter.

George is the only non-senior on the first team, meaning a new group of stars will get a chance to emerge next fall in the Federal League.

NETWORK

Hoover Vikings Football

2004 All-Federal League Selections