Canton
Williams repeats as Player of the Year
Monday, November 6, 2006
By
Chris Beaven repository sports writer
Another impressive run through the Federal League brought its share of rewards to the McKinley High School football team.
Eight Bulldogs earned a spot on the All-Federal League first team, and tailback Morgan Williams repeated as the Player of the Year. McKinley put together its second straight unbeaten season in the league and has won 18 straight league games.
Perry head coach John "Spider" Miller picked up the league's other top individual award. His peers voted him Coach of the Year after he guided Perry to a 9-1 regular season and its first playoff berth since 2002.
Williams has keyed McKinley's success the last two years. He rushed for 1,683 yards this season and scored 20 touchdowns, both tops in the league. He averaged 8.2 yards per carry, averaging more than 10 yards a carry during the final four league games.
Other Bulldogs joining Williams on the first team are linebackers Disi Alexander and George Tabron, kicker Zack Campbell, center Drew McIntyre, cornerbacks Brandon Mingo and Will Sheeler and offensive tackle Sean Whited.
Alexander made 88 solo tackles and was in on 142 stops overall with three sacks and seven tackles for loss. He also caused five fumbles and blocked two kicks. Tabron made 81 tackles (seven for losses) and rushed for 181 yards and three TDs as a fullback.
Campbell holds all of McKinley career kicking records, making six field goals and 41-of-42 PATs this season. He set a school record with a 48-yarder at Boardman on the final play of regulation to force overtime.
Sheeler intercepted seven passes and scored eight TDs as a running back. Mingo made 55 tackles, recovered a fumble and broke up three passes. McIntyre and Whited helped McKinley average 32.3 points per game and 7.0 yards per rush.
Perry has five on the first team - linebacker Matt Coleman, defensive back Bryan Dobina, running back Eric Magnacca, guard Mark Toole and quarterback Matt Vick.
Toole graded out at 90 percent for his work on the offensive line and totaled 56 tackles (seven for losses). Dobina made 77 tackles and had one interception. Coleman led the team with 105 tackles (nine for losses) and had an interception. Magnacca rushed for 1,117 yards, made a team-high eight catches and scored 13 TDs. Vick efficiently ran Perry's wing-T offense, passing for 289 yards and rushing for 321 yards and four scores. He also made 29 tackles as a linebacker.
Hoover received four first-team picks - linebackers Jordan Bucar and Scott Gnau, two-way lineman Ken Staudinger and receiver Matt Wakulchik.
Wakulchik caught 31 passes for 421 yards and seven TDs. He also hit a game-winning 40-yard field goal and intercepted two passes. Staudinger anchored the offensive line as a tackle and made 23 unassisted tackles (four for losses) defensively. Bucar led the team with 95 tackles (seven for losses), while Gnau made 49 tackles and recovered three fumbles.
The first team also features four Jackson Polar Bears - punter Jay DuPont, linebacker Ben Graeff, tailback Carlin Isles and defensive tackle Phil Winnett.
DuPont's leg helped Jackson control field position throughout the season. Graeff made 97 tackles (nine for losses). Isles rushed for 1,014 yards on 167 carries and had 12 TDs, including a game-winner on the final play against Lake. Winnett made 11 tackles for loss and three sacks among his 62 tackles.
Lake has a duo of defensive backs on the squad, Ryan Reed and Mike Rutan. The two seniors have helped the Blue Streaks reach the second round of the playoffs. Reed made a team-high 90 tackles with three interceptions. Rutan picked off two passes, taking one back for a TD, and had 60 tackles (six for losses). He also caught 15 passes for 267 yards and three scores.
GlenOak's Alex Thomas earned a spot after being GlenOak's top two-way performer. As a center, he had 26 pancake blocks and had a blocking efficiency rating of 91 percent. At linebacker, he totaled 101 tackles with five for losses.
Fitch defensive end Brett Gabrick made the team as one of the leaders of a stingy defense.
Boardman's Justin Powell is a repeat pick for the first team. The two-way lineman has been a leader up front the past two years.