As Division II, Region 6 champion, Avon was one of the top football programs in Ohio this season.
On Dec. 6, the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association released the Division II and D-III All-Ohio teams.
Avon Coach Mike Elder was named Division II Co-Coach of the Year and offensive lineman and Michigan commit Luke Hamilton was named Division II Co-Offensive Player of the Year.
“For Luke (Hamilton), I think that this is incredibly deserved. For me, I think that this is a reflection of my coaching staff. You don’t become coach of the year of anything in the game of football without tremendous people surrounding you. I see that more as a staff award.”
Elder shared the award with Massillon Washington Coach Nate Moore, who led the Tigers to the D-II state championship. Hamilton shared his award with Cincinnati Anderson’s Brodey Berg.
Avon football: Luke Hamilton, Carson Canning take top Division II Northeast Lakes District awards
Avon (14-1) broke the school record for most wins in a season.
“You have to genuinely care about their kids on and off the field. I have guys that do,” Elder said. “I have a bunch of guys that work exceptionally hard to get the latest and the greatest techniques in studying the game of football. They want to make sure that they give our kids the very best. I can promise you that nobody works harder than my group of guys.”
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Hamilton was one of five first-team All-Ohioans for Avon, along with quarterback Nolan Good, running back and Matt Wilhelm Award winner Jakorion Caffey, offensive lineman Matt Muir and safety Carson Canning.
“I think our offense will be known for our physical offensive line, a once-in-a-lifetime running back in Jakorion Caffey,” Elder said. “Anytime you had him on the field, on your team, you had a chance to move the ball down the field and score touchdowns. We also had a bunch of skill positions players that will be mostly back next year. They got continually better and better every single week. That was led by Nolan Good, our quarterback.”
Good threw for 2,100 yards, 21 touchdowns, three interceptions and completed 62% of his passes. Caffey rushed for over 1,500 yards and scored 25 touchdowns. The 2023 Lorain County Golden Helmet Award winner is committed to play at the University of Cincinnati.
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Wide receiver Matt Maxey (second team) and safety Connor Rowlison (third) were also named All-Ohioans.
“Coaching can only take you so far. You have to have great players,” Elder said. “Clearly, we had great players, that is why we went 14-1 and broke the school record for most wins in a year. We were three points away from making it to the state championship. I think that it’s well-deserved. Our team has that much success because we have great players.”
Avon had a historic defense to line up with a star-studded offense. It allowed less than 10 points per game. Canning and Rowlison were at the heart of the success.
“It’s hard to find safeties. I think that they set the tempo for everybody, because of their physicality. When you see guys from the secondary flying down and making tackles in the run game, I think it inspires everyone to do their job.”
The Southwestern Conference was well-represented in the postseason awards, as a total of 19 players were awarded All-Ohio with Amherst (two), Avon (seven), Avon Lake (four), and Olmsted Falls (two).
“We are a closed-enrollment high school that doesn’t make excuses. We are just trying to find a way to play with the best teams out there. I think Avon can play with anybody (in Division II),” Elder said. “I think a lot of the teams in (the SWC) see that and see how competitive they are against us. They think that they are good, too. Our league prepares us well for the playoffs. We made some deep runs because of the competition week in and week out.”
Elyria and Berea-Midpark are Division I teams and will be announced on Dec. 7.
“It is impressive to see where the talent level of our conference is and how good it could (be),” Kostelnik said.
From Amherst, wide receiver Eli Solak (second team) and kicker Cole Norris (honorable mention) were named All-Ohioan. Norris was also the Comets’ quarterback who threw for 1,978 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Norris also rushed for six touchdowns. As a punter, he pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line five times and averaged 30.84 yards per punt. Solak caught 38 passes for 589 yards
Offensive linemen Maxwell Riley (first team), Clay Broadhurst (third), defensive backs Derek McCrum (third) and Luke Stuewe (honorable mention) were named All-Ohio for Avon Lake.
“I am super excited to see that two seniors, a junior and a sophomore, were there,” Avon Lake Coach Matt Kostelnik said. “It puts a nice stamp on McCrum and Broadhurst’s career. It is well-deserving. Those kids had a great three years for me and I am super grateful that they were great leaders, adapting to my program. For the younger guys, it sets the tempo moving forward.”
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The Shoremen went 7-4 (4-3 in SWC) and were a Division II, Region 6 quarterfinalist.
North Ridgeville, which also advanced to the second round in Division II, Region 6, had four All-Ohioans, all juniors: Austin DeShazo (first), Charlie Steinmetz (second), J.D. Radway (second) and Carson Madis (third).
Linebacker Derek Neckar (second) and offensive lineman Any Voisinet (third) were All-Ohioans for Olmsted Falls (Division II, Region 6 semifinalist).
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“We were excited,” Olmsted Falls Coach Tom DeLuca said. “I thought they were well-deserving. Just to be honored with other kids from our conference. The type of players that are on that list and to be mentioned with that list is pretty special.”
Voisinet is committed to play at Colgate. Neckar has seen recruitment, but DeLuca believes he has potential to receive a football scholarship.
“I think he has really good instincts on the field. His football IQ is high. I definitely think he is a Division II type of kid for sure,” he said.”
