The best innovation often comes across by accident, and the ascendance of Elyria Catholic’s Timmy Phillips is another one to add to the list.
After he transferred from Firelands as a wide receiver, he found his calling on the defensive side of the ball that earned himself a Division IV first-team All-Ohio selection Dec. 5.
He was recognized by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association, along with six Panthers.
High school football: OPSWA Division IV, Division V All-Ohio team
Elyria Catholic had a wide range of All-Ohio nominations that spanned on offense, defense and special teams. Linebacker Graydon Rollins was placed on the second team. Offensive lineman Jackson Smith, defensive lineman Trent Merrell and defensive back Brady Engle made the third team. Punter J.P. Spray was an honorable mention.
“They were able to accept coaching and were really able to buy into what we were trying to say. Everything that we (did), we were doing for a reason,” EC coach Chase Farris said.
Farris and his coaching staff elected to try Phillips out at defensive back. When Rollins went down in the preseason, Phillips was the next man up. Farris and defensive coordinator Doran Grant took notice of his performance in the box.
“We tried him at (defensive back). You could tell that his instincts weren’t there when it came to certain things,” Farris said. “In camp, Rollins went down and we had to find someone to step in. We moved Timmy (Phillips) from DB to linebacker. He saw a complete shift. His eyes got big when the lights came on, and it was go-time. When Rollins came back, we had to find a place for Timmy to play on defense.”
Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing at 190 pounds, Phillips led The Morning Journal coverage area with 12.5 sacks, 26.5 tackles for losses, 105 tackles and 54 quarterback hurries. Merrell (sophomore) also contributed with seven sacks.
“If you turn on the film and watch him play, you see no one who is going to play harder than he is,” Farris said. “He is going to finish and give it all he has. There were times when he chased down plays from the backside. You don’t think that he is going to make it, but it pans out for him. The game rewards those who work hard.”
Phillips, along with several other Panthers, are seeing recruitment from some D-III programs. Farris, a former NFL player and national champion at Ohio State, believes he can play at least D-II.
Rollins wanted to peak the interest of D-I scouts and backed it up to lead Elyria Catholic with 133 tackles, with 22 tackles for loss.
Smith became a two-time All-Ohioan after he took third-team honors last year. He was one of three returning starters and the lone All-Ohioan to come back out of nine players last year.
“You had Jackson along with Kyle Fairbanks who had over 100 snaps (per game). It is difficult in football to play over 100 snaps. The only time he came off the field was in punt return,” Farris said.
Farris described Engle as the anchor in the secondary, with 91 tackles and two interceptions. He also played as the Panthers’ quarterback, too.
“Brady Engle anchored that defense on the back end,” he said. “His communication is amazing. His overall vision on the field is immaculate. He was able to do what he did and hold guys accountable. We were lucky to have a guy like that.”
Elyria Catholic went 3-7 (1-5 in Great Lakes Conference West). The Panthers nearly made the D-IV, Region 14 tournament, after it returned three starters from last year’s regional semifinal team.
