All-Area High School Football Team Since 2000
All-Area All-Decade Team
The area has seen its’ fair share of exceptional football talent over the past ten years. These choices will be debated I’m sure. You could definitely make a case for a number of players to be listed. How about Delbert Ferguson (Ursuline/Harding) or Kyle Stadelmyer of Girard? Ferguson dashed for five touchdowns in the 2000 Division IV State Title game against Coldwater as a member of the Ursuline Irish. Stadelmyer had a marvelous career accumulating more yards rushing than any other Indian. Quarterbacks such as South Range’s Jack Dawson, Dan McCarthy of Mooney, and LaBrae’s Todd Rowan absolutely have a beef. Safety Ryan Gillum made a name for himself at Liberty before moving onto Syracuse.
Looking at the lineup though, I don’t think that the area’s best would take a backseat to any team you could assemble in the nation. On offense, Smith should not have a problem finding time to throw behind this quintet. However, this group will be a run first offense. Look at the backfield you have: Clarett and Elzy. You can then go with Allen, Heard, Smith, or Toussaint to spell the starters. That’s some unbelievable talent lining up behind the quarterback. Mario Manningham was making big plays for quarterback Mike Phillips at Harding long before he was looked at as one of the New York Giants’ most electrifying playmakers.
The defense stacks up well against any offense that you can find. Across the defensive line, you will find a ton of high motor competitors. If the opposing quarterback can find time to throw the pigskin he may have trouble completing a pass with such a strong secondary. The defensive backfield is littered with professional football experience. Each of the starters are currently on NFL rosters. Oh, how could I forget about the linebackers? Absolute studs from top to bottom give the team outstanding pass rushers and fine coverage skills.
Can you go wrong with choosing Bryan Wright to boot the ball for you? How about Canfield great Angelo Babbaro returning punts and kicks? On the biggest of stages, Babbaro returned a first quarter kickoff for a 92-yard score in the 2005 Division II State Title game against Toledo Central Catholic.
The coaching staff is top notch. Six state championships amongst the four of our sensational coaches this decade. It pains me to leave off coaches like Mike Pavlansky (Canfield), Dick Angle (Howland), Bud McSuley (Girard), Jarrett Samuels (Farrell), Jeff Bayuk (Hubbard/Campbell), and Dan Williams who has coached his alma mater McDonald to back-to-back undefeated regular seasons.
Criteria
*No current high school players
*Must attend a school in the viewing area
*56-man Roster
Quarterback
Brad Smith, Chaney (Missouri)
Coach Ron Berdis had himself one of the best football players to strap on a helmet in recent memory in Brad Smith of Chaney. In 2000, Smith led the Cowboys to an undefeated regular season while compiling his second-straight All-State selection.
Backups: Daryll Clark, Ursuline (Penn State); Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, Mooney (Iowa); Tom Zetts, Boardman (Youngstown State)
Running Backs
Maurice Clarett, Warren Harding (Ohio State)
Anthony Elzy, Warren JFK (North Carolina)
Maurice and Tony gave defensive coordinators fits when it came time to game plan to try and contain these two stalwarts. Clarett scored 29 touchdowns (6th most in state) and led his Raiders’ to an 11-2 mark as Harding scored 42.1 points per game in 2001. Elzy ran for over 2,000 yards in both his junior and senior seasons for JFK.
Backups: Alex Allen, Ursuline (Akron); Chris Burns, Wilmington (Pittsburgh); Braylon Heard, Mooney (Nebraska); Lance Smith, Howland (Wisconsin/Memphis); Fitzgerald Toussaint, Liberty (Michigan)
Wide Receivers
Mario Manningham, Warren Harding (Michigan)
Dave Koval, Poland (Miami, OH)
Super Mario caught 24 of his 105 passes for scores at Harding during his career. The speedy Koval was recruited heavily by most schools in the Mid-American. Poland’s most prolific receiver caught 22 touchdowns during his days as a Bulldog.
Backups: Zac Grey, Salem (Wofford), Dustin Helle, Girard (Youngstown State), Desmar Jackson, Warren JFK/Harding (Wyoming basketball)
Tight End
Louis Irizarry, Ursuline (Ohio State/Youngstown State)
The former three-year starter, Irizarry was an All-American as a senior at Ursuline.
Backups: Dan McGarry, Poland (Michigan State); Isaac Smolko, Springfield (Penn State)
Offensive Line
Doug Datish, Howland (Ohio State)
John Greco, Boardman (Toledo)
Ishmaa’ily Kitchen, Mooney (Kent State)
Mike McGlynn, Fitch (Pittsburgh)
Steve Vallos, Boardman (Wake Forest)
This group should have no problem giving Smith time or making holes for Elzy to slide through. Four of the five starters listed have NFL experience. Vallos was a former record setting wrestler at Boardman. McGlynn lettered three years playing at Falcon Stadium. Kitchen, the young one of the collection, not only won two State Championships (2004 & 2006) but the Cardinals finished with a 48-4 record during his career.
Backups: Branndon Braxton, Ursuline (Oklahoma); Rocco Cironi, Warren Harding (Michigan State); Corey Linsley, Boardman (Ohio State)
Defensive Line
Vince Browne, Lisbon (Northwestern)
Anthony Hoke, Warren Harding (Cincinnati)
John Humphrey, Liberty (Purdue)
John Simon, Mooney (Ohio State)
One of Jeff Whittaker’s most versatile players during his stay at Liberty was John Humphrey. He kicked, he punted, he caught passes and he harassed the quarterback on a weekly basis. Humphrey was named Trumbull County Player of the Year as a senior.
Backups: Allen Billyk, New Castle (Virginia); Kevin Harris, Sharon (Pittsburgh), Jamel Turner, Ursuline
Linebackers
David Herron, Warren Harding (Michigan State)
Tyler Scott, Howland (Northwestern)
Mike Zordich, Mooney (Penn State)
147 tackles. 6 interceptions. 8 quarterback sacks. That’s all Tyler Scott did during his senior campaign at Howland on defense. Scott also caught seven touchdowns on offense in 2008.
Backups: Kyle Banna, Canfield (Youngstown State); Alan Claiborne, Farrell; Kent Cunningham, Mineral Ridge (Grove City), Julius Ferrell, Liberty; Taylor Hill, Mooney (Michigan/Youngstown State); David Rach, South Range (Youngstown State)
Defensive Backs
Prescott Burgess, Warren Harding (Michigan)
Bradley Fletcher, Liberty (Iowa)
Marlin Jackson, Sharon (Michigan)
Anthony Smith, Hubbard (Syracuse)
Most of the defensive backs could’ve been recognized for the offensive prowess. Marlin Jackson fits in on offense or defense. Jackson was a USA Today All-American first-team pick as a senior. Marlin grabbed eighteen interceptions during his days as a Sharon Tiger.
Backups: Sean Baker, Canfield (Ball State); Marcellus Bowman, Liberty (Boston College); Tony Davis, Howland (Penn State); Shaun Lane, Hubbard (Ohio State); Kyle McCarthy, Mooney (Notre Dame); Luke Wollet, Poland (Kent State).
Specialists
K – Bryan Wright, Salem (Michigan)
In the Quakers 17-13 loss to Poland on October 14, 2005 Wright connected on a 57-yard field goal. Bryan was a two-time All-Ohio first-team selection.
P – Justin Kucek, Canfield (Minnesota)
The former Cardinal was a three-time All-Metro Athletic Conference first-team choice. In 2003, Kucek averaged 42.3 yards per punt.
Ret – Angelo Babbaro, Canfield (Villanova)
The speedy Babbaro lettered in track each of his years in high school. Angelo could have been identified as a running back selection but after the run in the State Final contest. He is our return specialist.
Coaching Staff
P.J. Fecko, Cardinal Mooney
Dan Reardon, Ursuline
Terry Verrelli, Wilmington
Dan Yeagley, South Range
Now it’s your turn, tell the viewers who you think should be on your All-Area All-Decade High School Football Team. It just takes one click on the ‘Add A Comment’ button below. Make your voice heard.
