CLEVELAND, Ohio — Game balls go out to the following players for their Week 6 performances of the high school football season.
Coaches are encouraged to send statistics and nominations to Matt Goul ([email protected]). Nominations are accepted through Sunday evenings. Check out the top performers below from Week 3. Vote in the poll at the bottom for who you think is the player of the week:
⦁ Danny Alfieri, Kirtland: One of the Hornets’ senior leaders at running back and linebacker, Alfieri rushed for 171 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries in Kirtland’s 65-16 win Friday vs. Fairview. He provided the Hornets with a boost after losing junior quarterback Jake LaVerde to a broken wrist, as reported by the News-Herald.
⦁ Tymir Cardona, Kenston: Cardona’s interception led to a field goal, and the senior added a 69-yard TD reception from Lucas Kaltenbach to fuel the Bombers’ 20-3 win against Chardon. Cardona finished with 150 yards on six receptions from Kaltenbach, who threw for 193 yards.
⦁ Cy Christensen, Clearview: A junior, Christensen kept the Clippers unbeaten with 226 yards and three TDs on 16-of-22 passing in their 42-19 win at Wellington.
⦁ Kylan Conners, Elyria Catholic: Conners’ blocked punt return in the fourth quarter lifted the Panthers to their first win, 28-22 at St. Vincent-St. Mary.
⦁ Leon Cross, Woodridge: A sophomore running back, Cross rushed for 149 yards and two TDs on 20 carries in the Bulldogs’ 27-0 win at Coventry.
⦁ Ryan Dwyer, Aurora: The senior quarterback for the Greenmen threw three TD passes before exiting midway through the second quarter of Aurora’s 68-7 victory vs. Cuyahoga Falls. Dwyer completed 6 of 8 passes for 187 yards.
⦁ Jacob Etervoich, Brecksville-Broadview Heights: Etervoich rushed for 153 yards and two TDs to lead the Bees to their first win, 33-13, at Stow-Munroe Falls.
⦁ Joseph Gaines, Lorain: A senior wide receiver and defensive back, Gaines returned an 85-yard kickoff return to score in the Titans’ 48-14 rout of Garfield Heights. Gaines also scored on a 51-yard TD reception. Defensively, he had seven tackles an interception and tackle for loss.
⦁ Nolan Good, Avon: The senior quarterback threw for 214 yards and three TDs in Avon’s 35-14 win at Olmsted Falls. He also rushed for at least 40 yards.
⦁ Zach Hackleman, St. Edward: Despite the Eagles’ 28-27 loss Thursday night to Glenville, Hackleman hauled in six passes from Thomas Csanyi for 185 yards and three TDs. The junior’s big plays helped Csanyi finish with 350 yards on 17-of-30 passing.
⦁ Brysen Hall, Wadsworth: The freshman quarterback’s touchdown pass in overtime led Wadsworth to a 21-14 win Friday against Hudson, setting up an undefeated showdown this week against Nordonia. Hall found junior Calix Lemp on the touchdown. The quarterback finished 10 of 15 for 106 yards and averaged 36 yards on six punts. He had two land inside the 20-yard line and had a long of 51 yards.
⦁ Brayden Homoki, Midview: A junior linebacker, Homoki paced the Middies’ defense with 15 tackles, including 10 solo and two TFLs in a 16-7 win against Berea-Midpark.
⦁ Jordan Johnson, Hawken: Johnson scored twice, including the winning score in the fourth quarter of Hawken’s 21-17 win against West Geauga. Johnson rushed for 89 yards on 15 carries and added 19 yards on five receptions.
⦁ Cooper Josefczyk, Medina: The Bees’ senior rushed for 291 yards and three TDs on 27 carries in their 51-18 win at Euclid.
⦁ Collin Kavulic, Brunswick: His 99-yard kickoff return to start the second half sent Brunswick on its way to a 35-3 win at Shaker Heights. The Blue Devils had a 7-3 halftime lead before Kavulic’s contribution.
⦁ Joey Kopec, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy: A top prospect at linebacker, the junior rushed for 126 yards and two TDs on 12 carries as the Royals handed Wooster Triway its first loss, 37-7.
⦁ Ryan Lipowski, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin: The Lions scored 42 points in the first quarter, setting a school record in their 63-14 win against Warren Howland. Lipowski scored three total TDs, including a pass and two runs. One went for 81 yards in that record-setting first quarter.
⦁ Roderick Love, Padua: Love paced the Bruins’ 35-28 win at North Royalton with 257 yards rushing and four TDs on 37 carries.
⦁ Chris Maloney, Benedictine: After a two-game absence because of injury, Maloney rushed for 203 yards on 22 carries in his return. He scored on an 80-yard TD that gave Benedictine a brief lead against Walsh Jesuit.
⦁ Lucas Manderbach, Aurora: Manderbach scored twice on his only two carries, as Aurora spread the ball around to beat Cuyahoga Falls. Manderbach did much of his damage on defense. The end totaled five tackles, including a sack and three TFL. He added two quarterback hurries.
⦁ Kyndall McCaleb, Riverside: McCaleb rushed for 217 yards and four TDs on 25 carries to lead the Beavers’ 35-28 win at Willoughby South. Riverside rushed for 311 yards as a team, averaging 7.6 yards per attempt.
⦁ Cole Miller, North Ridgeville: The Rangers bounced back from their loss to Avon, as Miller scored four times. The junior quarterback threw three TD passes with 170 yards on 9-of-12 attempts. He also rushed for a score.
⦁ Storm Miller, Strongsville: A junior linebacker and three-star prospect, Miller led the Mustangs’ defense in slowing Cleveland Heights’ run game for a 28-6 upset at Pat Catan Stadium. Miller’s offer list includes Ohio State, Notre Dame and Clemson, where big brother Blake Miller is a tackle.
⦁ C.J. Newell, Glenville: The Tarblooders’ junior running back totaled 203 yards from scrimmage, including 174 yards and two TDs on 34 carries, Thursday night in Glenville’s 28-27 win against St. Edward at Baldwin Wallace’s Finnie Stadium in Berea. Newell added five receptions for 29 yards and rarely came off the field, doubling as a defensive back, briefly exiting after he cramped up.
⦁ Kene Obi, Hawken: Obi’s 12-tackle performance led Hawken at West Geauga. He had four TFLs and a sack.
⦁ Cooper Panteck, Gilmour Academy: Panteck completed 22 of 30 passes for a whopping 390 yards and six TDs in the Lancers’ 54-0 rout of University School. Panteck found Nick Iliano seven times for 130 yards and three of those scores.
⦁ Ace Peterlin, Lake Catholic: His 13 receptions set a school record Thursday night in the Cougars’ 35-3 win against Holy Name in North Royalton. Peterlin also scored three times on passes from his cousin and fellow senior Frankie Trinetti and finished with 170 yards on 13 receptions. He added three tackles at cornerback.
⦁ Matt Priest, Riverside: The senior linebacker came up with an interception and fumble recovery, both setting up touchdowns for Riverside in its win at Willoughby South.
⦁ Aaron Scales, Glenville: A junior safety, Scales’ interception at the goal line with 1:08 left sealed Glenville’s one-point victory vs. St. Edward.
⦁ Devin Shaw-Mason, Padua: The Bruins’ senior linebacker posted nine solo tackles and five assists to lead their defense at North Royalton. Cornerback Christian Ruggiero added an interception and six solo tackles, while safety Conner Williams had four tackles with a TFL, sack and interception.
⦁ Nathaniel Shenberger, Midview: A senior defensive lineman, Shenberger notched three sacks in Midview’s win vs. Berea-Midpark.
⦁ Cam Sokolowski, Medina: His blocked punt return of 32 yards put Medina ahead for good at Euclid.
⦁ Aidan Stewart, Avon Lake: The junior scored twice on TD passes from Alex Affolter and finished with 152 yards on six receptions to lead Avon Lake’s 28-20 win against Amherst. It handed the Comets their first loss.
⦁ Marty Tobin, Walsh Jesuit: A junior who has picked up the load for injured senior Lucas Weaver, Tobin rushed for a career high 211 yards on 30 carries to pace the Warriors’ 20-12 win against Benedictine at John Carroll University.
⦁ Frankie Trinetti, Lake Catholic: Trinetti completed 23 of 32 passes for 265 yards and three TDs to help beat Holy Name.
⦁ Russell Tye, Orange: Tye’s 30-yard TD run with 14 seconds left gave the Lions a 42-38 win against Harvey in duel with Red Raiders star and fellow junior Shahn Alston. Tye set a school record at Orange with 342 yards on 35 carries. He scored twice, including a 49-yard run. Defensively, Tye added three solo tackles, two assists and a TFL. On the season, he has 1,103 yards and 14 TDs on 111 carries. The previous single-game rushing record at Orange was held by Ryan Singer, who tied that mark in 2015 vs. Beachwood, and Chase Ulman, who set it in 2010 vs. Wickliffe.
⦁ Shay Williams, Midview: The junior quarterback did most of his damage on the ground with 123 yards rushing and a score on 19 carries vs. Berea-Midpark.
⦁ Dionte Younger Jr., Firestone: A senior, Younger rushed for 126 yards and a score on 15 carries in the Falcons’ 31-26 upset of Buchtel in Akron’s City Series. Younger added 47 yards on two receptions from senior quarterback Daylyn Taylor, who scored the game-winner with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
This poll will remain open until 10 p.m. Wednesday. Note, if you cannot view the poll above and clicked on this story from a social media post with a mobile device, please revisit this page using a traditional web browser. Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on X (@mgoul), Threads (@mgoul) or email ([email protected]).
