4 area players on D-VII All-Ohio football teams

Three Catholic Central football players and another from Southeastern were named to the All-Ohio Division VII high school football teams announced by the Associated Press last week.

Chosen to the first team was Catholic Central junior Dominic Catanzaro as a punter. Selected to the second team as a running back was senior teammate Thomas Kavanagh. Catanzaro’s brother, senior Cosmas Catanzaro, was a second-team choice as a defensive lineman.

Also, Southeastern’s Garrett Hunter was a special mention honoree.

The three Catholic Central teammates were instrumental in the Irish posting a 6-4 record in Mike McKenna’s first season as head coach. A longtime Irish assistant, McKenna succeeded Steve Dewitt, who led the Irish the previous 40 seasons.

Central was making a playoff bid following a 4-0 start but lost its next three games to fall out of D-VII, Region 28 contention.

A three-year starter, Dominic Catanzaro averaged 38.2 yards on 30 punts. He also was an outstanding linebacker, accumulating 82 total tackles and two sacks and making one fumble recovery and interception.

Kavanaugh was a four-year starter and excelled as a receiver, running back, linebacker and returner. He had 1,544 all-purpose yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior. Defensively he had 94 total tackles, three sacks and two interceptions. Kavanaugh totaled 5,106 yards and 40 touchdowns for his career.

Cosmas Catanzaro also was a four-year starter at tight end and defensive end. He had 65 total tackles, including 11 for loss, and two fumble recoveries.

A senior offensive lineman and linebacker, Hunter appeared destined to set a Southeastern single-season record for tackles until he injured a knee and missed the final three games. He had 101 tackles and two fumble recoveries.

The players of the year were quarterback Malachi Abbott (McComb) and linebacker Travis Johnston (Zanesville Bishop Rosecrans). Keith Mora (Danbury) was the coach of the year.

The teams were based on coaches’ nominations and media reps throughout the state.

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