Kennard, Copeland, Hoying, Ketron earn top honors

Luke Kennard of Franklin, Vayante Copeland of Thurgood Marshall and Coldwater’s Brody Hoying were named All-Ohio football players of the year by the Associated Press on Tuesday.

Valley View’s Kris Ketron shared coach of the year honors.

Kennard, a junior quarterback, was a Division III tri-offensive player of the year. He completed 162 of 276 passes for 2,145 yards, 26 touchdowns and just five interceptions in the regular season.

Copeland was a triple receiving, rushing and return threat who also excelled on defense. He was the D-III co-defensive player of the year. He rushed for 1,203 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. He has verbally committed to Michigan State.

Hoying, a junior quarterback, has led defending state champion Coldwater (12-2) into this week’s D-V state title game against Columbus Bishop Hartley at Massillon.

The D-V offensive player of the year, Hoying leads the Cavaliers with 1,477 yards rushing and 27 TDs. He’s also thrown for 1,730 yards and another 20 scores.

Ketron guided the Spartans to a 9-1 regular season (10-2 overall) to earn D-IV coach of the year honors.

Trotwood-Madison (11-2), which will play for a D-III state title this week, landed three first-team selections in senior center Clem Vinegar and defensive linemen Ryan Reese and Verondtae Wilkinson.

Other area D-III first-teamers were Jeff Van Zant of Springfield Shawnee, Tippecanoe’s Jacob Hall and Cameron Johnson and Thurgood’s Landon Brazile.

D-IV area first-team choices were Max Oakes of Northwestern, Alter’s Joe Sprauer and Valley View’s Shane Hannah.

Joining Hoying as first-teamers in D-V were Coldwater teammates Mitch Schoenherr and Adam Klosterman. Milton-Union’s Wesley Martin also made it as did Jacob Harrison of Chaminade Julienne.

The teams were based on recommendations of a state media panel. Divisions VI-VII will be released today as will Mr. Football.

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