Excerpt from Chris Easterling's writeup in
The Repository on all the games this weekend.
To get ready for the OHSAA football state finals in Canton, here's some of the top players pursuing a state title at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
www.cantonrep.com
"Here's who's to watch out for in this game:
Reece Dellinger, Coldwater, quarterback
New quarterback, no problem for the Cavaliers. Dellinger has been exceptional as the QB for Coldwater, replacing Myles Blasingame. On the season, he’s completed 168 of 276 passes for 2,915 yards. He’s thrown 28 TD passes. In the last two games combined, Dellinger is 34-of-46 for 483 yards with five scores. He’s also a capable runner, gaining for more than 300 yards on roughly 70 carries.
Isaac Fullenkamp, Coldwater, running back/linebacker
A defensive stalwart for the Cavaliers, who return to Stark County looking for a second consecutive state championship and the school’s eighth title overall. As a linebacker, he’s recorded more than 120 total tackles on the season, and more than 14 tackles for loss. Not only that, but he’s also been Coldwater’s leading rusher with more than 900 yards on the season.
In the state semifinal win over West Jefferson, Fullenkamp rushed for 117 yards and two TDs on 21 carries.
Landen Kemerley, Carey, linebacker
The run the Blue Devils have been on to reach the state championship game has been predicated on two things: running the ball and playing strong defense. That second one is where Kemerley comes into the picture. The linebacker has been a tackling machine for Carey, which has won 14 in a row since opening the season with a loss to Hopewell-Loudon. He’s accumulated more than 140 total tackles, including more than 30 tackles for loss.
Derek Lonsway, Carey, quarterback
The counter to the big and physical Jordan Vallejo, Lonsway adeptly pilots the Blue Devils’ old-school rushing offense. On the season, he’s run for more yards than he’s thrown for, which is par for the course when the Carey offense is operating at peak performance. Lonsway has run for 1,273 yards and 12 TDs on the season. That includes a combined 164 yards on 20 carries and two scores over the last two weeks. Lonsway has thrown for less than 1,200 yards, including a game two weeks ago when he completed just 1-of-2 passes for 37 yards in a regional final win over Liberty Center.
Tyler Schwieterman, Coldwater, receiver/safety
The top target for the Cavaliers’ passing game is also only the sixth one in program history to top 1,000 yards receiving. Schwieterman has 50 catches for 1,068 yards. He also has nine TDs. It was his 36-yard catch with 1:36 remaining in the fourth quarter that helped Coldwater tie New Middletown Springfield at 35-35 In last year’s Division VI state championship game. The Cavaliers went on to win it on a last-second Brady Klingshirn field goal. Schwieterman also is a key defensive standout for Coldwater, with more than 60 total tackles, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble and two interceptions.
Jordan Vallejo, Carey, running back
The big, physical running back is part of a two-headed rushing attack that the Blue Devils have ridden this season to their first state title game appearance since winning the 1975 Class A title under former Massillon Tiger player and Jackson head coach Tom Geschwind. Vallejo came into the state semifinals last week against New Middletown Springfield with 1,388 rushing yards and 31 TDs. In the win over Springfield, Vallejo found the end zone three times on his 153-yard rushing night."