Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

When the Associated Press passed out All-Ohio honors for Divisions V and VI on Wednesday, there were plenty of local players on the honor roll.
A total of 20 area players were named to the team led by Ironton Fighting Tigers’ senior lineman Tyler Webb in Division V and Chesapeake Panthers’ senior quarterback Casey McComas and defensive lineman Brendan Meadows in Division VII.
The 6-foot-6, 300-pound Webb was a first team selection. Webb has been a four-year starter, two-time first team all-district and two-time All-Ohio pick, and was special mention all-district as a sophomore.
Named to the special mention list for Ironton were 5-11, 175-pound junior running back Garrett Carrico, 5-11, 165-pound senior defensive back Eli Willis, 6-1, 220-pound sophomore linebacker Tanner Wilson and 5-10, 180-pound sophomore defensive end Ethan Duncan.
Carrico was Ironton’s leading rusher in a balanced backfield with 853 yards on 119 yards and a team-high 14 touchdowns.
Wilson was one of Ironton’s leading tacklers on defense and ran 75 times for 443 yards and five touchdowns before a knee injury in week eight halted his season early.
A versatile player, Willis had five receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown on offense. He had an interception on defense and was used not only as a defensive back but a nose guard. He also led the team in kickoff returns.
Duncan carried 67 times for 403 yards and scored four touchdowns. An outstanding defensive end, he was moved to linebacker when Wilson was injury. He also averaged 38.3 yards as the team’s punter.
The Rock Hill Redmen had four players honored.
Special mention all-purpose back Brady Knipp (5-11, 190) was named to the offense while junior linebacker Cameron Barnette (5-11, 200) and senior defensive backs Tim Adkins (5-9, 155) and Trystan Matney (6-2, 205) were all defensive selections.
Adkins led the team with four interceptions. Barnette is a three-year starter and one of the team’s top tacklers. Knipp ran 115 times for 672 yards, had one interception on defense and returned kicks.
Matney ran 79 times for 553 yards and 12 touchdowns before an injury limited him to defense the final four games.
Fairland 6-1, 185-pound junior running back Keedrick Cunningham was special mention as he ran 91 times for 1,117 yards and 10 touchdowns. Also honored was junior linebacker Chase Fisher (5-9, 235) who had 112 tackles including 15 for a loss.
In Division VI, the Panthers led the way with five selections, two on the first team and three special mention.
McComas — the district Offensive Player of the Year — and Meadows — the district Defensive Player of the Year — were both named to the first team on offense and defense, respectively.
McComas (5-9, 155) ran 100 times for 1,242 yards and 16 touchdowns and he was 26-of-53 passing for 459 yards and five touchdowns.
Meadows (5-11, 215) had 94 tackles with four tackles for a loss and one sack.
A 6-foot, 175-pound senior linebacker, Will Scott had 78 tackles with five for a loss, three sacks and an interception.
Panthers junior running back Cecil Fletcher (6-0, 165) ran 58 times for 753 yards and a 12.9 yards per carry average. He scored 11 touchdowns.
The fifth Panther was sophomore defensive back Austin Browning (6-0, 160)  who had 57 tackles and two interceptions. As a receiver, he had four catches for 51 yards and two TDs.
The Coal Grove Hornets had four players honored as senior all-purpose back Daniel Rutherford (6-0, 190), senior running back Jacob Clark (5-5, 160), senior lineman Brad Roach (6-0, 240) and junior linebacker Kimo Baldwin (6-0, 220) were all special mention.
Rutherford ran 35 times for 357 yards and four score and caught 12 passes for 251 yards and four TDs. He also returned kicks and played defensive back.
Clark led the team with 1,0004 yards rushing on 128 carries and scored nine touchdowns.
Roach anchored the offensive line as the team’s top lineman. Baldwin was one of the top tacklers on defense and offensively ran for 597 yards on 107 carries and scored nine touchdowns.