15 Knox County football players earn All-Ohio honors, including six first-team selections

Six Knox County football players were selected first team All-Ohio by the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association this week. Overall, 15 players were named all state.

Mount Vernon's Nolan White, Fredericktown’s Gavin Toombs, Centerburg’s Blane Ball and Miles Marshall, and Danville’s Cyren Wallace and Nolan Ridgway were all honored as some of the best in the state. Mount Vernon coach Mark Weber was also honored as the Div. II Ohio Coach of the Year.

White, a 6-foot-3, 285 pound senior, was named as a Div. II All-Ohio offensive lineman. The senior helped pave the way for a Yellow Jacket offense that gained 3,647 yards of offense, including 2,844 rushing. The Jackets scored 43 touchdowns on the season and averaged 6.4 yards per rush behind White.

Toombs, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound senior, was named to the first-team defense as a lineman in Division V. The Freddie senior was a first-team All-Knox Morrow Athletic Conference selection as well leading the league in sacks with 10.5.

Ball, the KMAC Player of the Year, was named first team quarterback in Div. VI. The 5-9, 160-pound senior threw for 1,181 yards with 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions on the season. He also rushed for 1,023 yards and another 11 touchdowns.

Marshall, a 6-2, 170-pound junior, was named a first-team running back in Div. VI. He rushed for 1,355 yards and 21 touchdowns, averaging 10.8 yards per carry for the KMAC champs.

Wallace, a 5-7, 150-pound sophomore, had his second straight season with more than 1,000 yards rushing, gaining 1,025 yards and scoring 13 touchdowns for the Blue Devils. He was named first-team running back in Div. VII.

Ridgway, a 5-11, 205-pound junior, was selected first-team punter in Div. VII. Ridgway averaged 43.3 yards per punt, best in the KMAC this fall.

Weber, in his second year at Mount Vernon, led the Yellow Jackets to a 6-5 record and its first appearance in the state playoffs in 32 years.

Five other Knox County athletes were named to the third team All-Ohio.

Mount Vernon senior Luke Mullins (6-1, 210) was named a third-team linebacker in Div. II.

Centerburg junior Jackson Ballinger (6-5, 230) was named a third-team tight end in Div. VI, while East Knox senior quarterback Jaxon Lester (6-2, 190) was named to the third team as a quarterback.

Danville had two players earn third-team honors. Owen Gronberg (6-0, 220, junior) was named to the third team offensive line, while Wesley Payne (6-0, 165, senior) was named a third team defensive back.

Four players earned honorable mention status. Mount Vernon quarterback Mason Richards (6-0, 185, senior) was honored in Div. II, while Fredericktown quarterback Blake Sipes (6-3, 180, senior) and offensive lineman Noah Shannon (6-0, 286, sophomore) were honored in Div. V and Danville linebacker Chris Mosher (5-9, 165, senior) made the list in Div. VII.