Tuscarawas County football players earn all-conference and all-district honors

With Ohio’s Mr. Football on the roster, a league championship and a run to the Division IV state semifinals on the ledger, it’s no surprise Indian Valley’s football team has a long list of postseason honors.

Newcomerstown and Claymont, both of which enjoyed playoff seasons, also had names dotting the postseason list. The following is a look at recognition received by players from the trio of Tuscarawas County squads.

Indian Valley

The Braves rolled through the IVC South, going a perfect 5-0 during an unbeaten regular season. They advanced to the state semis, where it took an all-star team from Cleveland to finally stop them. The loss to Glenville in the state semis only put a small damper on a two-year run that included a state title in 2024.

Grady Kinsey was named IVC South Player of the Year. Matt Lancaster was conference Coach of the Year. The Braves had names all over the all-conference list.

They included seniors Brogan O’Connor and Rowan Piccin and juniors Titan Peterman, Ryker Williams and Brogen Wilson. On the second team were juniors Carsen Hostetler and Reese St. Clair and sophomore Bradley Barr. Junior Colt James received an honorable mention.

Williams was named the first-team quarterback on the All-East District Div. IV squad. Hostetler earned a first-team nod at wide receiver. Senior Brogan O’Connor and junior Brogan Wilson were first-team offensive linemen. Kinsey was district Offensive Player of the Year.

Peterman, a junior defensive lineman, and Piccin, a senior defensive back, were named to the first-team all-district defense. Senior defensive back Kyler Vosick was second-team all-district. St. Clair got an all-district honorable mention.

Claymont

The Mustangs finished 6-5 overall. They were 2-3 in the IVC South, which produced four playoff teams. Claymont was one of those four, qualifying in Div. V, Region 17. The Mustangs’ season ended with a 25-7 first-round loss to Youngstown Liberty.

Claymont landed four players on the All-IVC South first team. They were seniors Ethan Fair, Nolan McMorrow and Braylon Muehlen and sophomore Calvin Edwards. Earning second-team honors for the Mustangs were seniors Mason Bailey and Carson Golec and junior Jackson Jinks. Junior Dre’Vonn Searcy received an honorable mention.

Muehlen, a senior defensive lineman; Fair, a senior linebacker; and McMorrow, a senior defensive back, all were named first-team All-East District. Golec, a senior quarterback; Searcy, a junior running back; and Bailey, a senior receiver, all were named to the second-team All-East District offense.

Newcomerstown

The Trojans had a nice season that included an IVC North championship, thanks to a 5-0 run through the conference schedule. Newcomerstown finished 7-4 overall, qualifying for the Div. VI, Region 23 playoffs before bowing out against Ridgewood.

The highest honors went to senior running back Dom Singer, who was named the North Division Player of the Year, and head coach Dirk Gadd, who shared Coach of the Year honors with Spider Miller of East Canton.

Joining Miller on the All-IVC North first team were seniors Josh Harvey and Tanner Smith, juniors Martin Hernandez and Mason Shalosky, and sophomore JJ Justice. Second-teamers included senior Logan Metts and sophomores Bryce Gibbs and Tegan Gonter. Senior Jaxon Smith received an honorable mention.

Singer shared Offensive Player of the Year honors on the All-East District Div. VI team with Gavin Leake of Caldwell. He was Newcomerstown’s lone first-team all-district selection on offense. Earning second-team honors were Justice at quarterback, Shalosky at running back and Smith at receiver.

Harvey, a linebacker, earned first-team honors on the defense. Linemen Hernandez and Gibbs both earned second-team all-district defensive honors. Gonter and Metts received honorable mentions.