Cam West, Leevi Wade and New Lex's stars head All-Ohio football picks
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COLUMBUS — Cameron West didn't have it in his plans to return as Tri-Valley's head football coach last summer, but duty called.
It wound up being one of his most enjoyable years of coaching, even as it came amidst tragedy. It also earned him Division III Coach of the Year by the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association, which announced its All-Ohio teams this week.
West received the state's top honor, while sophomore Leevi Wade was a first-team offensive pick at running back, senior Ryan Lamonica a first-team defensive pick in the secondary and senior Logan McClellan a third-team pick on the defensive line.
They joined Sheridan two-way lineman Creed Hill, whose 41 tackles with four sacks and four tackles-for-loss at strong-side end made him a first-team defensive pick in Division III.
Wade, at 5-7, 185 pounds, ran for more than 2,000 yards as a first-year starter; The 6-4, 195-pound Lamonica intercepted nine passes from his safety spot, some the result of the consistent pass rush of McClellan and others in the front seven.
West resigned last spring to be the district's high school principal, a job with such responsibility that it all but prevents coaching being possible. When new coach and former Scottie offensive coordinator Josh Wright died unexpectedly shortly into summer workouts, it thrust the district into pivot mode.
West, with a heavy heart, took back the reins and led the Scotties to a second straight Muskingum Valley League-Big School Division title and a playoff win in Region 11.
And he did so with a team returning just three starters.
"Bittersweet is the perfect term, in terms of kind of everything that we did this year, it was always in the back of your mind that Coach Wright should be the one to win this award," West said on Dec. 10. "When I saw it and saw my name, it was very cool, but it was also, 'I share this honor with Coach Wright.' It says my name, but Coach Wright was as much a part of this season as anyone else. It's more of a shared honor."
That included his assistants, many of whom took on more from the planning and scouting aspects with West's time being solely devoted to managing the school during the workday.
"It's difficult in terms of my focus from 7 a.m. to when the bell rings is our building and making sure our building runs smooth," West said. "I'm in charge of 800 kids but also 75 staff members, so I am just being available for them and their concerns and things that they have. It's busy throughout the day. Obviously, it stops at 3 o'clock and that is what allowed me to go to football practice, but a lot of the prep work and just even thinking about football during the day, I just couldn't do."
It's why his resignation became official shortly after the season and the job opening officially posted on the school's website. West said he wouldn't be part of the selection process "any more than a principal usually would be," adding at least one internal candidate has expressed interest.
Meanwhile, he gets to go out on his terms at the program that has meant the most to him. From his time as a player under former coach Justin Buttermore to later coaching under him at two different stops, he said he doesn't know where he would have been without football his life.
It made the success of this team, overlooked by many entering the season, that much more special. West called it one of his most memorable seasons.
"Most coaches, they either get forced out or they go out on bad terms, and that is not something I wanted to do at a school that I hold so near and dear to my heart," West said. "I get to go out the way I want to, and the way I am content, and I have had a lot of time to think about it. I am happy with what we accomplished as a program in six years."
Tri-Valley honorable mention picks included senior lineman Oliver Lanning, junior lineman Lane Taylor and senior linebacker Boston Smith; Sheridan's picks were junior running back Logan Russell, senior all-purpose back Logan Hupp, senior lineman Gage Moore and senior linebacker Logan Jones.
John Glenn senior quarterback Owen Edwards, senior running back Reese Metzger, senior wide receiver Ryder Pennington and senior linebacker Dominic Bates were also honorable mention; Zanesville honorable mention picks were sophomore receiver Connor Johnson and junior defensive lineman Trio Ladd.
Hill was the third Hill brother to earn some level of All-Ohio on the gridiron, joining Collin and Luken. Creed was a team captain who coach Paul Culver III said had many important traits that couldn't be measured by statistics, though his play up front at tackle helped fuel Russell and Hupp for more than 2,000 all-purpose yards..
"He's a captain, a leader, a team-first guy and an extraordinary football player," Culver said. "And that pales in comparison to the student he is and, more importantly, the teammate and quality young man he is. He's one of the all-time greats here at Sheridan."
Division IV
In a year where the statewide firepower in Division IV featured the Mr. Football winner and the runner-up, New Lexington more than held its own. The Panthers had three players earn first-team on Dec. 8.
Senior running back Paul Stenson and senior lineman Tristan Braden were named to the offense, while senior linebacker Harrison Ratliff was part of a deep linebacker corps that also included Ohio State signee and Mr. Football candidate Sincere Johnson, of state champion Cleveland Glenville.
Junior two-way lineman Eli Stephens, arguably the most dominant two-way player in the Muskingum Valley League in 2025, was a third-team pick. He was an honorable mention pick in 2024 as a three-year starter at center.
Board said Ratliff, son of head wrestling coach David Ratliff, was the heart and soul of the team's defense as a four-year starter. The 160-pounder, like backer mate Tanner Toth, used their quickness and aptitude to overcome their size disadvantage for a defense that yielded less than 3 yards per carry.
Ratliff recorded a team-high 76 tackles in the regular season alone. He also intercepted four passes — two in a win at Tri-Valley — and scored a pair of defensive touchdowns, one on a fumble return. He signed with Ohio University in November to wrestle.
Toth, the team's vocal leader and second-leading tackler, was an honorable mention pick.
"He will go down as one of the very best linebackers in New Lex history," Board said of Ratliff. "He even led our team in interceptions this year."
Board said Stephens deserved to be ranked higher and noted 6-4, 275-pounder was most always the best lineman on the field on both sides of the ball.
"He also played nearly every snap of defense and constantly drew double- and triple-teams," Board said. "I'd put him up against anyone."
Stenson, the Muskingum Valley League-Small School Player of the Year, ran for 1,088 yards and 24 TDs in the regular season, and his single-season scoring total ranked only behind hard-charger Drew Cannon and All-Ohioan Travis Cook. Stenson, who also started at defensive end, was one of five 1,000-yard rushers in the MVL.
Stephens was joined on a veteran line by Braden, who Board said consistently was the highest-graded among the group, capable of playing guard, center and tackle. When Stenson and Ratliff ran left, it was most always behind Braden.
"He played a huge role in our offensive production this year," Board said.
Junior quarterback Lane Ratliff and junior receiver Tyson Spicer, who had more than 1,000 all-purpose yards and 14 TDs and started in the secondary, were honorable mention picks. They will rank with Wade and Stephens as among the best players in the MVL returning in 2025.
Maysville's two-way standout, senior receiver/defensive back Landon Iden, became the first Panther in school history to earn first team at receiver in Division IV. He caught a league-high 57 passes and also intercepted six passes in the secondary.
Philo senior defensive end Camden Stoner was a second-team pick in Division IV, while classmate Jack Lincicome was a third-team pick at quarterback. The 6-5, 230-pound Stoner had 21 1/2 tackles-for-loss, of which 4 1/2 went for sacks.
The 6-3, 200-pound Lincicome was a two-way standout, totaling 707 rushing yards with 14 TDs and another 1,002 yards through the air with eight scores.
Philo's honorable mention choices were junior running back Slade Sprankle, junior lineman Christian Long and senior linebacker Jacob Savage.
Kinsey shared Offensive Player of the Year with fellow Air Force recruit Brayden DeVito, of Shelby, while Johnson took home Defensive Player of the Year. Shelby's Rob Mahaney was Coach of the Year.
Division V
West Muskingum senior Braxton Brownrigg made the first team defense at defensive back after three of his four interceptions were returned for touchdowns. He also had 1,175 all-purpose yards on offense.
His teammate, junior linebacker/receiver Carter Smith, was an honorable mention pick on defense.
Brownrigg finished his career as a starter on two teams that became the first in West M history to win playoff games prior to his senior season.
His final campaign saw the team struggle during the first half of the season before rallying in the second half, largely due to Noah Morrison taking over at quarterback and the quick-as-a-mouse Brownrigg being used in an all-purpose role.
As for his defense, it was a model of consistency. Smith, a 6-3, 205-pound outside linebacker, finished with a team-high 99 tackles, including 10 for losses, with six sacks.
"As a coach it's rewarding to see your players get recognized for their accomplishments on the field, because you've seen the work that has gone on that got them to that point," Brownrigg said. "As a father it's very satisfying to see Braxton, who grew up in the locker room, become the type of teammate and player you always preach about. He's hard-working, unselfish and willing to do whatever is best for the team."
Morgan senior lineman Witten Schaad was a second-team pick on the offense, helping pave the way for a 1,200-yard rushing season for junior Tanner Bankes.
Bankes was a honorable mention picks with senior kicker Jude Garber and senior lineman Devin Waggy.
sblackbu@gannett.com; X: @SamBlackburnTR
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Cameron West nabs top coaching honor to head area All-Ohio grid picks
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