Ohio HS Football '18: small school quarterbacks

East Palestine's Parker Sherry named National Athlete of the Month
Ohio junior earns MaxPreps Semper Fidelis AOM award presented by the Marines.

Who are Ohio's top returning high school football players entering the 2018 season? The Buckeye State has a deep talent pool. These are some of the sharks. Kickoff is coming.

Ohio HS Football '18: Small School Quarterbacks (Div. V-VII)

Key names to know Fridays this fall.

Player, School, Ht, Wt, Graduating Class

* Elliott Gilardi, Lehman Catholic (Sidney), 5-10, 165 (2019)
First team OPSWA D-VII All-Ohio and Southwest District offensive player of the year was first team All-Northwest Central Conference last season after leading the Cavaliers to a 10-2 record. Completed 99-of-154 passes for 1,567 yards and 24 touchdowns. Also carried the ball 124 times for 980 yards and 18 touchdowns.

* Trent Salyers, Wheelersburg, 6-2, 175 (2019)
First team OPSWA D-V All-Ohio selection led the Pirates to an OT victory in the Division V state title game despite suffering a broken right fibula in the third quarter. Set school records for passing yards (3,483) and touchdown passes (35) in a season last year. Also ran for 470 yards and 11 touchdowns.

* Davis Black, Meadowbrook (Byesville), 6-5, 205 (2019)
Second team OPSWA D-IV selection completed 129-of-219 passes and set school records for passing yards (2,371) and touchdown passes (29) in a season last year en route to leading the Colts to the postseason. Also helped lead Meadowbrook to the D-II state basketball tournament.

* Jared Breece, Pandora-Gilboa, 6-1, 175 (2019)
First team OPSWA D-VII All-Ohio and Co-NW District Offensive POY completed 150-of-251 passes for 2,133 yards and 28 touchdowns last year. Also carried the ball 176 times for 821 yards and 12 touchdowns as the Rockets had their best record in 10 years and won two playoff games. Was also second team All-BVC in basketball and helped P-G make the D-IV state semifinals.

2017 Ohio HS Football Statewide Postseason Brackets

* Drew Kline, Crestview (Convoy), 5-9, 155 (2019)
Second team OPSWA D-VII All-Ohio and Co-NW District Offensive POY threw for 2,203 yards and 27 touchdowns and ran for 1,079 yards and 14 touchdowns. The NWC Offensive POY was named third team All-Ohio as a sophomore.

* Parker Sherry, East Palestine, 5-11, 190 (2019)
Third team OPSWA D-VI All-Ohio performer was named a MaxPreps Semper Fidelis AOM in December. Soon to be four-year starter completed 146-of-219 passes, for 2,249 yards and 25 touchdowns and ran for 1,365 yards and 16 touchdowns on 201 carries. He has career totals of 5,232 yards passing and 49 touchdown passes and 3,237 yards rushing and 42 touchdowns. East Palestine captured the initial Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference crown this season with a 31-22 win over rival Columbiana. Sherry threw for two touchdowns, ran for 187 yards and another touchdown and completed three 2-point passes in the game. Class president (all three years of high school) is on pace to be class valedictorian with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

* Mitchell Downs, Otsego (Tontogany), 5-10, 195 (2019)
Second team OPSWA D-V All-Ohio performer led Knights to second round of the playoffs last year by accounting for all five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) in a 38-14 regional quarterfinal win over Milan Edison. Ended the season completing 187-of-312 passes for 2,260 yards passing and 30 touchdowns.

2017 Ohio HS Football Statewide Statistics

* Boone Jones, Shenandoah (Sarahsville), 6-2, 180 (2019)            
Third team OPSWA D-VI All-Ohio selection doubled as a standout defensive back.
Completed 78-of-140 passes for 1,054 yards and 16 touchdowns and ran for 463 yards and five touchdowns on 82 carries. Registered 75 tackles on defense.

* Justin Hartzell, Catholic Central (Steubenville), 6-3, 180 (2019)
Third team OPSWA D-VI All-Ohio performer completed 88-of-191 passes for 1,401 yards and 17 touchdowns and ran for 919 yards and 10 touchdowns on 118 carries.

* Jacob Nicol, Fairbanks (Milford Center), 6-0, 185 (2019)
Third team OPSWA D-VI All-Ohio performer completed 195-of-359 passes for 2,246 yards with 18 touchdowns and ran for 934 yards and 11 touchdowns on 188 carries.

2017 Ohio HS Football Pictures

* Nate Karaffa, Toronto, 6-1, 170 (2019)
Ohio State baseball commit (pitcher) was third team OPSWA D-VII All-Ohio. Completed 99-of-166 passes for 1,406 yards and 12 touchdowns and carried the ball 135 times for 858 yards and 14 touchdowns. Also punted and kicked 19 PATs. In a Week 10 loss to rival Wellsville, Karaffa accumulated 419 yards of total offense. He threw for 170 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 249 yards and two more touchdowns. He also kicked two extra points, threw for a two-point conversion, had a 61-yard kickoff return and punted once for 44 yards.

* Kadden Lester, East Knox (Howard), 6-1, 173 (2020)
Third team OPSWA D-VI All-Ohio performer completed 132-of-238 passes for 2,106 yards and 19 touchdowns.

* Cameron Kittle, Trimble (Glouster), 5-10, 155 (2020)
Third team OPSWA D-VII All-Ohio performer led Tomcats to second round of playoffs. Completed 61-of-124 passes for 910 yards and eight touchdowns and ran for 500 yards and eight touchdowns.