TSF 2022 Kentucky OPOY Finalists

There are seven finalists for the 2022 TriState Football Kentucky Offensive Player of the Year. Four of them are seniors and three are juniors.

This is the 16^th year of TSF awards and Berger becomes just the third player to be named a NKY POY finalists three times (on defense in 2020 and offense in ’21 & ’22). He joins Quincy Perrin (Scott/Kentucky Wesleyan) and Michael Mayer (Covington Catholic/Notre Dame) for that honor.

The members of the All-TSF Teams, the TSF Teams of the Year, Players of the Year and finalists from Indiana, Dayton, Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati as well as the Mella Windows Players of the Week will be recognized at the TriState Football Year In Review Awards Show on Monday, February 20th, 2023 at the Holy Grail-Banks – RSVP 2022 TSF Year In Review Show

Here is a look at our finalists.

Mitch Berger, Beechwood, Sr, RB – NKFCA Class 2A, District 6 POY, First Team All-NKY (RB & LB – on both sides of the ball for a third straight season), NKFCA Top 26, First Team All-TSF (LB) and TSF NKY OPOY finalist (second straight season). One of the winningest and most decorated players to ever lace ‘em up for the Tigers. Berger was dominate for Beechwood (14-1) despite playing in just eight games because of an injury cutting his season short. He ran for 1,119 yards, had 21 rushing touchdowns (tops in Northern Kentucky), 19 receptions, 251 yards receiving, two touchdown catches, went perfect on all his kicks going 19/19 on extra points and 1/1 on field goal attempts. He averaged 20.0 points per game. To put his dominance into perspective, Beechwood’s foes scored a grand total of 69 points in those eight games many of those were with a backup freshman starting at quarterback. Beechwood went 39-3 with three state titles in Berger’s final three season as a starter. He has signed with Eastern Kentucky to play baseball.

Chase Crone, Simon Kenton, Sr, QB – Class 6A, District 6 POY (second time in his career), First Team All-NKY, NKFCA Top 26 and Honorable Mention All-TSF (second time in his career). A four-year starter who leaves Simon Kenton (8-4) holding a slew of school records. Crone threw for 1,387 yards, ran for 971 yards and accounted for 34 touchdowns (19 rush, 15 pass) this past season. He finished his Pioneers career with 6,707 yards, passing, 2,971 yards rushing, 54 passing touchdowns and 49 rushing touchdowns. Crone has signed with Thomas More.

Simon Kenton QB Chase Crone (photo by Dan Bieneke/TriStateFootball.com)

Owen Leen, Covington Catholic, Jr, RB – Second Team All-NKY and Honorable Mention All-TSF. It was a breakout campaign for Leen who emerged as a go-to-guy for Covington Catholic (9-3). Leen ran for 1,134 yards, had 31 receptions for 304 yards and found the end zone 17 times (16 rush, one rec). He had three games of 150 yards or more rushing.

Charlie Noon, Highlands, Sr, WR – NKFCA Class 5A, District 5 POY, Second Team All-NKY, NKFCA Top 26 (second straight season) and Second Team All-TSF (ATH). No matter where Noon lined up on offense in his career, he put up productive and meaningful numbers for the Bluebirds. As a senior, Noon moved from quarterback to receiver helping Highlands (9-3) win nine of its final 10 contests. Noon caught 53 passes for 797 yards with 10 touchdowns (eight rec., one PR, one KR) and another 253 yards rushing. He finished his Bluebirds career with 2,233 yards passing, 2,002 yards rushing, 63 receptions for 960 yards while accounting for 49 touchdowns (23 pass, 16 rush, eight rec, one PR, one KR). Noon has signed with Georgetown College.

Jaxson Rice, Ludlow, Sr, ATH – Second Team All-NKY (DB) and Honorable Mention All-TSF. Rice did everything but sell popcorn at halftime for Ludlow (4-7). He moved from receiver to quarterback as a senior and threw for 1,194 yards, ran for 823 yards, had 11 touchdown passes, six rushing scores, connected on 14/20 extra points, went 1/2 on field goal attempts, recorded 54 total tackles, snared six interceptions and had two pick sixes. He also finished his career as a Panther with 29 receptions, 594 yards, 25 touchdowns accounted for (11 pass, six rush, six rec, two IR), 42 extra points, one field goal, 144 total tackles and eight interceptions.

Ludlow WR/DB Jaxson Rice (photo by Glenn Helton Sports)                                                                                                                  

Zayn Satchwell, Carroll County, Jr, RB – NKFCA Class 2A, District 5 POY and Honorable Mention All-TSF. The motor that makes the Carroll County (7-5) offense move. Satchwell ran for 1,187 yards, had 15 receptions for 173 yards and found the end zone 23 times (20 rush, three rec) as the Panthers won seven of their last nine down the stretch. On defense, he had 53 total tackles and a pair of interceptions. Satchwell heads into his senior campaign with 2,033 yards and 30 touchdowns rushing.

Demetrick Welch, Newport Central Catholic, Jr, RB – First Team All-NKY and Third Team All-TSF. A star on both sides of the ball for the Thoroughbreds. Welch ran for 1,346 yards, caught 15 balls for 169 yards, had 20 touchdowns (17 rush, three rec), was in on 56 total tackles, with two sacks and two interceptions helping Newport Central Catholic (11-3) to the Class 1A final four. Welch heads into his senior year with 2,142 yards and 29 touchdowns rushing, 30 receptions for 389 yards and four receiving scores.

Past TSF NKY OPOY finalists:
2021
Mitch Berger (Beechwood), Tyson Beach (Walton-Verona), Alex Castrucci (Conner), Cam Hergott (Beechwood), Logan Landers (Dixie Heights), Braxten Newborn (Ludlow) and Cole Wallace (Rowan County).
2020
Kyle Guenther (Carroll County), Cam Hergott (Beechwood), Caleb Jacob (Covington Catholic), Jeremiah Lee (Cooper), Braxten Newborn (Ludlow), Pierce Rohlman (Dixie Heights), Joey Runyon (Newport Central Catholic) and Cole Wallace (Rowan County).
2019
Kyle England (Ryle), Jared Hicks (Conner), Caleb Jacob (Covington Catholic), Paul Kremer (Newport Central Catholic), Jeremiah Lee (Cooper), Michael Mayer (Covington Catholic) & Quincy Perrin (Scott).      
2018
Logan Castleman (Beechwood), Jack Coldiron (Covington Catholic), Reid Jolly (Campbell County), Travon Mason (Lloyd), Casey McGinness (CovCath), Quincy Perrin (Scott), Jon Sergent (Simon Kenton) & Christian Webster (Conner).
2017
Justin Blackburn (Ludlow), Jake Chisolm (Ryle), Alex Dowds (Campbell County), Jordan Fann (Lloyd), AJ Mayer (CovCath), Daniel Mescher (Beechwood) & Matt Shearer (Simon Kenton).
2016
Jake Chisolm (Ryle), Dante Hendrix (Cooper), Armand Jackson (Conner), Aiden Justice (Beechwood), Jared Lonaker (Cooper), AJ Mayer (CovCath), Tanner Morgan (Ryle) & Cameron Racke (Simon Kenton).
2015
Nathan Brown (Cooper), Kyle Fieger (Beechwood), Charles Gaines (Lloyd), Roberto London (Scott), Tanner Morgan (Ryle), Dillon Powell (Simon Kenton) & Cameron Racke (Simon Kenton).
2014
OPOY finalists: Torey Cordell-Armstrong (Cooper), Colin England (Ryle), Beau Hoge (Highlands), Drew Moore (Dixie Heights), Dillon Powell (Simon Kenton), Jacob Smith (NewCath) & Alex Veneman (Highlands).
2013
Drew Barker (Conner), Josh Castleman (Scott), Sam Dressman (CovCath), Zach Harris, (Highlands), Drew Houliston (Highlands), Brenan Kuntz (Simon Kenton) & Jonathan Scruggs (Holmes).
2012 
Drew Barker (Conner), Blake Bir (Covington Catholic), AJ Collins (Cooper), Tyler Durham (Campbell County), Dylan Hayes (NewCath), Donovan McCoy (Highlands) & Max Nussbaum (Beechwood).
2011
Tyler Durham (Campbell County), Kyle Fuller (Holy Cross), Gabe Gray (CovCath), Brady Hightchew (New Cath), Patrick Towles (Highlands) & Cameron Vocke (Beechwood).
2010
D’Vontae Bradley (Cooper), Travis Elliott (Ryle), Chris Kelly (NewCath), Chad Lawrence (Simon Kenton), Zeke Pike (Dixie Heights), Patrick Towles (Highlands) & Cameron Vocke (Beechwood).
2009 
Ricky Buckler (Bellevue), Austin Collinsworth (Highlands), Travis Elliott (Ryle), Matt Rigdon (Beechwood), Miles Simpson (Simon Kenton) & Nick West (Conner).
2008
Tony Guidugli (Highlands), Mark Kelly (NewCath), Charles Quainoo (Boone County), Miles Simpson (Simon Kenton), Nieco Teipel (Beechwood) & Nick West (Conner).
2007
Josh Conner (Highlands), Cory Farris (Boone County), Mark Kelly (NewCath), Marty Molony (Dixie Heights) & Adam Schmitz (Ryle). 

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