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2023 TSF Dayton OPOY Finalists

Springfield RB Jayvin Norman (photo by Shelby Frieszell/TriStateFootball.com)

Seven seniors and one junior highlight our group of eight finalists for the 2023 TriState Football Dayton Offensive Player of the Year. Three nominations are from the SWBL making it the most well represented amid all the Gem City leagues.

Cael Liette becomes just the second player to be named a Dayton Player of the Year finalist on both, offense and defense, in this, the 15th year for these awards. He joins former Centerville, Ohio State and NFL alum, Michael Bennett (2009-Off., 2010-Def) in this very elite group.

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 19th, 2024 at the Holy Grail-Banks – RSVP 2023 TSF Year In Review Show

Here is a look at the 2023 TSF Dayton OPOY Finalists.

Preston Barr, Miamisburg, Sr, QB – Was named OPSWA Division I Second Team All-Ohio, GWOC Offensive Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-TSF. The dual threat signal-caller was a large part of Miamisburg (8-4) notching its most wins since 2016. Barr threw for 1,455 yards, ran for 400 yards and accounted for 23 touchdowns (12 rush, 11 pass). He is the first Viking to be named GWOC Offensive Player of the Year since Cody Hamblin garnered the Honor in 2010.

Miamisburg QB Preston Barr (photo courtesy of: ScoutingOhio.com)

Connor Berrey, Waynesville, Sr, Wr/DB/K/P – Was named OPSWA Division V First Team All-Ohio (WR) and First Team All-TSF (K). Berrey starred in all three phases of the game as Waynesville (11-3) made its first ever regional championship appearance, register a school record 11 victories, and win three playoff games (came into the season with only two wins in postseason history). The Spartans were the only team to beat Valley View during the regular season. Berrey led the SWBL with 75 receptions, 1,245 receiving yards, 12 receiving touchdowns, 99 kicking points, 14 field goals made and 43 touchbacks on kickoffs. He also had 171 total points scored (2nd in the SWBL), one touchdown pass, 61 total tackles, four tackles for losses, eight passes defended and four interceptions (tied for 3rd in the SWBL). As a kicker, Berrey connected on all 57 of his extra point attempts and 14/15 field goals with three field goals of 41-yards or longer and eight of 30-plus yards. He finishes his career with 138 receptions, 2,249 receiving yards 22 touchdown catches, 2,351 all-purpose yards, 144 total tackles, two fumble recoveries, 11 interceptions, 112/114 extra points made, 24/30 field goals made and 338 total points scored.

Waynesville WR/DB/K Conner Berrey (photo from / X: @ConnorBerrey4)

Caden Henson, Valley View, Sr, QB/P – Was named the OPSWA Ohio Division V Co-Offensive Player of the Year, OPSWA Division V First Team All-Ohio (QB), OPSWA Ohio Division V Southwest District Offensive Player of the Year, SWBL Southwestern Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-TSF (P).  Henson was the catalyst for a Valley View (13-2) squad that won back-to-back Division V, Region 20 regional titles for the first time since 1996-97 and its ninth regional title overall (all in last 31 years). The Spartans scored 31 points or more 14 times (40 or more 11 times). Henson threw for 2,768 yards, ran for 1,162 yards and accounted for an eye-popping 57 touchdowns (36 pass, 21 rush). He was just as special as a punter, averaging 42.7 yards on 22 punts, landing eight inside the opponents 20-yard line with a long punt of 63-yards. Henson ends his career with 6,820 yards through the air, 2,369 yards on the ground and 107 touchdowns (78 pass, 29 rush).

Valley View QB Caden Henson (photo by Shelby Frieszell/TriState football.com)

Cael Liette, Tippecanoe, Sr, RB/LB – Was named OPSWA Division III Second Team All-Ohio (LB), Honorable Mention All-TSF (LB) and TSF Dayton POY Finalist for a second straight season (finalist for DPOY in 2022).  The centerpiece of the Tippecanoe (10-3) offense and defense. Liette led the MVL in rushing yards with 1,287, rushing touchdowns with 23, total touchdowns with 27 and had a league best 164 points scored. He averaged 118.7 yards per game on the ground over the Red Devils last 10 tilts. Defensively, Liette was in on 122 total tackles, had a sack, eight-and-a-half tackles for losses, one fumble recovery, five pass breakups and a pick-six. He ends his career with 1,488 yards rushing 31 rushing touchdowns, 12 receptions, 138 receiving yards, three touchdowns catches, 287 total tackles, eight sacks, 24.5 tackles for losses, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, eight pass breakups and one interception.

Garrett Lundy, Waynesville, Jr, RB/DB/RS – Was named OPSWA Division V First Team All-Ohio (DB) and Second Team All-TSF (RS). The speedy and elusive Lundy was the ultimate stat sheet filler. He led the SWBL with 208 points scored, 34 total touchdowns scored, 25 rushing touchdowns, three kickoff returns for touchdowns and 2,425 all-purpose yards. He also ran for 1,257 yards (2nd in the SWBL), had 48 receptions (3rd in the SWBL) for 460 yards six touchdown catches, one touchdown pass, 124 total tackles (5th in the SWBL), one sack, nine tackles for losses, four forced fumbles (tied for 2nd in the SWBL), two fumble recoveries, five passes defended and four interceptions (tied for 3rd in the SWBL).

Jayvin Norman, Springfield, Sr, RB – Was named OPSWA Division I Second Team All-Ohio and Second Team All-TSF. Norman led the charge down the stretch as Springfield (10-6) won seven straight games before falling to St. Edward in the Division I state championship for a third year in a row. The Wildcats also won their fifth consecutive Division I, Region 2 Regional Title. Norman finished with 1,370 yards rushing, 23 receptions for 247 yards, 1,983 all-purpose yards and 19 touchdowns (15 rush, three rec, one KR). Over the last three seasons, Norman played in 18 postseason games over the past three campaigns, finding the end zone 14 times (11 rush, two rec, one KR) with 966 yards rushing, 15 receptions for 74 yards and 1,187 all-purpose yards.

Alex Ritzie, Badin, Sr, QB – Was named OPSWA Division III First Team All-Ohio, GCL Co-ed Co-Offensive Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-TSF. A flat-out winner and leader of the Badin (13-1) offense. In his two years as a starter, Ritzie guided the Rams to back-to-back undefeated regular seasons and Division III, Region 12 Regional Runner-up finishes. Badin was a combined 26-2 in that span. Ritzie threw for 2,407 yards, had 18 touchdown passes and one rushing score. He ends his career with 4,964 yards and 45 touchdowns passing. He has committed to Thomas More.

Badin QB Alex Ritzie (photo by Shelby Frieszell/TriStateFootball.com)

Jahari Ward, Troy, Sr, RB – Was named OPSWA Division II First Team All-Ohio, MVL Offensive Player of the Year and 3rd Team All-TSF.  Despite being sidelined in the postseason Ward still managed to run for 1,231 yards and 21 touchdowns in the first nine games for Troy (11-2) who advanced to the Division II, Region 8 semifinals. He ran for three touchdowns or more on five occasions. Ward had 3,039 yards and 43 touchdowns rushing in a Trojans uniform.

Troy RB Jahari Ward (photo by Shelby Frieszell/TriStateFootball.com)

Past TSF Dayton DPOY finalists:
2022
Anthony Brown (Springfield), Nic Bruder (Centerville), Jacob Clark (Valley View), RJ Mukes III (Wayne), Liam Poronsky (Tippecanoe), Evan Ruzzo (Springboro), Trei’Shaun Sanders (Xenia), Bryce Schondelmyer (Springfield) and Brock Short (Greenville).
2021
Seth Borondy (Bellbrook), Chase Harrison (Centerville), Elijah Jackson (Monroe), Jed Martin (Eaton), Jasiah Medley (Piqua), Te’Sean Smoot (Springfield), Carson Vanhoose (Clinton-Massie) and Jack Walsh (Badin).
2020
Markus Allen (Northmont), Titan Case (Springboro), Ca’Ron Coleman (Piqua), Branden McDonald (Alter), Kenyon Owens (Chaminade Julienne), Cade Rice (Northmont), Te’Sean Smoot (Springfield) and Carson Vanhoose (Clinton-Massie).
2019
Quincy Johnson Jr. (Chaminade Julienne), Keaton Kesling (Northmont), Brendan Lamb (Clinton-Massie), AJ Lovin (Milton-Union), Brayden Siler (Troy), Larry Stephens (Springfield), Jeff Tolliver (Springfield) & Braden Woods (Franklin).
2018
Connor Bazelak (Alter), Jaydon Culp-Bishop (Troy), Jesse Deglow (Fairmont), Jack Fessler (Fenwick), Miles Johnson (Northmont), Sincere Wells (Xenia) & Mason Whiteman (Madison Senior).
2017
John Bivens III (Alter), Isaiah Bowser (Sidney), Alec Grandin (Centerville), Raveion Hargrove (Trotwood-Madison), Devin Kenerly (Northmont), L’Christian “Blue” Smith (Wayne), Markell Stephens-Peppers (Trotwood-Madison) & Tavion Thomas (Dunbar).
2016
Dakota Allen (Lebanon), Danny Davis (Springfield), Raveion Hargrove (Trotwood-Madison), Hayden Kotwica (Troy), Nick Kovacs (Springboro), Ryan Montgomery (Franklin), Josh Myers (Miamisburg) & Fred Pitts (Wayne).
2015 
Elijah Cunningham (Springboro), Danny Davis (Springfield), Jayden Davis (Kenton Ridge), Messiah DeWeaver (Wayne), Raveion Hargrove (Trotwood-Madison), Jacob Harrison (Centerville) & Daryl McCleskey (Wayne).
2014 
Jacob Harrison (Chaminade Julienne), Dusty Hayes (Alter), DL Knock (Springboro), D’Mitrik Trice (Wayne), Will Vance (Centerville), Chayse Wolf (Clinton-Massie) & Trent Yeomans (Piqua).
2013
Jacob Harrison (Chaminade Julienne), Luke Kennard (Franklin), Jacob Hall (Tippecanoe), D’Mitrik Trice (Wayne), Damian Popp (Centerville), Bayle Wolf (Clinton-Massie) & Trent Yeomans (Piqua)
2012
Frank Catrine (Bishop Fenwick), Isreal Green (Trotwood-Madison), Chris Hymer (Franklin), Luke Morgan (Lebanon), Bayle Wolf (Clinton-Massie) & Malik Zaire (Alter).
2011
Aaron Abbott (Lebanon), Taylor Decker (Butler), Cole French (Eaton), Israel Green (Trotwood-Madison), Javon Harrison (Wayne), Mike Simpson (Trotwood-Madison), Kendrick Williams (Fairborn) & Malik Zaire (Alter).
2010
Antwan Gilbert (Trotwood-Madison), Joe Londergan (Carroll), Braxton Miller (Wayne), Joey Robertson (Fenwick), Tim Szabo (Chaminade-Julienne), Joe Thunney (Alter) & George Walker (Springfield).
2009
Michael Bennett (Centerville), Antoin Campbell (Springboro), Chase Cochran (Lebanon), Antwan Gilbert (Trotwood-Madison), Sam Keegan (Fenwick) & Braxton Miller (Wayne).

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