2023 TSF Kentucky OPOY Finalists
- Updated: January 30, 2024
Cooper WR Isaiah Johnson (photo by: Chris Granger / X: @regnargc)
The Bluegrass state was airing it out on the gridiron this past fall. Six of the eight finalists for the 2023 TriState Football Kentucky Offensive Player of the Year are quarterbacks. The 2023 class for this award includes five seniors, two juniors and one sophomore.
This is the 17th year of this award and Aba Selm becomes the first offensive lineman to be named a NKY OPOY finalist. Demetrick Welch is the 20th player to be nominated for this honor two times (or more).
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 Kentucky OPOY Finalists.
Brody Benke, Highlands, Sr, QB – Was named the NKFCA Class 5A, District 6 Player of the Year, DII All-NKY (ATH), KFCA Top 26 and First Team All-TSF (QB). Benke had one of the most incredible offensive seasons ever put up by a player in Northern Kentucky as Highlands (12-2) found itself back in the state semifinals for the first time in eight years. Benke accounted for 55 offensive touchdowns (26 pass, 23 rush, six rec), threw for 1,849 yards, ran for 1,176 yards and had 14 receptions for 206 yards. The high flying Bluebirds offense topped the 50-point mark seven times in their last eight regular season games (40 points in the other contest). Benke ends his career with 4,496 yards passing, 1,431 yards rushing, 23 receptions for 272 yards and 95 touchdowns (55 pass, 31 rush, nine rec). He has signed with Middle Tennessee State.
Highlands QB Brody Benke (photo by: Chris Granger / X: @regnargc)
Kaydon Custard, Harrison County, Sr, QB – Was named the KFCA Class 4A, District 5 Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-TSF. A truly gifted athlete, Custard was a menace in all phases of the game last season. On offense, he amassed 3,686 yards of total offense (2,453 pass, 1,222 rush, 11 rec) and accounted for 42 touchdowns (25 pass, 17 rush). Defensively, Custard recorded 70 total tackles, had a fumble recovery with three interceptions including a pick-six. On special teams he had a punt return for a touchdown. Custard will go down as one of the best to ever lace ‘em up at Harrison County. His 6,677 passing yards are a school record. He also ends his career with 2,743 yards rushing, 108 touchdowns (59 pass, 46 rush, two PR, one IR), 164 total tackles, two sacks and seven takeaways (five INTs, two FRs). He has offers from Thomas More and Georgetown College.
Harrison County QB Kaydon Custard (photo rom X: @KaydonCustard15)
Clay Hayden, Beechwood, Jr, QB – Was named Division III All-NKY and Honorable Mention All-TSF. Hayden was a model of efficiency for a Beechwood (12-2) squad that averaged 47.6 points per game (nine games of 49 points or more) and made it to the Class 2A state semifinals. He completed 72.9% of his passes (tied for fifth best in a single season in Kentucky history) while throwing for 3,910 yards (15th most in a single season in Kentucky history) with 48 touchdown passes (tied for 18th most in a single season in Kentucky history) and only seven interceptions. Hayden heads into his senior year with 5,961 passing yards, 71 passing touchdowns (only nine INTs) and three rushing scores.
Beechwood QB Clay Hayden (photo by Greg Shoemaker/TriStateFootball.com)
Isaiah Johnson, Cooper, Jr, WR – Was named First Team All-NKY (for a second straight year) and Second Team All-TSF. It was a record-setting season for Johnson. He broke out, reeling in 73 receptions for 1,372 yards (35th most in a single season in Kentucky history) and 21 receiving touchdowns (22nd most in a single season in Kentucky history). Johnson has 109 receptions, 2,045 receiving yards and 29 touchdown catches in his career.
Cam O’Hara, Cooper, So, QB – Was named Division I First Team All-NKFCA and Second Team All-TSF. The promising college prospect lit it up as a sophomore. O’Hara threw for 3,361 yards with 47 passing touchdowns (19th most in a single season in Kentucky history) and one rushing score helping Cooper (12-2) to the Class 5A state title game for the second time in school history. He heads into his junior year with 5,379 yards and 68 touchdowns passing. O’Hara has an offer from Miami (OH).
Cooper QB Cam O’Hara (photo by Chris Granger/X: @regnargc)
Evan Pitzer, Covington Catholic, Sr, QB – Was named Division II All-NKY, NKFCA Top 26 and Honorable Mention All-TSF. A healthy Pitzer finally got to show what he was really all about, orchestrating a Covington Catholic (14-1) offense that helped the program go undefeated in the regular season for the fourth time in the last seven years. The Colonels finished as the Class 4A state runner-up and topped the 30-point mark in their first 13 tilts. Through the air Pitzer went for 2,592 yards with 32 touchdown passes. On the ground, he ran for 637 with 11 trips to the end zone. Pitzer ends his Colonels career with 3,926 yards passing, 1,002 yards rushing and 59 touchdowns (44 pass, 15 rush).
Covington Catholic QB Evan Pitzer (photo by: Chris Granger / X: @regnargc)
Aba Selm, Simon Kenton, Sr, OL – Was named the KFCA Class 6A, District 6 Player of the Year, NKFCA Top 26, All-NKY (for a second straight year), First Team All-TSF (for a second straight year) and the first ever offensive lineman named as a TSF Kentucky OPOY finalist. The anchor of both sides of the Pioneers lines. On offense, Selm paved the way for a Simon Kenton offense that racked up 450.4 yards (231.6 pass, 218.8 rush) and 35.2 points per game. Defensively he was a beast registering 59 total tackles, six sacks and 15.0 tackles for losses. Selm has signed with Kentucky.
Simon Kenton OL/DL Aba Selm (photo by Greg Shoemaker/TriStateFootball.com)
Demetrick Welch, Newport Central Catholic, Sr, RB – Was named the KFCA Class 1A, District 3 Player of the Year, First Team All-NKY (for a second straight year), Second Team All-TSF (3rd Team All-TSF in 2022) and TSF NKY OPOY finalist (for a second year). A player who rarely comes off the field. Welch ran for 1,125 yards, had 18 receptions for 239 yards, found the end zone 28 times (22 rush, three rec, one KR, one PR, one FR), tallied 44 total tackles, seven tackles for losses, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one interception. The Thoroughbreds senior year ends his career with 3,267 yards and 41 touchdowns rushing, 48 receptions for 628 yards, seven receiving scores, 58 total touchdowns, 128 total tackles and five takeaways (three INTs, two FRs).
Newport Central Catholic RB/OLB Demetrick Welch (photo by Krebs/courtesy of rogerbaconspartans.org) Past TSF NKY OPOY finalists:
2022
OPOY finalists: Mitch Berger (Beechwood), Chase Crone (Simon Kenton), Owen Leen (Covington Catholic), Charlie Noon (Highlands), Jaxson Rice (Ludlow), Zayn Satchwell (Carroll County) and Demetrick Welch (Newport Central Catholic).
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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