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2024 TSF Kentucky OPOY Finalists

Beechwood QB Clay Hayden (photo by: Chris Granger / X: @regnargc)

There are eight finalists for the 2024 TriState Football Kentucky Offensive Player of the Year. Five of them are seniors and three are juniors. Five are quarterbacks, two are running backs and one is a receiver.

Clay Hayden, Cam O’Hara and teammate Isaiah Johnson become the 21st, 22nd and 23rd players to be nominated for this honor two times, in the 18 year history of the award.

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 17th, 2025 at the Holy Grail-Banks – RSVP 2024 TSF Year In Review Show

Here is a look at our finalists for the 2024 TriState Football Kentucky Offensive Player of the Year.

Kaleb Evans, Lloyd Memorial, Jr, QB – Was named KFCA Class 3A, District 5 POY and Honorable Mention All-TSF. It was a bounce back campaign for Evans who played in just four games in 2023. He threw for 2,070 yards, had 24 touchdown tosses, four rushing scores and only three interceptions for the 9-3 Jaguars.

Chase Flaherty, Beechwood, Sr, RB – Was named Second Team All-NKY and Honorable Mention All-TSF. A touchdown making machine, Flaherty found the end zone 34 times as a senior (30 rush, four rec) and 72 times (65 rush, seven rec) in a Tigers uniform. He ran for 1,456 yards, caught 16 passes for 254 yards as Beechwood captured its fourth state title in the last five seasons. Flaherty’s 30 rushing touchdowns and 204 points scored were tops in NKY. He ended his career with 2,902 yards rushing and 56 receptions for 729 yards.

Beechwood RB Chase Flaherty (photo by: Chris Granger/X: @regnargc)

Armani Gregg, Dixie Heights, Sr, RB – Was named First Team All-NKY (RB), NKFCA Top 26 (for a second straight year) and Honorable Mention All-TSF. In a selfless act, Gregg moved from quarterback to running back for his senior season and it paid big dividends for him. He ran for 1,321 yards and 13 touchdowns. Gregg ended his career with an impressive and productive 2,772 yards passing, 2,799 yards rushing and 66 touchdowns (31 pass, 35 rush).

Dixie Heights RB Armani Gregg (photo by: Chris Granger / X: @regnargc)

Cash Harney, Covington Catholic, Jr, QB – Was named KFCA Class 4A, District 5 POY, First Team All-NKY (ATH) and Honorable Mention All-TSF. The athletic Harney moved from defensive back to quarterback for his junior campaign and immediately forged his identity as a dual-threat who was a powerful and elusive runner and an incredibly efficient passer. He threw for 1,303 yards, ran for 1,476 yards, averaged 9.8 yards per carry and accounted for 32 touchdowns (19 pass, 13 rush). A versatile star, Harney has thrown 1,963 yards, ran for 1,665 yards, with 22 rushing scores and 20 passing touchdowns in his three years between Covington Catholic and Beechwood. On defense, he has 56 tackles, a forced fumble, a safety, six takeaways (five INTs, one FR) and a pick-six in his career.

Covington Catholic QB Cash Harney (photo by: Chris Granger / X: @regnargc)

Clay Hayden, Beechwood, Sr, QB – Was named KFCA Class 2A, District 5 Player of the Year, NKFCA Top 26, Honorable Mention All-TSF and TSF NKY OPOY finalist (for a second straight year). A true winner and leader, Hayden went 36-3 as a starter (14-1 in the playoffs) for the Tigers with two state titles and a state runner-up finish. As a senior, he led Beechwood to its 18th state championship throwing for 2,981 yards and 46 touchdowns (tied for 25th most in a single season, in Kentucky history). He ended his career with 8,942 yards passing (22nd  most in Kentucky history), 117 PaTDs (12th most in Kentucky history) and only 15 interceptions. Hayden has verbally committed to the University of Indianapolis.

Wyatt Hatfield, Conner, Sr, QB – Was named KFCA Class 5A, District 6 Player of the Year, Second Team All-NKY, NKFCA Top 26 and Honorable Mention All-TSF. It was all about the legs as Hatfield churned out a NKY best 1,463 yards rushing with 25 touchdowns on the ground, 513 yards and 14 touchdowns through the air. He also had four interceptions on defense for the Cougars. Hatfield finished his career with 2,201 yards rushing, 1,402 yards passing and 61 touchdowns (38 rush, 22 pass, one IR).

Conner QB Wyatt Hatfield (photo by: Chris Granger/X: @regnargc)

Isaiah Johnson, Cooper, Sr, WR – Was named First Team All-NKY (for a third straight year), NKFCA Top 26, First Team All-TSF and TSF NKY OPOY finalist (for a second straight year). Uncoverable would be the best adjective to describe Johnson. A human highlight reel, Johnson caught 64 balls for 1,298 yards and 24 touchdowns (tied for 8th most in a single season, in Kentucky history) as a senior. He ended a storied career with 173 receptions (22nd most in Kentucky history), 3,343 yards receiving (13th most in Kentucky history) and 53 touchdown catches (tied for 7th most in Kentucky history).

Cooper WR Isaiah Johnson (photo by: Chris Granger/X: @regnargc)

Cam O’Hara, Cooper, Jr, QB – Was named First Team All-NKY, Second Team All-TSF (for a second straight year) and TSF NKY OPOY finalist (for a second straight year). O’Hara fueled the Jaguars offense helping them to their first undefeated regular season in program history and second straight Class 5A state finals appearance. He threw for 3,617 yards with 52 touchdowns passes (third most in the state and 14th most in a single season in Kentucky history), 186 yards and four more scores rushing. He heads into his senior campaign needing 52 more touchdown passes to set the Kentucky career record (171 by Jack James, Paducah Tilghman from 2021-24). O’Hara’s 120 passing touchdowns and 8,996 yards passing are the most in NKY history. He also has 228 yards rushing and five rushing touchdowns in a Cooper uniform. O’Hara has offers from Kentucky, Western Kentucky, Miami (OH), Akron, BGSU, Austin Peay and Tennessee State.

*All-time Kentucky leaders also include 2021-24 stats from – Brock Coffman, Sayre (WR), Luke Pennington, Sayre (QB) and Jack James, Paducah Tilghman (QB) that are not yet entered into the KHSAA record books.

Past TSF NKY OPOY finalists (players of the year in bold):
2023
Brody Benke (Highlands), Kaydon Custard (Harrison County), Clay Hayden (Beechwood), Isaiah Johnson (Cooper), Cam O’Hara (Cooper) Evan Pitzer (Covington Catholic), Aba Selm (Simon Kenton) and Demetrick Welch (Newport Central Catholic).
2022
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) and 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) and Christian Webster (Conner).
2017
Justin Blackburn (Ludlow), Jake Chisolm (Ryle), Alex Dowds (Campbell County), Jordan Fann (Lloyd), AJ Mayer (CovCath), Daniel Mescher (Beechwood) and 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) and Cameron Racke (Simon Kenton).
2015
Nathan Brown (Cooper), Kyle Fieger (Beechwood), Charles Gaines (Lloyd), Roberto London (Scott), Tanner Morgan (Ryle), Dillon Powell (Simon Kenton) and Cameron Racke (Simon Kenton).
2014
Torey Cordell-Armstrong (Cooper), Colin England (Ryle), Beau Hoge (Highlands), Drew Moore (Dixie Heights), Dillon Powell (Simon Kenton), Jacob Smith (NewCath) and Alex Veneman (Highlands).
2013
Drew Barker (Conner), Josh Castleman (Scott), Sam Dressman (CovCath), Zach Harris, (Highlands), Drew Houliston (Highlands), Brenan Kuntz (Simon Kenton) and Jonathan Scruggs (Holmes).
2012
Drew Barker (Conner), Blake Bir (Covington Catholic), AJ Collins (Cooper), Tyler Durham (Campbell County), Dylan Hayes (NewCath), Donovan McCoy (Highlands) and Max Nussbaum (Beechwood).
2011
Tyler Durham (Campbell County), Kyle Fuller (Holy Cross), Gabe Gray (CovCath), Brady Hightchew (New Cath), Patrick Towles (Highlands) and 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) and Cameron Vocke (Beechwood).
2009
Ricky Buckler (Bellevue), Austin Collinsworth (Highlands), Travis Elliott (Ryle), Matt Rigdon (Beechwood), Miles Simpson (Simon Kenton) and Nick West (Conner).
2008
Tony Guidugli (Highlands), Mark Kelly (NewCath), Charles Quainoo (Boone County), Miles Simpson (Simon Kenton), Nieco Teipel (Beechwood) and Nick West (Conner).
2007
Josh Conner (Highlands), Cory Farris (Boone County), Mark Kelly (NewCath), Marty Molony (Dixie Heights) and Adam Schmitz (Ryle).

 

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