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2024 TSF Cincinnati Team of the Year: Anderson

Anderson QB Justice Burnam (6) and WR Trace Jallick (12) (photo by Dan Bieneke/TriStateFootball.com)

Expectations were high for Anderson (15-1) after winning the Division II, Region 8 championship before falling to eventual state champion Massillon Washington in the state semifinals in 2023. With a great nucleus of returnees the Raptors responded in grandiose fashion with the program’s first ever undefeated regular season, a school record 15 victories, a second straight regional title (fourth in school history) and a state runner-up finish. That performance saw Anderson be named the 2024 TriState Football Cincinnati Team of the Year for as TSF paid tribute to the area’s finest from Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Dayton and Southeast Indiana at the TriState Football Year in Review Show on Monday night, in front of a packed house at the Holy Grail in downtown Cincinnati.

The Anderson offense lit up the scoreboard with 726 points on the year (seventh most in a single season in Ohio history). The Raptors averaged 45.4 points per game, had 96 offensive touchdowns (51 rec, 45 rush), amassed 7,298 yards of offense, 456.0 yards per contest (297.0  pass, 159.0 rush). To put their dominance into perspective, Anderson punted just once during the regular season and only four times on the year.

All of that productivity, included a season low 13 points in the state finale against Avon (16-0), who held 14 of its 16 foes to 14 points or less. Let’s not omit and footnote, the fact that the title game was played in the typical but brutal first weekend of December weather in Canton. It came with unforgiving blustery winds and a driving snow that covered the field throughout the contest. The conditions did the Anderson warp-speed, wide-open offense no favors. The Raptors battled but Avon was the better team on the night. You couldn’t have asked for a more competitive title tilt.

As good as the offense was, the Anderson defense was more than a pleasant surprise. The unit gave up just 10.75 points per outing. They held nine foes to seven points or less with three shutouts. The Raptors pressure recorded 56.0 sacks and 110.0 tackles that led to 23 takeaways (15 INTs, eight FRs) and three defensive scores. Five different players had at least 11.0 tackles for losses.

With all of that success, came many All-Ohio honors. On offense, senior quarterback Justice Burnam was named OPSMA Division II Ohio Co-Offensive Player of the Year, OPSMA Division II First Team All-Ohio (Second Team All-Ohio in 2023), OPSMA Division II Southwest District Offensive Player of the Year, ECC Offensive Player of the Year, Third Team All-TSF (for a second straight year) and TSF Cincinnati Offensive Player of the Year Finalist (for a second straight year). Senior receiver Trace Jallick was named OPSMA Division II First Team All-Ohio, First Team All-TSF and TSF Cincinnati Offensive Player of the Year Finalist. Senior tight end Caden Piening was named OPSMA Division II Second Team All-Ohio and Second Team All-TSF. Senior offensive lineman Cam Mathis was named OPSMA Division II Honorable Mention All-Ohio.

Defensively, sophomore linebacker Antwoine Higgins was named OPSMA Division II Second Team All-Ohio and Second Team All-TSF. Sophomore defensive back Ace Alston was named OPSMA Division II Second Team All-Ohio and Second Team All-TSF. Senior defensive back Jayonn Saunders was named OPSMA Division II Second Team All-Ohio. Senior defensive lineman Alex Stanyard was named OPSMA Division II Honorable Mention All-Ohio.

This is the 18th year of this award and the first time that Anderson has been named the TSF Cincinnati Team of the Year.

TriState Football Cincinnati Teams of the Year
2024 – Anderson
2023 – Moeller
2022 – Moeller
2021 – Winton Woods
2020 – St. Xavier
2019 – La Salle
2018 – Wyoming
2017 – Winton Woods
2016 – La Salle
2015 – La Salle
2014 – La Salle
2013 – Loveland
2012 – Moeller
2010 – McNicholas
2009 – Winton Woods
2008 – Elder
2007 – St. Xavier

 

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