Five of the nine finalists for the 2025 TriState Football Cincinnati Offensive Player of the Year are juniors the other four are seniors. Six finalists are quarterbacks and three are running backs.
This is the 19th year of this award and second nomination for Devlan Daniel and Matt Ponatoski. They become the 26th and 27th players to accomplish the feat. Daniel is the first player to be named a finalist at two different positions (QB in 2024). Gage Croley and Ryder Hooks are the first players from their schools ever nominated as a finalist. Anderson and Moeller have had finalists for this honor in each of the past five seasons.
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 16th, 2026 at the Holy Grail-Banks – RSVP 2025 TSF Year In Review Show
Here is a look at the 2025 TSF Cincinnati OPOY Finalists.
Lance Cantrell, Talawanda, Sr, RB – OPSMA Division III Co-Offensive Player of the Year, OPSMA Division III First Team All-Ohio, OPSMA Division III Southwest District Offensive Player of the Year, SWOC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-TSF. Cantrell opened the 2025 season with a 425-yard and five touchdown rushing performance against Taylor and never stopped running. By the time week five was done, Cantrell had four games of 210-plus yards on the ground and 16 touchdowns for the 5-0 Brave who eventually finished 10-2. He finished his fantastic campaign with 2,523 yards (210.3/game) and 30 touchdowns rushing. Six times he ran for 210 yards or more and had eight contests with at least three rushing touchdowns. He finished his career with 4,069 yards rushing, 48 rushing touchdowns, 26 receptions for 266 yards, two receiving touchdowns and 4,467 all-purpose yards. Cantrell has committed to Michigan Tech.
Gage Croley, Goshen, Jr, RB – Was named OPSMA Division III Second Team All-Ohio, SBAAC American Offensive Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-TSF. Croley was the focal point of the Warriors offense. He topped the SBAAC with 2,007 yards and 24 touchdowns rushing as Goshen had one of its best seasons in recent memory, going 7-4. The junior ran for more 260 yards on four occasions including 371 yards against Bethel-Tate. He heads into his senior campaign with 2,558 yards and 30 touchdowns on the ground.
Devlan Daniel, Indian Hill, Jr, QB – Was named OPSMA Division IV First Team All-Ohio, CHL Offensive Player of the Year, Honorable Mention All-TSF and TSF Cincinnati Offensive Player of the Year Finalist (for a second straight season). Daniel moved from running back to quarterback and was the catalyst for the Braves that finished the regular season undefeated and won its first ever regional title and finished 13-1. He ran (1,116) and and threw (1,192) for more than 1,100 yards, had 24 rushing touchdowns and 13 passing touchdowns. Daniel heads into his senior campaign having been incredibly productive in his three years as a starter with 4,844 yards rushing, 71 rushing touchdowns, 5,355 all-purpose yards, 1,354 yards passing, 15 passing touchdowns, one punt return for a touchdown, 52 total tackles, 2.0 sacks, 7.0 tackles for losses, one fumble recovery and three interceptions.
Kaden Estep, Elder, Jr, QB – Was named OPSMA Division I First Team All-Ohio, GCL South Co-Offensive Player of the Year and Third Team All-TSF. Estep helped guide the Panthers to the school’s fourth undefeated regular and first ever 12-0 start before falling to rival St. Xavier in the regional semifinals. He threw for 2,430 yards, ran for 924 yards and accounted for 25 touchdowns (15 pass, 10 rush). Estep heads into his senior campaign with 4,338 yards passing, 27 touchdown passes, 1,113 yards rushing and 12 rushing scores. He has offers from Miami (OH), Toledo, Kent State and Gardner-Webb.
Ryder Hooks, Lakota East, Sr, RB – Was named a OPSMA Ohio Mr. Football Finalist, OPSMA Division I Co-Offensive Player of the Year, OPSMA Division I First Team All-Ohio, OPSMA Division I Southwest District Offensive Player of the Year, GMC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-TSF. Hooks ran for 2,032 yards (169.3/game), amassed 2,802 all-purpose yards (2,33.5/game), had 25 receptions for 400 yards and 24 total touchdowns (19 rush, three rec, two KRs). He ran for more than 100-yards nine times including four games of 240-plus yards with a career high of 321 yards rushing against Colerain for an 8-4 Lakota East squad. On defense, he had at least one tackle in every contest and finished with 37 tackles, three tackles for losses, with six pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery with three interceptions and a pair of pick-sixes. Hooks finished his career as the Thunderhawks all-time leading rusher with 4,383 yards and also amassed 5,754 all-purpose yards, 844 yards receiving and 43 total touchdowns in his three years as a starter. Hooks has signed with Eastern Kentucky.
Grant Nurre, Kings, Sr, QB – Was named OPSMA Division II First Team All-Ohio and Honorable Mention All-TSF. Nurre, a dual-threat quarterback who led the Knights to a 9-2 record. He threw for 2,564yards, ran for 547 yards and accounted for 30 touchdowns (19 pass, 11 rush). He finished his career with 6,921 yards passing, 816 yards rushing, 52 passing touchdowns. 17 rushing touchdowns and 24 wins as a starter (18 the last two years). He has committed to the University of Dayton.
Matt Ponatoski, Moeller, Sr, QB – For a second straight season he was named a OPSMA Ohio Mr. Football Finalist, OPSMA Division I First Team All-Ohio, GCL South “Co-”Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-TSF and TSF Cincinnati Offensive Player of the Year Finalist. Ponatoski threw for 2,402 yards with 28 touchdown passes and only one interception for the 8-4 Crusaders. He finished his career with 10,016 yards (most in Hamilton County history and 17th most in Ohio history) and 114 (most in Hamilton County history and 16th most in Ohio history). Ponatoski has signed with Kentucky to play both football and baseball.
Owen Scalf, Anderson, Jr, QB – Was named OPSMA Division II Co-Offensive Player of the Year, OPSMA Division II First Team All-Ohio, ECC Offensive Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-TSF. In his first year as a starter, Scalf helped lead the Raptors to a 14-1 mark, a second straight undefeated regular season and state runner-up finish. He fell 39 yards short of becoming the eighth player in Ohio history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a season. The junior finished the year with 4,961 yards and 41 touchdowns passing as well as 677 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. He accounted for more than 300 yards of total offense in every contest. Scalf set a record for most yards passing in a Division II state championship game with 377 against Avon.
Monsanna Torbert, Taft, Jr, QB – Was named OPSMA Division IV First Team All-Ohio, OPSMA Division IV Southwest District Offensive Player of the Year, CMAC Red Offensive Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-TSF. Torbert was brilliant, helping Taft to its first ever 10-0 undefeated regular season before ending at 11-1. Torbert threw for more than 1,800 yards with 27 touchdowns passes and zero interceptions. He also has four rushing scores and two pick-sixes on defense. He has verbally committed to Indiana as an athlete.
Past TSF Cincinnati OPOY finalists (player of the year in bold):
2024
Justice Burnam (Anderson), Devlan Daniel (Indian Hill), Gracen Goldsmith (Hamilton), Trace Jallick (Anderson), Cole Koops (Harrison), Matt Ponatoski (Moeller), Demico Harris (St. Bernard-Elmwood Place), Jahmeir Spain (Mount Healthy) and Sam Wiles (Lakota West).
2023
Brodey Berg (Anderson), Luke Dunn (Withrow), Justice Burnam (Anderson), Talon Fisher (Fairfield), Jayel Harris (Purcell Marian), Jordan Marshall (Moeller), J.J. Miller (Williamsburg), Armoud Seals (Taft) and Nathan Webster (Milford).
2022
Mitch Bolden (Lakota West), Trey Cornist (Winton Woods), Talon Fisher (Fairfield), CJ Hester (Wyoming), Will Kocher (Kings), Jordan Marshall (Moeller), Michael Mussari (Kings), Drew Novak (Western Brown) and Griffin Scalf (Anderson).
2021
Joey Faulkner (Anderson), CJ Hester (Wyoming), William Ingle (Sycamore), Will Kocher (Kings), Jordan Marshall (Moeller), Brogan McCaughey (St. Xavier), Drew Novak (Western Brown), Drew Ramsey (Elder) and TyRek Spikes (Winton Woods).
2020
Zach Branam (La Salle), Liam Clifford (St. Xavier), Jackson Gifford (Ross), CJ Hester (Wyoming) Corey Kiner (Roger Bacon), Brogan McCaughey (St. Xavier), Drew Ramsey (Elder), Keyshawn Stephens (Hamilton) and Ty Stylski (Kings).
2019
Liam Clifford (St. Xavier), Cole Fisher (CHCA), Corey Kiner (Roger Bacon), Connor Kinnett (Harrison), Matthew Luebbe (Elder), JuTahn McClain (Fairfield), Cam Porter (La Salle), Evan Prater (Wyoming) and Miyan Williams (Winton Woods).
2018
Michael Bittner (Elder), Zeke Correll (Anderson), Cameron Kells (Milford), Corey Kiner (Roger Bacon), JuTahn McClain (Fairfield), Evan Prater (Wyoming), Deante Smith-Moore (Colerain) and Miyan Williams (Winton Woods).
2017
Josh Anderson (New Richmond); Xavier Johnson (Summit Country Day), Kenny Mayberry (Winton Woods), Pierson Rogers (Wyoming), Matt Sora (Mason), Jay Volpenhein (Anderson), Miyan Williams (Winton Woods) and Chase Wolf (St. Xavier).
2016
Reed Aichholz (Indian Hill), Ra’Von Bonner (Sycamore), Sean Clifford (St. Xavier), Kesean Gamble (CHCA), Andrew Marty (Wyoming), Christian Turner (La Salle), Jay Volpenhein (Anderson) and Jarell White (La Salle).
2015
Reed Aichholz (Indian Hill), Deshaunte Jones (Colerain), Jeremy Larkin (LaSalle), David Montgomery (Mount Healthy), Peyton Ramsey (Elder), Johnny Noyen (CHCA) and Luke Waddell (Loveland).
2014
Tyler Anderson (New Richmond), DeAndre Barnett (Kings), Dashaunte Jones (Colerain), Jeremy Larkin (LaSalle), David Montgomery (Mount Healthy), Peyton Ramsey (Elder) and Maurice Thomas (Talawanda).
2013
Mikel Horton (Lakota West), Gus Ragland (Moeller), Nate Slagel (Loveland), DeTuan Smith-Moore (Colerain), Devyn Wood (Western Brown) and Antonio Woods (Summit Country Day).
2012
Tyree Elliott (Mount Healthy), Austin Ernst (McNicholas), Connor Jansen (Turpin), Alfred Ramsby (Colerain), Chris Schroer (Elder), Greg Simpson (Sycamore) and Keith Watkins (Moeller).
2011
Kenny Davis (Walnut Hills), Conor Hundley (St. Xavier), Aaron Kemper (Winton Woods), Monty Madaris (Moeller), Jalin Marshall (Middletown), Isaac Rupe (Madeira) and Jamire Westbrook (Kings).
2010
Dakota Dartis (North College Hill), Aaron Kemper (Winton Woods), Andrew Kummer (La Salle), Jalin Marshall (Middletown), Nick Lawley (CHCA), Jamire Westbrook (Kings) and Tyler Williams (Colerain).
2009
Dominique Brown (Winton Woods), Mark Miller (Elder), Kyle Seyfried (Wyoming), Kyle Slater (Anderson), Jordan Thompson (Lakota West) and Caleb Watkins (Middletown).
2008
Bo Cordell (Indian Hill), Shawn Davis (Western Brown), Bud Golden (Sycamore), Everett Horne (North College Hill), Mark Miller (Elder) and Kyle Slater (Anderson).
2007
Bo Cordell (Indian Hill), Ryan Martin (Turpin), Danny Milligan (St. Xavier), Dominique Sherrer (Colerain) and Elijah Storey (Anderson).
