It was one of those seasons that most people only dream about having but it came to fruition for Lakota East running back Ryer Hooks as he was named the 2025 TriState Football Cincinnati Offensive Player of the Year, 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.
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, 3.0 tackles for losses, with six pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery with three interceptions and a pair of pick-sixes.
Those efforts also led to Hooks being named 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, who has signed with Eastern Kentucky, 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.
Other finalist for the 2025 TSF Cincinnati Offensive Player of the Year included seniors Lance Cantrell (Talawanda), Grant Nurre (Kings), Matt Ponatoski (Moeller) as well as juniors Gage Croley (Goshen), Devlan Daniel (Indian Hill), Kaden Estep (Elder), Owen Scalf (Anderson) and Monsanna Torbert (Taft).
This is the 19th year for this award and Hooks is the first Lakota East Thunderhawk to be named the TSF Cincinnati Offensive Player of the Year.
TSF Cincinnati Offensive Players of the Year
2025 – Ryder Hooks (Lakota East)
2024 – Matt Ponatoski (Moeller)
2023 – Jordan Marshall (Moeller)
2022 – Jordan Marshall (Moeller)
2021 – Drew Novak (Western Brown)
2020 – Corey Kiner (Roger Bacon)
2019 – Evan Prater (Wyoming)
2018 – Miyan Williams (Winton Woods)
2017 – Chase Wolf (St. Xavier)
2016 – Ra’Von Bonner (Sycamore)
2015 – David Montgomery (ount Healthy)
2014 – Jeremy Larkin (LaSalle)
2013 – Gus Ragland (Moeller)
2012 – Greg Simpson (Sycamore)
2011 – Jalin Marshall (Middletown)
2010 – Tyler Williams (Colerain)
2009 – Dominique Brown (Winton Woods)
2008 – Mark Miller (Elder)
2007 – Elijah Story (Anderson)
