Ohio City - Cam Toppin and Logan Joyce were joined on the Division I Ohio Prep Sports Writers Association's All-Ohio Team by senior wide receiver Sammy Snyder and senior offensive linemen Jack Jamieson and Darian Kinnard, who were named to the second team.
Record-setting senior kicker/punter Matthew Trickett received Honorable Mention All-Ohio.
Toppin, one of the premier coverage corners in all of Ohio the past two seasons, helped lead the Wildcats to an 11-2 record and their 28th OHSAA big-school playoff appearance by intercepting six passes, including two highlight-reel picks in the end zone. The Football 'Cats finished as the Region 1 runner-up to the Mentor Cardinals.
Cam totaled 44.5 tackles, including 37 unassisted stops, had nine pass breakups and blocked a kick. Also a key member of the special teams, Cam returned 12 kickoffs for 219 yards.
Joyce, who joined Toppin, Jamieson, Kinnard, Snyder and Trickett on the All-Northeast Lakes District Division I first team, had an exceptional season from his outside/edge linebacker position.
Logan totaled 86 tackles, including 40 solos and 26 tackles behind the line of scrimmage that resulted in a total of -minus 87 yards. He finished with 5.5 sacks totaling -minus 37 yards, had 12 quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.
Kinnard, a two-year mainstay who also doubled as a defensive lineman for Hall of Fame Head Coach Chuck Kyle '69, is a University of Kentucky recruit. Darian will be playing for the East squad in the 18th anniversary of The U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl Presented by American Family Insurance is the nation's premier postseason high school all-star football game. It is scheduled for January 6, 2018 in San Antonio's Alamodome. The kickoff is slated for 12 PM CT and the game will be televised live nationally on NBC and live across the world to Soldiers deployed overseas in the U.S. Army.
Jamieson, a two-time All-District selection, was not only one of the premier offensive lineman in Saint Ignatius' rich gridiron history, but also one of the finest Captains the program has ever produced. Jack also saw time on the defensive line during his Varsity career after being a key two-way performer as a freshman and sophomore. This old gridiron grinder will always remember Jack's game-saving blocked kick at Erie (Pa.) Cathedral Prep on the freshmen level.
Snyder, who developed into the Wildcats' go-to receiver, finished with 57 receptions for 959 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Sammy, who was a key figure in the Varsity passing attack for the past two seasons, also returned 18 punts for a total of 125 yards.
Trickett, who also excelled in Coach Mike McLaughlin's state and nationally acclaimed soccer program before devoting a full-time effort to football this summer and fall, rewrote the Saint Ignatius record books, or "Cat Stats," if you will.
Matt tied the school record for the longest field goal, set by Tim Shenk in 2011, by booming a 55-yard field goal in The Pit at Cincinnati Elder in Week 5 and came back two weeks later and sent home a Wildcats-best 59-yard field goal versus Canton GlenOak at Byers Field in Parma's Robert M. Boulton Stadium.
On the season, Matt also produced four field goals of 40 yards or more, including a 48-yard effort at Archbishop Hoban on opening night.
Matt kicked off 78 times for a total of 4,606 yards and 57 touchbacks. He punted 41 times for 1,531 yards, with a long of 61 yards and two others of 50-plus yards. His punts produced 16 fair catches and three touchbacks, and nine of them went inside the 20-yard line.
Congratulations from this corner go out to Cam, Logan, Darian, Jack, Sammy and Matt, and to this year's Ohio Mr. Football winner, Wadsworth senior quarterback Joey Baughman.
Baughman led Wadsworth to its first undefeated season since 1996 and just its fourth overall. With Baughman at the controls, the Grizzlies won the Suburban League, hosted (and won) a first round playoff game and averaged 50.8 points per game during the regular season.