From Staff Reports

Heading into Saturday night’s Div. III regional semifinal game against Big Walnut, St. Marys head coach Doug Frye said the battle of the trenches will win the game.

According to Western Buckeye League coaches, Frye has the two best in the WBL to send out there.

St. Marys swept the linemen of the year awards and had five players on the First Team All-WBL teams named on Thursday and led the league with five First Team players.

St. Marys’ Michael Breland was named offensive lineman of the year. The senior left tackle helped clear the way for over 3,000 yards of rushing this season.

Roughrider senior Marcus Neal was named defensive lineman of the year. The defensive tackle was a force in the center of the St. Marys defense, collecting 57 tackles, two sacks, 11 tackles for a loss, eight quarterback hurries, and a pass breakup.

Joining Breland and Neal on the First Team lists was St. Marys center Jake Yaney.

St. Marys defensive end Paul Lauth was named First Team Defense. Lauth collected 67 tackles, four sacks, 17 tackles for loss, 17 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and a 39-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown against Bath.

St. Marys linebacker Josh Zimmerman was a First Team Defense honoree. He led the Riders in tackles with 75, while collecting two sacks, 11 tackles for a loss, six quarterback hurries, and a pass breakup.

Second Teamers
Three Roughriders were named to the Second Team Offense.

St. Marys senior guard Justin Felver was named to the list.

The Rider backfield duo of Jeremy Frey and Aaron Homan were Second Team honorees.
Frey has rushed for 1,247 yards this season in his first year as a starting fullback. He has nine touchdowns and averages 5.8 yards per carry.

Homan has 711 yards rushing this year, with six touchdowns and a 6.5 yards per carry average.

Special Mentions
St. Marys had three players named to the Special Mention squads.

St. Marys quarterback Jake Taylor was a Special Mention honoree, throwing for 848 yards and nine touchdowns for the Riders.

David Long was a Special Mention Defense player, collecting 30 tackles for a loss this season.
He was joined by Rider senior defensive back Cory Dammeyer, who had nine pass breakups and four interceptions.
 
Venue
St. Marys will play Big Walnut on Saturday at 7 p..m. at Indian Lake High School.
“I’ve very pleased by where we’re playing this,” Frye said. “We got together and found this to be the best place. There’s plenty of seating, it’s a newer faciltiy.”

NOTE: The football team and the football Mother’s Club is looking to fill the stands with blue. WBL champion t-shirts are availbe at the St. Marys schools, Minster Bank and Albert’s Sporting Goods.