Friday, November 20, 1998
Best season ever continues for Calvert and Columbian
By Dave Feltner
Sports Editor
The best high school football season in the history of the city has blossomed into some major postseason awards for Calvert and Columbian.
Calvert head coach Toby Hammond was voted Division VI Northwest District Coach of the Year, quarterback Nate Keller was named Division VI co-Player of the Year and Columbian's Greg Pagnard was selected Division II Lineman of the Year.
In all, six Senecas and four Tornadoes were given spots on the first team, two more made second team and nine more were named honorable mention Northwest District.
Hammond guided the Senecas to the school's first unbeaten and untied season, along with the team's first outright Midland Athletic League championship and first postseason appearance in 12 seasons.
The Senecas made good on their first round game by whipping Antwerp 34-0 to set up Friday's regional final showdown with 10-1 Gibsonburg.
Hammond's career coaching record is 74-45, including a 26-15 mark in four seasons at Calvert. He also took Sandusky St. Mary's to an unbeaten season in 1989 and followed that with a trip to the state championship game in 1990.
''I don't know how fair it is, but a lot these things are determined by wins and losses,'' Hammond said. ''Winning seems to take care of a lot of things. The kids have taken things week to week and when the team goals get taken care of then the personal rewards will all take care of themselves. It's really a tribute to how hard the kids have worked.
''It's really been fun this year, in particular, with Columbian being right with us,'' he said. ''The fans and the community have really been a part of it. I get a bigger thrill out of that than any plaque.''
Hammond's quarterback this season, Keller, has thrown what may be a state record 40 touchdown passes this season. The Ohio High School Athletic Association does not have complete records, but an official there believes the state record is 40.
In 11 games the junior signal-caller has clicked on 156-of-291 passes for 2,522 yards. He shared Player-of-the-Year honors with Delphos St. John running back Chad Schulte, who ran for 1,323 yards and 21 touchdowns in just seven games. This marks the second season in-a-row Schulte has been awarded the honor.
Keller was flanked on the first team offense by a trio of teammates, junior lineman Eric Baugher, junior running back Eric Puffenberger and senior wide receiver Todd Iannantuono.
Puffenberger has rushed for 1,311 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Iannantuono has 51 catches, 953 yards and 16 touchdowns. Up front, Baugher anchored a line which plowed enough room for the Senecas to average 370 yards per game.
Another Seneca offensive player, junior receiver Bart Fisher was named second team Northwest District. Fisher has 49 cathches, 701 yards and 15 TDs.
Defensively, the Senecas had a pair of first teamers in lineman Ian Cook (86 tackles) and defensive back Dustyn Risner (10 interceptions).
Calvert players receiving honorable mention spots include linebacker Tim Brodman, wide receiver Justin Keefe, linebacker Luke Borer and defensive lineman Chad Elchert.
In Division II, Pagnard was named to the first team offense, but was voted the Northwest District's top lineman for his efforts on both sides of the ball.
On defense, the 6-3, 275-pounder finished with 69 tackles and five sacks. On offense he paved the way for 1,000-yard rusher and blocked for a quarterback who set the single season, single game and career passing records at Columbian.
The running back, junior Jeremiah Johnson, was also named to the first team after rushing for 1,068 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Columbian wide receiver Brad Snyder joined Johnson and Pagnard on the first team. He caught a school record 59 passes for 809 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The Tornadoes' other first teamer came on the defensive side, in lineman Gideon Daniel who finished with 77 tackles.
Linebacker Nate Houck, who set a school record with 19 tackles against Clyde and finished the season with 95 tackles, landed a spot on the second team. Punter Beau Carmon (35.4 average) was also named to the second team.
Tornadoes bracketed to honorable mention include quarterback Brent Wise, offensive lineman Tony DeMonte and Bryan Gase, linebacker David Price and defensive back Chris Brooks.
The honors didn't stop there for local athletes.
In Divsion V, Mohawk's Bo Meisner and Drew Mohr were named to the second team, as was Seneca East's Kory Siesel.
Meisner was a 96 percent blocker on the offensive line and didn't allow a sack all season, while Mohr set a Mohawk mark by tackles by a safety with 131.
Siesel had 91 stops from his defensive tackle spot.
Those getting honorable mention in Division V include Mohawk's Brian Clouse and Seneca East's Ron Nickler and Jason Thompson.
In Division III, Fostoria's Cory Echleberry was not only named to the first team defensive line, but was also voted the district's top lineman.
Joining him were teammates Greg Fleming and Cory Freshour on the second team. Freshour caught 43 passes for 546 yards and six touchdowns and Freshour made 112 stops at linebacker.
In Division IV, Lakota defensive back Jim Ganues was named honorable mention, and in Division VI, Carey's Clayton Hoepf and Hopewell-Loudon's Andy Distel, Mike Miller, Mark Hoover, Neil Harber and Andy Hiser received honorable mention spots.