Licking County League names top football players, coaches in 2026

NEWARK – The Licking Valley football team recently wrapped up its third consecutive Licking County League-Buckeye Division championship as a part of a second consecutive perfect regular season, and those that played a key role have been honored.

Valley senior quarterback Brody Rodgers was named Buckeye Division Offensive Back of the Year, and junior lineman Carson Adkins was named Offensive Lineman of the Year. Randy Baughman was named Coach of the Year.

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Granville senior safety Luke Bosse was named Buckeye Division Defensive Back of the Year, and Mount Vernon junior linebacker Landon Dawson was named Defensive Lineman of the Year. Watkins Memorial senior Graham Smith was named Special Teams Player of the Year.

Johnstown was stout up front, and that allowed the Johnnies to climb back to the top of the Cardinal Division, winning their second championship in three seasons.

Johnstown senior tight end Liam Deering was named Cardinal Division Offensive Lineman of the Year, and junior lineman Hudson Gross was named the Defensive Lineman of the Year. Mike Carter was named Coach of the Year.

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Utica senior quarterback Aaron Hays was named the Offensive Back of the Year. Heath senior linebacker Tyler Marks was named Defensive Back of the Year, and senior kicker Camden Montgomery was named Special Teams Player of the Year.

Heath senior Joe Ward and Zanesville senior Evan Woerner each received the Ernie Godfrey Award.

Buckeye Division

Licking Valley

• Brody Rodgers – Offensive Back of Year; first team

• Carson Adkins – Offensive Lineman of Year; first team

• Dylan Keeley – first team

• Conner Keeley – first team

• Griffin Williams – first team

• Peyton George – first team

• Blake Penn – second team

• Brandt Lichtenauer – second team

• Carter Nethers – second team

• Brody Banks – second team

• Case Nethers – honorable mention

• Levi Lewis – honorable mention

• Randy Baughman – Coach of Year

Granville

• Luke Bosse – Defensive Back of Year; first team

• Cooper Gregory – first team

• Carter Rhyan – first team

• George Walter – first team

• Connor Kirby – first team

• Ian Roberts – second team

• Jackson McMillan – second team

• Zane Schilling – second team

• Grant Buerkel – second team

• Evan Seifert – honorable mention

• Garrett Hinton – honorable mention

Watkins Memorial

• Graham Smith – Special Teams Player of Year; first team

• Maddox Meade – first team

• Jack Booth – first team

• Cole Back – second team

• Linkin Raber – second team

• Jacob Lash – second team

• Evan Ryan – second team

• Grant Flowers – honorable mention

• Ethan Horn – honorable mention

Zanesville

• Evan Woerner – Ernie Godfrey Award; first team

• De’Marcus Goins – first team

• Connor Johnson – second team

• Titan Grandstaff – second team

• Kason Hazlett – second team

• RJ Gladden – honorable mention

• Trio Ladd – honorable mention

Mount Vernon

• Landon Dawson – Defensive Lineman of the Year; first team

• Darrin Monahan – second team

• Greyson Deem – second team

• Bryce Hollenback – honorable mention

• Zach Beck – honorable mention

Licking Heights

• Ty’Quan Crawford – first team

• Kendryk Hampton – second team

• Stone Fenton – honorable mention

• Duke Finch – honorable mention

Cardinal Division

Johnstown

• Ryan Sager – first team

• Preston Carey – first team

• Hudson Gross – Defensive Lineman of the Year; first team

• Liam Deering – Offensive Lineman of the Year; first team

• Luke Carter – first team

• Blake Ware – first team

• Cole Carey – second team

• Cristian Campese – second team

• Joey King – second team

• Chase Flowers – second team

• Greyson Gross – honorable mention

• Sevi Chiddention – honorable mention

• Mike Carter – Coach of the Year

Heath

• Tyler Marks – Defensive Back of the Year; first team

• Tristyn Jones – first team

• Joe Ward – Ernie Godfrey Award; first team

• Camden Stephens – first team

• Alex Zarins – first team

• Hudson Shumate – second team

• Gerald Labucuas – second team

• Cooper Mason – second team

• Colton McLean – second team

• Tim Beish – honorable mention

• Logan Richardson – honorable mention

Newark Catholic

• Jaxon Holman – first team

• Malone Hutchison – first team

• Carter Chupka – first team

• Jace Johnson – second team

• Raife Shook – second team

• Noah Richards – second team

• Landon Cox – second team

• Jack Gossett – honorable mention

• Jack Lohri – honorable mention

Utica

• Aaron Hays – Offensive Back of Year; first team

• Weston Simon – first team

• Elijah Bland – second team

• Gavin Dugan – second team

• Landon Smith – second team

• A.J. Buckenberger – honorable mention

• Mason Rine – honorable mention

Northridge

• Jayce Golden – first team

• Brice Beaver – second team

• Riley Reeves – second team

• Jaxon Richey – honorable mention

• Spencer Orgill – honorable mention

Lakewood

• Lukka Vines – first team

• Kolten Huntsman – second team

• Grant Hardaway – honorable mention

• Colton Collins – honorable mention

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Licking County League names top football players, coaches in 2026

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