It Comes Down to This

The 2008 "Northeast Ohio High School Player of the Year" award will soon be announced and the top three finalists are:


Tim Wetzel - Mayfield
35 carries 171 yards and 2 touchdowns in round one.


Ben Madden - Kirtland
"Wicked Sick Numbers!!"
6 of 11 passing 112 yds, 1 TD
15 carries 262 yards 5 TDS vs. South Range in round one.

Ben has led the Fighting Hornets of Kirtland to the D-5 Regional semi-finals in round two of the playoffs with great leadership. A season that began with team superstar Rossi Santo out for the first game with 3 fractured vertebrae, Madden and his teammates stepped up big time to start what would become a record setting season for the Hornets. 10-0 perfect regular season and a 63-7 win in round one over South Range, the team that beat the Hornets last year in round one. Ben had a 208.8 QB rating at the regular season's end with 18 TD passes to only 2 interceptions. He also ran for 9 touchdowns!! Consider his passing stats - 1324 yards - were short changed because he was out of the offense by halftime of a majority of the Hornets' games this season, he could have easily recorded even bigger numbers. He also was atop team tacklers on defense plus he recorded 3 interceptions and handled some of the kicking duties with 2 field goals and 11 PATs. As far as post-season goes so far this season, NOBODY IN OHIO HAS HAS COME CLOSE TO BEN MADDEN'S STATS.

All around, "Niner", as he's known to his friends and teammates, is a great leader on and off the football field. Also a very talented athlete on the gridiron as well.




Kellen Pagel - Strongsville
13 of 22 191 yds 3 TDS
Great arm...great leader...poise under pressure...

Who will come away with the "Northeast Ohio High School Player of the Year" award for 2008?

We'll find out in one week!!