For Immediate Release – Dec. 5, 2024
Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller quarterback is the 38th winner of the prestigious award
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller junior quarterback Matt Ponatoski has been named Ohio Mr. Football by the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association. He is the 38th winner of the prestigious award and the second in a row for Archbishop Moeller. Running back Jordan Marshall won the award last year.
Ponatoski, 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, totaled 70 points in the statewide voting by OPSMA members. He will lead Moeller into the Division I state championship game Friday night against Powell Olentangy Liberty at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.
Last month, Ponatoski was named the Southwest District Division I Offensive Player of the Year and the GCL Offensive Player of the Year. He has already set Moeller career records for passing yards and touchdown passes.
Bellefontaine senior quarterback Tavien St. Clair and Ontario senior quarterback Bodpegn Miller
Bellefontaine senior quarterback Tavien St. Clair was the runner-up with 60 points. Ontario senior quarterback Bodpegn Miller was third with 57 points. Additional finalists included Mentor senior quarterback Scotty Fox, Avon senior quarterback Nolan Good, Gnadenhutten Indian Valley junior running back Grady Kinsey, Powell Olentangy Liberty senior quarterback Andrew Leonard, and Cuyahoga Walsh Jesuit senior quarterback Keller Moten.
The Ohio Mr. Football Award was given by the Associated Press from 1987-2016. It has been given by the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association since 2017.
The OPSMA was created in 1972 to support, promote and recognize coverage of high school sports across Ohio and is endorsed by the Ohio High School Athletic Association. More about the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association is posted at: https://www.ohsaa.org/news/OPSWA.
Ohio Mr. Football Winners (including college choice):
- 1987: Buster Howe, RB-DB-K-P, Zanesville, Ohio State
- 1988: Robert Smith, RB, Euclid, Ohio State
- 1989: Robert Smith, RB, Euclid, Ohio State
- 1990: Bobby Hoying, QB, St. Henry, Ohio State
- 1991: Derek Kidwell, QB-DE, Fostoria, Bowling Green
- 1992: Marc Edwards, RB-LB, Norwood, Notre Dame
- 1993: Curtis Enis, RB-LB, Mississinawa Valley, Penn State
- 1994: Charles Woodson, DB-RB, Fremont Ross, Michigan
- 1995: Andy Katzenmoyer, LB, Westerville South, Ohio State
- 1996: Derek Combs, RB-DB-KR, Grove City, Ohio State
- 1997: Tony Fisher, RB, Euclid, Notre Dame
- 1998: Ryan Brewer, RB, Troy, South Carolina
- 1999: Bam Childress, DB-WR-KR, Bedford St. Peter Chanel, Ohio State
- 2000: Jeff Backes, RB-DB, Upper Arlington, Northwestern
- 2001: Maurice Clarett, RB, Warren G. Harding, Ohio State
- 2002: Ben Mauk, QB, Kenton, Wake Forest/Cincinnati
- 2003: Ray Williams, RB, Cleveland Benedictine, West Virginia
- 2004: Tyrell Sutton, RB, Akron Archbishop Hoban, Northwestern
- 2005: Delone Carter, RB, Copley, Syracuse
- 2006: Brandon Saine, RB, Piqua, Ohio State
- 2007: Bart Tanski, QB, Mentor, Bowling Green
- 2008: Erick Howard, RB, North Canton Hoover, Akron
- 2009: Erick Howard, RB, North Canton Hoover, Akron
- 2010: Akise Teague, RB-DB-KR, Youngstown Ursuline, Cincinnati
- 2011: Maty Mauk, QB, Kenton, Missouri/Eastern Kentucky
- 2012: Mitch Trubisky, QB, Mentor, North Carolina
- 2013: Dante Booker Jr., LB, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, Ohio State
- 2014: Joe Burrow, QB, Athens, Ohio State, Louisiana State
- 2015: Keishaun Sims, RB-DB, Massillon Perry, Ashland University
- 2016: Michael Warren, RB, Toledo Central Catholic, University of Cincinnati
- 2017: Joey Baughman, QB, Wadsworth, Elon University
- 2018: Cade Stover, SS-RB, Lexington, Ohio State University
- 2019: Evan Prater, QB, Cincinnati Wyoming, University of Cincinnati
- 2020: Corey Kiner, RB, Cincinnati Roger Bacon, Louisiana State
- 2021: Drew Allar, QB, Medina, Penn State
- 2022: Lamar Sperling, RB, Akron Archbishop Hoban, Buffalo
- 2023: Jordan Marshall, RB, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller, Michigan
- 2024: Matt Ponatoski, QB, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller
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