Lorain County high school football did not have a long postseason in 2009 with its only two playoff teams falling by the second round, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t a deep talent pool in the area. While Avon Lake dominated the Big School division, the county’s smaller schools shared the wealth.

The Shoremen won every positional award including offensive back (Mike Mansnerus), defensive back (T.J. Thompson), offensive lineman (Michigan commit Christian Pace) and defensive lineman (Pittsburgh commit Dan Schneider).

Mansnerus moved into second place all-time on Avon Lake’s heralded rushing list with 3,835 yards and 45 touchdowns for his career. He was named Southwestern Conference player of the year as well as AP Northeast Lakes District Offensive Player of the Year. While the Shoremen struggled early, it was Mansnerus whose rushing ability gave young quarterback Trent Toy time to develop and help push the Shoremen to another SWC championship and playoff appearance.

North Ridgeville coach Jeff Riesen was the only non-Shoreman to win a big-school award. Strangely enough, Riesen coached at Avon Lake for a year before current coach Dave Dlugosz took over.

Clearview’s Anthony Hitchens won the small school back of the year. Hitchens was expected to be the area’s most electrifying player this season and didn’t disappoint, particularly in a 354-yard performance against Columbia on Oct. 2.

His teammate Tony Williams was named Defensive Back of the Year.

Elyria Catholic ruled the trenches as Jared Schuster was named the county’s best offensive lineman and Cincinnati commit Josh Russ was named Defensive Lineman of the Year.

Clearview and EC have to share the Coach of the Year as Panthers’ coach Ben Malbasa and Clippers coach Mike Collier were named co-Coaches of the Year. Both narrowly missed the playoffs.

All-Lorain County

Big School (Div. I, II)

Offense

Offensive Line: Cody Balko (Amherst), Josh Conrad (Avon), Andrew Wisler (Avon Lake), Isiah Byler (Elyria), Alex Lovasz (North Ridgeville), Joseph Charlton (Southview). Honorable Mention: Alex Stanley, Andrew Behan (Avon Lake), Jim Adkins, Brandon Medina (Admiral King)

Quarterback: Alex Basinski (Amherst), Bret Whitesel (Midview). Honorable Mention: Trent Toy (Avon Lake)

Running Back: Luis Mendez (Admiral King), Charlie Davis (Amherst), Mike Mansnerus (Avon Lake), Trynell Davis (Elyria), Josiah Holt (Midview), Mo Jaber (North Ridgeville). Honorable Mention: Ricky Earl (Southview)

Tight End: Scott Ferris (Amherst), Nathan Alpine (North Ridgeville)

Wide Receiver: Jason Stump (Amherst), Brandon Mahaffey (Avon), Ron Willoughby (Avon Lake), Kevin Morissette (Avon Lake), Dominique Qualls (North Ridgeville)

Defense

Linebacker: Marty Thomas (Amherst), Patrick Furnas (Avon), Nick Marinkov (Avon Lake), Cameron Koepp (Elyria), Steven Lopez (North Ridgeville), Aaron Serano (Southview), Brent Hurd (Vermilion). Honorable Mention: Justin Hobart (North Ridgeville), Shawn Hazelwood (Admiral King)

Defensive Back: Mat Malloy (Amherst), Andrew Kahl (Avon), T.J. Thompson (Avon Lake), Jacob Neuschaefer (Elyria), Zach Albright (Midview), Dallas Burt (North Ridgeville). Honorable Mention: Emmanuel Cook (Southview), Anthony Budka (Amherst)

Defensive End: Dan Schneider (Avon Lake), Tyler Glowacki (Amherst), Chase Ferris (Elyria), Avery Ware (Southview). Honorable Mention: Tony Petrosky (Midview)

Defensive Tackle: Justin Linder (Admiral King), Ryan Kohl (Vermilion), Ryan Malloy (Amherst), Jon Rodgers (Avon Lake), Brandon Bailey (Elyria), Chris Fule (North Ridgeville). Honorable Mention: Josh Bonnett (Elyria)

Special Teams

Kicker: Ryan Galik (Avon)

Punter: Justin Courtright (Avon)

Awards

Offensive Lineman of the Year: Christian Pace (Avon Lake)

Defensive Lineman of the Year: Dan Schneider (Avon Lake)

Offensive Back of the Year: Mike Mansnerus (Avon lake)

Defensive Back of the Year: T.J. Thompson (Avon Lake)

Coach of the Year: Jeff Riesen (North Ridgeville)

Small School (Div. III, IV, V)

Offense

Offensive Line: Tyler Mielcarek (Clearview), Jared Schuster (Elyria Catholic), Jake Sosinski (Firelands), Andrew Johnson (Keystone), Anthony Barnhill (Oberlin), Greg Knapp (Wellington). Honorable Mention: Tom Starr (Clearview), Jake Danko (Firelands)

Quarterback: Zach Anderson (Clearview), Danny Reaser (Elyria Catholic). Honorable Mention: John Bowman (Wellington)

Running Back: Anthony Hitchens (Clearview), Curtis Alston (Clearview), Alex Alicea (Elyria Catholic), Corry Sprouse (Keystone), Aaron James (Oberlin), Austin Gray (Wellington). Honorable Mention: Nick Deichler (Firelands), Brandon Hedinger

Tight End: Eric Thompson (Clearview), Anthony Jaeger (Columbia). Honorable Mention: Severon Holsworth (Oberlin), Josh Ford (Keystone)

Wide Receiver: Tony Williams (Clearview), Aaron Arnoczky (Clearview), Conor Voreis (Elyria Catholic), Jimmy Reid (Keystone), Tim Hill (Oberlin)

Defense

Linebacker: Austin Tackett (Brookside), Angel Flecha (Clearview), Nick Glass (Columbia), Jake Niece (Firelands), Tim McMullen (Keystone), Severon Holsworth (Oberlin), Clay Wright (Wellington). Honorable Mention: Mike Betka

Defensive Back: Luke Akerman (Brookside), Brandon Clark (Columbia), Nick Ksenich (Elyria Catholic), Jake Cooper (Keystone), Austin Fullen (Wellington), Jaron Antill (Wellington), Ed Geiger (Oberlin). Honorable Mention: Zach Rogers (Elyria Catholic), Kyle Smith (Firelands)

Defensive End: Todd Osborn (Clearview), Matt Frye (Columbia), Ryan Waldmann (Firelands). Honorable Mention: Rocky Radeff (Brookside), Devan Martin (Oberlin)

Defensive Tackle: Emanuel Sanchez (Clearview), Ethan Garafolo (Columbia), Matt Rector (Keystone), Anthony Barnhill (Oberlin), Jarron Hicks (Oberlin), Brandon Kania (Wellington).

Special Teams

Kicker: Collin Owens (Clearview), Scott Beverage (Keystone)

Punter: Gilbert Harris (Oberlin).

Awards

Offensive Lineman of the Year: Jared Schuster (Elyria Catholic)

Defensive Lineman of the Year: Josh Russ (Elyria Catholic)

Offensive Back of the Year: Anthony Hitchens (Clearview)

Defensive Back of the Year: Tony Williams (Clearview)

Coach of the Year: Mike Collier (Clearview), Ben Malbasa (Elyria Catholic)