The annual Ohio Prep Sports Media Association East District football awards lists were officially released at noon Tuesday, and three locals — two players and one coach — were among those chosen for the highest honors in the district.

Big Red’s Reno Saccoccia was recognized as the Coach of the Year in Division III after guiding Steubenville to a 10-0 regular season finish for the first time since 2017 and earning the No. 2 seed in Region 11 after moving up to D3 from Division IV this season.

Also from Big Red, senior safety Brody Saccoccia was recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year. It is his second player of the year award at the district level after winning the award last season in Division IV. The younger Saccoccia had 86 tackles, three interceptions and a defensive TD during the regular season and was also the team’s leading receiver on offense.

In Division VI, Toronto senior quarterback Zeb Kinsey was recognized as Co-Offensive Player of the Year. In helping the Red Knights to a 7-3 regular season, a home playoff game and the second round the playoffs, setting multiple school records in the process. The Cincinnati commit threw for 2,337 yards and 22 touchdowns and ran for another 562 yards and seven scores in the regular season. He set new single game marks for touchdowns and passing yards, a new single season record for passing yards and career marks for passing yards and touchdowns.

DIVISION III

D3 had the most locals recognized with two teams — Big Red and Indian Creek, both of whom made the playoffs — in the division.

From Big Red, making the first team were Aiden Davis, Jalen Minniefield, Ben Burgey, Chandler Hoffman, Cole Bowers, Ephy Kelley, Noah West, Kyleigh Hopkins, Landon Crosier, Brody Saccoccia and Will Taylor.

First team honorees from Creek were Zion McGee, Nishon White, Luke McMillion, Gavin Pownall and Bruce Mazar.

On the second team were Steubenville’s Ca’Juan Bryant, Myles Cooper and Jemier Faulks and Indian Creek’s Ian Starkey, Kyle Shultz, Chase Nett, Justin Vergona and Mason Lester.

Indian Creek’s Jomar Johnson was an honorable mention.

DIVISION V

In D5, Edison’s fifth-straight playoff season resulted in seven Wildcats making the first team. They are JD Henderson, Cole Pittman, Bubba Thompson, Evan Kimmerle, Matt Evans, Eddie McAllister and Zack Vangosen.

Making the second team were Edison’s Brett Hellyer, Andrew Kirkman, Gabe Glenn, Zac Kuntz and Nolan Haught as well as Buckeye Local’s Alex McDiffitt and Harrison Central’s Mykel Quito.

Honorable mentions went to Buckeye Local’s Andrew Jones, Xavier Eastham, Marek Hickman, Daniel Divjak, Jusante Wright, Hadyn Boyce, Cameron Rusnak and Chris Ebright, Harrison Central’s Lance Smith, Beau Rinkes, Blake Atkins and Noah Thaxton and Edison’s Enzo Alloggia, Trevor Eisnaugle and Hayden Russell.

DIVISION VI

First team honorees in D6 from Toronto were Kinsey, Mason Marchbank, Aiden Filby, Russ Dickinson and Brody Winters.

Making the second team in the division were Brady Fair, Heath Thomas and Drake Bouscher.

DIVISION VII

Catholic Central’s third-straight playoff season resulted in seven Crusaders making the D7 first team. They are Jimmy Hernon, Peyton Rauch, Camden Bradley, Noah Hough, Tommy Pergi, Matthew Sprochi and Timmy Mihalyo.

NOTES:

�–� The selections were voted on by members of the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association.

�–� The OPSMA Mr. Football Award will be announced on Dec. 5 and the OPSMA All-Ohio teams will be released Dec. 9-12.

�–� The full lists will appear in Wednesday’s editions.