By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Gabe Savage and Jackson Belk, two senior linebackers who made a combined total of 195 tackles for the Ryle football team this season, were among the local players who received Top 26 Awards at the Northern Kentucky Football Coaches Association’s post-season banquet on Wednesday night.
Each of the 20 high school football teams in the association select one player to receive an award and the coaches vote on six additional players to be honored for having exceptional seasons.
Jackson Belk
Gabe Savage
Ryle was one of the six team’s with two award-winners this year because Savage and Belk both averaged more than 10 tackles per game during the Raiders’ 9-4 season.
Savage finished with a team-high 154 tackles (69 solo, 85 assisted) for an 11.8 average that ranked among the state’s top 20. Belk made 141 tackles (67 solo, 74 assisted) for a 10.8 average to go along with three fumble recoveries and one pass interception.
Brossart was another team with two award-winners. Senior running back Jed Martin and senior quarterback Jacob Leicht were the offensive leaders for the Mustangs, who posted a best-ever 12-1 record and reached the quarterfinals of the Class 1A playoffs. Martin rushed for 1,377 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. Leicht had 1,054 yards rushing, scored 14 touchdowns and passed for 550 yards and seven TDs.
Drew Warth
Awards were presented to three other players who rushed for more than 1,000 yards this season — Braxton Newborn of Ludlow, Alex Castrucci of Conner and Brendon Tye of Cooper.
The other award-winner for Cooper was senior quarterback Drew Warth, who passed for 1,501 yards and 11 touchdowns after going through multiple surgeries on his throwing arm to return to the game he loves this season.
Beechwood selected senior Bryce Shepherd for a Top 26 Award. He was an offensive and defensive lineman for the Tigers, who won the Class 2A state championship game last Friday to finish with a 15-0 record.
Paul Wiggins of Brossart was named Coach of the Year and Ben Nevels of Holmes received the Owen Hauck Award that goes to the coach of the most improved team in the area. Terry Brown of Covington Catholic was named Assistant Coach of the Year.
The NKFCA will select three finalists for the Brian Williams “That’s My Boy” Award that goes to the top student-athlete in Northern Kentucky high school football each year. A rating system that awards points for achievements in football, academics and community service is used to determine the winner.
2021 NKFCA Top 26 Awards
Beechwood – Bryce Shepherd
Bellevue – Logan Allen
Bishop Brossart – Jacob Leicht, Jed Martin
Boone County – Dvion Davis
Campbell County – Camden Abell
Conner – Clayton Melcher, Alex Castrucci
Cooper – Brendon Tye, Drew Warth
CovCath – Sam Epplen, David Sullivan
Dayton – Eric Jiminez
Dixie Heights – Evan Wibberley
Highlands – Charlie Noon, Kaleb Kissee
Holmes – Damian Green
Holy Cross – Cade Lehmkuhl
Lloyd – Caden Tomlinson
Ludlow – Braxton Newborn
Newport – Rob Sanders
NewCath – Dom Morgan
Ryle – Gabe Savage, Jackson Belk
Scott – Luke Iden
Simon Kenton – Chase Crone
COACHES AWARDS
Bob Schneider Coach of the Year Award – Paul Wiggins (Brossart)
Owen Hauck Award – Ben Nevels (Holmes)
Assistant Coach of the Year — Terry Brown (Covington Catholic)
Jackson and Gabe had a combined total of 295 not 195 in tackles this year.