It’s been a big week for Tavien St. Clair. The Bellefontaine senior signed with Ohio State Wednesday afternoon in front of a big crowd in the BHS gymnasium and Thursday he found out that he came in second for Ohio’s Mr. Football award.
This past fall, he threw for 2,536 yards and 29 touchdowns, while also rushing for 254 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller junior quarterback Matt Ponatoski was named 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 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.
Ponatoski has thrown for 4,075 yards and 56 touchdowns through 15 games.
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 All-Ohio teams will be announced beginning Monday.
