BEAR NECESSITIES: Who should be area player of the year?

Congratulations to the Bishop Dwenger Saints, the lone area team to advance to state championship weekend next week.

Don’t worry, OutsidetheHuddle.net will have plenty of coverage of Bishop Dwenger v. Evansville Central leading up to next Friday. But for today, trusty ol’ Blitz wanted to take a look at a list of candidates for the inaugural OTH Player of the Year award.

Agree? Disagree? Let your furry friend know.

EVERETT JOHNSON,  BLUFFTON

The senior running back finished with 1,946 yards and 24 touchdowns for the Tigers, who finished with a winning record for the first time since 2003.

What the 6-foot Johnson did this year was nothing short of phenomenal. Defenses knew he was getting the ball, yet few defenses could corral him. He went over 100 yards rushing in eight games and was never held below 50 yards in a game the entire season.

NORMAN KNAPKE, BISHOP LUERS

The senior finished the season just 49 yards short of 3,000 yards passing, a phenomenal mark that is better than the likes of James Knapke and Kyle Lindsay in the lore of Luers football.

Knapke was definitely helped by the big-play ability of his teammates in the short passing game, but he made all the throws for the Knights. He threw for at least one touchdown in all 13 games for Luers and tossed three or more in a game seven times.

LOGAN MACKLIN, ADAMS CENTRAL

Some may scoff at a player from a 1A school being on this short list, but those people likely haven’t seen Macklin play in person.

Despite being barely 5-8, Macklin plays much bigger than his stature. South Adams coach Grant Moser described him best as an “SAC guy” playing at the 1A level. Macklin led Adams Central on both sides of the ball, being one of the team leaders in rushing yards, receiving yards and tackles. Being a two-way guy truly showed his value and importance to a Flying Jets team that was the best in program history, despite losing to Pioneer in semistate.

JORDAN PRESLEY, BISHOP LUERS

The senior capped his prep career with 2,319 all-purpose yards for the year, including over 1,100 rushing yards. He accounted for a total of 25 touchdowns, notching scores for the Knights through the running game, passing game and in special teams.

Any team that kicked to Presley was making a mistake, as he showed with a pair of punt returns and a kickoff return for touchdowns this year.

Presley was the most dynamic athlete in northeast Indiana this season, there really was no comparison.

JOE TIPPMANN, BISHOP DWENGER

Could a lineman be player of the year? When you’re a D1 prospect and have the effect on a game on both sides of the ball that Tippmann has, why not?

The senior has been a constant along the offensive and defensive lines for Bishop Dwenger all season long. He (and pal Joe Henry) have bottled up teams week after week, opening holes for Saints running backs and plugging holes defensively.

Tippmann has also been used on occasion out of the backfield as both a blocking back and a ball carrier.

The numbers aren’t gaudy, but they never are for a lineman. But those who think Tippmann hasn’t affected his fair share of football games are sorely mistaken.