Before we get to the Outside the Huddle All-Area Team and our end-of-year awards, Blitz wanted to take some time and take a last glance at area conferences and hand out some league-specific hardware.
We started with the Summit Athletic Conference and continued with the Northeast Eight.
Now, we head to the Allen County Athletic Conference.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: JAMISON ROACH, ADAMS CENTRAL
Roach took another significant step forward in 2025, with the junior showcasing his complete set of skills all fall long.
At quarterback, Roach was incredibly dangerous in running Adams Central’s scheme. He is a multi-faceted weapon who torched teams with his legs and his arm. With so much experience behind center with the Flying Jets, Roach has become an extension of the coaching staff in reading and reacting pre and post snap while operating the offensive unit.
Biddle also saw time at safety on defense and special teams. His 99-yard touchdown return on the opening kickoff against Woodlan on Oct. 17 set a program record.
The junior was voted IFCA Class 2A All-State.
HONORABLE MENTION: Axton Beste, Bluffton; Wes Summersett, South Adams
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: TREY SLUSHER, SOUTHERN WELLS
Yes, the Raiders won just two games this past season. But when you factor in that Southern Wells captured just a single victory combined over the previous four campaigns, you have to give credit where credit is due. And don’t forget, both wins this year came against ACAC foes – Jay County and Woodlan.
As a team, the Raiders amassed 2,596 total yards this season. Slusher was responsible for 2,320 of them – 1,309 yards passing and 1,011 yards rushing. That means that 89 percent of Southern Wells’ offensive production in 2025 came directly from Slusher.
Of the 20 total touchdowns by the team, 18 were tied to Slusher – 12 passing and six rushing.
Incredible.
In the true meaning of the award, Slusher was the MVP in the ACAC and no one else was close.
HONORABLE MENTION: Tytus Lehman, South Adams
BREAKOUT PLAYER: JOHN O’LEARY-FREEMAN, BLUFFTON
Blitz praised the Bluffton offense all season long, and for good reason, but that doesn’t mean the defense didn’t come up big at times in a nine-win campaign for the Tigers.
One of the standouts on that unit was sophomore John O’Leary-Freeman, who finished second on the team with 12 tackles for loss and six sacks from his position along the defensive front.
A two-way lineman, O’Leary-Freeman showcased a complete set of skills that will make him one to watch for Bluffton going forward. He was voted All-ACAC First Team, one of just two sophomores to make the cut.
HONORABLE MENTION: Ashtin Jacquay, Woodlan; Jax Litchfield, Heritage
COACH OF THE YEAR: MICHAEL MOSSER, ADAMS CENTRAL
We sometimes fall into the trap of expecting greatness to the point that we begin to not appreciate it.
Not so here, with Mosser as the easy choice for the this award in the ACAC.
In securing its fifth-consecutive conference crown, the Flying Jets continued their dominance of league teams. It will enter 2026 riding a 35-game winning streak over ACAC squads, the last loss coming on Sept. 25, 2020, a 29-9 loss to South Adams.
This past season saw more dominance. Just one league contest was decided by less than 28 points – a 14-7 edging of Heritage in Week 5. Adams Central went 13-1 overall, falling one game short of its fifth-straight trip to the state championship.
GAME OF THE YEAR: Bluffton 44, South Adams 41
The ACAC season kicked off with a bang in Bluffton in Week 3.
The two teams combined for 826 yards of total offense and 47 first downs, with the game not decided until the final seconds with a Bluffton interception by Marshall Gerber. That came less than 12 seconds after Axton Beste found AJ Streveler in the end zone for the final lead change of the game.
The top players on both teams showed out. Derek McKean had 191 yards receiving on 16 receptions for South Adams. Axton Beste threw for 203 yards and rushed for 66 more. Fellow Tiger Griffin Morgan had eight tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Big play after big play went into this game living up to the early-season hype.
In the end, Bluffton secured the win, its third straight over its league foe from Berne.
HONORABLE MENTION: Week 5: Adams Central 14, Heritage 7
EARLY PICK FOR 2026 ACAC CHAMPION: ADAMS CENTRAL
Until someone knocks off the five-time champions, it will remain the favorite.
Adams Central has some pieces to replace, particularly along the offensive and defensive lines, but let’s not pretend it hasn’t had to plug gaps before during its half-decade run of dominance in the league.
Jamison Roach will be back for his senior campaign, along with fellow seniors Zander Schwartz and Reece Hammond. Lineman David Fisher will be a cornerstone to reload along the front line as well.
The Flying Jets will once again be the team to beat in the ACAC in 2026.
These opinions represent those of Blitz and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Blitz on Twitter at Blitz_OTH
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