Tipp dominates All-District football team

The Tippecanoe football team had 14 players honored by the media in Southwest Ohio as the annual All-Southwest District football team was selected last week.

Each division had a first and second team selected by position, along with honorable mention.

“It’s a great honor for our players and program here at Tippecanoe High School to have so many young men recognized on the OPSWA Southwest District Team,” Tipp coach Matt Burgbacher said. “This exemplifies the type of regular season our team had. Winning is hard and to do it 11 weeks in a row says a lot about the players we have here at Tipp.”

“I am very proud of each and every one of them, including their teammates, because they will be the first ones to tell you they couldn’t have done it alone. Football is a true team sport and these guys showed each week we were a great team.”

The Red Devils had a number of players honored to the first-team, including sophomore quarterback Larkin Thomas, who was the only underclass player out of the five backfield players named first-team.

Senior Jackson Davis was honored as a first-team wide receiver, one of six receivers to be honored.

Offensive lineman Alex Shellhammer was named to the first-team, and he was joined by Bellbrook’s Taylor Turner who Tippecanoe defeated back in week one.

On the defensive side, Max Howard was one of four players named to the first-team as the Tipp senior finished his career strong helping to lead the Red Devils defense to another great season.

Receiving the highest honor in the district was linebacker Collin Isaac, as the junior was selected as the Southwest District Division Three Defensive Player of the Year. Isaac was honored alongside five other linebackers to the first-team.

“I am especially proud of Collin Isaac for being named the Division Three Defensive Player of the Year. He earned it and deserved this award. The way he prepares himself for games and the attitude he plays with is outstanding. No doubt he was the best in the area this year and gets the opportunity to do it again next year.”

In the secondary, Tipp senior Riley Nicholls was selected to the first-team after another strong season.

Several more Red Devils were honored to the second-team, starting with another wide receiver and a player many expect to raise his game even more next year, sophomore Cade Havill. Senior Will Strong, who missed a few games due to injury this season, had a very strong season and was also selected at the receiver spot.

On the line, Tipp senior Ian Bickert was named to the second-team.

Defensively, still more Tipp athletes received honors. Senior Chris Preece was selected to the second-team lineman spot. Finally in the secondary, it was Red Devils junior Max Deckard landing a spot on the second-team.

Tipp’s Xavier Melton, Owen Baileys, and Gavin Newburg also earned a spot on the honorable mention.