Hoban's Lamar Sperling named Ohio's Mr. Football

COLUMBUS — Akron Archbishop Hoban senior running back Lamar Sperling has been named Ohio's Mr. Football by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association. He is the 36th winner of the award and led his team into the Division II state championship game Thursday night against Toledo Central Catholic, which eliminated Highland in the Region 6 semifinals. Sperling, 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, totaled 141 points in the statewide voting by OPSA members. Cincinnati Wyoming senior running back/defensive back CJ Hester was the runner-up with 101 points. He will play in the Division IV state championship game Saturday night. Other Mr. Football finalists included Darreon Fair, Cleveland Heights; Diore Hubbard, Gahanna Lincoln; Jordan Marshall, Archbishop Moeller; Connor Walendzak, Perrysburg; and Mason Wolfe, Millersburg West Holmes. Sperling entered Thursday with 3,511 rushing yards and 55 rushing touchdowns, both school records, on 377 carries in 15 games this season. The University at Buffalo recruit also had one receiving TD. The Ohio Mr. Football Award was given by The Associated Press from 1987-2016. It has been given by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association since 2017, with Medina's Drew Allar winning last year. The All-Ohio teams will be announced beginning Monday.