LUCAS, Ohio — Mason Galco doesn’t look like the best running back in school history and if you were to ask him, the Richland Source Offensive Player of the Year would tell you he doesn’t belong in the conversation of Lucas greats.
His statistics suggest otherwise.
An unassuming 5-foot-10, 184-pound senior, Galco rewrote the Lucas record books during a storied four-year career. He broke his own single-season rushing record this fall with 2,031 yards, his third consecutive season with at least 1,000 yards rushing. He rushed for more than 5,000 career yards and scored 70 touchdowns.
What’s more, he led Lucas to the two best seasons in school history. The Cubs advanced to the second round of the playoffs in 2014 and reached the Elite Eight this fall, falling to McComb in the Division VII, Region 24 championship game earlier this month.
“He’s not the biggest kid in the world, but he is special,” Lucas coach Scott Spitler said earlier this season. “He’s durable and when he gets the ball, he runs extremely hard.”
Not surprisingly, Galco has always been quick to deflect attention.
“The offensive line deserves all the credit,” Galco said. “They make my job easy.”
There’s no shortage of star power on the All-Richland Source offense. Galco is joined in the backfield by Mansfield Senior’s Brian Benson and Galion’s Drake Barnett.
A 5-7, 170-pound junior, Benson rushed for 1,375 yards and 20 touchdowns as the Tygers shared the Ohio Cardinal Conference championship with Ashland and Wooster and advanced to the Division II playoffs for the third time in four years. He is being recruited by a handful of Mid-American Conference schools after topping 1,000 yards for a second straight season.
The 5-10, 175-pound Barnett rumbled for 1,652 yards during the regular season and scored an area-best 31 rushing touchdowns. The Tigers advanced to the playoffs for the fourth straight season.
Triggering the offense is Shelby quarterback Brennan Armstrong, who like Benson is a MAC recruit. The strong-armed left-hander threw for an area-best 1,641 yards and 19 touchdowns while completing 103 of 203 passes. The sophomore also rushed for 915 yards and 15 touchdowns as the Whippets went 5-5.
Armstrong has a pair of major-college recruits as his targets in Madison’s Tyrell Ajian and Mansfield Senior’s Jornell Manns.
Ajian, who is being courted by just about every program in the country, caught 30 passes for an area-best 737 yards and 13 touchdowns. Manns had 35 grabs for 637 yards and eight TDs.
The offensive line is anchored by Madison’s Sean Williams, an imposing 6-4, 305-pound senior. Williams was an OCC and Northwest District first-team selection in Division III.
Tyson Dancy was Mansfield Senior’s most reliable offensive lineman. The senior was an OCC first team pick and was a Northwest District second team selection as a defensive lineman.
Lucas junior Jacob Arnold, a 5-10, 227-pound junior, was a Northwest District first team pick in Division VII.
Galion seniors Paul Keller (5-11, 260) and Zach Throckmortin (6-0, 225) helped clear the way for Barnett. Both were selected to the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference Red Division first team and the Northwest District second team in Division V.
The tight end is Mansfield Senior’s Chioke Bradley Jr. The son of Senior High’s head coach had just seven catches all season, but averaged a team-best 16.9 yards per reception. Five of his seven grabs went for first downs.
Clear Fork’s Thomas Staab did a little bit of everything for the Colts, which makes the sophomore a natural fit as the All-Richland Source utility back. Staab started the season at running back, but moved to quarterback early in the year. He rushed for 1,004 yards and nine touchdowns.
The kicker is Lexington’s Joey Vore. The senior was the OCC Special Teams Player of the Year. He also orchestrated Lexington’s turnaround from his quarterback spot, throwing for 892 yards and eight TDs.
The kick returner is Shelby’s Devon Brooks. The sophomore showed off his elusiveness by rushing for 891 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was a Northwest District first team selection in Division IV.
