This story was updated to add new information.
The Central District’s co-Offensive Players of the Year in Division I find themselves squaring off yet again, this time for perhaps the state’s most prestigious honor for a high school football player.
Olentangy Orange’s Levi Davis and Pickerington Central’s Rocco Williams, both seniors who are among the state’s top quarterbacks, were announced Nov. 26 as two of eight finalists for the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association’s Mr. Football award, presented annually to the state’s top player.
Davis has thrown for 2,016 yards and 15 touchdowns with seven interceptions and rushed for 939 yards and 16 scores on 127 carries, leading Orange (13-0) into its first state semifinal Nov. 28 against Lakewood St. Edward at Arlin Field in Mansfield.
Williams passed for 2,426 yards and 28 touchdowns, both program records, with four interceptions and rushed 69 times for 308 yards and eight touchdowns. He also averaged 39.1 yards per punt.
Davis’ Pioneers defeated Williams and the Tigers 39-7 in the Division I, Region 3 final Nov. 21 at Historic Crew Stadium.
“(This) definitely means a lot to me as it is a very prestigious award and I’m blessed to be a finalist,” Davis said. “It is an individual award but this is more just a testament to our team and how far we come. As it usually goes, the quarterback and head coach get most of the credit or the blame when it comes to football so this is just part of what comes with winning. Ultimately the goal is a state championship but it is an honor to be a finalist.”
Davis has committed to Ohio University, and Williams will play at Middle Tennessee State.
“It really means a lot to me and my family for all the hard work I’ve put in over the years,” Williams said. “Also being able to represent for the people from my hometown is truly an honor.”
The other finalists are 2024 winner and Cincinnati Moeller quarterback Matt Ponatoski, Shelby quarterback Brayden DeVito, Akron Hoban linebacker Brayton Feister, Liberty Township Lakota East running back/defensive back Ryder Hooks, Cleveland Glenville linebacker and Ohio State commit Cincere Johnson and Gnadenhutten Indian Valley running back/linebacker Grady Kinsey.
Kinsey also was a finalist in 2024, when his team won the Division IV state championship.
Mr. Football will be announced at 4 p.m. Dec. 4, before the start of the Ohio High School Athletic Association state championships.
Central Ohio has not had a Mr. Football winner since Upper Arlington’s Jeff Backes in 2000 and only three in the 38-year history of the award.
Backes ran for 3,353 yards and 44 touchdowns as a senior in leading the Golden Bears to a 15-0 record and the Division I state championship.
The only other winners from the area were Westerville South’s Andy Katzenmoyer (1995) and Grove City’s Derek Combs (1996). Both went on to play at Ohio State.
High school sports reporter Dave Purpura can be reached at dpurpura@dispatch.com and at @dp_dispatch on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: QBs Levi Davis, Rocco Williams named Ohio Mr. Football finalists
Reporting by Dave Purpura, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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