COLUMBUS, Ohio — Lakota East senior running back Ryder Hooks and Moeller senior quarterback Matt Ponatoski were named Wednesday afternoon as finalists for the Ohio Mr. Football award.

Hooks and Ponatoski are among eight finalists for the prestigious annual award which started in 1987. Ponatoski won the 2024 Ohio Mr. Football award.

The Ohio Prep Sports Media Association membership votes on the award starting Wednesday. The winner will be announced at 5 p.m. Dec. 4 in Canton prior to the start of the Ohio High School Athletic Association football state championships at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

Ohio’s Mr. Football was selected by the Associated Press from 1987-2016. Since 2017, it has been presented by the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association. The OPSWA All-Ohio teams will begin

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