Humble SeSay nabs top state honor
COLUMBUS — Rashid SeSay's ability and talent are easy to see on the gridiron.
The West Muskingum senior needs just a little space to make a big play, no matter the opponent.
His memorable season landed him another accolade on Tuesday, as SeSay shared the Division V State Offensive Player of the Year honor with Germantown Valley View's Caden Henson.
"I had an injury early my junior year and had to fight through it, and being first-team All-Ohio was my goal this year," SeSay said. "I knew what I was capable of and played with a chip on my shoulder. Football was my life. This honor makes me reflect and realize what I and this team was able to do. I never expected this and to see my hard work pay off is awesome."
Area players earn All-Ohio honors in Division VI, VII
Division IV and V All-Ohio teams released
The Division IV and V teams were selected by the Ohio Prep Sportswriter Association, with Division II and III to be released on Wednesday.
SeSay totaled 1,060 yards and 27 TDs on 136 carries and 28 catches for 454 yards with eight scores, while throwing a pair of TDs and returning two kickoffs for scores in the regular season. He even made 55 tackles and had a pick six to highlight his defensive contributions.
The All-Ohio first team running back also finished the season by scoring a Muskingum Valley League record of 42 TDs.
It's another accomplishment for SeSay, and a source of "pride" for West M coach Nate Brownrigg and the program.
"I'm proud of the work he has done over the past four years and proud of his performance on the field (one of the best ever)," Brownrigg said. "I'm proud of the leader and teammate he is and proud of the young man and person he is – humble. He's the first to credit his teammates and offensive line for his accomplishments. He has been a great example of the values of our program and set new standards for what can be accomplished."
Staying focused and humble kept SeSay working to obtain his goals. Those traits were among the reasons he continued his rise, as were the contributions from his teammates
"This is about all the hard work and dedication we put in," he noted. "I would not have been able to have the success I had without the team around me. They deserve as much credit as I do."
While a college decision looms, Brownrigg noted the postseason honors have opened more opportunities, including some Division I interest.
"His success and improvement can be attributed to his work ethic and his unselfish desire to do any and everything he can to help his team," Brownrigg said. "He was relentless in the weight room, building his body into one of the best athletes this area has ever had, while maintaining excellent grades and working some part-time jobs. It showed his great responsibility and maturity."
SeSay is looking for the right fit, a place where he can build a new legacy. Yet, his mark has been left on the Tornadoes, who he hopes will continue to prosper into the future.
"I'm looking for a nice campus and facilities, as well as a coach and program that I can trust. I want them to be real with me, not cut me short," he said. "I want to have a good chance to play for most of my years and try to build a legacy in college.
"I hope (the underclassmen) I played with understand that they need to trust the process and play for each other," he added. "My class built a brotherhood with great friendships. We played for each other and became a great team. I hope those guys know they can't be selfish but need to play for one another. If they do that, they can be great together, too."
His example is one Brownrigg will use to teach present and future Tornadoes. SeSay showed the possibilities by combining his talent with a steady drive.
"I think this can inspire players in our program to continue to "buy in" to the core values of the program. Rashid did and was able to accomplish great things (for his team and as an individual)," Brownrigg remarked. "As far as players in the area, I think that it can also inspire them to work the same way and shows that these types of awards and recognition are possible despite being from smaller schools or a lesser-known area."
All-Ohio honors around the area
There was plenty of local talent recognized by writers throughout the state. In Division IV, Sheridan senior offensive lineman Cole Davis made first team All-Ohio, while Sheridan senior quarterback Caden Sheridan and senior wide receiver AJ Winders and Morgan senior quarterback Logan Niceswanger and senior wide receiver Kole Searl made second team.
Davis, the Southeast District Division IV lineman of the year, was a stalwart on both lines for the Generals, while Winders had 39 catches for 694 yards with seven TDs and Sheridan had more than 2,000 yards of offense and accounted for 26 TDs, including 1,555 yards passing with 16 TDs and 487 yards and 10 TDs on the ground.
Being recognized with the best in the state was one of Davis' goals entering this season.
"All-Ohio is something, a goal, that everyone should set for themselves at the beginning of the season, and making All-Ohio is truly something that really reflects on my career at Sheridan," he said. "It just is something that makes me recognize how well I have played this year among my league and division. All Ohio is something that I have dreamed of making since my freshman year, and making 1st team to cap off my high school career, is truly a great blessing, and I am extremely thankful for it."
There is also a special feel around Sheridan, added Davis. Between the coaches, teammates and community, there was something about being a General that Davis will always cherish.
"To be a part of a program like Sheridan, there are no words to describe how much of an honor it is. There is no other head coach or coaching staff I could’ve imagined playing for than at Sheridan," Davis said. "This is a program that not only exceeds in teaching and performance on the football field, but most importantly off the field. Coach (Paul) Culver taught us how to be great students, sons, brothers, and eventually husbands and dads. And the environment at Sheridan was truly remarkable. No matter who we played, whether big or small we would always have a great crowd.
"I’m also truly thankful for my brothers out there on the field, I’ll never forget the sacrifices they made and I made myself, for this team, they will be my greatest friends in the future," he added. "And overall, I just hope I left a legacy to be remembered at this school. I hope I inspired and set a great example for my younger teammates. For there is no greater feeling than going out on a Friday night with the Red and Gray, and representing the Sheridan Generals. RMA."
Niceswanger threw for 2,048 with 21 scores and had 710 yards and 17 TDs on the ground and Searl had a school-record 1,027 yards receiving on 71 receptions and scored 10 times for the Raiders.
Cambridge senior wide receiver Devin Ogle, Philo senior defensive lineman Drew Wright and Maysville senior punter Wesley Armstead were on third team.
Wright had 52 tackles, 14 for a loss, 11 sacks, five forced fumbles (tying a school record), three pass breakups and three fumble recoveries; Ogle had 89 receptions for 1,425 yards and 14 TDs and broke five school records, including receptions for a career and season, receiving yards for a career and season and TDs in a career with 29 for the Bobcats; and Armstead averaged nearly 38.5 yards per punt
Honorable mention included Philo senior defensive back Seth Henning and junior quarterback Talon Preston, Maysville junior linebacker Logan Wilhite and junior defensive back Mat Harper and Sheridan senior defensive back Justin Munyan and junior linebacker Shawn Griffey.
Also in Division V, West M senior offensive lineman Mike Farley and Coshocton senior defensive back Antwone Johns were on the second team and Ridgewood junior linebacker Aiden Sparger was named to the third team.
Farley was the leader of a senior-laden offensive line for the Tornadoes; Johns had 80 tackles and five forced fumbles for the Redskins; and Sparger collected 66 tackles and eight for a loss for the Generals.
West M junior quarterback Jake Anton, sophomore kicker Silas Kuhn, senior defensive lineman Colin Thornton and junior linebacker Carter Winland, New Lexington senior wide receiver Jerek Braglin, senior defensive lineman Jack Wright, senior defensive back Chase Dumolt and junior defensive back Bentley Hanson, Meadowbrook junior wide receiver Nick Norman, senior offensive lineman Zayden Yeagle and senior linebacker Noah Farley, Coshocton senior running backs Israel Rice and Riley Woodie and senior offensive lineman Ellzye Smith and Ridgewood senior running back Dyllan Austin, senior offensive lineman Cam Stanton and junior defensive lineman Logan Sesser received honorable mention.
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Check out the area players who earned All-Ohio Division IV and V honors
