Trio leads Oak Harbor to wins across the board

Press Sports Editor
sports@presspublications.com

A season that saw Oak Harbor have the best year of any area football team as the Rockets went 12-1, won a Northern Buckeye Conference title and advanced to the Division V regional semifinals was rewarded as two players and a coach swept the top awards for the 2023 Alan Miller Jewelers’ All-Press football team.
Oak Harbor coach Mike May was a unanimous selection for Coach of the Year; Rocket defensive end Jacob Ridener was named the Defensive Player of the Year and the Lineman of the Year and his teammate, wide receiver Jaqui Hayward, was named the Offensive Player of the Year.
May, who just completed his 16th season coaching the Rockets, has overseen a very successful run for the last six years.
In that time frame, Oak Harbor has gone 54-14 (.794), won the third regional title in program history, advanced at least as far as the regional semifinals three times and won four league titles — three in the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division and one in the Northern Buckeye Conference.
“The individual awards are a reflection of the success that our team had this season. We were fortunate to have a lot of really good football players during the 2023 season and we have an excellent group of assistant coaches that have been together for many years,” May said. “We were excited to win the NBC championship in our first season and win two playoff games. Our players set numerous school records this season and it was a fun group to coach. The season didn't end the way we wanted it to, but we did accomplish a lot of great things and the kids created many memories that will last a lifetime.”
Hayward, who started at quarterback when he was a sophomore two years ago, was a wide receiver for the last two seasons. This year, the senior caught 69 passes for 868 yards and 11 touchdowns while carrying the ball 62 times for 654 yards and 10 scores. He also returned six punts for 167 yards and two touchdowns and will leave as one of the most accomplished Rockets in program history.
For his efforts, Hayward earned first-team honors in Division V while being named the Co-offensive Player of the Year in the district. (He was a third-team selection in Division V last season.)
“Jaqui was a major contributor to our football program over the last three years. He is graduating with seven school records and was responsible for many of our explosive plays during his time as a Rocket,” said May. “I think he will be remembered as one of the most dynamic football players to ever come through our program.”
Clay QB Mason Heintschel received two votes to be the Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 2,140 yards and 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions while rushing for 648 yards and 13 scores. Oak Harbor QB Michael LaLonde received one vote after throwing for 1,971 yards and 24 touchdowns with just four interceptions.
Ridener, who is a junior, has earned first-team honors in Division V in each of the last two seasons. He received six votes to be the Defensive POY and three votes for Lineman of the Year, edging out teammate Scott Smith, who got two votes.
Ridener already holds the program’s career record for sacks with 33, a record previously held by Rocket great Josh Osborne. He had 88 tackles — 11 for a loss, and 16 sacks plus an interception.
“It’s special,” Ridener said. “That comes with all the hard work I’ve done in the offseason and during the season with my teammates, coaches, and people I train with –– that led to this.”
Clay’s Luke Gibbs and Genoa’s Denver Stewart each received one vote for Defensive Player of the Year.
For Lineman of the Year, Ridener’s teammate Garrett Lindsay got a vote, as did Eastwood’s Ian Sibbersen, Cody Cappelletty, of Lake and Sam Hansen, of Gibsonburg.
Ridener also played guard on the offensive line, rotating in with Evan Hall and complementing a good group that included Lindsay, Smith, Isaac Schulte and Kellen Bickelhaupt.
At running back, Eastwood’s Caiden Maize led all rushers with 1,493 yards and seven touchdowns while Genoa’s Aidan Antry ran for 1,379 yards and 13 scores, good enough for both of them to earn first-team honors. Oak Harbor’s Dalton Witter filled in for Carson Ridener after he had a leg injury, rushing for 876 yards and 16 touchdowns in his senior season.
Earning first-team honors at linebacker were Genoa’s Denver Stewart (97 tackles, 13 TFL), Oak Harbor’s Travis Bouyer (75 tackles, 4 TFL), Eastwood’s Andrew Badenhop (92 tackles), Woodmore’s Jack Caldwell (126 tackles, 12 TFL) and Clay’s Luke Gibbs (93 tackles, 6 TFL).