Titans Sager named Northwest District Lineman of the Year PUTNAM COUNTY - Ottawa-Glandorf's offense struggled some in the early parts of the 2009 season. But as the season went on the offense became better and one of those reasons was the play of senior lineman Brent Sager.
An all-league play as a junior, Sager had another solid season as he was named the Division IV Lineman of the Year for Northwest Ohio as voted on by sports writers.
Overall, eight players received first team honors from writers in the Northwest District and another five players were named to the second team. The awards were between players in Division IV and Division VI for Putnam County players.
Sager was a first team selection on offense in Division IV, while Jeff Siefker and Brian Laubenthal were named to the first team defense. The Titans' Ross Ellerbrock was a second team selection on offense, while Jacob Recker was a second team defensive selection.
Sager, a 6-4, 250 pound senior, along with Ellerbrock, 6-1, 190 pound junior, anchored an offensive line that has accounted for over 4,200 yards of offense this season. The Titans have rushed for 2,712 yards in 13 games and passed for another 1,534 yards.
Siefker, a junior, was named to the first team defense as he leads the Titans in tackles with 161, 105 solo. He has two sacks and nine tackles for losses. Laubenthal, a senior, was named to the first team defense as he leads the Titans with 10 interceptions, a school record, three of which he has returned for scores this season. He has 60 total tackles this season, 38 solo.
Recker, a senior, has 95 tackles this season for O-G, 47 solo. He has five sacks and 10 other tackles for losses.
The Titans' Zach Buckland, Brandon Kuhlman, Nathan Kahle and Ryan Leopold were on the Honorable Mention list.
In Division VI. Leipsic had two players on the first team offense in Jay Maag and Isaac Krinke, while Columbus Grove's Dylan Vogt was a first team offensive player.
On defense, the Vikings' Tre Lopez and Derek Mangas were honored.
Maag, a senior, was a key target for Leipsic's quarterback this season hauling in 36 passes for 593 yards and eight scores. Krinke, a 6-5, 265 pound senior, anchored the Vikings offebsive line that rushed for over 2,000 yards this season and threw for another 1,500 yards.
Vogt helped key the Bulldogs offensive line this season as Grove's running game late in the season was the key to their success.
Lopez was a force up front for the Vikings defense this season with five sacks and 20 tackles for losses, while Mangas, a junior, had 38 tackles and four interceptions.
Second team honors went to Pandora-Gilboa's Tom Hochstettler and Tejay Boes, along with Grove's Rayce Risser.
Hochstettler, a senior, caught 46 passes for 588 yards this season and four touchdowns, while Boes was a mainstay on the Rocket line. Risser, a senior, rushed for 1,073 yards this season and 11 scores and he caught five passes for 36 yards. He also returned a kickoff and punt for scores.
Nathan Lee, Josh Lee and Kyle Hall were named to the Honorable Mention list for P-G along with the Vikings Sam Schroeder, Derrick Schroeder and Liam Nadler. Grove's Luke Kohls also made the Honorable Mention list.
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