High School Football Statistics: Milan's Cole McElvany was top dual threat this season

Milan's Cole McElvany carries the ball in the fourth quarter against New Boston Huron in the Division 4 playoff opener Friday, October 29, 2021.
Milan's Cole McElvany carries the ball in the fourth quarter against New Boston Huron in the Division 4 playoff opener Friday, October 29, 2021.

Cole McElvany had only two seasons to be the starting quarterback at Milan.

He didn’t waste his chance.

In just two seasons, including the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, McElvany finished his career with more than 2,000 yards rushing and 2,000 yards passing and accounted for more than 50 touchdowns.

“His stats are pretty amazing,” said Milan head coach Jesse Hoskins.

McElvany became one of only a handful of Monroe County Region athletes to rush for and pass for 1,000 yards in a single season this year when the 6-2, 210-pound senior accomplished the rare feat for the Big Red offensive machine. He ended up finishing fourth in the Region in rushing with 1,185 yards and fourth in passing yards with 1,177.

“He is one of the smartest and most mature players I have ever coached,” Hoskins said.

It ended up being a strong year for statistical leaders in the Region. Five players reached 1,000-yards in rushing and five did so in passing yards.

Owen Sampson of Ida stiff arms Erie Mason's Trent Herrera during Ida's 30-0 playoff victory Friday night.
Owen Sampson of Ida stiff arms Erie Mason's Trent Herrera during Ida's 30-0 playoff victory Friday night.

Owen Sampson of Ida rushed for 1,997 yards on 248 carries to lead the Region in both categories. He set a single game and season Ida records in doing do. Brandon Thompson etched his name in the Summerfield record book in Week 9 of the regular season when he rushed for a single game Bulldog record of 335 yards. That helped Thompson get to 1,086 yards on the season.

Cole Giesige of Whiteford celebrates after scoring his first touchdown over Ida Thursday, September 2, 2021.
Cole Giesige of Whiteford celebrates after scoring his first touchdown over Ida Thursday, September 2, 2021.

Whiteford’s Cole Giesige rushed for 1,257 yards and had 453 yards receiving to finish in the top five in both categories. He led the Region in touchdowns (30) and points scored (206).

Whiteford’s Shea Ruddy and Airport’s Cooper Nye shared the Region led in touchdown passes with 16. Dundee’s Carson Irwin edged Ruddy for the most passing yards this season, 1,397 to 1,353. Ruddy is a junior who has more than 3,000 career passing yards and is near the top of just about every Bobcat passing record going into his senior season.

Dundee quarterback Carson Irwin looks for a receiver during a 35-0 loss to Clinton Friday night.
Dundee quarterback Carson Irwin looks for a receiver during a 35-0 loss to Clinton Friday night.

While Irwin led the Region in passing, his favorite target was Elek LaPalme, who was the No. 1 receiver in terms of catches (44) and yards (654). LaPalme also led the Region in interceptions with five.

Milan’s William Gaskell was credited with 134 tackles, highest among defensive players in the Region.

RUSHING

Player ; ATT ; Yards

Owen Sampson, Ida ; 248 ; 1,997

Cody Britt, Carlson ; 221 ; 1,420

Cole Giesige, Whiteford ; 158 ; 1,257

Cole McElvany, Milan ; 160 ; 1,185

Brandon Thompson, Summerfield ; 123 ; 1,086

Nikolas Hammond, Airport ; 102 ; 994

Tayshaun Nichols, Monroe ; 128 ; 888

Shea Ruddy, Whiteford ; 96 ; 786

Cole Jondro, SMCC ; 122 ; 755

Drew Knaggs, Whiteford ; 103 ; 657

Tyler Conrad, Bedford ; 133 ; 646

Blake Birkenhier, SMCC ; 97 ; 624

William Gaskell, Milan ; 96 ; 621

Jake Iott, Whiteford ; 101 ; 581

Aiden McMullen, Erie Mason; 114 ; 567

Jimmy Dusa, Dundee ; 122 ; 540

Joey Godfrey, Flat Rock ; 124 ; 534

Randy Boisselle, Bedford ; 73 ; 530

Luke Levicki, Ida ; 92 ; 503

RECEIVING

Player ; ATT ; Yards

Elek LaPalme, Dundee ; 44 ; 654

Bryce Diehl, Erie Mason; 25 ; 567

Jaishaun Williams, Carlson ; 25 ; 546

Jett Isaacs, Milan ; 41 ; 482

Adam Goins, Airport ; 20 ; 467

Cole Giesige, Whiteford ; 18 ; 453

Gavin Gelso, Jefferson ; 20 ; 401

Connor Laskey, Bedford ; 11 ; 377

Connor Dessellier, Milan ; 28 ; 347

Tristan Panza, Monroe ; 21 ; 336

Jack Andrews, Whiteford ; 18 ; 316

Colin Nowak, Airport ; 14 ; 310

Carson Deseranno, Monroe ; 13 ; 292

Seth Minney, Jefferson ; 36 ; 289

Tyler Boerst, Bedford ; 13 ; 287

Braeden Lavis, Carlson ; 9 ; 259

Alexander Gillum, Flat Rock ; 19 ; 252

PASSING

Player ; COM ; ATT ; Yards ; TD

Carson Irwin, Dundee ; 151 ; 222 ; 1,397 ; 8

Shea Ruddy, Whiteford ; 67 ; 128 ; 1,353 ; 16

Cooper Nye, Airport ; 73 ; 133 ; 1,292 ; 16

Cole McElvany, Milan ; 101 ; 150 ; 1,177 ; 8

Vaughn Brown, Erie Mason ; 66 ; 129 ; 1,-39 ; 10

Eddie Light, Carlson ; 52 ; 102 ; 1,019 ; 10

Brendan Hammer, Bedford ; 43 ; 79 ; 966 ; 10

Ryan Gennoe, Jefferson ; 62 ; 122 ; 763 ;

Gavin Moczydlowski, NB Huron ; 52 ; 100 ; 748 ; 8

Ryan Sieler, Monroe ; 56 ; 107 ; 745 ; 8

Bryce Kalb, Summerfield ; 45 ; 95 ; 720 ; 9

Nathan Miller, Ida ; 19 ; 60 ; 519 ; 4

Mitch Kemmerling, SMCC ; 24 ; 45 ; 446 ; 6

Graham Junge, Flat Rock ; 42 ; 76 ; 420 ; 0

Micah Smith, NB Huron ; 20 ; 36 ; 358 ; 4

TACKLES

Player ; Total

William Gaskell, Milan ; 134

Cooper Buhl, Dundee ; 126

Gavin Larrow, Erie Mason ; 118

Jake Iott, Whiteford ; 104

Cole McElvany, Milan ; 104

Trey Parker, Dundee ; 93

Carson Baugher, Milan ; 92

Carson Deseranno, Monroe ; 92

Dylan Czlapinski, Ida ; 91

Evan Morelock, Milan ; 91

Noah White, Jefferson ; 87

Ethan Layton, Dundee ; 86

Elijah Beck, Milan ; 86

Ryin Ruddy, Whiteford ; 84

Ryan Johnston, Ida ; 83

Jett Isaacs, Milan ; 82

Colton Bordine, Dundee ; 80

Emiliano Sauceda, SMCC ; 80

INTERCEPTIONS

Player ; Total

Elek LaPalme, Dundee ; 5

Aiden Brodie, Monroe ; 4

Hunter DeBarr, Whiteford ; 3

Cobe Thomas, Carlson ; 3

Timmy Simons, Carlson ; 3

Avantae Robinson, Carlson ; 3

Colin Smith, Erie Mason ; 3

Brandon Scheffler, Carlson ; 3

William Gaskell, Milan ; 3

Nathan Herrmann, Summerfield ; 3

SCORING

Player ; TD ; 1XP ; 2XP ; PTS

Cole Giesige, Whiteford ; 30 ; 0 ; 13 ; 206

Cody Britt, Carlson ; 24 ; 0 ; 0 ; 144

Owen Sampson, Ida ; 22 ; 0 ; 4 ; 140

Cole McElvany, Milan ; 20 ; 0 ; 8 ; 136

Carson Irwin, Dundee ; 21 ; 0 ; 0 ; 126

Brandon Thompson, Summerfield ; 18 ; 0 ; 8 ; 124

Nik Hammond, Airport ; 16 ; 0 ; 2 ; 100

Jake Iott, Whiteford ; 11 ; 0 ; 12 ; 90

Shea Ruddy, Whiteford ; 9 ; 0 ; 16 ; 86

Drew Knaggs, Whiteford ; 12 ; 0 ; 6 ; 84

Adam Goins, Airport ; 13 ; 0 ; 1 ; 80

William Gaskell, Milan ; 12 ; 0 ; 0 ; 72

Cole Jondro, SMCC ; 11 ; 0 ; 0 ; 66

Bryce Diehl, Erie Mason; 10 ; 0 ; 3 ; 66

Matthew Williams, NB Huron ; 11 ; 0 ; 0 ; 66

Blake Birkenhier, SMCC ; 10 ; 0 ; 2 ; 64

Brendan Hammer, Bedford ; 10 ; 0 ; 0 ; 60

Isaac Smith, NB Huron ; 9 ; 0 ; 3 ; 60

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Stat Leaders: Milan's dual-threat QB leads strong year for Region players