Newark’s Franks Wins All-Ohio Coach of the Year in Division I

Wildcats' Drayson Peterson, Austin Rose Also Honored

ZANESVILLE, OH

The following selections have been made by the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association (OPSMA):

DIVISION I:

COACH OF THE YEAR: Bill Franks (Newark)

Second Team Offense: WR, Drayson Peterson, Senior (Newark)
Honorable Mention: DL, Austin Rose, Senior (Newark)

Coach Franks led Newark to its best season under his five-year watch with a seven-win regular season and a playoff berth in Division I, earning him Coach of the Year honors.

Meanwhile, Peterson was named to the Second Team for All-Ohio for the second straight season to cap off his Newark career. He finished with over 950 receiving yards, 14 receiving touchdowns, and over 1,300 all-purpose yards, which included a kick return for a touchdown). The receiving scores broke a school record for a single season, giving him 25 for his career, another untouched mark in Wildcats program history.

Rose might be headed to Ohio State with a bat in hand to play baseball, but the three-sport athlete can do a bit of everything at Newark. He finished his senior year with 75 tackles, nine of which were sacks, and helped anchor a defense which limited teams to 20 points or less in six of the seven Newark wins.

A season to remember for Newark, as the Wildcats certainly made their mark in Division I in 2024.