As a youngster growing up in the Mentor Youth Football program, Scotty Fox always dreamed of making his mark. It’s safe to say he has done that. Fox was named the 2024 winner of the Tony Fisher Award, which goes to The News-Herald’s football player of the year. One of five finalists for the award, Fox was announced as this year’s Tony Fisher Award winner as part of The News-Herald’s football awards show on Nov. 25, held in conjucntion with the Varsity Chalk Talk Show, hosted by Bill Tilton. In winning the award, Fox became the sixth winner of The News-Herald’s player of the year award from Mentor since the turn of the century, following most recently, Tadas Tatarunas (2017), Alex Matthews (2015) Conner Krizancic (2013), Mitchell Trubisky (2011-2012) and Bart Tanski (2006-2007) — players he grew up watching and aspiring to be someday. Fox finished his senior season completing 183 of 283 passes (65 percent) for 2,760 yards and 33 touchdowns. He also carried 48 times for 283 yards and six touchdowns, ending with 3,043 total yards and 39 combined touchdowns. With Fox leading the way at quarterback, Mentor finished the season with a 13-1 record. The Cardinals ran the table in the regular season and finished as the undisputed champions of the Greater Cleveland Conference. Mentor’s season ended via a 13-7 loss in the Division I, Region 1 championship game on Nov. 22. Fox bid adieu to the Mentor football program in which he grew up early on Nov. 25 on his X (formerly Twitter) account. His post read, “Thank you Mentor Football. So blessed to be a part of such an amazing program. Thank you to all my coaches and teammates for making me the man I am today. I will never forget these great memories made throughout the years. #15out.” Thank you Mentor Football. So blessed to be apart of such an amazing program. Thank you to all my coaches and teammates for making me the man I am today. I will never forget these great memories made throughout the years. #15out pic.twitter.com/xAxx4aAX5K — Scotty Fox (@ScottyFox18) November 24, 2024 In winning the Fisher Award, Fox finished ahead of four other finalists, a list that included (in alphabetical order): • Benedictine running back Chris Maloney, who ran for 1,922 yards (on a 10.4-yard average) and 25 touchdowns despite missing three games with an injury. • Perry’s Walter Moses, who completed 150 of 217 (69 percent) passes for 2,475 yards, 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions, ran for 185 yards and three touchdowns, and finished with 2,650 total yards of offense and 33 touchdowns. • Gilmour’s Cooper Panteck, who completed 185 of 282 passes (66 percent) for 3,203 yards and 40 touchdowns with 2 interceptions. • Lake Catholic’s Frankie Trinetti, who completed 200 of 312 passes (64.1 percent) for 2,794 yards and 28 touchdowns with eight interceptions, as well as 19 carries for 69 yards. Tony Fisher Award winners 2007: Bart Tanski, Mentor 2008: Mike Hanhauser, Perry 2009: Tim Wetzel, Mayfield 2010: Ray Russ, South and Richie Sanders, Lake Catholic 2011: Kareem Hunt, South and Mitch Trubisky, Mentor 2012: Mitch Trubisky, Mentor 2013: Conner Krizancic, Mentor 2014: D.J. Greene, South 2015: Alex Mathews, Mentor 2016: Tommy Benenati, Chardon 2017: Tadas Tatarunas, Mentor and Godwin Joe, Brush 2018: C.J. Charleston, Gilmour 2019: Drew Schiano, Perry 2020: Joe Malchesky, Lake Catholic 2021: Mason Rus, Kirtland 2022: Mikey Maloney, Riverside 2023: Mikey Maloney, Riverside 2024: Scotty Fox, Mentor