Moeller junior quarterback Matt Ponatoski was named Wednesday morning as an Ohio Mr. Football finalist by the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association.Ponatoski, Moellers all-time career passing yards leader, is one of eight finalists for the Mr. Football award, which has been which has been presented on an annual basis since 1987.The OPSMA Mr. Football voting starts today for media members and concludes Dec. 2.The winner will be announced Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. before the seasons first state final (Division II) at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.Ponatoski, the OPSMA Southwest District Division I offensive player of the year, was also the Greater Catholic League South division offensive player of the year.He has thrown for 3,644 yards and 50 touchdowns for the Crusaders (13-1), who are No. 1 in the MaxPreps Ohio football rankings (regardless of division). He has also rushed for a touchdown.Ponatoski has thrown for 866 yards in the past three weeks in the postseason.Hes been locked in every single week, Moeller coach Bert Bathiany said. He has a great grasp of the game plan, a great grasp of what were trying to do on offense. And I think his leadership has increased a lot through these couple of weeks where he is taking more of a hold not just the offense but the team. So Ive been really happy about that. And hes being smart with the football more than anything. So thats number one.Ponatoski holds several Moeller records including career passing yards (7,208), season passing yards (3,676), career passing touchdowns (81), season passing touchdowns (50) along with season and career attempts and completions, according to Moeller sports information director George Smith.He will also join the Ohio High School Athletic Association state record list for season and career passing touchdowns and season and career passing yards, according to Smith.Moeller (13-1) plays Centerville (11-3) in a Division I state semifinal at Princeton Friday night.Its not any other week, Ponatoski said Tuesday afternoon. Its the state semifinal so we got to come out with a little more intent. But, just overall be us.It will be the first meeting between the programs since 2010 when Centerville won 27-17 in the first round of the playoffs, according to Smith.This is the fourth consecutive season that Moeller is in the state semifinal round.Going into this week I think everybodys excited, Ponatoski said. Weve gotten to this game three years in a row. This is the fourth year. Just getting over the hump is what were trying to do at this point.Fridays winner plays either Lakewood St. Edward (9-5) or Powell Olentangy Liberty (12-2) in the Division I state final Dec. 6 (7:30 p.m. kickoff) at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. Moeller is seeking its first football state final appearance since 2013.Moeller is also seeking its second Mr. Football recipient. University of Michigan freshman running back Jordan Marshall won the 2023 award.The OPSMA district chairpersons and the OPSMA officers selected student-athletes as finalists for the 2024 Ohio Mr. Football Award.Other finalists include Bellefontaine senior quarterback Tavien St. Clair, Ontario senior quarterback Bodpegn Miller, Walsh Jesuit senior quarterback Keller Moten, Mentor senior quarterback Scotty Fox, Avon senior quarterback Nolan Good, Olentangy Liberty senior quarterback Andrew Leonard and Indian Valley junior running back Grady Kinsey.The voting process will be nearly identical to that used to determine the Heisman Trophy winner in college football.The award was presented by the Associated Press from 1987-2016. Since 2017, it has been presented by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association which is now renamed the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association.Ohio Mr. Football Winners (including college choice):1987: Buster Howe, RB-DB-K-P, Zanesville, Ohio State1988: Robert Smith, RB, Euclid, Ohio State1989: Robert Smith, RB, Euclid, Ohio State1990: Bobby Hoying, QB, St. Henry, Ohio State1991: Derek Kidwell, QB-DE, Fostoria, Bowling Green1992: Marc Edwards, RB-LB, Norwood, Notre Dame1993: Curtis Enis, RB-LB, Mississinawa Valley, Penn State1994: Charles Woodson, DB-RB, Fremont Ross, Michigan1995: Andy Katzenmoyer, LB, Westerville South, Ohio State1996: Derek Combs, RB-DB-KR, Grove City, Ohio State1997: Tony Fisher, RB, Euclid, Notre Dame1998: Ryan Brewer, RB, Troy, South Carolina1999: Bam Childress, DB-WR-KR, Bedford St. Peter Chanel, Ohio State2000: Jeff Backes, RB-DB, Upper Arlington, Northwestern2001: Maurice Clarett, RB, Warren G. Harding, Ohio State2002: Ben Mauk, QB, Kenton, Wake Forest/Cincinnati2003: Ray Williams, RB, Cleveland Benedictine, West Virginia2004: Tyrell Sutton, RB, Archbishop Hoban, Northwestern2005: Delone Carter, RB, Copley, Syracuse2006: Brandon Saine, RB, Piqua, Ohio State2007: Bart Tanski, QB, Mentor, Bowling Green2008: Erick Howard, RB, North Canton Hoover, Akron2009: Erick Howard, RB, North Canton Hoover, Akron2010: Akise Teague, RB-DB-KR, Youngstown Ursuline, Cincinnati2011: Maty Mauk, QB, Kenton, Missouri/Eastern Kentucky2012: Mitch Trubisky, QB, Mentor, North Carolina2013: Dante Booker Jr., LB, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, Ohio State2014: Joe Burrow, QB, Athens, Ohio State, Louisiana State2015: Keishaun Sims, RB-DB, Massillon Perry, Ashland University2016: Michael Warren, RB, Toledo Central Catholic, University of Cincinnati2017: Joey Baughman, QB, Wadsworth, Elon University2018: Cade Stover, SS-RB, Lexington, Ohio State University2019: Evan Prater, QB, Cincinnati Wyoming, University of Cincinnati2020: Corey Kiner, RB, Cincinnati Roger Bacon, Louisiana State2021: Drew Allar, QB, Medina, Penn State2022: Lamar Sperling, RB, Akron Archbishop Hoban, Buffalo2023: Jordan Marshall, RB, Moeller, MichiganSIGN UP: Subscribe to our high school sports newsletter