The Enquirer ❚ THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019
Sports
Wyoming High School senior Evan Prater, the Ohio Division IV Offensive Player of the Year and an All-American,
brings the title back to Cincinnati for the first time since Norwood’s Marc Edwards won it. MEG VOGEL/THE ENQUIRER
MR. FOOTBALL
Wyoming QB Evan Prater is Cincinnati’s first since 1992
Scott Springer
Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY NETWORK
For the first time in 27 years, Ohio’s
Mr. Football resides in Cincinnati.
Wyoming High School senior
quarterback Evan Prater, who is the
Ohio Division IV Offensive Player of
the Year and an All-American, brings
the title back to Greater Cincinnati for
the first time since Norwood’s Marc
Edwards won in 1992. Since then,
Cincinnati has had considerable rep-
resentation in state championships,
but no Mr. Football winners until
Wednesday’s announcement.
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“I’m excited; it’s really a blessing,”
Prater said. “To bring it back to Cin-
cinnati is huge.”
Prater’s high school football career
ended last weekend with a Division
IV semifinal loss to Clyde. That left
his high school record as a starting
quarterback at Wyoming at 40-2.
Both losses came deep in the playoffs
to end undefeated seasons in 2017
and this year.
Last season, he led the Cowboys to
the Division IV state title at 15-0 with
a dominant performance in Canton.
The 6-foot-5, 190-pound dual-
threat ran for 242 yards and three
touchdowns and was 6-for-11 passing
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for 149 yards and two more scores. It
was Wyoming’s first state title in 41
years.
“A second state title would have
been great, but winning this award
was a huge personal goal for me,”
Prater said. “Bringing it back to Cin-
cinnati is huge, not just for me, but
my family and the community. Coach
(Aaron) Hancock did a great job just
supporting me and pushing me to be
my best.”
Hancock lobbied hard for his quar-
terback, reaching out to statewide
media as well as addressing the topic
See PRATER, Page 7C
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Bengals and Xavier
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Ridder
made
most of
time off
How UC’s quarterback
benefited from injury
Fletcher Page
Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY NETWORK
Desmond Ridder said he learned
a few things last week at Memphis
that will stick with him moving for-
ward.
An injured throwing shoulder
kept the University of Cincinnati’s
redshirt sophomore quarterback
sidelined during the 34-24 loss.
But he still led his team.
“It’s definitely a different view,
especially being on the sideline not
being out there on the field and be-
ing able to control the offense,” Rid-
der said. “Really, it helps you as a
leader. It helped me being able to
help Ben (Bryant) when he was com-
ing off the field to the sideline. It
helps you see the field differently.”
Ridder said he feels near 100%
and is working toward returning to
his starting spot for Saturday’s re-
match with No. 16 Memphis in the
American Athletic
(AAC) title game.
Conference
Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell
has been adamant this week about
Ridder’s role.
“Desmond Ridder is our starting
quarterback,” Fickell said. “He’s
been our starting quarterback for
two years. That’s who we are, that’s
what we do. Obviously, last week
was a freak situation, but that
doesn’t change what Des has done to
get us to this point.”
Ben Bryant completed 20 of 32
passes for 229 yards and a touch-
down and ran in another score in his
first career start last week. The Bear-
cats posted their most yards through
See RIDDER, Page 5C
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