Elyria Catholic's Levi Ellis named the 2022 Golden Helmet winner after shining on both sides of the ball

ELYRIA — Levi Ellis headed to the pep rally Friday afternoon in Elyria Catholic's Coliseum with no idea he was about to be named the 2022 Golden Helmet award winner. The senior said he was surprised he won the award. Very few people could say the same. "I mean, I had no idea," Ellis said. "I never really thought about (winning the Golden Helmet). I always knew in the back of my mind that it was a thing, but it was never really one of my goals. All I cared about was being in the right position for my team and making my team better. But it's a great honor." Ellis has been a four-year two-way starter for the Panthers, but saved perhaps his best performance on both sides of the ball for this season. On offense, he has rushed for 1,942 yards and 25 touchdowns on 236 carries through 11 games, averaging 176.5 yards per game and eclipsing 100 yards in every game. He also had five catches for 48 yards and even completed two pass attempts for 46 yards. On defense, he has 128 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries, an interception, three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. On special teams, he's blocked a punt, blocked two field goals and has a 20-yard punt return. "That's kind of his impact on the game," EC football coach Brian Fox said. "His first game, his freshman year, he started at outside linebacker at 155 pounds and was immediately the best tackler on the team. He's an incredibly instinctual player. "He's just incredible at everything. It wasn't like, 'I'm an offensive player, I'll take defense off.' It was full bore every time he's on the field. He does it all … and then some." Ellis is the seventh player from Elyria Catholic to earn the Golden Helmet award, presented annually to Lorain County's top senior player. Two former Golden Helmet winners — Al McKinney (1984) and Danny Reaser (2010) — were on hand at the ceremony to help present the plaque. "It was really special," Ellis said. "Al McKinney and Danny both helped build this program, so it was awesome to have them here. They have the (winners) helmets out in the field house and I always stop to take a look at them. So, yeah, there's been some amazing players (to win the award) and it feels good to be in that category with them." Ellis eclipsed the school career rushing record McKinney held for nearly four decades in the Panthers' regional first-round victory over Bryan last weekend. The Panthers are scheduled to face off against Clear Fork in the Division IV regional quarterfinals Friday night. The list of Golden Helmet winners is littered with high-level college players, NFL stars and even a Super Bowl champion or two. "It's an unbelievable award," Fox said. "The talent of Lorain County football is unbelievable and when you put them up with all these names that he's gonna join, you just see incredible athletes and successful players … and even those he had to go against to get the award (this year). "Levi has been the face of EC football and he's made it an exciting game to come and watch. He's made it an event to be at on Friday night. But beyond that, I think the biggest impact is the person himself. You want to cheer for him as much because of the man he is outside of football … and that's what helps build culture and programs." Keystone's Ryne Shackelford and Avon's Sam DeTillio were named Special Mention selections by the Golden Helmet committee, while Oberlin's Isaac Thompson, Firelands' Weston Strader and Elyria's Isaiah Johnson were Honorable Mention. Contact Shaun Bennett at (440) 329-7137 or sbennett@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @ShaunBennettct on Twitter. Golden Helmet winners 2022 — Levi Ellis, Elyria Catholic running back/linebacker 2021 — Gideon Lampron, Keystone running back/linebacker 2020 — Niko Pappas, Avon quarterback 2019 — Jacob Shackelford, Keystone quarterback 2018 — Brandon Coleman, Columbia running back 2017 — Justin Sturgill, Lorain quarterback 2016 — Dustin Crum, Midview quarterback 2015 — Logan Bolin, Midview wide receiver 2014 — C.J. Conrad, Keystone tight end 2013 — Jay Banyasz, Columbia quarterback 2012 — Tracy Sprinkle, Elyria defensive end 2011 — Matt Eckhardt, Avon wide receiver 2010 — Danny Reaser, Elyria Catholic quarterback 2009 — Anthony Hitchens, Clearview running back 2008 — Ryan O'Rourke, Avon quarterback 2007 — Mike Haddad, Avon Lake running back 2006 — John McGraw, North Ridgeville running back 2005 — P.J. Mahone, Elyria running back 2004 — Trey Stross, Avon Lake wide receiver 2003 — Jon Schroeder, Avon Lake running back 2002 — Dustin Intihar, Columbia running back 2001 — Brian Cesear, Amherst running back 2000 — Jeff Strauch, Avon Lake running back 1999 — Dan Rozanski, Midview running back 1998 — Matt Wilhelm, Elyria Catholic linebacker 1997 — Ryan Myers, Wellington running back and Erik Rogers, Vermilion 1996 — Zack Mitchell, Avon 1995 — Ricky Schneider, Amherst 1994 — Jerel Klue, North Ridgeville 1993 — Tim Schumacher, Avon Lake 1992 — Ty Grude, Firelands and LaRon Trice, Elyria West 1991 — Ron Leshinski, Vermilion 1990 — Erik Engel, North Ridgeville 1989 — Tony Godbolt, Elyria High 1988 — Steve Tovar, Elyria West linebacker 1987 — Tyrone Nelson, Elyria West tailback and Dennis Washington, Lorain tailback 1986 — David Lyons, Clearview, fullback 1985 — Jeff Seasor, North Ridgeville, linebacker 1984 — Al McKinney, Elyria Catholic, tailback 1983 — Brian Schneider, Elyria Catholic fullback and Bob Calamari, Admiral King quarterback 1982 — John Berner, Avon Lake tailback 1981 — Vince Villanucci, Lorain lineman 1980 — Jeff Mey, Vermilion halfback 1979 — Jon Burger, Elyria linebacker and kicker 1978 — Craig Best, North Ridgeville tailback 1977 — Bryan Thomas, Elyria Catholic tailback 1976 — Greg Jones, Elyria West tailback 1975 — Virgil Williams, Lorain halfback 1974 — Steve Holovacs, Firelands tailback and Tim Burns, Wellington tailback 1973 — Bruce Yeager, Elyria Catholic fullback-middle guard 1972 — Bob Hyatt, Keystone halfback and Gus Mecera, Clearview, two-way tackle 1971 — Ike Maxwell, Elyria tailback 1970 — Kurt Schumacher, Lorain, fullback-tackle 1969 — John Husband, Elyria fullback 1968 — Jim Svoboda, Lorain end-linebacker 1967 — Dick Wakefield, Avon Lake end 1966 — Ralph Holloway, Oberlin fullback-middle guard 1965 — Randy Stevenson, Elyria linebacker