By Tim Glon
Senior Scott Rapps (Bay Village/Bay), junior Zach Schmerge (Wapakoneta) and sophomore Joe French (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward Central Catholic) were named All-North Region in football for 2016 by D3football.com.
Rapps and Schmerge were Second Team All-Region selections and French was a Third Team All-Region honoree. All three players are making their first appearance on the All-Region squad. This marks the 12th year that D3football.com has recognized an All-Region squad. A total of 19 ONU players have been named All-Region since the team's inception in 2005.
Rapps started nine games at defensive tackle this season and is a two-time All-OAC honoree after earning First Team honors this fall and Honorable Mention All-OAC honors in 2015. He was also named Academic All-Conference this season. He led the team with 6.0 sacks and 12.5 TFL and was fourth with 51 tackles.
Rapps played in 27 games and started 20 on the defensive line in his four years at Ohio Northern. He had 123 career tackles to go with 24 TFLs and 11.5 sacks.
Schmerge is also a two-time First Team All-OAC honoree at middle linebacker. This season, he led the OAC with 103 tackles and an average of 10.3 tackles per game including a career-high 20 tackles in the season finale at Baldwin Wallace. He has played in 26 games with 21 starts in his three seasons as a Polar Bear and has 226 tackles, 4 sacks and 13 TFL.
French led the OAC and set an ONU single-season record with 12 made field goals in 2016 and was also a First Team All-OAC selection this season. He was 12-of-16 on field goals and was 36-of-38 on extra points for 72 points in his first season on the ONU varsity. French was also named Academic All-Conference this season.
The Polar Bears posted a 5-5 overall record and posted its 20th upper division finish in the OAC in the last 21 seasons, tying for fourth place in the 10-team league with a 5-4 record under 13th-year head coach Dean Paul.
