On Sunday, Dec. 9, The Journal News will publish its Westchester/Putnam All-Star and Rockland All-County football packages. They include a player of the year, coach of the year, first team, second team and honorable mention for both sides of the river.
Obviously, the most coveted awards are the players of the year. Former winners include the likes of New Rochelle’s Ray Rice, Harrison’s Sammy Maldonado, Nyack’s Nigel Morris and Edgemont’s Matt Bernstein.
So who from this year’s group of football stars will join those prestigious names? Let’s hear your choice.
First, a word on some potential candidates…
WESTCHESTER/PUTNAM — The top-ranked teams all season both call New Rochelle their home. New Ro went on to win the Class AA state championship while Iona Prep came a couple steps short, falling in Saturday’s CHSFL AAA semifinals. Both teams have a host of potential all-star candidates and some of those — New Ro’s Jason Ceneus, Joe Clarke and Khalil Edney and Iona Prep’s Mario Biaggi and Chris Cooper — certainly had big seasons.
Other standout teams produced superstar seasons as well. Class A champ Somers included a deep group up front and the versatile and dominant duo of Stefano Bicknese and Joe Lombardo. Contenders Harrison and Sleepy Hollow each had their own stars as well.
Westchester and Putnam also played home to top recruits, led by Westlake’s Tommy Hopkins.
ROCKLAND — With a fraction of the teams, the list is obviously shorter in Rockland, but the candidates are strong. Tappan Zee’s Joe Letizia and Albertus Magnus’ Nico Denise both had record-setting seasons for their schools. North Rockland’s duo of Nick Connell and John Dapolito were dominant two-way players for a team that beat everyone on its schedule except for the Class AA state champ. And unheralded stars like Nanuet’s Dan Breit, Nyack’s Derwohn Bartley, Ramapo’s Jason Dorsainville, Suffern’s Chris Gragnani and Clarkstown South’s Ray Manfredi either posted big numbers or received major recognition around Section 1.
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Now, I want your feedback on who you believe deserves the two awards. The winners will be revealed in 13 days. Who do you expect them to be?
411 Comments
PPR,
I couldn’t agree with you more about the tragedy on SI.
The computers don’t change their formula for one team (New Ro). Like I said above very simply, New Ro’s computer rankings rose when they played and beat good teams – in the nyphsaa playoffs, New Ro beat 3 teams in the 6-10 range in NYS – Shaker, OP and PB…it only makes sense their rating rose significantly. I’m slightly surprised that the computers ranked New Ro ahead of Chaminade since Cham beat 2 top 5 NYS teams in the CHSFL playoffs…but I wouldn’t argue with it.
The NYSWWA rankings which we know are generally a joke has New Ro only as the co #-1 with Canisius. MSG has New Ro ranked behind Chaminade, St As, Erasmus and slightly ahead of Iona and Tottenville. I would say that New Ro, Chaminade, St As and Iona are all pretty close on the year. New Ro improved tremendously from earlier in the year and Iona seemed to slide in the semis loss.
Fletcher the OT Jr at St As older brothers success generally says a little about having good bloodlines, just like I have said the same thing about Douglas at New Ro.
You don’t seem to want to admit that Shaker/New Ro was a very close game. You seem to ignore New Ro won on a last minute TD in a come from behind win. Great game, but clearly New Ro didn’t dominate anyone. Shaker did a good job slowing New Ro down in the second half…keep in mind Shaker has probably never seen the amount of athletes like New Ro has – definitely not in Sect 2.
PRINCE,
KEVIN D.
POY ARE;
SECTION 1 K. EDNEY
SECTION 9 M. WHITE
Hoops fan December 5th, 2012 at 12:01 pm
PPR,
I couldn’t agree with you more about the tragedy on SI.
The computers don’t change their formula for one team (New Ro). Like I said above very simply, New Ro’s computer rankings rose when they played and beat good teams – in the nyphsaa playoffs, New Ro beat 3 teams in the 6-10 range in NYS – Shaker, OP and PB…it only makes sense their rating rose significantly. I’m slightly surprised that the computers ranked New Ro ahead of Chaminade since Cham beat 2 top 5 NYS teams in the CHSFL playoffs…but I wouldn’t argue with it.
BUT TO PROVE HOW WRONG THEY WHERE ACCORDING TO THEM NEW RO WAS SUPOOSE TO LOSE ALL THOSE GAMES BUT NEW RO GOES OUT AND REALLY DOMINATES ALL THE TEAMS NOT ANY OF THE TEAMS SCORED ON NEW RO UNTIL THE SCORE WAS ATLEAST 20-0 AND WE WHER MIDWAY THROUGH THE 3RD QTR. SO BASICALLY THEY HAD TOTALLY UNDER RATED NEW RO COMPETITION AND ABILITY!.. THEY DID NOT REALIZE HOW GOOD NEW RO WAS UNTIL THE FINAL SECOND OF THE STATE CHIP GAME!!... THE RANKING ARE A JOKE AND THEY ARE BIAS!!.. THEY COULD NOT GAGE HOW DOMINATING NEW RO WAS ALL SEASON AND THEY COULD NOT GAGE HOW GOOD NORTH ROCKLAND, JJEF & MAHOPAC WHERE
The NYSWWA rankings which we know are generally a joke has New Ro only as the co #-1 with Canisius. MSG has New Ro ranked behind Chaminade, St As, Erasmus and slightly ahead of Iona and Tottenville. I would say that New Ro, Chaminade, St As and Iona are all pretty close on the year. New Ro improved tremendously from earlier in the year and Iona seemed to slide in the semis loss.
ALSO TO HAVE ERASMUS, SAINT ANTS, AND CHAM AHEAD OF NEW RO WAS ABSURD AND A FORM OF DISRESPECT!!... ERASMUS AND TOTTENVILLE WOULD LOSE TO NEW RO 7-10 TIMES YOU CAN SEE NEW RO IS MORE DISCIPLINE AND BETTER COACHED WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF TALENT!!!.. IT DOES NOT TAKE A ROCKET SCIENCE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT!!.. THERE HAD TO BE 20 FLAGS IN THE PSAL CHIP!!.. MORE THEN CHSFL AND CLASS AA STATE CHIP COMBINED!!
Hoops fan December 5th, 2012 at 12:04 pm
Fletcher the OT Jr at St As older brothers success generally says a little about having good bloodlines, just like I have said the same thing about Douglas at New Ro.
HOOPS.. THE YOUNGER DOUGLAS IS NOT THE SAME LEVEL AS THE OLDER DOUGLAS IN HIS SENIOR YEAR….. BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT COLLEGE WILL BRING…. AND I CAN TELL THE YOUNGER FLETCHER IS NOT THE PLAYER THE OLDER FLETCHER WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL!!!
Hoops fan December 5th, 2012 at 12:04 pm
Fletcher the OT Jr at St As older brothers success generally says a little about having good bloodlines, just like I have said the same thing about Douglas at New Ro.
You don’t seem to want to admit that Shaker/New Ro was a very close game. You seem to ignore New Ro won on a last minute TD in a come from behind win. Great game, but clearly New Ro didn’t dominate anyone. Shaker did a good job slowing New Ro down in the second half…keep in mind Shaker has probably never seen the amount of athletes like New Ro has – definitely not in Sect 2.
HOOPS!!.. NEW RO DOMINATED THE GAME THEY MADE 2 MENTAL MISTAKES!!..ALSO NEW RO WAS LOSING FOR WHAT ABOUT 53 SECONDS!!.. LOL COM’N WITH THE TRAILING AND COME FROM BEHIND!!... YOU ACTING LIKE NEW RO WAS LUCKY TO EVEN BE IN THE GAME IN THE 4TH QTR!!... WHY YOU FAIL TO REALIZE THAT NEW RO WAS WINNING THE GAME 20-0 DOMINATING IN OTHER WORDS!!!...
STATE CHAMPS OVER HERE BABY!!!! 
PPR,
Only you could come up with the comment that New Ro ‘dominated’ a game they won 28-27 on a last minute TD drive! This is why you can’t talk credibly about anything involved New Ro and other teams. You also thought New Ro ‘dominated’ No Bergen…a game New Ro lost! New Ro dominated OP – yes – New Ro did not dominate Shaker or No Bergen. A game is 4 qtrs long, not 2 qtrs. Be serious.
I do agree the younger Fletcher and Douglas are not as far along as their older brothers at this point. But both have time to improve as you say. The younger Fletcher is only a Jr, so he has room to grow next year. The older Fletcher was a national recruit out of St As and had offers all over the country – he was considered one of the top few Gs in the country his senior year.
I also agree with you that New Ro was more disciplined and had better coaching than EH and Tott. Tons of penalties in the PSAL title game. I thought the level of play in the PSAL chip the last few years has been pretty good, this year was a step back…but that happens in any league occasionally. But I disagree about pure talent – New Ro had no one who was the type of athlete as Augustus Edwards. Tott obviously was a different team without Edwards and Belfort playing in the playoffs – if Tott had them, I think they beat EH easily. And in terms of talent, EH has the two big time Jrs Samuel and Lewin…I’ve heard both have 1A offers.
Hoops fan December 6th, 2012 at 8:03 am
PPR,
Only you could come up with the comment that New Ro ‘dominated’ a game they won 28-27 on a last minute TD drive! This is why you can’t talk credibly about anything involved New Ro and other teams. You also thought New Ro ‘dominated’ No Bergen…a game New Ro lost! New Ro dominated OP – yes – New Ro did not dominate Shaker or No Bergen. A game is 4 qtrs long, not 2 qtrs. Be serious.
HOOPS…. DO THE BETTER TEAM ALWAYS WIN THE GAME????? .... NO!!.. SO YES IT’S VERY POSSIBLE FOR A TEAM TO DOMINATE THE GAME AND LOSE!!.. OR WIN!!.. YOU HEAR IT IN EVERYDAY SPORT!!....WINNING THE GAME BY 28 PTS.. IN YOUR CROCKED EYES IS THE ONLY WAY TO DOMINATE!!
Hoops fan December 6th, 2012 at 8:08 am
I do agree the younger Fletcher and Douglas are not as far along as their older brothers at this point. But both have time to improve as you say. The younger Fletcher is only a Jr, so he has room to grow next year. The older Fletcher was a national recruit out of St As and had offers all over the country – he was considered one of the top few Gs in the country his senior year.
HOOPS…..CAN YOU POST PROOF THAT HE WAS A TOP GUARD IN THE COUNTRY!
I also agree with you that New Ro was more disciplined and had better coaching than EH and Tott. Tons of penalties in the PSAL title game. I thought the level of play in the PSAL chip the last few years has been pretty good, this year was a step back…but that happens in any league occasionally. But I disagree about pure talent – New Ro had no one who was the type of athlete as Augustus Edwards. Tott obviously was a different team without Edwards and Belfort playing in the playoffs – if Tott had them, I think they beat EH easily. And in terms of talent, EH has the two big time Jrs Samuel and Lewin…I’ve heard both have 1A offers.
HOOPS… YOU DN’T KNOW FOOTBALL!!.. 90% OF THE PPL YOU ASK WOULD SAY NEW RO , ERAS, TOTTENVILLE HAS THE SAME LEVEL OF TALENT!!!.. WE ARE NOT TALKING WHO IS THE BEST RB, OR QB, WR WE ARE TALKING THE #LEVEL OF TALENT IS EQUAL!!... YOU THINK B/C ONE PLAYER GOES 1A AND THE OTHER GOES 1AA THAT WE ARE TALKING TWO DIFFERENT ANIMALS!!.. HELLO WE ARE NOT!!...
A D1 COACH TOLD ME THE DIFFERENCE FROM MOST D1 PLAYERS AND 1AA PLAYERS IS SIZE NOT TALENT!!.. HE SAID MOST 1AA PLAYERS ARE KIDS WHO IS 1-2 YEARS AWAY FROM GETTING ON A D1 FIELD AND MOST D1 PLAYERS ARE KIDS WHO ARE PHYSICALLY READY TO PLAY RIGHT AWAY WE ARE TALKING 4.50 FORTY VERSUS 4.40 FORTY ONE IS FAST ALREADY AND THE OTHER NEED SOMETIME TO GET FASTER!!.. SO LIKE I SAID!.. ALL 3 TEAMS TALENT LEVEL IS EQUAL!!.. ALL 3 TEAMS HAVE BREAKAWAY BACKS.. ALL 3 TEAMS HAVE GOOD DEFENSIVE SPEED, ALL 3 TEAMS HAVE A QUALITY QB PLAY!!.. WHERE IS THE UNEQUAL OF TALENT IS AT!!...
HOOPS
ALSO NEW RO SCRIMMAGE BOTH TEAMS THIS YEAR AND IF THE TALENT LEVEL WAS NOT EQUAL IT WOULD HAVE SHOWN RIGHT AWAY!!.. B/C THATS SOMETHING THAT CAN NOT BE OVERLOOKED!!..
HOOPS LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT O/P!.. THEY HAD TALENT!!.. THEY HAD WINS TO PROVE IT, THE HAD TALENT THERE STATS PROVED, THEY WHERE GOOD THERE SUCCESS IN THERE LEAGUE AND THE TEAMS THEY BEAT WAS THE PROOF….. WHAT YOU THINK WAS THE REASON THEY GOT DISMANTLED BY NEW RO
1).......COACHING NEW RO COACHES AND PLAYERS WHERE BETTER PREPARED THEM O/P WAS.. PERIOD
IT WAS NOT NEW RO SPEED, ABILITY, TALENT ATHLETICISM ALL THAT TOOK OVER AFTER O/P HAD PROVEN THAT THEY WHERE NOT PREPARED.. THEM NOT BEING PREPARED MAGNIFIED THERE WEAKNESS