2022 News-Review Football All-Area, Charlevoix's Sterrett rushes to POY honor

CHARLEVOIX — Another big campaign with the Charlevoix football team earns senior Patrick Sterrett the Petoskey News-Review football Player of the Year honor for the 2022 season.

After the kind of year Sterrett put together in 2021, it was going to be tough to top, though Sterrett just may have done that with a second straight All-State season.

He finished the season with 755 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns, added 491 receiving yards and six touchdowns, had 811 return yards and five touchdowns and added four interceptions defensively, of course returning one for a touchdown.

Heck, he averaged 32 yards every time he touched the football and scored a total of 24 touchdowns.

It’s no wonder the Rayders enjoyed a third straight year with eight wins and set a program record for points scored in a season (412).

Here’s what it was like to watch the dynamic playmaker:

View from the press box: 

For a while there, it was hard not to type Phil just before Sterrett when writing about Rayder senior Patrick Sterrett.

That happens often with siblings in this business. It just becomes natural and Phil was a standout all-purpose player for the Rayders for a couple seasons when Patrick was waiting to break free still.

I think it’s pretty safe to say that Patrick eventually broke out of his brother’s shadow, though. I learned his name pretty darn quick and typing it became natural, too.

Over the past couple years, there probably wasn’t a player I was more excited to see on the field. Patrick wasn’t one of those first off the bus guys. He’s not big, built or dressed up with the visor and everything.

I’ll tell you what, though, he was the one teams were most happy to see get back on the bus at the end of the night.

Patrick is just electric on the field. One of the things I appreciate most in a ball carrier is vision and he had just a knack over the past two years to see everything before it happened. He does of course have speed, but it’s just his ability to make a move a split second before it’s needed that kept him a step ahead out there.

You can’t coach that out of somebody. You either have it, or you don’t and Patrick had a whole lot of it.

When Phil left, I wondered who would step into that playmaker role for Charlevoix. Turns out, it was just another Sterrett.

It made it hard on me at first, but after a couple games of hitting backspace after typing Phil, Patrick left his mark.

I’m happy to call Patrick Sterrett our Area Player of the Year for 2022.

— News-Review Sports Editor, Drew Kochanny 

View from the sidelines:

Patrick Sterrett has been a blessing to coach.

He's an extremely gifted football player with great speed, hands, toughness and the ability to make people miss. He's a rare combination in today's game because he's a skill player with all the moves that will also hit you.

We moved him all over the field on offense this season because he's so skilled. He played wide receiver, slot, ace back and quarterback.

Defensively, he was the team leader that called the huddle for the past two seasons. His kick returning abilities were off the charts. Teams learned quickly that it was a bad idea to kick it to him.

With all of that said, the main reason Patrick was a such a blessing to coach was his great attitude and effort day in and day out.

He went hard every practice. He went so hard that we had to pull him out somedays just so he'd be ready on Friday.

He's set a tremendous example for our younger players on and off the field.

— Charlevoix Head Football Coach, Don Jess 

2022 PETOSKEY NEWS-REVIEW FOOTBALL ALL-AREA TEAM

OFFENSE: 

QB: Jack Neer, Sr. (5-10, 180) – Boyne City

MHSFCA All-State, All-Region. Played just five games but went 45 of 74 passing, 955 yards, 18 TD and 2 INT. Also had 154 rush yards, 2 TD.

RB: Patrick Sterrett, Sr. (5-11, 160) — Charlevoix

AP All-State, All-Region. Totaled 2,134 all-purpose yards. Rand for 755 and 11 TD, had 491 receiving, 6 TD. Two-time All-State player. Area Player of the Year.

RB: CJ Hibbler, Jr. (5-8, 160) — Petoskey

All-BNC at multiple positions. Played just five games. Had 9 total TD. Ran for 527 yards on 9.9 average, had 78 receiving yards and 197 return yards.

RB: Logan Shooks, So. (5-11, 160) – East Jordan

All-NMFL. Ran for 818 yards and 10 touchdowns on a 5.7 average. Also had 174 receiving yards, 1 TD. Had 83 tackles, 7.5 for a loss as a linebacker.

WR: Seth Marek, So. (6-2, 185) — Petoskey

First team All-BNC in first varsity season. Had 27 receptions for 435 yards and 4 TD. Set multiple PHS records.

WR: Gavin Hewitt, Sr. (6-1, 185) — Boyne City

All-Region, All-NMFL. Did it all with 494 yards and 10 TD rushing, caught 17 balls for 316 yards and 5 TD. Also had a kickoff return score.

WR: Alex Calcaterra, Sr. (6-3, 190) — Boyne City

MHSFCA All-State, AP All-State. A two-time All-State player. Had 21 rec. 542 yards and 10 TD. Also 46 tackles, 6 TFL and 1 INT.

WR: Braylon Grybauskas, Jr. (5-10, 165) — East Jordan

All-Region, All-NMFL. Made 19 catches for 337 yards and 3 TD. Also ran for 516 yards and 6 TD on 9.1 average.

OL: Jack Herzog, Sr. (5-10, 210) — Charlevoix

All-NMFL. A veteran along both fronts for the Rayders. Also made 18 tackles and 3 sacks along defensive line.

OL: Aiden Mailloux, Sr. (6-0, 215) — Petoskey

Earned first team All-BNC honors. Was a steady force up front for Petoskey. Wrestling background.

OL: Will Brown, Sr. (6-2, 200) — Boyne City

All-NMFL. Broke out this season with Boyne along both fronts. Also had 27 tackles, 5 TFL, 1 sack.

OL: Gavin Phillips, Sr. (5-11, 225) — Petoskey

All-Big North honors along the defensive front, but also one of the best along the O-line for Northmen.

OL: Nolan Little, Jr. (6-0, 195) — Boyne City

All-Region, All-NMFL. Helped the Ramblers to over 2,100 yards on the ground and 7.17 average.

DEFENSE: 

DL: Conner Rajkovich, Sr. (6-2, 185) — Boyne City

All-Region. All-NMFL. Had 52 tackles, 3 sacks and 8 TFL defensively. Also started along O-line.

DL: Ben Reid, Sr. (6-0, 200) — East Jordan

All-Region, All-NMFL. Had 42 tackles, 6 TFL, 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. Also played along O-line.

DL: Kenny Roberts, Sr. (5-11, 200) — Petoskey

All-BNC. Broke out as an interior linemen with the Northmen. Made a number of plays in the backfield.

DL: Trevor Streeter, Jr. (5-11, 190) — Charlevoix

All-NMFL in first season as a starter. Made 38 tackles and 3 sacks as an active defensive end.

DL: Korbin Sulitis, So. (6-2, 195) — Petoskey

All-BNC defensive end in first varsity and sophomore season. Made 66 total tackles, 6 TFL.

LB: Joey McHugh, Jr. (5-11, 185) — Boyne City

All-Region, All-NMFL. Recorded 73 tackles, 9 TFL, 2 sacks and 2 INT. Also ran for 949 and 10 TD on 8.6 average.

LB: Landon Swanson, Jr. (6-2, 205) — Charlevoix

All-Region, All-NMFL. Took another jump this season with 108 tackles and 2 safeties. Also made plays at fullback.

LB: Logan LaHaie, So. (6-0, 175) — Petoskey

All-BNC as just a sophomore. Stepped into starting role and followed in brother’s footsteps as a tough LB.

LB: Garrett Cameron, Sr. (6-0, 175) — Pellston

Standout player with the Hornets again. Fought through injuries to finish off career strong.

DB: Mason Wilcox, Sr. (6-1, 165) — Boyne City

All-NMFL. Put together another big season. Had 36 tackles, 2 TFL, 3 INT and a punt return TD. Also 7 TD on offense and 261 rec. yards.

DB: Trevor Swiss, Sr. (5-11, 160) — Petoskey

All-Region, All-BNC. A standout in the secondary again and a captain for Northmen. Also had 259 yards and 2 TD on offense.

DB: Connor Boyer, Sr. (5-10, 165) — East Jordan

AP All-State player enjoyed a breakout campaign. Led the area with 7 interceptions. Also had 23 tackles, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.

DB: Haden Janes, So. (5-7, 150) — Petoskey

A starter in just his sophomore season. Came back from an injury to play with a club on his hand. Made multiple plays and recorded 3 interceptions.

SPECIAL TEAMS: 

K/P: Jonathan Ringstrom, Sr. (6-3, 165) — East Jordan

All-Region standout. Went 26 of 26 on extra points, was 3 of 4 on field goals and averaged 38.3 yards a punt. Also had six kickoff touchbacks.

RS: Patrick Sterrett, Sr. (5-11, 160) — Charlevoix

Area Player of the Year was a dangerous return man as well. 811 return yards, 5 TD. Also made 4 INT on defense, returning one for a TD.

Honorable Mention: 

Ryan Spate, Boyne City; Henry Herzog, Charlevoix; Angel Delgado, East Jordan; Aaron Sysko, Petoskey; Brady Jess, Charlevoix; Aiden Klungle, Pellston; Levi Keely, Harbor Springs; Brian Pike, Petoskey; Dawson Carey, East Jordan; Nate Claflin, Charlevoix; Jacob Johnson, Boyne City; Trevor Streeter, Charlevoix, Tyler Dohm, Petoskey; Kenny Crawford, Pellston; Adam Streeter, Charlevoix; Sam Harrell, Harbor Springs; Wyatt Gotts, East Jordan; Chas Stanek, Boyne City; Carson Chumbler, Harbor Springs.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: 2022 News-Review Football All-Area, Charlevoix's Sterrett rushes to POY honor