New York All-State small-school football teams: M-E, Chenango Forks, Tioga lead local picks
Section 4 representatives account for two Players of the Year and 11 first-team berths across New York State Sports Writers Association all-state football teams in Classes B, C and D — in which Section 4 pulled off a sweep of state championships.
Seniors Michael Mancini of Maine-Endwell and Emmett Wood of fellow state champion Tioga Central are Players of the Year in Classes B and D, respectively, and state champion Chenango Forks celebrates a five-player, first-team harvest in Class C.
Mancini steered Maine-Endwell to nine consecutive victories and 38 points per game following a Week 4 loss to Union-Endicott. He was especially impressive in three state-playoff contests, no more so than in the final.
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In the face of an unbeaten Pleasantville squad that took a 12-0 lead with 6½ minutes elapsed, Mancini returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, rushed spectacularly 33 yards for the go-ahead score and passed 18 yards for a sealing TD. That followed a semifinal in which he rushed for two TDs, passed for two, returned a kickoff for points and intercepted a pass.
“He’s the guy you want to have the ball, especially when the game is on the line,” Spartans coach Matt Gallagher said of Mancini, who’ll attend James Madison University on a baseball scholarship. “He’s a great kid. His talent pales in comparison to the type of kid he is.
“I’m going to miss him and the other seniors as well. But I know they’ve left something here that the other guys can kind of grab onto and carry on.”
Tioga’s Wood is hands-down choice as Class D Player of the Year after a season in which his 2,135 rushing yards featured 1,036 in five playoff games and left him 7,367 yards across four seasons. Thirty-four rushing touchdowns in 2021 extended his varsity total to 99.
Wood was a first-team pick as a sophomore and second-teamer as a freshman.
In a 27-0 win against Moriah in the Carrier Dome to conclude a 12-0 Tioga season, he rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns. The Tigers outscored three state-playoff opponents by 126-18 on the way to the program’s second state championship.
This marks a ninth consecutive season at least one Section 4 athlete has been identified as Player or Co-Player of the Year.
First-team status goes to:
Class B: A pair of Maine-Endwell linemen, senior Jake Romanosky and sophomore Adam DeSantis, the primary grunt-work duo behind the big numbers that went into Maine-Endwell’s sixth state championship.
Romanosky was chosen on defense, DeSantis on offense — and either would have been worthy across the way.
Class C: Chenango Forks’ selections were spread well about, perfectly appropriate given the Blue Devils’ thorough superiority along the path to the program’s seventh state championship.
Seniors Dubbs Haqq (RB), Tyler Hayes (OL), Matt Brewster (DL), Zander Arnold (DB) are accompanied by junior Lucas Sickles (OL), all two-way standouts.
Haqq rushed for 1,671 yards and 26 touchdowns, and Arnold — to go with his second-best 82 tackles — went for 1,664 and 21. And, yes, they are thankful for the work of Hayes, Sickles, Brewster and the rest heading a front that provided space for a team-wide 4,400 rushing yards.
Hayes topped the Devils with 86 tackles and seven sacks.
Class D: First-team billing goes to Tioga seniors Josh Snell (OL) and Gavin Godfrey (DB), Tigers sophomore Gavin Fisher (PK) and Harpursville/Afton senior Luke Merrill (LB).
All-state teams — which return following a one-season COVID-19 hiatus — are compiled by Steve Grandin, Saratoga Springs resident who formerly served as sports editor of The Saratogian, following consultation with an extensive network of media members statewide.
All-state selections in Classes AA and A are to be revealed by the New York State Sports Writers Association next week.
Class B
Player of the Year
Michael Mancini, Maine-Endwell-4, QB (Sr., 5-11, 167)
First-Team Offense
QB-Trey Kleitz, Iroquois-6 Sr. (6-1, 190); QB-Brett Fuller, Port Jervis-9 Sr (6-2, 205); RB-Griffin Woodell, Glens Falls-2 Sr. (5-11, 195); RB-Tyler Martini, Wantagh-8 Sr. (6-2, 210); RB-Christian Lewis, St. Mary's-MMA Sr. (5-10, 200); RB-Saul Medina Tavares, A. Philip Randolph-PSAL Sr. (6-1, 185); E-Daniel Picart, Pleasantville-1 So. (6-0, 175); L-Adam DeSantis, Maine-Endwell-4 So. (6-2, 229); L-Mitchell Bulling, Honeoye Falls-Lima-5 Sr. (6-0, 250); L-Reece Ramos, North Shore-8 Jr. (5-11, 260); L-Trace Napoli, Marlboro-9 Sr. (6-0, 260); AP-Jameson Smith, Bayport-Blue Point-11 Sr. (6-1, 180); PK-Recap Kocan, St. John the Baptist-CHS Sr. (6-0, 218).
First-Team Defense
L-Ryan Southworth, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk-2 Sr. (5-10, 185); L-Jake Romanosky, Maine-Endwell-4 Sr. (6-1, 219); L-Tawan Lewis Frank, Macchiarola-PSAL Jr. (6-4, 185); LB-Sam Sorensen, Homer-3 Jr. (6-0, 220); LB-Lamar Hampton, Burgard-6 Sr. (5-9, 165); LB-Liam Casey, Wantage-8 Sr. (5-11, 225); LB-Nicholas LaRosa, North Shore-8 Jr. (6-1, 185); LB-Charles Tauckus, Cold Spring Harbor-8 Sr. (5-10, 185); DB-James Carretta, Mount Sinai-11 Sr. (5-10, 185); DB-Devin Grant, Holy Cross-CHS Sr. (6-4, 190); DB-Joshua Phillip, DeWitt Clinton-PSAL Sr. (5-10, 175).
Section 4 Selections
Fourth-Team Offense: PK-Jack Hennessey, Maine-Endwell So. (5-9, 165).
Fourth-Team Defense: LB-Mason McCombs, Windsor So. (5-9, 175).
Fifth-Team Offense: QB-James Lindsley, Windsor Sr. (6-0, 190).
Fifth-Team Defense: DB-Donnie Hamer, Maine-Endwell Sr. (5-8, 131).
Honorable Mention: RB-Steven Bidwell (Owego Jr.); L-Tanner Burlingame (Maine-Endwell So.);
Class C
Co-Players of the Year
James Musso, QB (Skaneateles-3, Sr., 5-9, 175) and A.J. Brotz, OE/DB (Bath-5, Sr., 5-10, 160).
First-Team Offense
QB-Owen Sherman, Schuylerville-2 Sr. (6-2, 186); QB-Nick Whitfield, Fredonia-6 Sr. (6-5, 205); RB-Brian Dann, Dobbs Ferry-1 Jr. (5-10, 200); RB-Devon Youker, Canastota-3 Sr. (5-9, 185); RB-Dubbs Haqq, Chenango Forks-4 Sr. (5-10, 190); E-Al Rothfeld, Cazenovia-3 Sr. (6-3, 215); E-Manny Sepulveda, East Rochester/Gananda-5 Jr. (6-3, 175); L-Carson Patrick, Schuylerville-2 Sr. (5-8, 165); L-Will Feeney, Skaneateles-3 So. (6-2, 330); L-Tyler Hayes, Chenango Forks-4 Sr. (6-1, 286); L-Lucas Sickles, Chenango Forks-4 Jr. (6-0, 246); AP-Ryan Dow, Schuylerville-2 Sr. (6-0, 165); PK-Tanner Ackermann, Cazenovia-3 Sr. (6-1, 160).
First-Team Defense
L-Matt Brewster, Chenango Forks-4 Sr. (6-0, 203); L-Cole Ricci, East Rochester/Gananda-5 Sr. (6-3, 220); L-Jake Laura, Chester-9 Sr. (5-10, 235); L-Elijah Kneeland, Babylon-11 Sr. (6-4, 215); LB-Matt Lotter, Fredonia-6 Sr. (6-0, 220); LB-Deandre Blagrove, Malverne-8 Sr. (6-3, 235); DB-Eli Rawleigh, General Brown-3 Sr. (5-10, 155); DB-Zander Arnold, Chenango Forks-4 Sr. (6-0, 168); DB-Carson Alberti, Depew-6 Sr. (5-8, 159); DB-Aldan Kennedy, Southwestern-6 Sr. (6-1, 190); DB-Steven Craig, James O'Neill-9 Sr. (5-11, 185).
Section 4 Selections
Second-Team Offense: QB-Joey Tomasso, Waverly So. (6-1, 160); RB-Travon Jones, Watkins Glen/Odessa-Montour, Sr. (6-0, 170); L-Daniel Ely, Watkins Glen/Odessa-Montour Sr. (6-3, 320); PK-Ryan Clark, Waverly Jr. (6-0, 165).
Third-Team Offense
E-Jay Pipher, Waverly So. (5-7, 140); AP-Scotty Howard, Susquehanna Valley Sr. (5-10, 155).
Third-Team Defense
L-Ty Beeman, Waverly Sr. (5-9, 190); LB-Evan Sylstra, Norwich Sr. (6-2, 220).
Honorable Mention
QB- Cameron Holland (Watkins Glen/Odessa-Montour Sr.);
OE- Brady Blauvelt (Waverly Sr.);
L- Dylan Andrade (Susquehanna Valley Sr.);
LB-Anthony DiRosa (Susquehanna Valley Jr.);
Class D
Player of the Year
Emmett Wood, RB (Tioga-4, Sr., 5-9, 175).
First-Team Offense
QB-Rowan Swan, Moriah-7 Jr. (6-4, 180); QB-Luke Filippi, Port Jefferson-11 Sr. (6-2, 190); RB-Michael Meyers, Tuckahoe-1 Sr. (5-10, 185); RB-Matthew Conlin, Greenwich-2 So. (6-1, 238); RB-Jared Bilinski, Dolgeville-3 Jr. (5-9, 195); RB-Xander Hind, Randolph-6 Jr. (5-9, 170); E-John Benke, Tuckahoe-1 Jr. (6-3, 205); L-Michael Campion, Stillwater-2 Jr. (6-2, 248); L-Elijah Morse, Dolgeville-3 Sr. (6-3, 268); L-Josh Snell, Tioga-4 Sr. (6-0, 203); L-Ryan Carpenter, Randolph-6 Jr. (6-1, 290); AP-Dylan Winchell, Warrensburg/No Warren-2 Sr. (5-9, 150); PK-Gavin Fisher, Tioga-4 So. (6-3, 160).
First-Team Defense
L-Ethan Banfield, Greenwich-2 Sr. (6-2, 230); L-C.J. Gottler, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba-5 Sr. (6-0, 220); L-Justin Messing, Clymer/Sherman/Panama-6 Sr. (5-11, 250); L-Declan Valentine, Moriah-7 Sr. (5-11, 180); LB-Tristen Hitchcock, Warrensburg/No Warren-2 Jr. (6-1, 250); LB-Jesse Kuzmich, Greenwich-2 Sr. (6-0, 175); LB-Luke Merrill, Harpursville/Afton-4 Sr. (6-0, 175); LB-Jaiden Huntington, Randolph-6 Jr (6-4, 205); LB-Caleb Harris, Moriah-7 Sr. (5-11, 205); DB-Gavin Godfrey, Tioga-4 Sr. (5-9, 160); DB-Gaige Armbrewster, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba-5 Sr. (6-1, 185).
Section 4 Selections
Second-Team Offense: OL-Chris Walsh, Tioga Sr. (5-9, 180).
Second-Team Defense: LB-Isaac Peterson, Tioga Sr. (5-9, 172); DB-Joey Sherwood, Newark Valley Jr. (5-8, 140).
Honorable Mention
QB- Mike Wandell (Newark Valley Sr.); RB- Landon Spoonhower (Newark Valley Jr.); L- Logan Mann (Newark Valley Sr.);
Eight-Player
Co-Players of the Year
Devin Beach, OL/LB (Spencer-Van Etten/Candor-4, Sr.,
6-0, 190) and Kyle DaMore, QB (Red Jacket-5, Sr., 6-1, 195)
First Team
QB-Brayden Shepardson, West Canada Valley-3 Jr. (6-0, 170); QB-Austin Hunt, Groton-4 Jr. (5-10, 150); QB-Nick Thomas, Spencer-Van Etten/Candor-4 Sr. (6-0, 200); QB-Zach Winters, Frewsburg-5 Sr. (6-3, 200); QB-Anthony Hoyt, Spackenkill-9 Sr.; RB-Jason Schlotzhauer, Morrisville-Eaton-3 Sr. (6-0, 170); RB-Hunter Haynes, Spencer-Van Etten/Candor-4 Sr. (5-8, 155); RB-Jeter Neff, Groton-4 Sr. (5-8, 140); RB-Will McCarthy, Pawling-9 Sr. (5-10, 175); E-James Dapson, Morrisville-Eaton-3 Jr. (5-10, 150); E-Daltyn Hanline, Red Jacket-5 Sr. (6-1, 150); OL-Elliot Walter, Spencer-Van Etten/Candor-4 Sr. (6-3, 260); OL-Chris Campanelli, Sullivan West-9 Sr. (6-5, 335); DL-Cameron Rath, West Canada Valley-3 Sr. (6-3, 235);
LB-Paggett Lenney, Red Jacket-5 Sr. (5-10, 175); LB-Parker Moore, Red Jacket-5 Sr. (5-10, 150).
More: Maine-Endwell rallies to capture Class B state football championship over Pleasantville
More: Tioga Central closes perfect football season with 27-0 win for Class D state championship
More: Chenango Forks shuts down Schuylerville, earns back-to-back state titles in football
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This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: NY All-State small-school football team: Section 4 representation
