by TYLER HATHAWAY
The Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year and Coach of the Year winners for all six classifications were recently announced, as well as the All-Class teams. You can view the official release as well as every player selected for an All-Class team here.
NYS Class B champion Monroe swept the Class B awards. Quarterback Terrell “Pooty” Cunningham Jr. was named the Class B Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for a Section V record 3,028 passing yards. The junior completed 74.8 percent of his passes and threw for 39 touchdowns while running for four.
Jermaine Montgomery was named the Class B Defensive Player of the Year. Montgomery, a senior linebacker, led the Red Jackets in tackles with 122. He finished with four tackles for loss, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Monroe head coach Terrell Cunningham was named Class B Coach of the Year after leading the Red Jackets to their first state title in program history. Joining Cunningham Jr. and Montgomery on the Class B First Team was wide receiver Messiah Hampton, defensive back James Brumfield, linebacker Christien Franklin, offensive tackle Alijah Jones, defensive tackle Jordan Wickham, athlete Ray Garcia, defensive lineman Anthony Omebe, and linebacker Jovon Bennett.
Brighton’s Matthew Heininger was named the Class A1 Co-Defensive Player of the Year. The University of Buffalo commit ended his senior season with 96 tackles, 13 TFL, one interception, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery as the Bruins reached the NYS Class A title game, their furthest playoff run in team history.
His coach, Stephen Lian, took home Class A1 Coach of the Year honors. The Bruins had five other players named to the Class A1 First Team, being linebacker Amari Snowden, running backs Justin Medina and Zachary Rossignol, defensive lineman Zahmar Tookes, and wide receiver Patrick Rohr.
He shared the award with Mason Naple, a defensive lineman from Victor. Naple was second on the Blue Devils in tackles with 47, with 21 of them resulting in a loss. The senior ended the season with two sacks including one on fourth and goal in a Class A1 quarterfinal win. Other Blue Devils on the First Team were lineman Kevin Madison, running back Matty Langan, kicker Andre Poselovich, and linebacker/wide reciever Ben Guiffre.
On the other side of the ball, Webster Thomas running back MJ Wells took home the Class A1 Offensive Player of the Year. Wells finished with 1,057 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns as the Titans finished as the No. 2 seed in Class A1. Nearly 200 of those yards came in a three-touchdown night back in Week 2. Wells was joined on the First Team by linebacker Tyler Estelle, defensive ends Ari Gefell and Joshua Jobson, and offensive lineman Bryce Henry and Evan Adams.
In Class A2, it was Taye Brown who was named Offensive Player of the Year. Brown was the quarterback for an East/World of Inquiry squad that won a sectional title and finished his junior year with 650 passing yards, 537 rushing yards, and 18 total touchdowns. Brown was named the Class A2 title game’s Most Valuable Player after scoring four touchdowns. Eagles head coach James Vann took home Coach of the Year honors in the class as well. In addition to Brown, East/World of Inquiry saw defensive tackle Jamie Anderson, defensive end Junayde Dunn-Richardson, center Antonio Dixon, wide receiver Dezmon Jackson, wide receiver/running back Legacy Taylor, safety Legend Taylor, and linebacker Zieyaun Cook-Tyson also earn Class A2 First Team honors.
Defensive back Troy Caulkins won the Defensive Player of the Year. Caulkins led Eastridge with 90 tackles, seven of which were for a loss. The senior added two sacks, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Caulkins made five tackles and had an interception in an opening season win against eventual sectional champion East/World of Inquiry. The Lancers finished as the No. 5 seed in Class A2 and advanced to the A2 semifinals. Lineman Rashaun Jiles, running back Cahmari Hayes, center Brayden Vandoren, defensive end/tight end Myron Stamps, and punter Peyton Kispert were the other Lancers named to the First Team.
VIEW THE FULL ALL-CLASS TEAMS HERE!!
Class C saw Alexander/Pembroke running back Ryder Reichart win Offensive Player of the Year honors. Reichart ran for 1,047 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns as the Defenders advanced to the Class C Far West Regional. Reichart was named the Section V Class C title game Most Valuable Player after rushing for 161 yards and a touchdown. Alexander/Pembroke head coach Tim Sawyer was named Class C Coach of the Year. Reichart was one of six Defenders to be named to the Class C First Team, with the others being linebacker/offensive lineman Jacob Johnson, defensive end/offensive lineman Wyatt Summers, linebacker/fullback Sean Pietrzykowski, kick returner Brett Maloney, and free safety/running back Pierce Dinkins.
East Rochester/Gananda’s Ray Allen took home the Defensive Player of the Year award. The senior linebacker finished the season with 100 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three interceptions, a sack, a forced fumble, and one blocked kick. The Bombers finished as the No. 3 seed in Class C and advanced to the Class C semifinals. Three other Bombers were named alongside him on the First Team, being wide receiver/defensive back Justice Allen, lineman Tyler Leisten, and tight end/linebacker Bryce Panzarella.
Kal Dolgos won the Class D Offensive Player of the Year award. The Avon senior wide receiver caught 51 passes for 832 yards and 14 touchdowns while running for 667 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Dolgos scored three touchdowns to earn MVP honors in Avon’s win in the Section V Class D championship game. Head coach Andy Englert was named Coach of the Year in a season that the River Hawks reached the Far West Regional. Quarterback and defensive back Evan Blye, running back and linebacker James Chase, lineman Brady Ellsworth and Kellan Schneider, running back and linebacker Bobby Bridges, and wide reciever and linebacker Blayden Borsching were selected to the Class D First Team alongside Dolgos.
Linebacker Liam Campbell from York/Pavilion was named as the Defensive Player of the Year. Campbell finished his senior season with 126 tackles, three sacks, two fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble. Campbell was one of seven Golden Knights to be named to the First Team, with the others being quarterback/linebacker Parker Bonefede, lineman Kasey Coffey, offensive lineman/ linebacker Trent Englert, running back/defensive back Javen Jackson, and wide receiver/defensive backs John Ayers and Yeriel Diaz-Pena.
UPrep’s Gavin White won the Class AA Offensive Player of the Year award after finishing his junior campaign with 1,001 passing yards, 908 rushing yards, and 21 total touchdowns to help the Griffins finish with the No. 2 seed in Class AA. White totaled 250 yards of offense and scored twice while blocking the game-winning field goal attempt in a classic game between the Griffins and Fairport back in September. The Class AA First Team saw defensive lineman Cashmere Williams, offensive linemen Isaiah Brookins and Sean Buchanan, wide receiver Thomas Levans III, and running back Kamari Miller as the other Griffins selected.
Senior linebacker Ronin Walker was awarded the Defensive Player of the Year. Walker led a Royals Comets team that earned the top seed in Class AA with 86 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four sacks, and a forced fumble. He was joined by five teammates on the First Team, being running back Imani Wagstaff Jr., defensive lineman Brennen Spencer, wide receiver Noah Collins Howard, quarterback Brendan Mangone, and defensive lineman Jahmier Stanley James.
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