Co-players of the year in two rankings lead Division 4 representation on the New York State Sports Writers Association Class B, C and D football teams for 2022.
Two-way line stalwart Adam DeSantis of Maine-Endwell shares the Class B headliner, as does Tioga Central QB/DB Caden Bellis in Class D. Both are state champion juniors undefeated and repeated.
In all of conventional 11-man football, Section 4 have 13 first-team caps. Notwithstanding the co-players of the year, there are two in class B, five in class C and six in class D.
DeSantis, widely recognized as the best lineman in Section 4, is an OT/DE who celebrated a 12-1 state championship season a season ago with first-team recognition on the offensive front. This season, Bellis set program records for passing yards (1,509) and passing touchdowns (24). He was in charge offensively for Tioga’s 26 straight wins.
Make only back-to-back POY designation seasons for the Spartans and Tigers, singular or otherwise. The NYSSWA in 2021 chose seniors Michael Mancini of ME and Emmett Wood of Tioga as the best in their respective class.
This scores a 10e consecutive season, at least one Section 4 athlete has been named player or co-player of the year.
The all-state teams are compiled by Saratoga Springs resident Steve Grandin who was formerly the sports editor of The Saratogian, after consultation with an extensive network of media members across the state.
All-state Class AA and Class A teams will be revealed on January 11.
First teams
Class B: A few juniors are jumping significantly from a season ago.
Maine-Endwell lineman Tanner Burlingame was selected for the first-team defense, joined by Windsor linebacker Mason McCombs – who rushed for 122 yards per game. The first obtained an honorable mention last year, the second the status of fourth team.
Class C: Waverly, the first Section 4 champion since 2015, has earned four of the five Section 4 nominations.
Leading the group is senior Lucas Sickles of Chenango Forks, the first offensive player for a second consecutive season and once again worthy of either side. The splashiest guy in the pack is Waverly junior Joey Tomasso, who had 24 touchdowns and over 2,200 yards.
This pair is joined on offense by Waverly teammates Jay Pipher, a junior and senior kicker Ryan Clark. Wolverines’ Ty Beeman, a converted lineman, is a first-team linebacker.
Class D: Tioga’s Valentino Rossi, a junior (27.1 yards per reception), and Tate McCauley, a second-year lineman, share space on the first-team offense with lineman Luke Sanford, a senior from Delhi. Tigers linebacker Ousmane Duncanson and fullback Evan Sickler are first-team defensemen along with Walton lineman Colby Phraner.
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A glimpse of the Class B team
Co-Players of the Year
Daniel Picart, Pleasantville-1, RB/DB (Jr., 6-1, 190) & Adam DeSantis, Maine-Endwell-4, OL/DL (Jr., 6-3, 230).
First team attack
QB-Brady Clark, Bayport-Blue Point-11, Sr., 6-2, 185; RB-James Moran, Nanuet-1 Sr., 5-11, 185; RB-Justus Hill, Maryvale-6 Sr., 6-0, 245; RB-Trevor Barry, Iroquois-6 Jr, 6-1, 200; RB-Norman Brown, Malverne-8 Sr., 5-9, 195; E-Nate McGoldrick, Iroquois-6 Sr., 6-3, 190; E-Derek Varley, Bayport-Blue Point-11 Sr., 6-4, 210; Line-Joe Alesaway, Pleasantville-1 Sr., 6-3, 220; Line-Braedan Donnelly, Iroquois-6 Sr., 6-3, 260; Line-Patrick Godfrey, North Shore-8 Sr., 6-1, 235; Line-Matthew Lane, Xavier-CHS Sr., 6-0, 255; AP-Peter Liotta, North Shore-8 Sr., 5-10, 155; PK-Luke Weller, Byram Hills-1 Jr., 5-10, 175.
First Defense Team
Line-George Gjelaj, Byram Hills-1 Sr., 6-5, 225; Line-Cole Bennett, Glens Falls-2 Sr., 6-4, 235; Line-Rocco Whipple, Schalmont-2 Sr.; Line-Tanner Burlingame, Maine-Endwell-4 Jr., 6-5, 260; Line-Jayden Ferrell, Monroe-5 Sr., 6-2, 250; Line-Ryan Ross, Port Jervis-9 Jr., 5-11, 170; Line-Justin MonDesir, Poly Prep-AIS Sr., 6-2, 250; LB-Sam Sorensen, Homer-3 Sr., 6-0, 225; LB-Mason McCombs, Windsor-4 Jr 5-9, 175; DB-Ja’Vin McFollins, Batavia-5 Sr., 6-0; DB-JJ Aiello, Bayport-Blue Point-11 Sr., 6-0, 215.
Section 4 Selections
Second team attack: QB-Anthony Policare, Maine-Endwell Sr., 6-1, 195.
Second defensive team: LB-TJ Serkiz, Maine-Endwell Jr., 5-10, 196.
Third team attack: RB-Steven Bidwell, Owego Sr., 5-9, 180; RB-Aidan McHugh, Maine-Endwell Sr. 5-9, 190; Line-Gabe Blenis, Norwich Jr., 5-9, 210.
Fourth team attack: RB-Holden Ryan, Norwich Jr., 5-10, 165; E-Dayzin Legare, Johnson City Sr., 5-11, 175; PK-Spencer Root, Norwich Jr., 5-6, 125.
Honorable mention: QB-Steven Dowdall (Norwich So.); Line-Mason Mohn (Maine-Endwell Sr.); DB-Logan Ciganek (Maine-Endwell Sr.).
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A glimpse of the Class C team
Player of the Year
Marek Arbogast, James O’Neill-9, OE/DB/PK (Sr., 5-9, 160)
First team attack
QB-Joey Tomasso, Waverly-4 Jr., 6-2, 170; QB-Ethan Fry, Fredonia-6 Sr., 6-3, 190; RB-Christian Occhipinti, Westlake-1 Sr., 5-9, 170; RB-Kaleb Natali, Gen. Brown-3 Sr., 5-8, 160; RB-Noah Skinner, Medina-6 Sr., 5-9, 215; RB-Chris Leahy, Burke Catholic-9 Sr., 6-2, 225; E-Jay Pipher, Waverly-4 Jr., 5-9, 155; Line-Michael Clarke, Westlake-1 Sr., 5-8, 165; Line-Cooper Morehouse, Warrensburg/LG/NW-2 Sr., 6-2, 265; Line-Lucas Sickles, Chenango Forks-4 Sr., 6-0, 260; Line-Chris Johnson, Medina-6 Sr., 6-1, 280; AP-Brody McCabe, Warrensburg/LG/NW-2 Sr., 5-10, 180; PK-Ryan Clark, Waverly-4 Sr., 6-0, 180.
First Defense Team
Line-Sunday Ikegwuonu, Lackawanna-6 Sr., 6-3, 210; Line-Isaac Visger, James O’Neill-9 Sr., 6-5, 225; LB-Tristen Hitchcock, Warrensburg/LG/NW-2 Sr., 6-1, 250; LB-Gabe Malcolm, Gen. Brown-3 Sr., 5-10, 160; LB-Ty Beeman, Waverly-4 Sr., 5-10, 208; LB-Case Hill, Attica-5 Jr., 5-7, 205; LB-Clayton Bezon, Attica-5 Jr., 6-3, 233; LB-Jesse Stahlman, Salamanca-6 Sr., 6-0, 170; LB-Norm Peters, Burke Catholic-9 Sr., 6-1, 220; LB-Jordan Thompson, James O’Neill-9 Sr., 6-2, 210; DB-Manny Sepulveda, East Rochester/Ganada-5, Sr., 6-3, 175.
Section 4 Selections
Second team attack: Line-Jacob Benjamin, Waverly Jr., 6-0, 215.
Second defensive team: Line-Cameron O’Brien, Chenango Forks Sr., 6-1, 288; DB-Jake VanHouten, Waverly Jr., 6-3, 165.
Third team defense: Line-Kam Hills, Waverly So., 6-0, 304.
Honorable Mention: QB-Kaden Hallstead (Oneonta Sr.), Grady Stark (Chenango Forks Sr.); LB-Anthony DiRosa (Susquehanna Valley Sr.), Connor Stotler (Waverly Sr.); DB-Joey Sherwood (Newark Valley Sr.).
A glimpse of the Class D team
Co-Players of the Year
Caden Bellis, Tioga-4, QB/SS (Jr., 5-10, 156) and Xander Hind, Randolph-6, RB (Sr., 5-9, 170)
First team attack
QB-Michael Annunziata, Tuckahoe-1 Sr., 6-1, 180; RB-Jared Bilinski, Dolgeville-3 Sr., 5-10, 190; RB-Noah Currier, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba-5 Sr., 6-0, 165; RB-Gian Nuzzo, Franklinville/Ellicottville-6 Sr., 5-10, 169; E-John Benke, Tuckahoe-1 Sr., 6-4, 205; E-Valentino Rossi, Tioga-4 Jr., 6-2, 180; E-Jaiden Huntington, Randolph-6 Sr., 6-4, 205; Line-Luke Sanford, Delhi-4 Sr., 6-3, 240; Line-Tate McCauley, Tioga-4 So., 6-2, 252; Line-Brayden Smith, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba-5 Sr., 6-1, 195; Line-Ryan Carpenter, Randolph-6 Sr., 6-1, 290; AP-Bodie Hyde, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba-5 Jr., 5-11, 195; PK-Bryce Hinsdale, Clymer/Sherman/Panama-6 So., 5-10, 155.
First Defense Team
Line-Evan Day, Cambridge/Salem-2 Sr., 6-2, 230; Line-Kamryn Comstock, Dolgeville-3 Sr., 6-3, 200; Line-Colby Phraner, Walton-4 Jr., 6-2, 252; Line-Koda Curtis, Franklinville/Ellicottville-6 Sr., 6-2, 245; Line-Ethan Madill, Moriah-7 Sr., 5-10, 200; LB-Ousmane Duncanson, Tioga-4 Jr., 6-0, 170; LB-Kaden Lyons, Alexander-5 Sr., 5-9, 155; LB-Zander Keim, Portville-6 Sr., 5-11, 180; LB-Riley Demarais, Moriah-7 Sr., 6-2, 190; DB-Evan Sickler, Tioga-4 Jr., 6-2, 170; DB-Anthony Pipia, Port Jefferson-11 Sr., 6-2, 193.
Section 4 Selections
Second team attack: RB-Drew Macumber, Tioga Jr., 5-10, 168; RB-Luke Schnabel, Delhi Sr., 6-0, 170.
Second defensive team: LB-Ryan Wilson, Delhi Sr., 6-1, 180.
Honorable mention: QB-Jacek Teribury (Spencer-VanEtten/Candor Jr.); RB-Anthony McClenon (Walton Sr.).
eight per side
Player of the Year: Tyson Totten, Pembroke-5, RB/LB (Jr., 5-11, 155).
QB-Jackson Ludlow, Thousand Islands-3 Jr.; QB-Martino Rocco, Frankfort-Schuyler-3 So., 5-8, 168; QB-Brayden Shepardson, West Canada Valley-3 Sr., 6-1, 170; QB-Austin Hunt, Groton-4 Sr., 5-11, 180; QB-Dan Collins, Spakenkill-9 Jr., 6-3, 220; QB-Austin Hartman, Tri-Valley-9 Sr., 5-7, 155; RB-Kyler Clean, Moravia-4 Jr., 5-8, 155; RB-Chandler Wright, Trumansburg-4 Jr., 6-0, 181; RB-Keegan Foote, Canisteo-Greenwood-5 Sr., 5-8, 175; RB-Freddie Heymach, Pawling-9 Sr. 5-9, 170; RB-Casmiro Pomales, Ellenville-9 Sr., 6-1, 200; RB-Sidney Stracher, Pine Plains/Rhinebeck-9 Sr., 5-6, 175; OE-Joe Baylor, Moravia-4 So., 6-3, 180; OE-Ben DeMatteo, Groton-4 Sr., 6-0, 150; OLine-Gaige Goodsell, Groton-4 Sr., 6-2, 215; OLine-Jayden Mast, Pembroke-5 Jr., 5-6, 175; AP-James Dapson III, Morrisville-Eaton-3 Sr., 5-10, 150; DLine-Trent Sibble, Bolivar-Richburg-5 Sr., 6-2, 225; LB-Luke Paparella, New York Mills-3 Sr., 6-2, 250; DB-Camdyn Pfazer, Pembroke-5 Sr., 6-3, 165; LB-Dylan Poley, Tri-Valley-9 Sr., 5-10, 187.
Section 4 Selections
Honorable mention: QB-Luke Landis (Moravia Jr.); RB – Riley Jones (Moravia So.), Nick Karandeyev (Groton Jr.).