2007 ES Football All-Stars
Listed are capsules of the 2007 All-Evening Sun football all-star team:
2007 OFFENSE
Quarterback
Nate Whittaker, jr., Greene, 6-0, 175 pounds
Whittaker was a model of efficiency throwing for an area-high 816 yards and 11 TD passes. He also established the best completion percentage in head coach Tim Paske’s five-year tenure hitting 56 percent of his strikes. “He was willing to learn a new position and we were really happy with his progress,” Paske said. “By the end of the year, he had a good hold of it.” A dangerous runner as well, Whittaker ran for five TDs and also returned a punt for a touchdown. “Our game plan this year and for next year is to put him in a position to be successful,” Paske said. “He’ll be a fun kid to watch.” Whittaker threw for a season-best 215 yards against Unatego, and had a TD pass or TD run in all but one game. On the defensive side of the ball, Whittaker showed his nose for the pigskin finishing with a team-high five interceptions.
Chris McGinnis, sr., 6-1, 220 pounds
McGinnis combined for 16 TDs – rushing and passing – throwing for 642 yards and rushing for 317 yards this season. A converted lineman, McGinnis improved in all areas of the quarterback position, and most important, led B-G to a 6-3 record, its best in several years. “He showed leadership on the field and was a good role model for us on and off it,” said B-G coach Tim Mattingly. “It’s not his natural position, but he really did what we asked him to do. Moving him to quarterback made us more successful.” McGinnis threw for a career-best 206 yards and three touchdowns against Harpursville, and either ran or threw a touchdown in seven of nine games.
Nate Foote, sr., Norwich, 5-8, 140 pounds
Perhaps the greatest compliment Foote received this season was the respect he garnered from opposing coaches – and he was really respected throughout Class B’s Division III, said Norwich head coach John Pluta. “Obviously we don’t throw the ball a lot, but I look to the Oneonta game that really defines Nate’s play,” Pluta said. “Oneonta was playing us tough and our offense was struggling. Nate made two huge plays to help us win that game.” Foote ran a quarterback trap out of the shotgun formation for a long TD, then threw a TD pass for the Tornado’s win over the Yellowjackets. In the Tornado offense, usually the three backs got the bulk of the rushing work. Foote’s elusiveness and threat as a runner made Norwich’s offense all the more effective. “In terms of faking and when the quarterback becomes a fourth running threat, that made us real tough to defend,” Pluta said.
Running back
Billy Northey, sr., S-E, 5-11, 190 pounds
Northey took the rushing lead from week one, and never relinquished it rushing for a county-best 1,347 yards to go with 10 rushing touchdowns. “Coach Jasper (Mike) said he was the best player on the field just about every game – no matter who we played,” said Marauders second-year coach Mickey James. “The work he put in during the offseason helped him step up to another level.” Running out of the “I” formation, Northey was one part breakaway threat, and one part workhorse interior runner. His 213 carries were 55 more than the next most of any back, and he carried the ball at least 20 times the first seven games. He had a 324-yard, three TD game against Ilion, and added a 221-yard game against Clinton. “He did the things he needed to do to get better,” James said, “And he’ll do that to go to the next level.”
Chris Mattingly, sr., Norwich, 6-0, 178 pounds
The senior running back had his breakout year after steady 640-plus-yard seasons as a sophomore and junior. In a testament to his consistency and determination, Mattingly actually had the best two games of his career in his final two games – a stretch when you might think a workhorse running back might start to wear down. “He’s certainly one of the best backs we’ve had,” said Norwich coach John Pluta. “He was a great dive back in our offense; he hits the pile then pops out.” Mattingly surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in a career-high 218-yard game against Ithaca, and he did it in just three quarters of play. He finished with 2,363 career rushing yards in 27 games.
Dustin Ross, jr., B-G, 5-8, 152 pounds
Ross has that rare opportunity to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, something that was done by Eric Finch of B-GA in the late ‘90s. “He is just an unbelievable natural talent,” said Bobcats coach Tim Mattingly. “Not only is he fast, he is quick and is probably our toughest back. You would think at 150 pounds he couldn’t take a hit. He would lower his shoulder and get the extra yards.” Ross totaled 1,047 yards, an amount cut short after suffering an injury in the first half of week nine’s game against Sidney. He had five 100-yard games reaching a high of 237 against Hancock.
Scott Shackelton, sr., Oxford, 5-10, 170 pounds
The most experienced skill position player on the Oxford team this season, Shackelton provided the speed and breakaway ability to complement the power game efforts of his teammates Dustin Christopherson and Travis Frank. After a seesaw stretch of games early in the season, Shackelton kicked it into high gear his final four games rushing for 496 yards to finish with 802 on the season to go with seven rushing scores. “He rolled his ankle in our first game, and he was hesitant for a couple of games,” said Oxford coach Mike Chrystie. “Everyone was coming together in a new system, and he benefited from us jelling as a team. He was a threat to go all the way any time he had the ball. It was nice to have a kid with that ability.”
Tommy Giordano, sr., UV-Edmeston, 6-0, 215 pounds
Every team needs that back you can throw into the line and move the pile, while also moving the chains. Giordano fit that role perfectly in the Storm’s grind-it-out attack, and seldom did he travel more than three or four yards without absorbing plenty of hits from the opposition. He was a chain mover who softened the defense’s underbelly. “We wanted to get the ball in his hands in clutch situations when we needed tough yards,” said Storm coach Jack Loeffler. “Teams seemed to key on him a little more this season.” On the defensive side of the ball, Giordano started at end and executed his role to perfection. “He sealed pretty much everything and not much ever got outside of him,” Loeffler said.
Receiver/Tight End
Dylan Whitaker, sr., B-G, 6-2, 185 pounds
The go-to guy for quarterback Chris McGinnis the past two seasons, Whitaker was third in the area in catches (16) and receiving yards (298), while grabbing three TD passes. “He’s a kid that did what we asked him to do, and he came up big both offensively and defensively,” said B-G coach Tim Mattingly. “He has a great set of hands, and people knew he was our number one target when we threw the ball.” Whittaker had one four-catch game and reached a high of 92 yards and two touchdowns in a victory over Harpursville. “Not only was he our best receiver for the second straight year, he was probably our best offensive blocker,” Mattingly noted.
Justin VanWert, sr., Greene, 6-1, 170 pounds
VanWert was the quintessential possession receiver catching an area-high 27 ballls for 310 yards, while also tying a team record with eight receiving touchdowns. “He was definitely our go-to receiver and an explosive kid,” said Greene coach Tim Paske. “If we could get him in space, he might have the opportunity to break a big one.” Not only did VanWert have catches in every game this season for Greene, he had at least two catches in seven of those games. He had a season-best seven grabs in the second meeting with Unatego, and scored TDs in six games. As a blocker, VanWert delivered big blocks on the outside winning the intra-team blocking award, “smack of the week” more than one time.
Offensive Line
D.J. Beckwith, sr., Greene, 6-0, 200 pounds
A three-year starter on the defensive side of the ball and two-year starter on defense, “Beast” brought a lot of energy and emotion to the field at offensive guard. “One of our staples is running the trap and we take a lot of pride running that play,” said Greene coach Tim Paske. “(D.J.) opened up a ton of holes for us on the trap. We kept track of pancake blocks, and he was one of our leaders. When we needed a big block, the game plan was to run behind him or to his side. One of the Trojans’ captains, Beckwith also figured heavily on the defensive side of the ball making several big plays finishing with three sacks. “He always played with emotion and intensity,” Paske said, “and the kids fed off of that.”
Clyde Birch, sr., Norwich, 6-4, 250 pounds
Saying nothing about his skills as a lineman – and they were prodigous – if anyone looked the part of an offensive tackle, it was Birch. After shaking off an early-season injury and not seeing much time in the preseason scrimmage, Birch came on strong to become one of the leaders on the Norwich line, Pluta said. “He has good fundamentals and good feet,” Pluta said. “If he continues to get stronger, and guy with his size and feet has a chance – if he wants to – to play on the next level.”
Chris Pike, jr., S-E, 5-9, 240 pounds
A two-way starter and with four years of varsity experience under his belt, there is little a defense can throw his way that he hasn’t seen before. “He makes great line calls and really helped our younger linemen come along,” said S-E coach Mickey James. “We got a lot of yards through his and Joe’s (Corey) holes.” A dedicated weightlifter as well, James said Pike is as strong as any kid he has coached, and the combination of his strength, smarts, set the tone for the rest of the team. “He got on ‘backers and took pride in pancaking people.”
Tyler Saroka, sr., Norwich 6-0, 225 pounds
A three-year player for Norwich and a captain this season, he was Norwich’s best all-around lineman and consistently won the Tornado’s board drills. “He was a very good technician and has great quickness,” said Norwich coach John Pluta. “He has to be one of the quickest linemen in the area. He’s smart and he threw some great, great blocks for us.” Saroka led a Norwich offensive line that churned out nearly, 2,300 rushing yards, tops in the area.
2007 DEFENSE
Defensive back
Jesse Prosser, sr., Norwich, 5-10, 160 pounds
Another word that starts with “p” and ends in an “r” that describes Prosser is “playmaker.” Originally just a one-way player on offense, Prosser moved to defensive back early in the season, and he became a shut-down type of player. “We really started to make strides defensively when we got (Jesse) on the field,” Pluta said. “He was a good cover guy and had a good nose for the ball.” On offense, Prosser had several big runs and kickoff returns averaging 7.4 yards per carry with 457 yards and three touchdowns.
Dustin Rutz, jr., B-G, 5-10, 175 pounds
Rutz was one of those kids who never came off the field starting on both sides of the ball, while also acting as one of the special teams return men. “He’s a versatile player for us and all-around one of our better athletes,” said B-G coach Tim Mattingly. Rutz was the designated “lockdown” cover cornerback charged with defending the opposing team’s best receiver. “He was just a great cover kid and gave us great run support,” Mattingly added. Rutz didn’t get many carries on offense with teammate Ross leading the way, but he did rush for 85 yards after Ross was injured in the Sidney game. Rutz also caught eight balls including the game-winning TD catch against Oxford.
Linebacker
Travis Frank, jr., Oxford, 6-1, 175 pounds
The leading tackler on the Oxford team, Frank simply had a nose for the ball finishing with over 100 tackles over nine games. He had at least 10 tackles seven times reaching a high of 14 once and 13 three other times. “Travis is just an all-out type of kid who is going 100 percent every single play,” said Oxford coach Mike Chrystie. “Travis is a sure tackler. In a one-on-one situation, normally you give the advantage to the offense. In this case, I take my chances with Travis. There isn’t anyone one-on-one who got by him.” Frank was also an integral part of the Oxford offense sharing fullback duties with Dustin Christopherson. He finished with 354 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
Alex Williams, so., Norwich, 5-11, 175 pounds
Speaking of having a nose for the ball, time after time Williams sifted through defenders and diagnosed countless plays in which he tackled ballcarriers at or behind the line of scrimmage. Norwich’s leading tackler, Williams was asked to do a little more than what was expected of Tornado ‘backers in the past. “In our system, we went to a little different look,” said Norwich coach John Pluta. “Instead of just attacking, he had more responsibilities flowing to the ball and dropping into pass coverage.”
Tyler Kehl, jr., Greene, 5-11, 220 pounds
A two-year starter for the Trojans, much was expected of Kehl, who moved into the starting linebacker spot that was manned with distinction by three-time all-star Keith Savory. Kehl finished second on the team with 93 tackles in the “King” position. “The king position is where we try to funnel a lot of things so that person can make plays,” Paske said. “Tyler was a little undersized for the position, but he stepped it up with emotion and intensity. He picked up where Keith left off. He averaged over 10 tackles a game, and that’s huge.”
Wheeler Brunschmid, sr., S-E, 5-10, 175 pounds
Brunschmid rarely stepped off the field, and from his linebacker position, was asked to adapt in-game and game-to-game depending on game plans. “He is a great leader and called our defenses,” said S-E coach Mickey James. “We had him do a lot of different things and he had a lot of responsibility. He had mental toughness and good leadership qualities. He wasn’t our fastest kid, but he always got to where he needed to go, and he was tougher than nails.” Brunschmid was also the lead blocker in the “I” formation for the area’s top rusher, Billy Northey. A sure-handed receiver, too, Brunschmid caught 12 balls for two scores, while adding two rushing touchdowns.
Jake Curtis, sr., UV-Edmeston, 5-11, 215 pounds
A second-year all-star, Curtis was head coach Jack Loeffler’s defensive general leading the team in tackles. He recovered several fumbles, picked off a pass, and always seemed in the mix on big plays. “I think he is the smarted defensive player I’ve coached,” Loeffler said in heaping lofty praise on his senior. “He called all of our defenses and made sure our players were where they needed to be. He knew what to do at the right time, and was always in the right place at the right time. He saw things coming and knew where to go.”
Matt Harrington, sr., UV-Edmeston 5-11, 195 pounds.
The biggest hitter on a stout UV-Edmeston defense, Harrington combined with Curtis for a strong one-two punch at the linebacker punch. Harrington hit so hard, he knocked himself out cold during a practice session when he made contact with a teammate – yes a teammate! “He was a quick kid and probably loved playing football more than any other kid we had,” Loeffler said. “He is an instinctive player, and when he saw things develop, he got to the ball very quick.” Harrington also gave the UV-E offense a boost on offense rushing for nearly 200 yards in spot duty over the last five games and two long TD runs.
Defensive Line
Jake Wentlent, sr., Greene, 5-10, 170 pounds
Wentlent played on the defensive line and at linebacker, and led the Trojans’ defense finishing with 98 tackles – 18 of those came in the season finale against Unatego. “He had a great work ethic, and whatever position we asked him to play, he was willing to do it,” said Trojans coach Tim Paske. Wentlent was known for his relentless pursuit to the ball and a motor that went 100 percent on each play. Paske said he would do whatever it took to get the most out of play on offense or defense. “He took pride in everything we asked him to do and executed to the fullest extent. He’ll be a tough guy to replace,” Paske said. Wentlent also led the Trojans in rushing with 719 yards to go with six scores, and reached a season-high of 171 yards against Tioga to help Greene clinch a second straight postseason berth.
Jeff Champlin, sr., Oxford, 6-3, 230 pounds
A two-way starter for the Blackhawks the past three seasons, Champlin finished with 74 tackles, a remarkable total for a guy playing an inside defensive tackle position. “One of his assets was his ability to shed blocks at the line of scrimmage,” said Oxford coach Mike Chrystie. “Most of the time, the linemen are asked to jam stuff up and force it to toward the skill guys (the tackles and safeties) to make the play. He got off those blocks so well and had great hand and feet coordination. He used those skills to his benefit.” Champlin also played the left tackle position on offense, the marquis slot for any offensive line, especially in passing situations. “He solidified that side of the line for us, and if we needed a couple of yards, we went to his side,” Chrystie said.
Dustin Christophersen, sr., Oxford, 6-2, 182 pounds
Christopherson holds the distinction as the only three-year all-county selection, and all from the defensive end/standup linebacker position. A relentless pursuer of the ball, he was third on the Blackhawks with nearly seven tackles a game including a season-high 13 against Thomas A. Edison. “He did the little things and leads by his example on the field,” said Oxford coach Mike Chrystie. “He’s not the loudest kid, but there are very few who outworked and outprepared him. He has an aggressive style, and we were able to take advantage of that.” On offense, Christopherson did not disappoint in his first sustained action at running back. He rushed for 500 yards, sixth in the area, and five touchdowns. He also was the team’s punter averaging well over 30 yards a boot.
2007 OFFENSE
Quarterback
Nate Whittaker, jr., Greene, 6-0, 175 pounds
Whittaker was a model of efficiency throwing for an area-high 816 yards and 11 TD passes. He also established the best completion percentage in head coach Tim Paske’s five-year tenure hitting 56 percent of his strikes. “He was willing to learn a new position and we were really happy with his progress,” Paske said. “By the end of the year, he had a good hold of it.” A dangerous runner as well, Whittaker ran for five TDs and also returned a punt for a touchdown. “Our game plan this year and for next year is to put him in a position to be successful,” Paske said. “He’ll be a fun kid to watch.” Whittaker threw for a season-best 215 yards against Unatego, and had a TD pass or TD run in all but one game. On the defensive side of the ball, Whittaker showed his nose for the pigskin finishing with a team-high five interceptions.
Chris McGinnis, sr., 6-1, 220 pounds
McGinnis combined for 16 TDs – rushing and passing – throwing for 642 yards and rushing for 317 yards this season. A converted lineman, McGinnis improved in all areas of the quarterback position, and most important, led B-G to a 6-3 record, its best in several years. “He showed leadership on the field and was a good role model for us on and off it,” said B-G coach Tim Mattingly. “It’s not his natural position, but he really did what we asked him to do. Moving him to quarterback made us more successful.” McGinnis threw for a career-best 206 yards and three touchdowns against Harpursville, and either ran or threw a touchdown in seven of nine games.
Nate Foote, sr., Norwich, 5-8, 140 pounds
Perhaps the greatest compliment Foote received this season was the respect he garnered from opposing coaches – and he was really respected throughout Class B’s Division III, said Norwich head coach John Pluta. “Obviously we don’t throw the ball a lot, but I look to the Oneonta game that really defines Nate’s play,” Pluta said. “Oneonta was playing us tough and our offense was struggling. Nate made two huge plays to help us win that game.” Foote ran a quarterback trap out of the shotgun formation for a long TD, then threw a TD pass for the Tornado’s win over the Yellowjackets. In the Tornado offense, usually the three backs got the bulk of the rushing work. Foote’s elusiveness and threat as a runner made Norwich’s offense all the more effective. “In terms of faking and when the quarterback becomes a fourth running threat, that made us real tough to defend,” Pluta said.
Running back
Billy Northey, sr., S-E, 5-11, 190 pounds
Northey took the rushing lead from week one, and never relinquished it rushing for a county-best 1,347 yards to go with 10 rushing touchdowns. “Coach Jasper (Mike) said he was the best player on the field just about every game – no matter who we played,” said Marauders second-year coach Mickey James. “The work he put in during the offseason helped him step up to another level.” Running out of the “I” formation, Northey was one part breakaway threat, and one part workhorse interior runner. His 213 carries were 55 more than the next most of any back, and he carried the ball at least 20 times the first seven games. He had a 324-yard, three TD game against Ilion, and added a 221-yard game against Clinton. “He did the things he needed to do to get better,” James said, “And he’ll do that to go to the next level.”
Chris Mattingly, sr., Norwich, 6-0, 178 pounds
The senior running back had his breakout year after steady 640-plus-yard seasons as a sophomore and junior. In a testament to his consistency and determination, Mattingly actually had the best two games of his career in his final two games – a stretch when you might think a workhorse running back might start to wear down. “He’s certainly one of the best backs we’ve had,” said Norwich coach John Pluta. “He was a great dive back in our offense; he hits the pile then pops out.” Mattingly surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in a career-high 218-yard game against Ithaca, and he did it in just three quarters of play. He finished with 2,363 career rushing yards in 27 games.
Dustin Ross, jr., B-G, 5-8, 152 pounds
Ross has that rare opportunity to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, something that was done by Eric Finch of B-GA in the late ‘90s. “He is just an unbelievable natural talent,” said Bobcats coach Tim Mattingly. “Not only is he fast, he is quick and is probably our toughest back. You would think at 150 pounds he couldn’t take a hit. He would lower his shoulder and get the extra yards.” Ross totaled 1,047 yards, an amount cut short after suffering an injury in the first half of week nine’s game against Sidney. He had five 100-yard games reaching a high of 237 against Hancock.
Scott Shackelton, sr., Oxford, 5-10, 170 pounds
The most experienced skill position player on the Oxford team this season, Shackelton provided the speed and breakaway ability to complement the power game efforts of his teammates Dustin Christopherson and Travis Frank. After a seesaw stretch of games early in the season, Shackelton kicked it into high gear his final four games rushing for 496 yards to finish with 802 on the season to go with seven rushing scores. “He rolled his ankle in our first game, and he was hesitant for a couple of games,” said Oxford coach Mike Chrystie. “Everyone was coming together in a new system, and he benefited from us jelling as a team. He was a threat to go all the way any time he had the ball. It was nice to have a kid with that ability.”
Tommy Giordano, sr., UV-Edmeston, 6-0, 215 pounds
Every team needs that back you can throw into the line and move the pile, while also moving the chains. Giordano fit that role perfectly in the Storm’s grind-it-out attack, and seldom did he travel more than three or four yards without absorbing plenty of hits from the opposition. He was a chain mover who softened the defense’s underbelly. “We wanted to get the ball in his hands in clutch situations when we needed tough yards,” said Storm coach Jack Loeffler. “Teams seemed to key on him a little more this season.” On the defensive side of the ball, Giordano started at end and executed his role to perfection. “He sealed pretty much everything and not much ever got outside of him,” Loeffler said.
Receiver/Tight End
Dylan Whitaker, sr., B-G, 6-2, 185 pounds
The go-to guy for quarterback Chris McGinnis the past two seasons, Whitaker was third in the area in catches (16) and receiving yards (298), while grabbing three TD passes. “He’s a kid that did what we asked him to do, and he came up big both offensively and defensively,” said B-G coach Tim Mattingly. “He has a great set of hands, and people knew he was our number one target when we threw the ball.” Whittaker had one four-catch game and reached a high of 92 yards and two touchdowns in a victory over Harpursville. “Not only was he our best receiver for the second straight year, he was probably our best offensive blocker,” Mattingly noted.
Justin VanWert, sr., Greene, 6-1, 170 pounds
VanWert was the quintessential possession receiver catching an area-high 27 ballls for 310 yards, while also tying a team record with eight receiving touchdowns. “He was definitely our go-to receiver and an explosive kid,” said Greene coach Tim Paske. “If we could get him in space, he might have the opportunity to break a big one.” Not only did VanWert have catches in every game this season for Greene, he had at least two catches in seven of those games. He had a season-best seven grabs in the second meeting with Unatego, and scored TDs in six games. As a blocker, VanWert delivered big blocks on the outside winning the intra-team blocking award, “smack of the week” more than one time.
Offensive Line
D.J. Beckwith, sr., Greene, 6-0, 200 pounds
A three-year starter on the defensive side of the ball and two-year starter on defense, “Beast” brought a lot of energy and emotion to the field at offensive guard. “One of our staples is running the trap and we take a lot of pride running that play,” said Greene coach Tim Paske. “(D.J.) opened up a ton of holes for us on the trap. We kept track of pancake blocks, and he was one of our leaders. When we needed a big block, the game plan was to run behind him or to his side. One of the Trojans’ captains, Beckwith also figured heavily on the defensive side of the ball making several big plays finishing with three sacks. “He always played with emotion and intensity,” Paske said, “and the kids fed off of that.”
Clyde Birch, sr., Norwich, 6-4, 250 pounds
Saying nothing about his skills as a lineman – and they were prodigous – if anyone looked the part of an offensive tackle, it was Birch. After shaking off an early-season injury and not seeing much time in the preseason scrimmage, Birch came on strong to become one of the leaders on the Norwich line, Pluta said. “He has good fundamentals and good feet,” Pluta said. “If he continues to get stronger, and guy with his size and feet has a chance – if he wants to – to play on the next level.”
Chris Pike, jr., S-E, 5-9, 240 pounds
A two-way starter and with four years of varsity experience under his belt, there is little a defense can throw his way that he hasn’t seen before. “He makes great line calls and really helped our younger linemen come along,” said S-E coach Mickey James. “We got a lot of yards through his and Joe’s (Corey) holes.” A dedicated weightlifter as well, James said Pike is as strong as any kid he has coached, and the combination of his strength, smarts, set the tone for the rest of the team. “He got on ‘backers and took pride in pancaking people.”
Tyler Saroka, sr., Norwich 6-0, 225 pounds
A three-year player for Norwich and a captain this season, he was Norwich’s best all-around lineman and consistently won the Tornado’s board drills. “He was a very good technician and has great quickness,” said Norwich coach John Pluta. “He has to be one of the quickest linemen in the area. He’s smart and he threw some great, great blocks for us.” Saroka led a Norwich offensive line that churned out nearly, 2,300 rushing yards, tops in the area.
2007 DEFENSE
Defensive back
Jesse Prosser, sr., Norwich, 5-10, 160 pounds
Another word that starts with “p” and ends in an “r” that describes Prosser is “playmaker.” Originally just a one-way player on offense, Prosser moved to defensive back early in the season, and he became a shut-down type of player. “We really started to make strides defensively when we got (Jesse) on the field,” Pluta said. “He was a good cover guy and had a good nose for the ball.” On offense, Prosser had several big runs and kickoff returns averaging 7.4 yards per carry with 457 yards and three touchdowns.
Dustin Rutz, jr., B-G, 5-10, 175 pounds
Rutz was one of those kids who never came off the field starting on both sides of the ball, while also acting as one of the special teams return men. “He’s a versatile player for us and all-around one of our better athletes,” said B-G coach Tim Mattingly. Rutz was the designated “lockdown” cover cornerback charged with defending the opposing team’s best receiver. “He was just a great cover kid and gave us great run support,” Mattingly added. Rutz didn’t get many carries on offense with teammate Ross leading the way, but he did rush for 85 yards after Ross was injured in the Sidney game. Rutz also caught eight balls including the game-winning TD catch against Oxford.
Linebacker
Travis Frank, jr., Oxford, 6-1, 175 pounds
The leading tackler on the Oxford team, Frank simply had a nose for the ball finishing with over 100 tackles over nine games. He had at least 10 tackles seven times reaching a high of 14 once and 13 three other times. “Travis is just an all-out type of kid who is going 100 percent every single play,” said Oxford coach Mike Chrystie. “Travis is a sure tackler. In a one-on-one situation, normally you give the advantage to the offense. In this case, I take my chances with Travis. There isn’t anyone one-on-one who got by him.” Frank was also an integral part of the Oxford offense sharing fullback duties with Dustin Christopherson. He finished with 354 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
Alex Williams, so., Norwich, 5-11, 175 pounds
Speaking of having a nose for the ball, time after time Williams sifted through defenders and diagnosed countless plays in which he tackled ballcarriers at or behind the line of scrimmage. Norwich’s leading tackler, Williams was asked to do a little more than what was expected of Tornado ‘backers in the past. “In our system, we went to a little different look,” said Norwich coach John Pluta. “Instead of just attacking, he had more responsibilities flowing to the ball and dropping into pass coverage.”
Tyler Kehl, jr., Greene, 5-11, 220 pounds
A two-year starter for the Trojans, much was expected of Kehl, who moved into the starting linebacker spot that was manned with distinction by three-time all-star Keith Savory. Kehl finished second on the team with 93 tackles in the “King” position. “The king position is where we try to funnel a lot of things so that person can make plays,” Paske said. “Tyler was a little undersized for the position, but he stepped it up with emotion and intensity. He picked up where Keith left off. He averaged over 10 tackles a game, and that’s huge.”
Wheeler Brunschmid, sr., S-E, 5-10, 175 pounds
Brunschmid rarely stepped off the field, and from his linebacker position, was asked to adapt in-game and game-to-game depending on game plans. “He is a great leader and called our defenses,” said S-E coach Mickey James. “We had him do a lot of different things and he had a lot of responsibility. He had mental toughness and good leadership qualities. He wasn’t our fastest kid, but he always got to where he needed to go, and he was tougher than nails.” Brunschmid was also the lead blocker in the “I” formation for the area’s top rusher, Billy Northey. A sure-handed receiver, too, Brunschmid caught 12 balls for two scores, while adding two rushing touchdowns.
Jake Curtis, sr., UV-Edmeston, 5-11, 215 pounds
A second-year all-star, Curtis was head coach Jack Loeffler’s defensive general leading the team in tackles. He recovered several fumbles, picked off a pass, and always seemed in the mix on big plays. “I think he is the smarted defensive player I’ve coached,” Loeffler said in heaping lofty praise on his senior. “He called all of our defenses and made sure our players were where they needed to be. He knew what to do at the right time, and was always in the right place at the right time. He saw things coming and knew where to go.”
Matt Harrington, sr., UV-Edmeston 5-11, 195 pounds.
The biggest hitter on a stout UV-Edmeston defense, Harrington combined with Curtis for a strong one-two punch at the linebacker punch. Harrington hit so hard, he knocked himself out cold during a practice session when he made contact with a teammate – yes a teammate! “He was a quick kid and probably loved playing football more than any other kid we had,” Loeffler said. “He is an instinctive player, and when he saw things develop, he got to the ball very quick.” Harrington also gave the UV-E offense a boost on offense rushing for nearly 200 yards in spot duty over the last five games and two long TD runs.
Defensive Line
Jake Wentlent, sr., Greene, 5-10, 170 pounds
Wentlent played on the defensive line and at linebacker, and led the Trojans’ defense finishing with 98 tackles – 18 of those came in the season finale against Unatego. “He had a great work ethic, and whatever position we asked him to play, he was willing to do it,” said Trojans coach Tim Paske. Wentlent was known for his relentless pursuit to the ball and a motor that went 100 percent on each play. Paske said he would do whatever it took to get the most out of play on offense or defense. “He took pride in everything we asked him to do and executed to the fullest extent. He’ll be a tough guy to replace,” Paske said. Wentlent also led the Trojans in rushing with 719 yards to go with six scores, and reached a season-high of 171 yards against Tioga to help Greene clinch a second straight postseason berth.
Jeff Champlin, sr., Oxford, 6-3, 230 pounds
A two-way starter for the Blackhawks the past three seasons, Champlin finished with 74 tackles, a remarkable total for a guy playing an inside defensive tackle position. “One of his assets was his ability to shed blocks at the line of scrimmage,” said Oxford coach Mike Chrystie. “Most of the time, the linemen are asked to jam stuff up and force it to toward the skill guys (the tackles and safeties) to make the play. He got off those blocks so well and had great hand and feet coordination. He used those skills to his benefit.” Champlin also played the left tackle position on offense, the marquis slot for any offensive line, especially in passing situations. “He solidified that side of the line for us, and if we needed a couple of yards, we went to his side,” Chrystie said.
Dustin Christophersen, sr., Oxford, 6-2, 182 pounds
Christopherson holds the distinction as the only three-year all-county selection, and all from the defensive end/standup linebacker position. A relentless pursuer of the ball, he was third on the Blackhawks with nearly seven tackles a game including a season-high 13 against Thomas A. Edison. “He did the little things and leads by his example on the field,” said Oxford coach Mike Chrystie. “He’s not the loudest kid, but there are very few who outworked and outprepared him. He has an aggressive style, and we were able to take advantage of that.” On offense, Christopherson did not disappoint in his first sustained action at running back. He rushed for 500 yards, sixth in the area, and five touchdowns. He also was the team’s punter averaging well over 30 yards a boot.
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