CHENANGO COUNTY – Chenango County’s football teams produced one of the best overall seasons in over 15 years, and the reward was seven all-state selections.
The New York State Sportswriters Association announced its 2011 Class B, C, and D all-state teams Wednesday afternoon, and Greene along with Bainbridge-Guilford each received two selections. Norwich, Oxford, and Sherburne-Earlville also had one player apiece earn the grade.
The Trojans’ Ricky Carbone and Isaiah Webb became their school’s first Class C first-team all-state picks under nine-year head coach Tim Paske. Carbone, a dominant nose tackle who was among the team leaders in tackles, was chosen on defense, while Webb, a massive, yet fleet afoot offensive tackle, was selected on offense. “Just from where he was in middle school to where he is today, he really made a tremendous commitment to the weight room and to football, and had a heck of a year,” Paske said of Carbone. “Isaiah was a real force up front, and if we needed a first down, there weren’t many guys he couldn’t handle.”
B-G senior Billy Holden was named a first-team Class D linebacker. A 1,000-yard rusher on offense, Holden also anchored the Bobcats’ defense, and was a key player in a 6-2 season that led to the school’s first Section IV playoff win.
Ryan Porter was the Bobcats’ other choice earning third team honors at offensive end. A two-way starter as well for head coach Tim Mattingly. Porter was his team’s leader in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and tied for the team lead with 17 catches. Porter’s work as a pass-rushing defensive end also figured in his selection.
Oxford junior, Paul Wonka, had the second-best rushing season in school history, and was just 15 yards shy of the school record finishing with 1,558 yards. For that, Wonka was a second team Class D pick at running back. Wonka had eight 100-yard rushing games this season, and capped his year with a career-high 289 yards in the season finale against Windsor. “Paul's a great kid who works his tail off,” said Oxford coach Ray Dayton. “The sky is the limit for him.”
Sherburne-Earlville completed its second straight winning season under head coach Mike Jasper, the first time that has occurred since it played nine-man football in the Tri-Valley League nearly 20 seasons ago. Sophomore linebacker, Austin Jasper, averaged nearly 11 tackles a game this season for the Marauders in playing on the area’s second-best scoring defense. Jasper was a third team Class C all-state pick at linebacker. “I think it says something about the direction of our football program to have a player recognized at the state level,” said Coach Jasper. “The last two seasons we have moved in the right direction and been competitive, and with that comes more recognition for our players. (Austin) is a very physical defensive player who works hard in the offseason, and that work paid off for him this season.”
Norwich junior Grant Brightman was duly rewarded for his outstanding all-around season receiving fourth-team accolades at linebacker in Class B. Not only was Brightman Norwich’s leading rusher, he was also his team’s leading tackler accomplishing that feat for the second consecutive year.

(Photo: Ricky Carbone, Greene)