This year’s grid all-stars stacked with quality personnel

A week ago we published our season-ending individual statistics and the records of the six Chenango County football teams. At the top was a summation of team records, and the overall winning percentage (36 percent) was the second lowest in my 19 seasons covering area football with my first year (1995), the only year where the victory percentage was lower.
While team play slid, the individual play of the young men named to 2013 Evening Sun Football All-Stars did not. It’s fair to say that this year’s best rank favorably with every other set of gridiron greats we have placed on this exclusive club.
Take Norwich junior running back Mike Oralls, who eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards. He is the first Norwich back to reach 1,000 rushing yards in six years, and just the second junior to accomplish that feat since our paper started keeping official records in 1970.
Over the past two decades, how many local football players have gone on to play Division I college football? Not many.
Sherburne-Earlville senior Austin Jasper, already a two-time all-state selection, was recently accepted at Youngstown State, a four-time 1-AA national champion. This will be Jasper’s third appearance in this issue as he leads our 23-player group.
S-E junior Cody Marango also returns to our all-star team, and what a season he had. Marango was an easy choice as either a defensive safety or at quarterback. He swept the passing awards with 16 TD passes and over 800 yards through air. The former total, according to our statistics, is the highest single-season TD passing total at Sherburne-Earlville since we began charting those numbers. Marango also had four interceptions at safety, and his coach, Mike Jasper, said that Marango merits all-state consideration on defense.
Oralls, Jasper, and Marango are three of just five returning all-star players, the lowest total in 19 seasons. Also making the grade – again – are Unadilla Valley juniors Alex Avolio and Richie Conklin.
The rest of our group, as you will read below, includes a mix of seniors making their high school swan song, and upstart underclassmen; building blocks for next season.
All-stars are listed by team:

BAINBRIDGE-GUILFORD

Mike Carlin, sr., WR 6-1, 170 pounds
Carlin had just three offensive touches the first five weeks of the season, but it was his spectacular final month that earned him a spot on our all-star squad. Due to injuries and absence, Carlin was cast in a featured role the last month, and all he did was score 10 touchdowns the final four weeks. He had 14 catches and six TD receptions in those four games, and at running back – a position he never played on varsity – he ran for 257 yards the last three games, while also scoring four more touchdowns. He also had a defensive touchdown during that hot streak, and his 11 touchdowns were second among Chenango County gridders. “He was our number one target when we needed to throw the ball, and he had a great set of hands,” said B-G coach Tim Mattingly. “He stepped up and had a great year for us.”

Shane Curtin, sr., OL, 5-11, 250 pounds
The Bobcats’ selection to the Ernie Davis Football Classic, the veteran two-way player was the unquestioned leader of a young and inexperienced offensive line. With Curtin leading the way, the Bobcats averaged better than 200 yards rushing per game over the last seven weeks of the season. “He was our best lineman on both sides of the ball,” Mattingly said. “On defense, we moved him to defensive tackle, and he just controlled opposing centers. On offense, if we needed to pull, we pulled him. He understood our offense, and was just another one of those tough kids. He was smart making the line calls, and had a great year.”

Dylan Moffitt, jr. RB, 5-8, 165 pounds
The first two weeks of the season gave no indication of the season Moffitt would have. Moffitt broke loose for 170 yards against Deposit-Hancock, and over his last six games, averaged 113 rushing yards per game. “He really came on this year,” Mattingly said. “Not only is he fast, but he is a very physical runner. He was a tough guy to bring down.” Moffitt had an outside burst that led to several long runs. He finished with 745 rushing yards with a 6.3 average per attempt. Defensively, he was a big part of the Bobcats’ aggressive approach. “He’s another one of those kids who plays much bigger than his actual size,” Mattingly said.

Cole Webb, sr, LB, 6-0, 180 pounds
Bainbridge-Guilford’s season nearly took a serious turn for the worse the first week of the season when Webb suffered a broken thumb. The injury kept Webb from quarterbacking for nearly a month, but it didn’t keep him off the field. Webb, with a hard cast en tow, continued to start at linebacker, and moved to the offensive line as a blocking tight end. “He is a kid who just had a nose for the ball, and he always played with a high level of intensity,” said B-G coach Tim Mattingly. “He just got after it on defense.” Over the last five weeks, Webb returned as the starting QB, and led the Bobcats to all three of their wins. During those weeks, he threw nine touchdown passes and ran for three more. “When we got (Cole) back, it made all the difference in the world for us,” Mattingly said.

GREENE

Alex Kosisky, sr., OL/P 6-0, 195
Kosisky was a leader on both sides of the line for the young Trojans, and also sported the area’s best punting average at better than 37 yards per kick. “He practiced harder than anyone on our team,” said Greene coach Dave Gorton. “He went every play in practice like it was game conditions. If I had five of him on the line, I’d be very excited.” A hybrid defensive end/linebacker, Kosisky was excellent at rushing the passer, but was also adept at dropping into pass coverage. As a lineman, he knew everyone’s assignments across the front, and was his teammates’ best friend in helping them know their assignments. “He was the clearcut leader on the line,” Gorton said.

Brendan Wheeler. Sr. LB, 5-7, 145 pounds
Although undersized for his position on defense, Wheeler made up for an apparent physical disadvantage with tremendous speed, tenacity, and toughness. Head coach Dave Gorton didn’t have to look at who made a particular hit, he could tell by the sound if it was Wheeler delivering the blow. “He plays much bigger than his size, and he was one of those mauling type of tacklers,” Gorton said. Wheeler was the Trojans’ defensive MVP, and his passion for the game was contagious. “Brendan has great enthusiasm for the game, and he’s as intense a linebacker as we’ve had here in years,” Gorton said.

Joe Beckwith, QB, 5-9, 155 pounds
Beckwith was more of a game manager his first two years as starting quarterback, and justly so as he took the snaps for a pair of Section IV title contenders. As one of the few veteran presences on this year’s Greene club, Beckwith was asked to do much more, and he came away with his best individual season. “He did a great job for us this year, and he threw the ball much better than the statistics reveal,” Gorton said. Beckwith threw for over 500 yards, and was also a dangerous threat running the ball. Moreover, he became the team leader Gorton needed. “He was so much more mature this year, and very positive with the younger kids,” Gorton said. “At one point we had three sophomores and a freshman on the line, and Joe took a couple of big hits. Joe didn’t back down, and he didn’t belittle the linemen. He was very encouraging.” Beckwith was the biggest bright spot for the Greene offense, and was deservedly named his team’s offensive MVP.

NORWICH

Jaden MacRabie, sr. DE, 5-10, 195 pounds
Norwich coach Mike Chrystie said there may not have been a player on the Norwich team who improved more from last year to this year than MacRabie. A starter on the defensive line at end and Norwich’s “receiving back” on offense, MacRabie adapted to a new role on defense, and by midseason, was shutting down opposing team’s outside runs to his side. “He improved his technique so much, teams just could not run outside to his side,” Chrystie said. MacRabie also benefited in the passing game when Norwich had its rushing attack on point. He led the Tornado with 12 catches for 191 yards and four TDs including a pair of two-TD games.

John Marvin, sr., LB 5-10, 170 pounds
Second on the Norwich team in tackles, Norwich’s Coach Chrystie said that Marvin came out of nowhere after not seeing significant playing time the past two seasons. “We had a competition for linebacker during preseason,” Chrystie said. “Once he grabbed the starting spot, he never looked back.” A physical player who “played downhill,” Chrystie said, Marvin was a playmaker who had a number of forced turnovers and fumble recoveries. “He was not one to play on his heels at all,” Chrystie. “He knew his role, and he relished it. He was enthusiastic, upbeat, and ready to play.”

Mike Oralls, jr., RB, 6-0, 195 pounds
Oralls showed more than a few flashes of his potential last year as a sophomore, and he blossomed this season in Norwich’s “Pistol offense.” Oralls became first Norwich junior since 1981 to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing finishing with 1,066 to capture the area rushing title by over 250 yards. “When we were implementing our offense, we knew we needed a stud fullback, and Mike fit that bill,” Chrystie said. “His skill set fit our offense, and we expected big things. Mike definitely didn’t disappoint.” Oralls averaged just a tad under seven yards per carry posting six 100-yard rushing games including a high of 203 yards in a victory over Owego. He also tied teammate Mike Sutton with eight rushing scores. “The best thing about Mike’s running is that he never gives up, and you seldom saw one guy bring him down,” Chrystie said. “He works all year-round in the weight room to better himself. Everything he accomplished this year was well deserved.”

Spencer Stone, sr., DE, 5-7, 150 pounds
Undersized for the defensive line, the Norwich coaching staff was not sure if Stone would fit the bill for a position that required such a physical presence. “Early on in the preseason, we were looking for a reason to ‘not’ put Spencer in because of his size,” Chrystie said. “As the preseason went on, we realized that he cannot come off of the field. He was probably one of the toughest kids on the team, and he did everything we asked of him.” A relentless pass rusher, Stone led the Norwich defense with six sacks including two of Maine-Endwell’s all-state signal-caller, Kyle Gallagher. “Spencer had a nose for the ball, and he is a prime example of how good things can happen with hard work,” Chrystie said. “We were proud of Spencer and how he evolved this season.”

Mike Sutton, sr. QB, 6-1, 175 pounds
A third-year varsity player for Norwich – and second as starting QB – Sutton had to learn a brand-new offense, while playing the most important role in the offense. Sutton executed as well as anyone would expect in such a situation rushing for eight touchdowns and throwing for six more in just seven games. “We needed a certain skill set for quarterback, and we knew Mike could do it,” Chrystie said. “He did a great job, and I wish we had another year with him in the system.” The Norwich offense started with a triple option in which Sutton had to make multiple reads of the defense in a split second. His decision making certainly helped fullback Mike Oralls, who gained over 1,000 yards. Meanwhile, Sutton had over 800 combined rushing and passing yards averaging 116 yards per game. “Mike picked up everything quick, and his (graduation) will be a huge loss for us,” Chrystie said.

OXFORD

Nik Hansen, sr., RB, 5-9, 165 pounds
By season’s end, no one would have ever known that Hansen was a first-year, one-and-done football player. The senior running back finished number two in the area in rushing with 808 yards to go with seven rushing touchdowns. Hansen had only 10 carries and 69 yards over the first two weeks, but averaged well over 100 yards per game the last seven weeks. “He is just a great all-around kid and a heck of an athlete,”said Oxford coach Ray Dayton. “How good would we have been had he come out with Paul (Wonka) the previous two years? He ran hard and was a real bright spot on a team that didn’t have a good record. Hansen had five 100-yard games the last seven games reaching 150 yards or more three times.

Cameron Heggie, sr., WR, 5-8, 155 pounds
Coming off an outstanding first season with Oxford as a junior where he caught 26 balls, Heggie nearly matched that total finishing with an area-best 24 catches for 442 yards and two touchdowns. Heggie averaged three catches a game the first eight weeks, and finished with 107 yards against Seton Catholic Central. “Another great kid and a competitor,” Dayton said. “One thing I will say about this kid: He wants to win every play, every snap. He wants to be perfect, and if it isn’t, he has a problem with it and will try to fix it. He’s a kid I really enjoyed coaching.” In two years as a varsity player, Heggie had 50 receptions for 910 yards and six touchdowns.

Bryan Simpson, jr., LB, 6-0, 170 pounds
As a sophomore, Simpson was more a contributor than a focal point of the Blackhawks. This season, Simpson was one of the Blackhawks’ defensive leaders, while also serving as complementary threat in the backfield the last three weeks of the season. “He’s a kid that will do everything you ask, he has a really good attitude, and will work his butt off in practice and in the weight room,” Dayton said. Toughness was the number one attribute Dayton used to describe Simpson, who led the Blackhawks’ defense in tackles this season. “We used him as a nose tackle as a freshman because he was so quick off the ball,” Dayton said. “He grew out of that, and we plugged him in at linebacker. He picked that up really well, and we’re really excited to have him back next year.”

SHERBURNE-EARLVILLE

Austin Jasper, sr, TE/LB, 6-3, 235 pounds
A two-time all-state selection, Jasper did not disappoint in his fourth – and final – season with the Marauders. Jasper led S-E in catches, receiving yards, and receiving TDs. He also averaged nearly nine yards a carry, and finished as the area’s top scorer with 13 touchdowns. When not getting the ball, Jasper was a devastating blocker for the area’s top rushing attack. “He’s just a strong, physical kid who plays the game with a lot of passion,” said S-E coach Mike Jasper. “We found ways to get him the ball, and when he was blocking, there were guys falling all around him at the point of attack.” Jasper was named his league’s player of the year, and again, he anchored a stingy S-E defense that allowed less than eight points a game. “Obviously, teams devised schemes to get blockers on Austin, but that opened up things for his teammates,” Coach Jasper said.

Jonah Piatti, jr. DL, 5-8, 220 pounds
A leader on the defensive line for the Marauders’ top-rated defense, Piatti, son of a coach, played with quickness, intensity, and intelligence. “He has great football knowledge,” said coach Jasper. “He shot the gaps and read linemen well.” Piatti had a number of tackles for a loss this season, and his ability to get off the ball – and get to the ball – proved big assets. “He had great leverage to get underneath people, drive forward, and make plays,” Jasper said.

Cody Marango, jr., QB/DB, 6-foot, 200 pounds
Marango was the quarterback of the offense and the defense for the Marauders working as the deep safety. A second-year defensive starter, Marango moved from his linebacker position, and continued to deliver big hits over the middle, while also intercepting four passes. “He really put the wood on kids this year,” said Jasper. “I think he put the fear in receivers when they came across the middle. He made some nice highlight film hits.” As quarterback, Marango had the highest TD pass total since S-E returned to 11-man football 19 seasons ago. Marango had 16 TD tosses and over 800 yards passing, both the top totals among Chenango County passers. “The key word for him this year was efficient,” Jasper said. “He didn’t try to go out and put things on his shoulders or sling things up for grabs. He was smart and got the ball to our playmakers.”


Julienne Alsheimer, sr., LB, 5-11, 190 pounds
A returning starter at linebacker for the Marauders, Alsheimer moved from the outside to the inside, and his versatility allowed him to drop back in coverage or come up to stuff the run. Alsheimer was also a capable running back seeing a lot of time while teammate Garrett DuVall recovered from a knee injury. “He has been a consistent player and starter for us the past two years,” Jasper said. “He’s athletic and a disciplined player who finds his way to be around the ball…as a running back, he didn’t have breakaway speed, but he is slippery and he could run it tough and pound it in there.”


Garrett DuVall, jr., LB, 5-8, 220, jr.
Along with Jasper and Alsheimer, DuVall was part of a dominant linebacker corps that made life difficult on opposing offenses. Short of stature but powerfully built, DuVall was a sure tackler and another big hitter. “With Austin, Garrett helped us create a physical force in the center of our defense,” Jasper said. ‘Teams certainly had a tough time running it up the middle.” A thumper and another of those “hard-nosed” wrestlers, coach Jasper said, when DuVall hits you, you know it. On offense, DuVall did not carry it a bunch, but he supplied the inside power running and blocking to complement the speed and shiftiness of sophomore backs Brady Sopchak and Brodie Roebuck.

UNADILLA VALLEY

Chris Bateman, sr., LB/OT, 6-1, 225 pounds
Bateman seemed to come out of nowhere this season, and he went on to become the Storm’s best linebacker and leading tackler. “He was always around the ball, and he had great coverage skills at linebacker,” said UV first-year coach Mark Segina. The Storm’s Ernie Davis Classic selection, not only was Bateman a big presence on defense, but also a sound blocker at offensive tackle. “Throughout the season, he would control his man driving him back five to 10 yards, but also getting to the second tier when needed,” Segina said. “We’re going to have a hard time filling his role next season.”

Richie Conklin, jr., DE/OG, 6-1, 265 pounds
A  two-time all-star selection, Coach Segina said a big hit from Conklin was always just one play away. Consistently double-teamed, Conklin was a physical presence on the defensive line. “Teams would rarely run to his side, and he was always fighting through double teams,” Segina said. Conklin has quickness that belies his size, an asset that served him well in the trenches as an offensive lineman. “We would shift him around to get him at the point of attack,” Segina said. “There were few people that could stand up to him.”

Hank deGlee, jr. TE, 6-5, 245 pounds
If one was to define a Google search for tight end, one might want to start with deGlee, just a second-year football player. “He was a true blocking/receiving tight end,” Segina said. deGlee was his team’s second leading pass receiver possessing great hands, deceptive speed, and smarts. More often, though, deGlee was asked to block on the edge. “He was a huge offensive weapon for us, and not just as a receiver,” Segina said. “He would set the edge with his blocking or let the defensive end go and get to the second tier on a linebacker...defensively, he was also impressive.”

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