By Brian FeesSouthern Tier Sports Report
It was a successful football season with sectional and regional champions and nwo it’s time to recognize the area’s best athletes with the All-Southern Tier Sports Report All-Star teams.
Horseheads won their first sectional title since 1998 and Lucas Mosher is this year’s STSR Player of the Year.
Mosher, who won the Ernie Davis Award this year, ran for 792 yards on 88 carries with 15 touchdowns, averaging nine yards a carry. He caught 18 passes for 362 yards and five scores. On defense had had 24 tackles and picked off two passes.
Corning’s James Freeman is the Offensive Player of the Year. Freeman ran for 950 yards on 127 carries in just over nine of the team’s 11 games due to injuries. He had 22 touchdowns and threw for a score and had six two-point conversions. Helped the team win a regional title and had nine catches. Also was the team’s punter, kick returner and punt returners and had 65 tackles.
Horseheads’ Robert Peckham and Corning’s Carter Sparks share the Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Peckham was a force on the defensive line for Horseheads and had three sacks, two tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and 34 tackles.
Sparks had 37 tackles, a fumble recovery and three sacks.
Peckham is also the LIneman of the Year.
Elmira’s Zach Conklin is the newcomer of the year. He did play varsity a year ago, but this was his first year as a varsity starter at quarterback and he threw for 872 yards and 12 scores.
Elmira’s Julian Colon is the most dangerous player in the area. He ran for 510 yards on 97 carries with six scores and had seven catches for 198 yards and three scores, averaging 28 yards a catch. Also picked off two passes, had 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble and 28.5 tackles on defense.
Horseheads has the coaching staff of the year led by head coach kevin Hillman. The staff includes defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach: John Malnoske; offensive quarterback & running backs coach: Lou Condon; Wide receivers and special teams coordinator: andy Scott; defensive line coach: Damian Saks; JV head coach and offensive line coach: Cody Reed; outside linebackers coach: Nate Fayerweather; defensive backs coach: Billy Rohan and modified head coach: Josh Walton and assistants: Cody Spencer, John Robyck and Brandon Carlisle.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Lucas Mosher, Horseheads
* The Ernie Davis Award Winner, ran for 792 yards on 88 carries with 15 touchdowns. Averaged 9 yards a carry. Caught 18 passes for 362 yards and five scores. Had 24 tackles with two interceptions on defense.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: James Freeman, Corning
* Ran for 950 yards on 127 carries in just over nine out of the team’s 11 games due to injuries. Had 22 touchdowns, and thew for a score. Had six two-point conversions on the team. Helped lead the team to a regional title. Also had nine catches. Also was the team’s punter, kick returner and punt returner and had 64 tackles on defense.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Robert Peckham, Horseheads:
* A force defesnively. Had three sacks, two tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and 34 tackles on the season.
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Carter Sparks, Corning
* Team-captain and a force on defense as a defensive end. Had 37 tackles, a fumble recovery and three sacks on defense. Also a bruising blocker on offense as a tight end.
LINEMAN OF THE YEAR: Peckham.
* See Above
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Zach Conklin, Elmira
* First year as a varsity starter at quarterback. Threw for 872 yards and 12 toucdhowns on the season.
MOST DANGEROUS: Julian Colon, Elmira
* Ran for 510 yards on 97 carreis with six scores. Had seven catches for 198 yards and three scores, averaging 28 yards a catch. Also intercepted two passes, had 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and 28.5 tackles on defense.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Horseheads
* Led by head coach (and quarterbacks coach) Kevin Hillman. The staff includes defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach: John Malnoske; offensive quarterback & running backs coach: Lou Condon; Wide receivers and special teams coordinator: andy Scott; defensive line coach: Damian Saks; JV head coach and offensive line coach: Cody Reed; outside linebackers coach: Nate Fayerweather; defensive backs coach: Billy Rohan and modified head coach: Josh Walton and assistants: Cody Spencer, John Robyck and Brandon Carlisle.
* Led the Blue Raiders to their first sectional title since 1998. The Blue Raiders beat Corning and Elmira both in the same regular season for only the second time in program history.
FABULOUS 14
Mosher
* See Above
Peckham
* See Above
Sparks
* See Above
Colon
* See Above
Bryce Thomas, Horseheads
* Ran for 767 yards and 13 scores on 110 carries.
James Freeman, Corning
* See Above
Griffin Stevens, Horseheads
* The leader on the Blue Raiders defense. Had 50 tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery and a defenseive score. Had 12 catches for 110 yards and two scores on offense.
Jonah Lamb, Horseheads
* New to the Blue Raiders this year after playing on a state-title team at Tioga the year before, Lamb had 57 tackles, a sack and an interception on defense. Also ran for 94 yards and a score.
Brenden Jardin-Reed, Corning
* Three-year varsity starter at running back, line backer and special teams. Team captain. Ran for 770 yards on 115 carries. Had 12 catches for 103 yards. On defense had 17 tackles and a sack. Was a Section IV, Division I all-star.
Clayton Smith, Corning
* Three-year varsity starter at running back/fullback, line backer and special teams. Ran 140 times of 850 yards and had 11 catches. Had 50 tackles and two interceptions on defense. A Section IV, Division I all-star.
Marcus Brooks, Elmira
* Had eight catches for 250 yards on the year with four scores. Averaged 31.3 yards a catch. Had 56.5 tackles with six tackles for a loss and two interceptions.
Cam Wright, Elmira
* Had 60 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss and a sack.
Greg Golden, Edison
* Led the team in rushing and tackles. Had 100 carries for 844 yards, an 8.4 yards a carry average with 10 scores. Had six catches for 55 yards. Had 45 tackles on defense with three sacks and a fumble recovery.
Jaden Bennett, Edison
* An Ernie Davis award finalist. Anchored the offensive and defensive lines. Helped anchor an offensive line that blocked for 1,878 rushing yards and 25 scores and had 765 passing yards and eight scores. On defense had 47 tackles, three interceptions and a fumble recovery.
2ND TEAM
Zach Conklin, Elmira
* See Above.
Jaxson Burchard, Horseheads
* Ran 35 times for 333 yards and three scores. Had seven catches for 61 yards.
Miles Woodhouse, Horseheads
* Despite mmissing a chunk of the season with an injury this year he had 21 catches for 365 yards and four scores. Averaged 17.plus yards a catch.
Dom Cardinale, Horseheads
* Threw for 970 yards and 11 scores against just four interceptions. Completed 69-of-118 passes. Also ran for 219 yards.
Hunter Lavigne, Horseheads
* Had 61 tackles with three sackes, a tackle for a lsos and a fumble recovery for the Blue Raiders.
Kyle Ernst, Horseheads
* Had 54 tackles, a touchdown on defense, a fumble recovery and a sack.
Maxwell Mickley, Horseheads
* A key lineman for the Blue Raiders. A senior guard. Also had 11 tackles and a forced fumble on defense.
Jayden VanDusen, Corning
* Three-year varsity starter at defensive end. Had 60 tackles and a fumble recovery and a sack. Section IV Division I all-star.
Dash Harris, Elmira
* Ran for 447 yards and six scores on 81 carries.
Tyrone Hendrix, Elmira
* Had 46 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss on defesnse. Led the team in sacks.
Nolan Edwards, Elmira
* An Ernie Davis Award finalist. Had 24.5 tackles, and an interception.
Tahjay Molina-Bacome, Elmira
* Had 36 taclkes, an interception, 5.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks.
Brednen Bertelsen, Elmira
* Had five catches for 72 yards and a score on offense. Had 24 tackles and two interceptions.
Chance Olsen, Elmira
* A key offensive lineman for the Express. Added 3.5 tackles on defense.
Drew Slaven, Edison
* Threw for 612 yards completing 61% of his passes with seven touchdowns and also ran for a score.
Mason Mawhir, Edison
* Captain and leader on the team. Had 50 tackles and a sack and interception on defense. Ran for a score on offense.
Talon LaPlante, Edison.
* Played on the line and blocked for 1,878 yards and 23 scores and 765 passing yards and eight scores. On defense had 25 tackles, three sacks and an intercpetion. Three year starter at left tackle.
Cullen Mawhir, Edison
* Played on the line and blocked for 1,878 yards and 23 scores and 765 passing yards and eight scores. Had six tackles on defense. An anchor on the offensive line.
Reyes McAtee, Edison
Had 70 rushes for 383 yards and five scores. Had six catches for 188 yards and a score. Had 28 tackles and an intercpetion on defense.
Zachary Piper, Edison
* Had 14 catches for 175 yards and a score. Defensively had 35 tackles, two sacks and an interception.
Ian Harpster, Corning
* The Hawks quarterback led the team to a regional title.
Reilly Wells, Corning
* Senior defensive back for the regional champion Hawks.
Liam Gill, Corning
* Senior defensive back for the Hawks.
Gavin Walker, Corning
* Senior defensive back, who had a big impact in special teams. Aganst Ithaca he ran back the opening kickoff for a score and also picked off a pass in the game.
Dylan Brewster, Corning
* A junior linebacker and tight end.
Skye Eddy, Corning
* An offensive guard for the Hawks. Senior starter.
Keegan Samuelson, Corniing
* The Hawks senior center.
Alex Jardin-Reed, Corning
* A senior offensive tackle for the Hawks.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Paxton Hoover, Edison, So.
* Had 9 catches for 205 yards and a 22.78 yard a catch average with six scores. Defensively had 45 tackles and an interception.
*Jace Schiller, Edison
* threw for 149 yards and a score. Had 43 carries for 285 yards and had a 36 yard touchdown catch. Defensively had 25 tackles and an interception with a fumble recovery.
Tahj Haynes, Corning, Junior
* Rushed 22 times for 167 yards. Had 44 tackles, a fumble recovery and led the team with four sacks.
Micky Place, Corning, Junior:
* A strong blocking interior offensive lineman. Blocked until the whistle on every play. Will be a standout as a senior. Anchored a line that helped the team rush for 2,894 yards.
Kyle Ernst, Horseheads, Jr.
* See Above
Elijah Miller, Horseheads, So.
* Had 46 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble on the year.
Patrick Laney, Horseheads, Jr.
* Had 22 tackles, three intercpetions, to lead the Blue Raiders, and a sack. Ran for 83 yards and a score.
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STSR FILE PHOTOS.
