2017 HockomockSports Football Awards

 
King Philip senior Shane Frommer has been selected as the 2017 HockomockSports.com Football Player of the Year. The running back and defensive back was a vital part of the Warriors’ perfect season that ended in their second straight state title. Frommer was also named the Kelley-Rex division MVP by the Hockomock League coaches.

Frommer was thrust into the spotlight last season and quickly became a household name in the Hockomock League. Between his hard-nosed running, and his strong defensive instincts, he made his mark on the league. During his senior season, he was bigger and stronger and that propelled him to the elite level. On the offensive side of the ball, he ran for 1,566 yards (6.8 yards per carry), found the end zone 18 times and finished with over 2,000 all-purpose yards.

“There is so much to say about Shane that I get lost in long-winded praise,” said KP head coach Brian Lee. “So I think the best and easiest way is just to say this. We played a lot of great players this year, some unbelievable athletes, but we had the toughest. In the Super Bowl he had a hip pointer, a sprained ankle, and was covered in blood but still willed us to victory.”

On the defensive side of the ball, Frommer finished with 63 career solo tackles and seven sacks.

Frommer, who is committed to play football at Yale University next year, helped King Philip win its second straight outright Kelley-Rex division title and completed an undefeated season with a win over Lincoln-Sudbury in the D2 Super Bowl – the second straight state title for the program.

“Shane is the model type player for what King Philip has turned into over the past couple of seasons,” said HockomockSports.com Editor-in-Chief Ryan Lanigan. “He isn’t incredibly flashy, but he puts on his helmet and goes to work. And he’s very good at what he does. Whether it was on offense or defense, you seemed to always be talking about Shane.”

Frommer is the third King Philip player to earn this award in the past four seasons, following Mark Glebus winning the award in 2014 and John DeLuca last year. He is also the fourth Kelley-Rex division player to win in the five seasons it has been handed out.

Honorable Mentions: Hunter Ferreira (Mansfield), Cam Furtado (Attleboro), Chad Peterson (North Attleboro)

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Editor’s Note: The HockomockSports.com Awards are selected strictly by our staff and have no affiliation to the official Hockomock League all stars. Please note players are listed alphabetically by position.

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HockomockSports.com Hock 5 Quarterbacks

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Cam Furtado – Attleboro – Senior
Attleboro senior quarterback Cam Furtado put together another solid season running the Bombardiers offense, totaling more than 1,600 yards of total offense despite being the focal point of opposing defenses every week. Furtado picked up 605 yards on 128 carries and threw for 1,006 yards this season, providing necessary balance and big-play capability for Attleboro. He also threw for nine touchdowns and ran for eight more this season, while also chipping in at defensive back. Attleboro coach Mike Strachan said, “Cam Furtado is a dynamic player that can make things happen with his arm and legs.”

 

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Devin Hassett – Foxboro – Senior
In his first year as the starting quarterback, Devin Hassett helped bring the Warriors back to the postseason and a second place finish in the Davenport division. As a dual-threat quarterback, Hassett tossed seven touchdown passes and rushed for six more. He compiled 1,204 yards between the air and the ground. “Devin, a league coaches all-star, was highly responsible through his leadership and sheer toughness on both sides of the ball for Foxboro making it to the divisional semi-final,” said Foxboro head coach Jack Martinelli.

 

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Brendan Lydon – King Philip – Senior
King Philip senior Brendan Lydon guided the Warriors to another historic season, going undefeated and helping KP win another state title. In his two years as the starting quarterback on varsity, Lydon went 24-0 and won a pair of Kelley-Rex division titles. Lydon threw for 860 yards this season while tossing 12 touchdowns. He did not lose a single game in his four years at King Philip – at all three levels. “Brendan wins football games….all of them,” said King Philip head coach Brian Lee.

 

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Jake Noviello – Franklin – Senior
Franklin senior quarterback Jake Noviello put together a strong senior season, leading the Hockomock League in touchdown passes this fall. Noviello, who has one of the strongest arms in the league, completed 171-of-342 passes for 2,173 yards (more than 250 yards per game in the league) and 18 touchdowns for the Panthers. He also ran for a pair of scores and converted a pair of two-point conversions. Franklin coach Eian Bain said of Noviello, who is committed to Fairfield University for baseball, “We put the entire offense in his control, from pass protection to audibles at the line of scrimmage. Jake has the physical tools to make every throw.”

 

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Chad Peterson – North Attleboro – Senior
North Attleboro senior Chad Peterson concluded his career with his third straight division title and an appearance in the D3 Super Bowl. Over the past three seasons, Peterson has broken a handful of program records and could go down as the best quarterback in North Attleboro history. He holds the career records for completions (341), attempts (543), completion percentage (63%), passing yards (4,651) and touchdown passes (53). “He’s an outstanding leader and competitor, probably the best QB ever at NAHS,” said North coach Don Johnson. “Strong arm, great decision-maker, and high football IQ. He understood what every player was doing on every play.”

 

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HockomockSports.com Hock 5 Running Backs

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Anthony Berksza – Oliver Ames – Junior
Oliver Ames junior running back Anthony Berksza may not have been the biggest back in the league this year, but he carried the bulk of the offensive load for the Tigers and turned in a strong season against top competition. Berksza rushed for 1,150 yards, averaging more than seven yards per carry, despite opposing defense loading up at the line of scrimmage. Berksza was second in the league with 15 rushing scores and also added one receiving touchdown. OA coach Mike Holland said of Berksza, “He is extremely athletic, skilled and competitive. He has the ability to do a lot of great things on a football field.”

 

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Danny DeGirolamo – Mansfield – Senior
Mansfield senior Danny DeGirolamo became one of the Hornets’ best big-play threats in the backfield this season. DeGirolamo was Mansfield’s top runner with 612 yards, averaging nearly eight yards per carry, and also added 234 yards (second on the team) on 17 catches. He rushed for seven touchdowns and caught two others. DeGirolamo made 29 tackles and broke up seven passes in the Mansfield secondary. Mansfield coach Mike Redding said, “Our most versatile player who could play safety and corner on defense…Danny really improved so much over the last four years and became our most explosive player on offense who could score from anywhere.”

 

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Shane Frommer – King Philip – Senior
Ever since taking over as the primary running back last season, Frommer has been a force to deal with. His successful senior season earned him HockomockSports.com Player of the Year (above) and Hockomock League MVP honors. Over the past two seasons, he has rushed for 2,666 yards and found the end zone 28 times. He is committed to play football at Yale University. “We played a lot of great players this year, some unbelievable athletes, but we had the toughest,” said KP head coach Brian Lee. “In the Super Bowl, he had a hip pointer, a sprained ankle, and was covered in blood but still willed us to victory.”

 

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TJ Mendes – Taunton – Senior
Taunton senior running back T.J. Mendes was one of the shiftiest runners in the league and was capable of breaking big plays at any time, including an 86-yard run against Brookline. Mendes finished with 703 yards on 148 carries this season, despite teams loading up to stop him. He also rushed for five touchdowns on the season, caught five passes for 78 yards and returned kicks for the Tigers this fall to help the Tigers finish above .500 this year. Taunton coach Brad Sidwell said, “He has a great feel for cutting back and finding the seam in the opponent’s defense.”

 

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Nick Raneri – North Attleboro – Junior
North Attleboro Nick Raneri made a seamless transition to tailback after being a quarterback for his entire career. Raneri emerged as Big Red’s power option up the middle and gave the Rocketeers a nice balance of power and speed. He was vital to Big Red’s rushing attack, both with the ball in his hands and as a blocker. He had 111 carries for 600 yards and six touchdowns, while hauling in 17 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns. “Nick has great football instincts,” said North coach Don Johnson. “He’s a strong runner with good hands and also an outstanding linebacker.”

 

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HockomockSports.com Hock 5 Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

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Marion Bresko – North Attleboro – Senior
North Attleboro senior Mario Bresko became one of the top targets in the Hockomock League this season. And not only was he a big deep threat for North’s offense, he was the Davenport divison champs best cover guy on defense. He hauled in a team-high 36 receptions for 575 yards (16.0 yards per catch) and fond the end zone four times. On defense, he had 37 tackles and three interceptions. “He’s a talented two-way player,” said North Attleboro head coach Don Johnson. “He has great hands on offense. He’s very athletic; can run and jump. He was also our best cover guy on defense.”

 

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Hunter Ferreira – Mansfield – Senior
Mansfield senior wideout Hunter Ferreira set a program record for career receptions this season, passing the 100-reception mark over his three years on varsity. This fall, Ferreira caught 43 passes for 675 yards and pulled in four touchdown receptions to help the Hornets advance to the Div. 2 South semifinal. He also emerged as a top defensive player this season, making 54 tackles, including four for loss, and picking off one pass. Mansfield coach Mike Redding said. “As good a wide receiver as we have ever had here, just great hands and ran great routes, and most importantly, Hunter made the big catches on third down when we needed a big play.”

 

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Sean Leonard – Franklin – Junior
Franklin junior Sean Leonard emerged as Jake Noviello’s favorite target and a big-play receiver in the Panthers downfield passing attack in his second year as a starter. Leonard led the Hockomock League with eight touchdown receptions. He finished with 36 catches for 561 yards this season and also added a two-point conversion. Franklin coach Eian Bain is excited about Leonard’s potential for next season. Bain said, “He makes defenses have to account for the middle of the field, plays multiple spots, is deceptively fast, and it a tenacious blocker. He became Jake’s favorite target in any tight spot, and made many memorable catches.”

 

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Tom Madden – King Philip – Senior
King Philip senior Tom Madden emerged as one of the most dangerous threats in the end zone this season. After leaving the sport after his freshman year, Madden came back and played a big role in helping the Warriors clinch their second straight Kelley-Rex title and second straight state title. Nearly half of his receptions went for touchdowns as he had six scores on 15 catches, including the lone catch for KP in the Super Bowl. “He became our big play guy,” said King Philip head coach Brian Lee. “I’m so proud of his buy in this year.”

 

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Jack Piller – King Philip – Senior
King Philip senior Jack Piller stepped up on both sides of the ball during the 2017 season, helping the Warriors win another Kelley-Rex division title and another state championship. He hauled in 12 passes for four touchdowns. On defense, he had 30 tackles (eight for loss), three sacks and two pass breakups. “Jack was one of our best all-around players and a great leader,” said KP coach Brian Lee. “His willingness to do whatever the team need to defensively played a huge part in the success.”

 

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HockomockSports.com Hock 5 Offensive Line

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Patrick Brogioli – Milford – Senior
Milford senior Patrick Brogioli was a big reason why the Scarlet Hawks earned a surprise second place finish in the Davenport division during head coach Anthony Vizakis’ first year. Beyond his play on both sides of the line, Brogioli was a true leader for the Scarlet Hawks. It didn’t matter if it was on the offensive or defensive lines, Brogioli led by example. His strength gave the Hawks space to run behind on offense. “One of the toughest competitors I have ever had the privilege to coach, and a ferocious linemen both on the defense and offensive side of the ball,” Vizakis said. “Leaders like Pat don’t come around often.”

 

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Ryan Clemente – North Attleboro -North Attleboro Junior
North Attleboro junior Ryan Clemente dominated on both sides of the ball during the Rocketeers’ historic run in 2017. Whether it was from his right guard spot, or on the defensive side at defensive tackle, Clemente was a handful to deal with. His ability to get off the, pull to the left, and create a giant hole helped North run its signature counter or QB option. “Ryan’s a great two-way lineman,” said North coach Don Johnson. “Combination of size and power with great feet for a lineman. He’s a dominant offensive player and also a force at DT.”

 

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Jack Mills – Oliver Ames – Senior
Oliver Ames senior lineman Jack Mills wrapped up his three-year varsity career with another solid season on both sides of the ball for the Tigers, helping OA finish with a winning record this fall. Mills had 35 tackles for OA this fall and also helped open holes for Anthony Berksza and the Tigers ground game. He was chosen as a Hockomock all-star by the league’s coaches. Oliver Ames coach Mike Holland said of Mills, “Jack has been a three-year starter for us and will be greatly missed. He has worked really hard to get to where he is. He is a smart, talented, tough lineman.”

 

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Will Shield – Mansfield – Senior
Mansfield senior offensive lineman Will Shield was a standout in the trenches for the Hornets and helped provide a foundation to build a strong ground game this fall despite being the only returning lineman from 2016. With Shield leading the way, the Hornets rushed for more than 1,800 yards as a team this season, more than 160 yards per game, and scored 269 points, which was third-best in the league. Mansfield coach Mike Redding said, “Will was the anchor of our offensive line. Big, strong player who was also very smart and helped the guys around him with blocking calls.”

 

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Anthony Vahue – King Philip – Senior
King Philip graduated its an entire offensive line from last year’s Super Bowl team, but Anthony Vahue stepped right in to anchor this year’s group and they didn’t miss a beat. Vahue battled through injuries to become one of the best run blocking linemen in the league. He is a big reason that Shane Frommer amassed over 1,500 yards on the ground this season. “Anthony toughed it out on offense and was our most reliable and dominant offensive lineman,” said KP head coach Brian Lee. “His offseason weightlifting was a huge part of it.”

 

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HockomockSports.com Hock 5 Athletes

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Ruben Gonzalez – Stoughton – Senior
Stoughton senior Ruben Gonzalez made the most out of his final season with the Black Knights. Whether it was on offense or special teams, Gonzalez was a player that opposing defenses had to gameplan for. Gonzalez was second on the team in offensive yards with 564. He hauled in a team-high 34 catches for 493 yards and five total touchdowns. He also was a huge threat in the return game, returning two kick offs for touchdowns. “Ruben is great kid with good speed and great hands,” said head coach Greg Burke. “He played running back and wide receiver for us this year.”

 

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Brendan McHugh – North Attleboro – Junior
North Attleboro junior Brendan McHugh was making plays all over the field on the offensive side of the ball for the Davenport division champs this season. He became one of North’s most dangerous weapons this season, rushing for 641 yards on 107 carries for 17 touchdowns. He also played a big role in the passing game with 19 receptions for 313 yards and three touchdowns. He had a team-high 102 points. “He’s a quick and explosive runner with great speed,” said North Attleboro head coach Don Johnson. “He’s able to make quick cuts and get upfield in a hurry and also has great hands.”

 

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Will Pointer – Milford – Senior
Milford senior Will Pointer was a reliable option for the Scarlet Hawks in 2017. As Milford bounced back and forth between offenses, Pointer was a constant in the lineup. He racked up 851 yards on 120 carries, scoring a team-high nine touchdowns. “Hard work and dedication describe Will, and he leads by example,” said first-year Milford head coach Anthony Vizakis. “His work ethic paid off as he was our leading rusher and offensive touchdown leader for the season.”

 

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Alec Ragusa – Canton – Senior
Canton senior Alec Ragusa made plays on both sides of the field for a young and inexperienced Bulldogs team. With a lot of sophomores in the starting lineup for the first time this season, Ragusa led by example from his running back and linebacker positions. When it comes to the red zone, Ragusa is a hard-nosed runner that could be counted on to get the hard yards. The Bulldogs had no problem grinding out long possessions and eating up a lot of the clock. Ragusa was a vital part of that, scoring 12 rushing touchdowns. He was also a force on defense as a linebacker and had a fumble return for a touchdown.

 

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Elvin Sam – Attleboro – Senior
Attleboro senior wideout Elvin Sam was an explosive playmaker for the Bombardiers and was capable of beating a defender deep as well as breaking a long touchdown after a short catch or out of the Attleboro backfield. Sam made 23 catches for 427 yards this fall but was also a dynamic special teams performer with 254 kick-off return yards and 209 yards returning punts. Attleboro coach Mike Strachan said, “Elvin Sam was doubled must of the year and still managed to put up over 1,100 yards all-purpose yards. Elvin is an explosive player with great instincts for the ball.”

 

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HockomockSports.com Hock 5 Defensive Line

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Sam Bullock – North Attleboro – Senior
It didn’t matter if it was on defense or offense, North Attleboro senior captain Sam Bullock was one of the most reliable and consistent players in the league. On defense, Bullock helped make life difficult for opposing rushing attacks from his interior position. On offense, he and Ryan Clemente made North’s right side of the line of the best in the league. He finished with 20 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery in 2017. “Sam was our leader upfront and our most consistent lineman,” said North Attleboro head coach Don Johnson. “He’s a great technician and smart; rarely made a mental mistake. Tough and dependable.”

 

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Jareme DiLorenzo – Mansfield – Senior
Mansfield senior Jareme DiLorenzo was a force on both sides of the ball this fall, helping the Hornets develop into a team that could dominate the line of scrimmage. DiLorenzo, who only started playing football last year, made 63 tackles from his defensive end position, including six tackles for loss. He also had a team-high six sacks. On offense, DiLorenzo moved to tackle and helped the Hornets amass more than 1,800 yards on the ground this season. Mansfield coach Mike Redding said, “Jareme quickly picked up the game last year and was an impact player on both sides of the ball. His move to offensive tackle was critical for our success.”

 

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Zakim Harrow – Taunton – Senior
Taunton senior lineman Zakim Harrow was a rock in the middle of the Tigers defensive line, providing strength and size on the line of scrimmage. Harrow finished the season with 34 tackles, including 7-1/2 tackles for a loss, and was a constant concern for opposition running games, which regularly ran away from him or sent double teams to hold him off. Harrow was selected as a Hockomock all-star by the league’s coaches. Taunton coach Brad Sidwell said of Harrow, “His size and strength made him a presence in the middle of the defensive line that teams had to deal with.”

 

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Jason Joseph Jr. – Stoughton – Senior
Stoughton senior Jason Joseph Jr.’s combination of size and speed made him a nightmare for offensive linemen. Playing on the end, Joseph’s long arms and quickness made him tough to block and often required more than one person to do so. He also played tight end on offense and was responsible for a lot of blocking for Stoughton’s ground game. He had 10 sacks on defense this season and averaged six tackles per game. “He’s a two-year starter on offense and defense for us, he’s a great blocker,” said Stoughton head coach Greg Burke.

 

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Evan Rice – King Philip – Senior
King Philip senior Evan Rice was once again a big part of the Warriors’ dominant defensive unit this season. He had 42 tackles (nine for loss), eight sacks, two pass breakups, an interception, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, including one late in the Super Bowl. “Evan made himself a football player due to his offseason commitments in the weight room,” said KP head coach Brian Lee. “He went from a role player his junior year to a three-way impact starter his senior year. A true disruptive force on defense.”

 

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HockomockSports.com Hock 5 Linebackers

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Brendan Albert – Canton – Junior
Canton junior Brendan Albert was all over the field for the Bulldogs this season. With a lot of sophomores getting their first varsity experience on Canton’s defensive unit, Albert was relied upon with a year under his belt. He was a tackling machine, flying all over the field to make plays from his linebacker spot. It didn’t matter if a team tried to run up the middle, or run to the outside, Albert quickly pursued and when he got to the ball carrier, it was rare that they would get by him. The Bulldogs defense is in good shape with Albert back next year as a centerpiece.

 

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Zach DeMattio – North Attleboro – Senior
North Attleboro senior Zach DeMattio made a big impact on the defensive side of the ball for the Davenport division champs. DeMattio was making all over the plays, both in the running and passing game. From his middle linebacker spot, DeMattio helped North’s defense limit opposing rushing attacks. He had a team-high 74 tackles, three sacks, and one fumble recovery. “The leader of our defense at middle linebacker,” said North head coach Don Johnson. “Smart player with good size and instinct. He’s also a powerful running back and blocker on offense, and has great hands.”

 

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Vinnie Holmes – Mansfield – Sophomore
Mansfield sophomore linebacker Vinnie Holmes helped the freshman team go undefeated last fall and then a year later stepped in as a starter on varsity to set a program record with more than 100 tackles in 10 games this season. Holmes finished with 108 total tackles, including 18 tackles for a loss. He also added four sacks, a forced fumble and broke up two passes. Holmes also stepped in at running back as the season wore on and rushed for 238 yards and four touchdowns. Mansfield coach Mike Redding said, “He just has such great instincts, is so coachable and his motor is always running at 100 percent.”

 

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Jack Webster – King Philip – Junior
King Philip junior Jack Webster thrived for the Warriors from his linebacker spot. The Warriors lost a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball from last year’s state championship team but Webster stepped right up and made huge play after huge play, helping KP go unbeaten and win another state title. His late strip sack in the Super Bowl led to the winning field goal. He had 46 tackles (16 for loss), six sacks, five pass breakups and forced fumbles and two interceptions. “He was all over the place on defense,” said KP head coach Brian Lee. “He was the turnover king, a true cobra kai disciple.”

 

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James Weir – Attleboro – Senior
Attleboro senior linebacker James Weir returned from injury and made an instant impact as a leader and a playmaker for the Bombardiers defense. Weir accumulated more than 100 tackles this season despite missing time early in the season and finished as the team leader in that category. He was a force in stopping the ground game and also had the speed on the edge to cause problems in opponents’ passing games. He also caught two touchdowns passes as Attleboro’s tight end. Attleboro coach Mike Strachan said, “James Weir was one of the best linebackers in the Hockomock League. He was our team leader for the 2017 Bombardiers.”

 

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HockomockSports.com Hock 5 Defensive Backs

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Khristian Connner – Mansfield – Junior
Mansfield junior Khristian Conner emerged as one of the league’s top defensive backs in coverage and was one of the key players to step up and shut off the edge in the ground game. Conner made 31 tackles this season, 17 of them solo tackles, broke up four passes, and had one interception this season. He also rushed for 172 yards and will be part of a deep core of returning skill position players for the Hornets next season. Mansfield coach Mike Redding said, “He was our shut down corner on defense and really locked up on many great receivers in the league. He was also a dangerous weapon on offense for us as RB and WR as well as returning kicks.”

 

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Andrew Dittrich – King Philip – Senior
For the second straight year, King Philip senior Andrew Dittrich was a rock in the Warriors’ secondary. After a strong season as a junior, Dittrich dominated during his senior year. He led the team with 48 tackles, 36 pass breakups, six tackles for loss, and came away with four interceptions, including two interception returns for touchdowns. “On a team of mutes, Andrew does the talking and speaks for the team,” said KP coach Brian Lee. “He’s a lockdown corner and three-year starter. He is tough and one of the strongest kids on the team. Andrew really became a dude this year!”

 

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Ryan Driscoll – Franklin – Junior
Franklin junior defensive back Ryan Driscoll built on a strong sophomore campaign to become one of the top cover guys in the Hockomock League, while also chipping in at wide receiver as well. Driscoll had an injury-shortened season but still made 35 tackles (two for loss), broke up four passes, and had one interception. He also caught 23 passes for 539 yards and four touchdowns. Franklin coach Eian Bain said of Driscoll, “The most explosive athlete on our team, Ryan usually drew the assignment of covering the opponents best receiver. Ryan also was one of our leading tacklers before injury cut short his 2017 season.”

 

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Shapel Feaster – Milford – Junior
Milford junior Shapel Feaster was making plays all over the place for the Scarlet Hawks this season. Whether it was on offense or defense, the Hawks could rely on Feaster for an energy boost. Not only did he lead the team in pass deflections, he came away with three interceptions. On offense, he had 116 yards on 18 attempts. “Shapel is a lockdown corner and led the team with pass deflections,” said Milford head coach Anthony Vizakis. “He’s also an explosive wide receiver and running back who we are excited to have back next season.”

 

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Mike Henri – Foxboro – Senior
Foxboro senior Mike Henri was a playmaker on both sides of the ball for the Warriors this season, helping the team to a second place finish in the Davenport. Playing as a hybrid linebacker, Henri came away with 51 tackles, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions for the Warriors. As a running back, he produced over 500 yards on offense and scored six total touchdowns. “Mike, a league coaches all-star, brought back an old school Foxboro philosophy to the game,” said Foxboro head coach Jack Martinelli.

 

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HockomockSports.com Hock 5 Special Teams

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Cole Baker – King Philip – Sophomore
After debuting last year as a reliable option for KP, sophomore Cole Baker added clutch to his repitoire this year. Only missing one extra point all season, Baker booted 45 extra points for the unbeaten Warriors. He kicked the game-winning 30-yard fiel goal in the Super Bowl (his second game-winning kick of the year) to give KP its second straight state title. “Baby face Baker was such a huge weapon in the field position battle all year, kickoffs and punts,” said KP head coach Brian Lee. “We’re so happy to have him for two more years!”

 

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Michael DeBolt – Mansfield – Sophomore
Mansfield sophomore Michael DeBolt had big shoes to fill as the starting kicker this year, replacing Diogo DeSousa, but he turned in a stellar season as one of the most consistent kickers in the league. DeBolt made 31 extra points this season and made four field goals. He also scored two touchdowns as a receiver and running back to finish with a team-high 57 points. Mansfield coach Mike Redding said, “We were very fortunate that Mike walked in the door to keep our kicking game at an elite level. He gave us great field position with deep kicks and just so consistent on PATs and FGs that you really forgot he was a sophomore.”

 

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Chris Gong – Sharon – Junior
Sharon junior Chris Gong was an electric playmaker for the Eagles this season. Gong was a major weapon in all three facets of the game for the Eagles. He hauled in 26 passes for 317 yards and found the end zone twice. On defense, he had 38 tackles, including two for loss, and two interceptions. He had 20 kick returns for 556 yards (averaging over 27 yards per return) with a touchdown, as well as a punt return touchdown this season. “Chris is one of, if not the most, dynamic players I have coached in Sharon,” Sharon coach Dave Morse said. “He’s tough, elusive, and plays smart. I am only expecting greater things from him next year.”

 

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Sean Lehane – Milford – Junior
Milford junior Sean Lehane made a big impact for the Scarlet Hawks this season. Not only was he one of the best and most accurate field goal kickers, his ability to launch the ball on kickoffs and punts factored in big time for field position. He had five field goals (three over 40 yards) this year. “With the most powerful leg in the Hock, Sean had an over 80% success rate of posting the kickoff inside the opponents 10-yard line,” said Milford coach Anthony Vizakis. “His booming punts were field position game changers, and we are excited he will be back next season.”

 

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Geoff Wilson – North Attleboro – Senior
North Attleboro senior Geoff Wilson was arguably the most consistent player across all positions this season. In his role as kicker, Wilson missed just one try all season, hitting 47 consecutive attempts and 48 out of 49 attempts, a school record for a single season. Not only was Wilson a top kicker, he was a strong defensive lineman, leading the Rocketeers in sacks with 6.5 tackles. He also had 62 total tackles and a fumble recovery. “He’s an outstanding kicker,” said North head coach Don Johnson. “He’s also a great defensive end, he’s very quick and tough on defense…a hard worker.”

 

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Mansfield sophomore Vinnie Holmes has been selected as the 2017 HockomockSports.com Football Underclassman of the Year, given to the top freshman or sophomore in the league. Holmes jumped into the starting lineup at linebacker this fall and proceeded to set a new Hornets record with 108 tackles in 10 games this season.

Holmes was part of a standout freshman team that went undefeated in 2016 but exceeded even his coach’s high expectations stepping up to the varsity level and becoming one of the best linebackers in the Hockomock League. Among his more than 100 tackles were 18 for loss and he also added four sacks, two pass break-ups, and a forced fumble.

“He led our freshmen to an undefeated season last year and we thought he could help us this year but I don’t think anyone imagined he would break the school record for tackles in a season with over 100 in 10 games,” said Mansfield coach Mike Redding, who added, “He just has such great instincts, is so coachable and his motor is always running at 100 percent.”

As the season progressed, Holmes, who is also a standout wrestler, stepped in at running back and showed potential to be a key offensive weapon over the next few seasons. He was third on the team with 238 rushing yards, averaging four yards per carry, and he scored four touchdowns.

“Vinnie was everywhere for the Mansfield defense this year,” said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry. “No matter where the ball went, it always seemed like Vinnie was chasing it down. His energy and tenacity also translated on offense and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the running back list over the next couple seasons as well.”

Holmes is the second Mansfield player to be selected as Underclassman of the Year, following Brian Lynch, who received the honor in 2014. All five players who have been chosen as Underclassman of the Year have been from Kelley-Rex division teams (Attleboro’s Kyle Murphy in 2013, Lynch, North Attleboro’s Chad Peterson in 2015, and Taunton’s Noah Leonard in 2016).

Honorable Mention: Michael DeBolt (Mansfield), Gersom Rivera (Canton), Cole Baker (King Philip)

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King Philip head coach Brian Lee has been selected as the 2017 HockomockSports.com Football Coach of the Year. Lee guided the Warriors to their second straight Kelley-Rex division title and the program’s second straight state title, a 10-7 win over Lincoln-Sudbury in the D2 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium.

The Warriors went 12-0 for the second straight year and are currently riding a state-best 25-game winning streak heading into next season. Lee hasn’t lost a game since 2015.

“King Philip returned just two starters on offense, yet this team kept rolling,” said HockomockSports.com Editor-in-Chief Ryan Lanigan. “At some point, you expected their inexperience to catch up to them but Coach Lee has everyone in this program ready and playing football the right way.”

This is the third time in four years that Lee has been named the Coach of the Year, also winning in 2014 and 2016. All four coaches that have been selected have come from the Kelley-Rex division (Mike Strachan of Attleboro in 2013, Lee in 2014 and 2016, and Don Johnson of North Attleboro in 2015).

Honorable Mentions: Don Johnson (North Attleboro), Mike Redding (Mansfield), Anthony Vizakis (Milford)