DIARY OF A MAD SPORTSWRITER

It was a perfect 10 for Section II in the New York State Sportswriters poll for Class AA with three Shenendehowa players earning honors: Brandon Miller second-team defense; Mark Thomas third-team offense and running back Tony Fusco, fourth-team offense. Shaker added two players including Ryan Griffin on the sixth-team defensive unit along with David Morrison on the sixth-team offensive unit. Columbia’s Chris Smith was named to the sixth-team offense along with lineman Justin Snide. Niskayuna’s Josh Callahan earned fourth-team offense followed by place kicker Jon Martin named to the fifth-team offense.

     First-team offense               
QB Isaiah Barnes Freeport-8 6-3 195 Sr.
RB Okoya Anderson Orchard Park-6 6-1 200 Sr.
RB Stacey Bedell William Floyd-11 5-10 175 Sr.
RB Akeel Lynch St. Francis-CHS/6 6-1 200 Sr.
OE Michael Richardson West Babylon-11 6-1 165 Sr.
OE Alvin Cornelius Tottenville-PSAL 6-2 183 Sr.
OL Ben Barrett Christian Brothers Acad.-3 6-4 255 Sr.
OL Devon Leach Orchard Park-6 6-3 290 Sr.
OL Mikal Myers Newburgh Free Academy-9 6-1 305 Sr.
OL Omari Palmer Longwood-11 6-3 310 Sr.
OL Kameron Tedder Iona Prep-CHS 6-3 235 Sr.
AP Brandon Griffin Corning-4 5-8 160 Sr.
PK Austin Reese Orchard Park-6 6-1 200 Sr.

First-team defense
DL Lance McDowdell Mount Vernon-1 6-4 290 Sr.
DL Pancho Barnwell East-5 6-4 220 Sr.
DL Darius Greene Longwood-11 6-2 275 Sr.
DL Austin Taps Archbishop Stepinac-CHS 6-4 225 Sr.
LB Jim Fitzgerald Orchard Park-6 6-2 225 Sr.
LB Evan Kappatos Syosset-8 6-1 235 Sr.
LB Ron Denig Newfield-11 5-11 220 Sr.
LB Joe Smith St. Francis-CHS/6 6-1 210 Sr.
DB Frank Tucek Clarkstown South-1 5-10 185 Sr.
DB Wayne Morgan Erasmus Hall-PSAL 5-11 188 Sr.
DB Justin Combs Iona Prep-CHS 5-9 165 Sr.
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The four girls varsity basketball squads that are ranked in the Class AA top 20 were also named to the combined overall standings for New York State. Shenendehowa is No. 4 in Class AA and No.7 overall followed by Shaker at No. 13 and No. 21, respectively. Colonie is No. 14 and No. 22 overall with Albany High at No. 16 in Class AA and No. 27 overall.
Nine other squads are ranked: In Class A Averill Park No. 4; Holy Names No. 16; Scotia-Glenville No. 20; In Class B Cohoes No. 11 and No. 17 Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk. In Class C Hoosic Valley No. 3 and Greenwich No. 12. In Class D Argyle is No. 5 and Fort Edward is No. 9.

Class AA
1: 6-2 Cicero-North Syracuse-3
2: 7-0 Gates-Chili-5
3: 8-0 Binghamton-4
4: 7-0 Shenendehowa-2
5: 8-0 Ossining-1
6: 9-0 Penfield-5
7: 7-1 Sachem East-11
8: 6-0 Lindenhurst-11
9: 7-0 Lancaster-6
10: 6-1 Monroe-Woodbury-9
11: 3-1 Baldwin-8
12: 6-1 Massapequa-8
13: 8-1 Shaker-2
14: 8-1 Colonie-2
15: 4-0 MacArthur-8
16: 11-0 Albany-2
17: 7-1 Riverhead-11
18: 7-1 Horseheads-4
19: 7-2 Mount Vernon-1
20: 7-1 Webster Thomas-5
20: 6-2 Kenmore West-6
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Despite winning the U-E duals last weekend, Shenendehowa dropped out of a tie for the top large school spot and it’s tie with Wantagh from Section VIII. Queensbury is ranked at No. 14 for the large schools with Hudson Falls owning the No. 14 spot in the small school rankings.
Large schools
1. Wantagh-8 13-0
2. Shenendehowa-2 16-1
3. Sachem East-11 10-0
4. Spencerport-5 8-1
5. Monroe-Woodbury-9 15-2
6. John Glenn-11 6-1
7. Webster Schroeder-5 11-0
8. Connetquot-11 4-0
9. Brockport-5. 16-2
10. Hauppauge-11 5-0
11. Warwick Valley-9 13-4
12. Fulton-3 12-0
13. Sachem North-11 8-1
14. Queensbury-2 12-1
15. Union-Endicott-4 16-2
16. Columbia-2 18-2
17. Minisink Valley-9 16-5
18. Longwood-11 6-0
19. Eastport-South Manor-11 16-3
20. Brentwood-11 14-3
20. St. Anthony’s-CHSAA 7-2
20. Clarence-6 11-0
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