C1

SPORTS

Thursday, December 25, 2014 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/TROYRECORD AND TWITTER.COM/TROYRECORD

troyrecord.com

Players of the Year

2014 ALL-AREA FOOTBALL TEAM

MIKE MCMAHON - MMCMAHON@DIGITALFIRSTMEDIA.COM

Bethlehem running back Ben Zonca had a breakout season, helping the Eagles win more
than six games for the first time in more than a decade.

J.S.CARRAS - JCARRAS@DIGITALFIRSTMEDIA.COM

Hoosick Falls Mark Hackett was dominant at middle linebacker as the Panthers
advanced to the state Class C championship game for the second time in three years.

Offense: Bethlehems Ben Zonca

BY THE NUMBERS

By James Costanzo
jcostanzo@digitalfirstmedia.com
@JamesCostanzo on Twitter

The number of yards

rushing this season
for The Records Offensive Player of the
Year, Ben Zonca of
Bethlehem.

1,240

made the most of his senior season

DELMAR >> Buried on the depth
chart behind two 800-yard rushers as a junior, running back Ben
Zonca entered his senior season
for Bethlehem football in relative
obscurity.
Then, in his second game as
a starter against Ballston Spa,
clinging to a six point lead and
facing a third-and-12 from the
Scotties 25-yard line, Zonca finally got his breakout moment.
We just ran the ball, hoping
to get some of it back and maybe
kick a field goal and he had a tremendous run. He ran over people,
around people and by people for a
touchdown, said Bethlehem head
coach Rich Leach. That put the
game away. Thats when I knew
he could have a really good year.
Boy, did he ever. The senior finished with 1,240 rushing yards
and 18 touchdowns and the Ea-

gles won more than six games for

the first time in over a decade.
Both Zonca and Leach point to
that third-and-long run as the
moment the Section II football
world began to notice him for
real.
The coaches just wanted a first
down, but I somehow got out of
two tackles and stiff armed a kid.
I think that was the most memorable run I had this year, said
Zonca. That was nuts, I wasnt
expecting that to happen.
He probably wasnt expecting
to be The Record Offensive Player
of the Year, either.
But he is.
Before the season started, during a hot practice in mid-August,
Leach teased that Zonca could
have a big year for the Eagles.
I just think hes flying under
the radar a little bit because he
was overshadowed by those two
seniors, said Leach over the sumZONCA PAGE 5

122

The number of tackles

this season for The
Records Defensive
Player of the Year,
Mark Hackett of Hoosick Falls.

Inside: Meet the

football large school
All-Area team. PAGE C3

Meet the football small

school All-Area team. PAGE

C4

Defense: Mark Hackett was the

anchor of dominant Hoosick Falls D

By James Costanzo
jcostanzo@digitalfirstmedia.com
@JamesCostanzo on Twitter

Its starting to
snow outside Hoosick Falls High
School, a couple light flakes floating out over the empty football
field. Its a Wednesday, a week or
so before Christmas break and
the football team is outside, together perhaps for the last time,
handing over their equipment to
be put back into storage until next
season.
They peel stickers off their helmets, hanging them on racks in
a shed out by the bleachers, and
make sure to get every last item
buried inside their lockers -- belts,
jerseys, mouth guards, it all must
go. For seniors like Mark Hackett,
itll be for the last time.
Its definitely weird, man,
Hackett says, stepping back into
the school to get out of the cold.
Handing in stuff for the last time
is is definitely weird.
HOOSICK FALLS >>

In his 19 years as a head coach

at the high school level, which
currently includes a streak of 59
consecutive Section II victories,
two state championship appearances in three years and eight sectional titles, Ron Jones says Hackett is one of the two best linebackers hes ever coached.
Youre looking at two out of 19
years, said Jones, playfully refusing to name the other as to keep
his former players guessing. Ive
had a lot of really good ones but
hes a next level above.
Hackett started in a state
championship game at linebacker
as a sophomore and did so again
as a senior, quarterbacking the
Panthers defense to a 12-1 season
in 2014, recording 122 tackles -115 of them solo and 10 for a loss!
-- three sacks, an interception and
two fumble recoveries.
He was named the Class C
North Division Player of the Year
for his talents at middle lineHACKETT PAGE 5

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

UAlbany contingent brings a piece of Australia to NYC

By Laura Amato
lamato@digitalfirstmedia.com
@LauraAmato on Twitter
ALBANY >> Australia is fairly far
away.
They do, after all, call it the
land down under for a reason.
But, over the past few days, for
just a short period of time, Australia was a little bit closer than
usual for University at Albany
mens basketball standouts Peter

Hooley and Sam and Mike Rowley.

In fact, Australia was in New
York City.
Following the Great Danes 7766 victory over Fairfield on Monday night, Hooley and the Rowleys took to the road, joining in
on what has become a bit of a holiday tradition for UAlbanys Aussie contingent.
The group, joined once again
by the Rowleys parents, cele-

brated the holiday in New York

City, bringing the other side of the
world to Albany; or at least three
hours south of it.
(Former UAlbany player Luke
Devlin) is going to be there and a
couple others from Australia who
are all across America are going
to come in too, Hooley said. It
should be nice. Theres going to be
a lot, like 10 or 12 of us all in there.
Sams parents are pretty nice to
put us all up in a place.

The group, who arrived in Manhattan on Tuesday, will be staying in the city into tonight, before returning back to UAlbany so
Hooley and the two Rowley brothers can rejoin the Danes practice
schedule.
But that doesnt mean that the
group didnt plan a jam-packed
schedule of holidy-infused activities while they were there; most
of which simply involved walking.
ALBANY PAGE 2

DECEMBER 30

Up next: The UAlbany mens

basketball team will play
Niagara in a non-conference
game at the Gallagher Center in Niagara at 7 p.m.
Online: For the latest
happenings in local
college sports, check out
Amatos Varsity Letters
blog. WWW.TROYRECORD.COM

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

SPORTS 2014

SKI SCENE

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

More like holiday jeer at

Siena College

Plenty of achievements
to remember

Warm weather, rain not

a major concern

The Record' All-Area

2014 Team

Second-year coach Jimmy

Patsos' team is beset by injuries. The Saints are struggling
and not playing well. Patsos
said after a loss to Cornell that
the Saints may be headed
toward last place.

Domestive violence seemed

to dominate headlines, but
it wasn't all bad. From Meb
at the Boston Marathon to
Mo'ne, at the LLWS, stories
that made us feel good about
sports in 2014.

The January thaw came early

this season Christmas break.
But New York resorts say they
have plenty of trails up and running for a long holiday weekend.
Check out the NY Ski Report.

The area's best high school

football players, complete with
capsules, photos, first team second team and honorable mention
selections. See if players from
your school made the cut.

FULL STORY ON PAGE 6

FULL STORY ON PAGE 2

FULL STORY ON PAGE 5

FULL STORY ON PAGES 3-4

C3

ALL-AREA FOOTBALL - LARGE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014

Matt Woods

Elijah Bethel

Jaylen McIntyre

Tom Stanton

Austin Ellis

Eugene Reyes

Justin LaClair

Nick Rai

Omar Johnson

Patrick Wellington

Ryan Eustace

Jaushiir Weaver

Matt Hamel

Ben Anthony

Don Vivian

Joe Germinerio

Josh Wynn

Brandon Barlow

CBA, senior, defensive

back
Stats: 84
tackles and
two INTs
Honors:
Class AA
Empire Division first
team all-star
Year in review: Wynn
was the ballhawk on the
back end of the Brothers
stingy defense, picking off
two passes and making
84 tackles in 2014. The
senior was an Empire
Division first team all-star
and will be taking his
talents to the University
of Albany on a full athletic
scholarship next year.

Shaker, junior, defensive

line
Stats: 43
tackles,
seven
tackles for
loss and
four sacks
Honors:
Class AA Liberty Division
first team all-star
Year in Review: Barlow
was a monster coming
off the edge for Shaker,
tallying seven tackles for
loss and four sacks at
defensive end. With Barlow on the line, the Blue
Bison ranked eighth in the
Capital District in sacks.
He was a Liberty Division
first team all-star.

Dan Comber

Patrick Pastore

Reid Crobok

Isaiah Moak

Jakil Paul

Nick Brown

Shaker, senior, quarterback

Stats: 950
passing
yards, 15
total TDs
and only
two INTs
Honors:
Class AA Liberty Division
Offensive Player of the
year.
Year in review: The
senior led the Blue Bison
to a seven-win season in
2014, losing only twice,
both times to Class AA
runner-up CBA. Woods
threw only two interceptions all season (both
in Shakers final game),
boasting one of the best
TD-to-INTS ratios in the
section while totaling 15
touchdowns.

Bethlehem, senior, offensive line

Stats: Key
piece to
an OL that
powered
Record
Player of
the Year
Ben Zonca
Honors: Class AA Liberty
Division first team all-star
Year in review: Offensive
Player of the Year Ben
Zonca credits his success
to the Eagles OL, of which
LaClair was the best a
monster, At 6-foot-2, 240
pounds, LaClair anchored
a line that Zonca called,
one of the strongest
groups to ever come
through Bethlehem.

CBA, senior, kicker/punter

Stats:
47 extra
points
made, two
field goals,
35+ yard
punts
Honors:
Class AA Empire Division
first team all-star
Year in review: Having
a good kicker is a luxury
most teams just dont
have, but in this case the
Brothers are an exception.
Hamel made 47 PATs and
two field goals for a CBA
team that liked to score
a lot. He also notched
multiple touchbacks and
could get punts off of 35
yards or more, an invaluable asset for a contender.

Bethlehem, senior, defensive line

Stats: 35
tackles,
five sacks,
two PBUs
and one
defensive
TD
Honors: Class AA Liberty
Division first team all-star
Year in review: Comber
played at a very high
level along both lines for
the Eagles, but will get
most of his accolades as
a defensive lineman. The
senior totaled 35 tackles,
including three tackles for
loss and five sacks, for a
Bethlehem team that won
six games for the first
time in over a decade.

Troy, senior, running back

Stats:
1,182 rushing yards
on 242
carries and
10 TDs
Year in
review:
Bethel was the definition
of a workhorse for the
Flying Horses . The senior
got the ball an astounding 242 times and ran for
almost 1,200 yards and
10 scores. At 5-foot-6,
Bethel isnt all that tall
but that doesnt mean he
wasnt one of the more
physically imposing backs
in the section. Troy head
coach Mike Hurteau called
him the third strongest
player on the entire team.

La Salle, senior, offensive

line
Stats:
Best lineman on a
unit that
produced
1,636 rushing yards
and threw
the ball 193 times
Year in review: La Salle
head coach Al Rapp called
Rai his best and most
consistent lineman, a
two-way starter at guard
and defensive tackle. Before the season started,
Rapp touted Rai as one of
his strongest players and
the senior produced like
it. Rai was impressive in
both pass protection and
run blocking.

CBA, senior, defensive

back
Stats: 30
tackles,
one INT on
defense,
431 rushing
yards and
10 TDs
Honors: Class AA Empire
Division first team all-star
Year in review: Anthony,
a two-year varsity starter
for the Brothers, played a
major role on both offense
and defense. He made
30 tackles, recovered a
fumbled and picked off
a pass in the defensive
backfield while racking up
10 TDs and 577 total yards
on offense.

CBA, senior, defensive line

Stats: 61
tackles
and seven
sacks
Honors:
Class AA
Empire Division first
team all-star
Year in review: Head
coach Joe Burke called
Pastore the best twoway lineman in Section
II, high praise considering the sheer amount of
talent on his own roster,
let alone the entire section. Pastore totaled 61
tackles and seven sacks
on the defensive line for
the Brothers and is a twotime Empire Division first
team all-star.

CBA, senior, running back

Stats:
1,129 yards
on 98 attempts and
13 TDs
Honors:
Class AA
Empire
Division first team all-star
Year in review: McIntyre
was the best running
back in a backfield filled
with great running backs,
leading CBA to its second
straight trip to the sectional title game. In the
opening two rounds of
the playoffs, McIntyre ran
for five TDs and over 380
yards. The seniors most
eye-popping stat, however, is his nearly 12 yards
per carry average 12!

Bishop Maginn, senior,

offensive
line
Stats:
Four-year
anchor on
an OL that
powered
over 3,000
yards of
offense
Honors: Class A Southeast Conference first
team, four-year starter
Year in review: After two
straight seasons of finishing 1-8, Bishop Maginn
went 7-2 and became one
of the feel-good stories of
2014. As one of the Griffins top lineman (in both
directions), Johnson was
an integral piece in the
turnaround.

CBA, senior, defensive

back
Stats: 81
tackles,
one sack,
two forced
fumbles,
two fumble
recoveries
Honors: Class AA Empire
Division All Purpose Player
of the Year
Year in review: Realistically, Vivian couldve been
a first teamer on offense,
defense and special
teams and was a very real
candidate for player of the
year hes that good. In
addition to his defensive
stats, Vivian had seven
total TDs, including three
TD passes and 550 return
yards.

Troy, junior, defensive line

Stats: 29
tackles and
one sack
Year in
review:
Another
two-way
starter,
Crobok turned the
trenches into a strength
for the Flying Horses,
helping make 1,000-yard
back Elijah Bethel into
first team all-star on
offense while pushing
people around on defense.
At 6-foot-1, 300-pounds,
Crobok was a handful for
any offensive player in his
way, powering his way to
29 tackles and one quarterback sack. Crobok was
also a captain.

CBA, senior, tight end

Stats:
Two-year
starter,
phenomenal blocker
on a top-10
team in
rushing and
rushing
touchdowns
Honors: Class AA Empire
Division first team all-star
Year in review: The
6-foot-5, 210-pound
Stanton made his bones
in the trenches as one of
the best blocking tight
ends in the section. With
Stanton as, essentially, a
sixth offensive lineman,
its no wonder the Brothers produced the way they
did, rushing for 33 touchdowns and 2,506 yards.

Averill Park, senior, offensive line

Stats: Anchor of an
offensive
line that
powered
2,376 team
rushing
yards, 12th
best in the section
Honors: Class A Southeast Conference first
team all-star, team
captain
Year in review: At center,
Wellington was the rock
in the middle of Averill
Parks offensive line, a
unit that paved the way
for nearly 2,500 total
rushing yards in 2014. The
senior was a team captain
and 2x first team all-star.

La Salle, senior, defensive

back
Stats:
Four INTs,
three
sacks, four
forced
fumbles,
three
fumble
recoveries and over 100
tackles
Honors: Class AA Liberty
Division first team all-star
Year in review: Another
player who was in serious
consideration for Defensive Player of the Year,
Germinerio played nearly
every snap for La Salle on
offense, at quarterback,
and on defense, at safety.
Despite being a dynamic
passer, Germinerio was
even better on defense.

Averill Park, junior, linebacker

Stats: 77
tackles and
one INT,
285 yards
(7.3 YPC)
and three
TDs
Honors: Class A Southeast Conference first
team all-star
Year in review: As a
junior, Moak racked up 77
tackles at linebacker for
the Warriors and recorded
the INT that sealed their
58-56 win over Amsterdam one of the more
exciting games of the
season. He also rushed for
three TDs and 7.3 yards
per carry at running back.

CBA, senior, wide receiver

Stats: 15
receptions
for 454
yards and
seven TDs,
21 tackles
and five
INTs
Honors: Class AA Empire
Division first team all-star
Year in review: Sub-4.6
in the 40 with phenomenal hands, Ellis was one
of Class AAs most reliable
pass catchers. His most
memorable moment came
in the opening round of
the playoffs when he
caught a juggling 13-yard
TD pass along the sideline
by jumping, tipping the
ball in the air and then
catching it on his the way
to the ground.

Shaker, senior, offensive

line
Stats:
Best lineman on a
unit that
produced
2,436
rushing
yards
Honors: Class AA Liberty
Division first team all-star
Year in review: The Blue
Bison finished 11th in the
Capital District in rushing
with 2,436 total yards,
much of which would not
have been possible without the big boys up front,
namely, Ryan Eustance.
At 6-feet, 290-pounds,
Eustance was a first team
Liberty Division all-star in
his senior season.

CBA, senior, linebacker

Stats: 60
tackles
Honors:
Class AA
Empire
Division
first team
all-star
Year in review: The
Brothers defense was a
force to be reckoned with
in 2014 and Paul was right
in the middle of it all. The
senior linebacker recorded
60 tackles in the teeth of
perhaps the sections best
defense, which allowed
only 146 points all season.
Paul was an Empire Division first team all-star.

Colonie, senior, wide

receiver
Stats: 43
receptions
for 771
receiving
yards and
10 receiving TDs
Honors: Class AA Liberty Division All-Purpose
Player of the Year
Year in review: Reyes
was about as dynamic
as they come at the WR
position, especially in
the run-heavy world of
high school football. The
6-foot-1 senior had only
one game without a TD
and caught 43 balls (a
must-start in fantasy
leagues), which is secondbest in the Capital
District.

Bishop Maginn, junior,

returner/
all-purpose
player
Stats: 915
rushings
yards, 420
receiving
yards and
13 total
TDs
Honors: Class A Southeast Conference first
team, All-Purpose Player
Year in review: Weaver
was a dynamic running
back, returner and pass
catcher for the Griffins,
amassing 1,335 total
yards of offense, including
13 TDs. In Bishop Maggins
final regular season game,
Weaver totaled four TDs
and 215 yards, including a
90-yard kick return TD.

Shaker, senior, linebacker

Stats: 63
tackles,
four sacks,
11 tackles
for loss,
three INTs
and one
blocked
punt for
a TD
Honors: Class AA Liberty
Division Defensive Player
of the Year
Year in review: Seriously,
what didnt Brown do for
the Blue Bison this season? The senior linebacker
was all over the middle of
the field for Shaker, tallying 63 tackles, 11 tackles
for loss, four sacks and
three interceptions. Oh by
the way, he blocked a punt
and returned it for a TD.

SECOND TEAM/HONORABLE MENTION

Second Team Offense:
Quarterback: Neiko Bianchino, Bishop Maginn,
senior
Running back: Andrew Bolton, Shaker, junior
Running back: Garrett Ryan, Averill Park, senior
Wide receiver: Dajuan Hudson, Troy, junior
Wide receiver: Dylan Storm, Bishop Maginn, junior
Offensive line: Stevon Graham, Bishop Maginn,
junior
Offensive line: Kashawn Turner, Bishop Maginn,
junior
Offensive line: Amante Berry, Troy, senior,
Offensive line: Matt Holmes, Shaker, junior
Offensive line: Ryan Marriott, Colonie, junior

Tight end: John Fredette, Bethlehem, senior

Kicker: Will Halpin, Shaker, senior
All-Purpose Player: KyEre Tillery, Bishop Maginn,
sophomore
Second Team Defense:
Defensive line: Nasir Tune, CBA, senior
Defensive line: Jason Vroljik, CBA, senior
Defensive line: Dylan Casey, Troy, junior
Linebacker: Phil Duell, Bishop Maginn, senior
Linebacker: Francisco Rivera, Troy, junior
Linebacker: Raquan Harris, Troy, junior
Linebacker: Brad Bettinger, Bethlehem, senior
Defensive back: Steve Jordan, La Salle, senior
Defensive back: Tom Ganley, Bethlehem

Defensive back: Tysheem Morris, Albany, senior

Defensive back: Taylor Pfaff, Colonie, junior
Honorable Mention:
Quarterback: Joe Kolbe, CBA, senior
Running back: DiKemm Edmundson, La Salle,
senior
Running back: Dan Facci, La Salle
Full back: Bayley Haskins, La Salle senior
Wide receiver: Jayquan Beckford, Schenectady,
senior
Wide receiver: Jay Newsom, Colonie, junior
Offensive line: Josh Fisherauer, Schenectady,
senior
Offensive line:Alex Miller, Shaker, senior

Offensive line: Cody DuBuque, Columbia, senior

Offensive line: Noah Frese, CBA, senior
Offensive line: JJ Smith, CBA, senior
Kicker/Punter: TJ Szesnat, Colonie, senior
Defensive line: Alex Bethoney, Columbia, senior
Defensive line: LaSheen Brunson, Schenectady,
senior
Defensive line: Andrew Peterson, Shaker, junior
Linebacker: Ben Tietjen, Bethlehem
Linebacker: Robert Talham, Troy, sophomore
Linebacker: Tommy Russo, Bethlehem
Defensive back: Andrew Nickolson, Shaker, senior
Defensive back: Colby Youngblood, Schenectady,
senior

C4

ALL-AREA FOOTBALL - SMALL

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014

Garrett Wright

Caleb Rowland

Shelton Alston

Mark Hackett

Josh Steele

Brandon LaForest

Gage Bilizinksi

Logan Hoyt

Pascal Wilkins

Raffi Barkamian

Shane Barss

Isaac Sanchez

Damon Dubois

Colby Davendonis

Colin Claus

David Warnken

Connor McCart

Frank Adams

Hoosick Falls, junior,

defensive
line
Stats: 62
tackles, 10
tackles for
loss, five
sacks, four
punt blocks
and three
fumble recoveries, 543
all-purpose yards and five
TDs
Honors: Class C North
Division first team all-star
Year in review: McCart
played more of a hybridoutside linebacker role for
the Panthers but its his
versatility that lands him
in this spot. The junior
starred on the Panthers
defense, as well as at WR,
filling up almost ever stat
category available.

Hoosic Valley, sophomore,

defensive
line
Stats: Led
the Indians
with four
sacks, over
30 tackles
Honors:
Class D first team all-star
Year in review: The
5-foot-11, 225-pound
defensive tackle led the
young Indians defense
with four sacks, over 30
tackles and was named a
first team all-star in Class
D. Hes only a sophomore.

Jake Bakaitis

Logan Hoyt

Austin Pitt

Evan Hand

Jeff Carrozza

John Malulan

Hoosick Falls, senior,

quarterback
Stats:
1,548 yards
passing
(119.1 per
game),
327 yards
rushing,
22 total TDs and an 83.4
quarterback rating
Honors: Class C North
Division Offensive Player
of the Year
Year in review: As a
senior, Wright led the
Panthers to a 12-1 record
and a trip to the state
title game at the Dome
in Syracuse. He was a
dual-threat out of the
backfield, throwing 14
touchdowns and running
for eight more.

Cohoes, senior, offensive

line
Stats:
Center for
an offensive line
that helped
produce
three
Reinfurt
Division first teamers in
the same backfield
Honors: Class B Reinfurt
Division first team all-star
Year in review: Bilizinksi
was a two-year starter at
center for the Tigers and a
first team all-star in Class
B. The senior was the best
player on an offensive line
that saw Shelton Alston
rush for 1,400 yards and
Brandon LaForest rush for
374 more.

Hoosick Falls, senior,

kicker/
punter
Stats: 58
PATs, six
field goals
and 6.3
points per
game
Honors: Class C North
Division first team all-star
Year in review: In the
Panthers high-powered
offense, Dubois scored
6.3 points per game,
which is third-highest on
the team. He completed
90 percent of his point after attempts and knocked
through six field goals,
including a school record
48 yarder.

Hoosick Falls, senior,

defensive
line
Stats: 52
tackles, 11
tackles for
loss, five
sacks, one
fumble
recovery,
one blocked punt
Honors: Class C North
Division first team all-star
Year in review: Theres
no shortage of stars on
the Hoosick Falls defense
and Bakaitis is right in
the thick of things. His
numbers, 52 tackles, 11
for loss, five sacks, one
fumble recovery and one
blocked punt, are eyepopping.

Cambridge/Salem, senior,
running
back
Stats:
1,671 yards
(secondbest in the
Capital
District) on
168 carries
and 19 rushing TDs
Honors: Class D first
team all-star
Year in review: Rowland
was the best player on a
team that won the Class
D Super Bowl. He racked
up 1,671 rushing yards
(9.9 yards per carry) and
19 TDs, despite sharing
the backfield with running back Chris Warnke
(the Class D Player of the
Year).

Hoosick Falls, senior, offensive line

Stats: Anchor on an
offensive
line that
rushed for
248 yards
per game
and passed
for 119 more
Honors: Class C North
Division first team all-star
Year in review: Hoyt was
a star on both sides of the
ball and the cornerstone
of an offensive line that
propelled the Panthers to
a state title game. With
Hoyt at tackle, Hoosick
Falls rushed for 3,225
yards and scored 67
TDs, both well above the
national average.

Hoosick Falls, senior,

defensive
back
Stats: 78
tackles,
eight tackles for loss,
four fumble
recoveries,
1,951 allpurpose yards, 22 TDs
Honors: Class C North
Division first team all-star
Year in review: Davendonis is in the same position as Pitt, just missing
out on first team running
back while starring both
ways for Hoosick Falls.
Davendonis recovered four
fumbles, made 78 tackles
and scored 22 TDs (10.2
points per game), which is
tops on the team.

Hoosick Falls, senior,

defensive
line
Stats: 43
tackles and
10 tackles
for loss
Honors:
Class C
North Division first team
all-star
Year in review: Hoyt was
a true-two way star for
the Panthers, doubling
as their best offensive
lineman and space-eater
along the defensive line.
On their 12-1 run to the
state title game, Hoyt
totalled 43 tackles and,
more importantly, 10 tackles for loss.

Cohoes, senior, running

back
Stats:
1,405 yards
on 212
carries,
17 TDs, 11
receptions
for 209
yards and
two TDs, 97 tackles, three
INTs
Honors: Class B Reinfurt
Division first team all-star
Year in review: The small
school running back class
was absolutely loaded and
Alston was among the
best. The senior rushed
for over 1,400 yards and
17 TDs, upping his career
totals to 3,211 yards rushing and 282 points which
are both school records.

Hoosick Falls, junior, offensive line

Stats: The
Panthers
outproduced
national
averages
for rushing
yards and
touchdowns per game
with Wilkins at tackle
Honors: Class C North
Division first team all-star
Year in review: Paired
with Hoyt at tackle and
Barss at guards, Wilkins
completes a trio of first
team offensive line allstars for the Panthers. No
wonder they went 12-1
and averaged 37 points
per game.

Hoosic Valley, senior,

defensive
back
Stats:
Over 30
tackles,
413 passing yards,
656 rushing yards
and 16 total TDs
Honors: Class D first
team all-star
Year in review: Claus was
a first team all-star at
cornerback in Class D in
2014, recording over 30
tackles and consistently
breaking up passes. He
also quarterbacked the
Indians to a win over Class
D finalist Whitehall and
had 413 passing yards,
656 rushing yards and 16
total TDs.

Hoosick Falls, senior, linebacker

Stats: 52
tackles,
three
tackles for
loss, one
INT, one
sack, 1,629
all-purpose
yards, 17 total TDs
Honors: Class C North
Division first team all-star
Year in review: This is as
much an offensive award
as it is a defensive one for
Pitt who is just as deserving at running back. The
senior was stud two-way
player for the Panthers
and one of only two
guys to start both state
championship games for
Hoosick Falls in 2012 and
2014.

Hoosick Falls, senior, tight

end
Stats: 18
receptions,
270 yards
and three
TDs
Honors:
Class C
North Division Player of
the Year
Year in review: Hackett,
as you might be able to
tell, is best known for his
defensive prowess at linebacker, but the senior was
also a phenomenal tight
end. Perhaps the Panthers
best blocker on the line,
according to head coach
Ron Jones, Hackett also
caught 18 balls for 270
yards and three TDs.

Hoosic Valley, senior, offensive line

Stats:
220-pound
tackle that
helped
spring
almost
3,000
rushing
yards
Honors: Class D first
team all-star
Year in Review: Barkamian was a first team
all-star in Class D and
played in the Section II
all-star game. At 6-feet,
220-pounds, he was Hoosic Valleys most dependable blocker for an offense
that scored 35 points per
game.

Ravena, senior, defensive

back
Stats: 60
tackles,
two INTs
and three
blocked
kicks, 700
passing
yards and
20 total TDs
Honors: Class B Reinfurt
Division first team all-star
Year in review: Warnken
may have been the best
two-way player in the
entire section, starring at
QB and safety for Ravena.
Despite throwing for 700
yards and running for
659 more under center,
Warkens best position
was safety, a position he
will play at the next level.

Hoosick Falls, junior, linebacker

Stats: 127
tackles, 18
tackles for
loss, one
INT, one
fumble recovery, one
blocked
punt and one blocked field
goal
Honors: Class C North
Division first team all-star
Year in review: Hand had
a monster statistical year
for the Panthers defense
in 2014. The junior recorded 127 tackles and had an
astounding 18 tackles for
loss, all the while blocking
punts and field goals and
recovering turnovers.

Cambridge/Salem, senior,
wide receiver
Stats: 13
receptions
for 462
yards(14.9
yards per
catch) and
five TDs
Honors: Class D first
team all-star
Year in review: When
the Indians werent laying
waste to teams on the
ground, they were beating
them through the air with
Steele, who averaged
nearly 15 yards per reception in 2014. The senior
had three catches for 60
yards in the Indians 42-0
Super Bowl victory over
Whitehall.

Hoosick Falls, senior, offensive line

Stats: The
Panthers
outproduced
national
averages
for rushing
yards and
touchdowns per game
with Barss at guard
Honors: Class C North
Division first team all-star
Year in review: Measuring the Panthers success
this season must start
with counting the number
of all-stars they had
upfront. Barss was among
the best at his position on
an offense that rushed for
248 yards per game and
passed for 119.

Hoosic Valley, junior, linebacker

Stats: Led
the Indians
with over
60 tackles
Honors:
Class D
first team
all-star
Year in review: The
6-foot-1, 235-pound
linebacker was a big time
run stuffer for Hoosic
Valley, leading the team
with over 60 tackles in
2014. The junior is already
a two-time first team
all-star in Class D. He also
played fullback for the
Indians.

Cohoes, senior, wide

receiver
Stats: 374
rushing
yards, 349
passing
yards and
11 total
TDs, four
INTs
Honors: Class B Reinfurt
Division All Purpose Player
of the Year
Year in review: LaForest,
probably the best WR in
the section, took over at
QB for Cohoes after an injury sidelined their starter.
Predictably, he flourished
finishing with school
records in INTs (15 -- at
safety), receiving yards
(1,095) and receiving
yards in a season (662).

Hoosic Valley, sophomore, kick

returner/
all-purpose
player
Stats: 113
carries for
783 yards,
11 catches
for 211
yards and 16 total TDs
Honors: Class D All Purpose Player of the Year
Year in review: In just
his sophomore season,
Sanchez became one of
the most dynamic players in Class D, scoring
16 TDs and tallying 994
total yards. He also had
35 tackles on defense
and was named Class Ds
All Purpose Player of the
Year.

Cohoes, senior, linebacker

Stats: 93
tackles and
one INT
Honors:
Class B
Reinfurt
Division
Defensive
Player of the Year
Year in review: Malulan
finished his career at
Cohoes with the school
record in tackles (262)
and recorded 15 or more
tackles in a game four
times. As a senior, the
linebacker recorded 93
tackles and one interception and was named the
Reinfurt Division Defensive Player of the Year.

SECOND TEAM
Offense:
Quarterback: Will Bennett, Albany Academy
Running back: Tom Madigan, Hoosic Valley
Running back: Chris Warnke, Cambridge/Salem
Wide receiver: Andrew Martin, Albany Academy
Wide receiver: Logan Frangella, Ravena, senior
Offensive line: Krsna Jevons, Rensselaer
Offensive line: Kordell Benson, Cambridge/Salem
Offensive line: Shayne Richard, Hoosick Falls
Offensive line: Matt McHugh, Ravena
Offensive line: Will Pausley, Albany Academy
Tight end: Nick Napoli, Hoosic Valley
Kicker: Nate Giller, Cohoes

Defense:
Defensive line: Jake Harrington, Cambridge/
Salem
Defensive line: Dylan Brooking, Rensselaer
Defensive line: Ryan Spencer, Cohoes
Linebacker: John McKnight, Cohoes
Linebacker: Zeke Thomas, Albany Academy
Linebacker: Andrew Soldini, Albany Academy
Linebacker: Jarred Sausville, Cambridge/Salem
Defensive back: Enthan English, Cambridge/
Salem
Defensive back: Nick Ernst, Cohoes
Defensive back: Alex Mendez, Hoosick Falls
Defensive back: Sal Arena, Albany Academy

RECORD FILE PHOTO

Hoosick Falls
senior tight end
Mark Hackett.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014

THE RECORD

| SPORTS | 5
C

COACH OF THE YEAR

The players may change, but Jones just keeps winning

By James Costanzo
jcostanzo
@digitalfirstmedia.com
@JamesCostanzo on Twitter

After losing their first and final

game of season -- 20-14 to
Chenango Forks in the state
championship game -- Hoosick Falls head coach Ron
Jones walked over to running back Austin Pitt and
gave him a hug.
He told me it was a hell
of a run, and it was, said
Pitt, recalling the emotional moment between
the two.
Pitt won a state championship with Jones in 2012
and the programs sixth
straight sectional title for
him on their way to another Dome appearance in
2014 and, yet, when asked
about his most memorable moment with Jones, he
talked about that hug.
Its telling, that after
one of the toughest losses
in Pitts career -- a career
filled with such incredible
highs --- that moment on
the field with Jones stands
out the most.
Its not like Jones Coach
of the Year candidacy
needs validating, really.
The wins do all the talking if you want them to.
But its stories like this
one, and many others, that
paint a more vivid picture
HOOSICK FALLS >>

Zonca
FROM PAGE 1

mer. But hes a very good

football player.
Leach backed up his
faith in Zonca over the
course of the season by allowing the senior to be a
true workhorse. In two
games against La Salle
and Colonie Zonca racked
up over 70 carries for 468
yards and five touchdowns.
I knew how talented
he was, Ive watched him
since he was in Pop Warner, said Leach.
I dont think I expected
him to shoulder the load as
much as he did. The number of carries he had, in the
La Salle game, the Colonie
game, I dont think I expected that. Hes a strong
kid. It was never an issue,
his conditioning was great.
Our offense was really centered around him and it
worked out.
Zonca worked all offseason with Bishop Maginn assistant coach and

Hackett
FROM PAGE 1

backer and tight end where

he caught 18 passes for
270 yards and three touchdowns.
Hes now also The Record Defensive Player of
the Year.
Being a linebacker you
have to have your head
on a swivel. You have to
be able to see your read,
you have to be able to see
linemen coming out to
block you. Me, in particular, you have to be the
voice of the defense, said
Hackett, who broke out as
a starting linebacker for
the Panthers in the 2012
state championship game
of all places.
That was when people
really went Wow, said
Jones. It was the first
time we really went Wow,
is he really that good? Holy
crap, he is.
In the Dome that year
against Hornell, a team on
a 51-game winning streak,
Hacketts coaches said he
really came alive, making
tackles in the backfield,
preventing big plays and
taking down a 240-pound
running back by himself,
all the while alternating
every other series at offensive line.
In that state championship game as a sophomore,
when we saw him making
plays out there, we just
knew this kid is going to
be something special, said
Panthers defensive coordinator Chris Fleming.
Both Fleming and Jones

of why Jones is the slamdunk choice for the this

seasons honor.
Just for kicks, however,
these are the numbers: 12
wins, one loss, an average
margin of victory of 28
points, 59 consecutive Section II victories, a Section
II record sixth consecutive
Class C Super Bowl victory
and the programs second
state title appearance in
three years.
Jones players love him,
but perhaps more importantly, they trust him and
believe that, no matter how
much work he requires of
them, he wouldnt be asking for naught.
Hes just good at the
way he coaches. He doesnt
ask for too much, he doesnt
ask for something you cant
do, said Pitt.
He knows you can do it
if hes going to ask you to
do it. Thats the great thing
about him. He knows your
abilities and strengths.
Racking up sectional
titles doesnt hurt Jones
case, of course, especially
with his players who can
see how much work he puts
in. They respect him for it
and, ultimately, want to
perform for him -- all the
traits of a great coach.
The amount of time he
puts in, the amount of film
he does, the camps he goes
to in the offseason, run-

MIKE MCMAHON - MMCMAHON@DIGITALFIRSTMEDIA.COM

Hoosick Falls coach Ron Jones congratulates Evan Hand after he was named defensive MVP of the Class C state
semifinal vs. Millbrook this past November.
ning the weight room in what makes us so success- puts in gives us the extra weight room. Hes built a
the offseason, he just puts ful, said Pitt.
step in winning a cham- successful program with
in so much time that thats
The amount of time he pionship. It gets us in the that.

Competitive Edge trainer

Mike Grasso to improve his
strength and agility and
says that training made
all the difference in 2014.
Lifting, like lifting seriously, actually doing all the
lifts and just working on
my speed and agility, said
Zonca about his offseason
training regimen. It just
came together in one season and really helped out.
In addition to taking the
Eagles to their first playoff
berth and six-win season
since 2001, Zonca was also
named the Class AA Liberty Division Player of the
Year.
However, Leach says
Zoncas greatest strength
isnt his ability to tear
up seven- and eight-man
boxes, its his humility.
Hes incredibly humble.
Thats the first, and most
important, thing about
him. Theres not one cent
of arrogance in him. Hes
almost giddy by all the attention hes getting, said
Leach. We announced at
our banquet that he was
the Liberty Division Player

of the Year and there was

a smile on his face a mile
wide. It was not expected
at all. I think that is his biggest trait.
Leachs compliments
arent traditional coach
speak, either. Zonca is, in
fact, one of the more humble kids youll meet. Its like
he genuinely wasnt expecting to be as good as he was.
I wasnt thinking I
wouldnt be a factor for the
team, but I didnt expect
myself to be actually what
happened, said Zonca. I
was expecting to be a good
player, but I think the off
season helped, the guys
pushing me. That helped
me become the player I was
this year.
Over the summer, Zonca
casually mentioned that
once the season was over
he thought people would
remember his name. How
does he feel about that
now?
I think people know
who am from this season,
I mean, I hope they do, he
said.
They do.

agree, Hacketts greatest talent as a linebacker

is his ability to blitz. His
instincts and timing, they
said, are impeccable. Hes
always moving, he trusts
his reads, he can change
direction and shed blocks.
Jones said Hackett is
the best blitzer hes ever
had, bar none, and Fleming agrees.
What Mark is so good
at, probably the best Ive
ever coached, is blitzing. Hes an unbelievable
blitzer and we knew early
on. Even when he was
younger we were sending him in on blitzes,
said Fleming. Every week
when we game planned we
always talked about, how
do we get Mark moving?
How to be get him blitzing in our scheme for the
week?
Hackett owns the blitzer
label, calling it his thing.
Linebacker, he says, is and
always was the perfect position for him.
Hitting people is fun.
Blitzing is always fun, too.
On the d-line you dont
have a chance to get free
but at linebacker you can
come from depth and get
momentum going. Its
probably the funnest position to play on defense,
he said.
Since taking over the
starting middle linebacker
job for good his junior year,
Fleming has given Hackett
a remarkable amount of
control over the defense,
allowing him to make
checks with the defensive
line, slanting them in different directions, recognizing offensive formations

and then making changes

on the fly.
The guys are looking
to me for leadership. I remember multiple times the
d-line asking what were in
and its just great, for me,
to be able to tell them,
said Hackett. Its fun to
then see them go and do
it. Its a great position for
control freaks.
Hackett plans to pursue
football at the Division III
level next season. He has
a few offers, but has yet
to make a decision as to
where hell attend school.
His coaches said they have
no doubt he will succeed
at the next level, while
taking time to praised his
off-the-field personality
above all.
It has been a lot of fun
coaching him because
its always light, its always fun. Hes just having a blast out there, unless youre trying to run
the ball against him, then
hes going to run into you
very hard, said Jones
with a laugh. But then
hes going to smile at you
with his big dimples, pick
you up and say, Lets go
again.
Hes just so ferocious
and physical out on the
football field that you
would never know what
an easy going, nice guy
Mark is off the football
field. He really turns into
somebody else when he
gets on the field, added
Fleming. I know hes a
good friend to his friends,
hes a good student and
he is so coachable. Its a
coachs dream to have a
kid like that.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Mack leads CCHS past Albany

TROY >> Anthony Mack
scored a season-high 32
points to lead Catholic
Central past Albany, 73-56,
Tuesday in a non-league
boys basketball game,
which served as a tuneup for the Crusaders big
games this coming weekend.
CCHS opened with a 23-7
run, but was forced to hold

off an Albany rally. The Falcons closed to within 51-46

with eight minutes remaining. The Crusaders ended
the game with a 22-10 run.
CCHS will play this weekend in Boston, meeting Benjamin Franklin on Saturday
and then taking on national
power St. Anthonys of New
Jersey in the tournaments
showcase game. St. Antho-

nys is coached by legend

Bob Hurley, who has won
more than 1,000 games, 27
New Jersey state championships and seven national
championships.
Raquis Harris scored 19
points and Brian Brooks
added 12 for CCHS. Shaliem
Caldwell scored a teamhigh 20 point and Cy-Mier
Dace added 15 for Albany.