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2009 Post-Star
Football All-Stars by Pete Tobey
It’s hard to
believe, but the first decade of the millenium is
almost in the books — one more day left in the…
what do we call this decade? The OO’s? The
Oughts? The Naughts? The Single Digits?
Whatever we call it, the years
from 2000 through 2009 constitute a very
interesting decade indeed, and a pretty exciting
one for high school football fans in the Glens
Falls area. Every team in The Post-Star’s
coverage area had something – often a few things
– to be proud of in the last 10 football
seasons.
Now I’m going to do something
special to celebrate the end of this decade — a
look back at the top teams and events, and since I
have been here in Glens Falls for nine of those 10
seasons, my very own Post-Star All-Decade Football
Team.
Only players who were Post-Star
first-team all-stars in the last 10 seasons are
eligible for this Team of the Decade, so it truly
is a team of the best.
The Post-Star Football Team
of the Decade:
Coach of the Decade:
Doug Luke, Cambridge: In the
10-season span from 2000-09, all Luke did was
coach the Indians to a 92-18 record and led them
to three trips to the Carrier Dome — they were
state runners-up in 2001, ‘03 and ‘05.
Cambridge won five Section II titles (Class C in
2001, ‘02 and ‘07, Class D in 2003 and ‘05)
and reached the sectional finals in 2000 and 2004.
This doesn’t even count Cambridge’s state
Class D championship in 1999 and Section II finals
berth in 1998, both also under Luke, who has an
overall career record of 111-21 at Cambridge.
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Zack Luke, Cambridge: From
2001-04, there were few quarterbacks in Section II
as accomplished as Zack Luke. A pure pocket passer
with remarkable accuracy and field vision, Zack
Luke (nephew of coach Doug Luke) finished his
four-year varsity career with 7,290 yards, the
second-most yards in state history, and passed for
a whopping 80 touchdowns. The two-time Post-Star
Player of the Year (in 2003 and co-POY in ‘04)
helped the Indians reach the state finals twice
(Class C in 2001, Class D in 2003), win three
straight Section II titles and achieve a 43-5
overall record in a four-year span.
Honorable mention QBs — Ryan
Carpenter, Fort Edward (3,566 passing yards and 34
TD passes in 2005-06 seasons); Denny Wilhelm,
Glens Falls (2005-06); Spencer Luke, Cambridge
(2005-06); Rory Pedrick, Saratoga Springs (2003);
Kyle Lauver, Cambridge (1999-2000); Chris Cameron,
Warrensburg (2001-04); Mike Schreiner, Greenwich
(2005-06).
Running Backs
Joe McMurry, Hudson Falls: From
2006-08, the amazingly durable Joe McMurry was the
Tigers’ featured back and finished his career as
one of the best rushers in Section II history. The
swift and elusive McMurry finished No. 3 on the
Section II all-time rushing list with 5,194 yards
and scored 424 points in his career (fifth most
all-time). As a senior in 2008, McMurry rushed for
2,563 yards — second-most in Section II history
— on 350 carries, and scored 34 touchdowns as he
led the Tigers to a Section II Class B title and a
berth in the state semifinals. He also had a
435-yard game — second-most in Section II
history — in a playoff win over Albany Academy
in 2007.
Will Groff, Queensbury: The most
punishing back of the decade had to be Will Groff,
a 5-foot-10, 165-pounder who was built like a
brick — with speed. As a senior in 2002, Groff
had the best season ever for any Spartan back,
rushing for 1,513 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was
named The Post-Star Player of the Year in 2002 —
and was also the paper’s Baseball Player of the
Year in both 2002 and ‘03.
Phil Jarvis, Schuylerville:
Combining slashing moves with speed and
benefitting from a great O-line, Jarvis was the
engine that made the Black Horses go in 2004, as
he rushed for 1,607 yards and scored 15
touchdowns. He helped Schuylerville go 11-1, win
the Section II Class C title and reach the state
semifinals — and earned Post-Star Co-Player of
the Year honors with Cambridge QB Zack Luke.
Jarvis finished his 2002-04 varsity career with
2,896 yards (including 1,141 and 19 TDs in 2003)
and scored 39 total touchdowns.
Honorable mention running backs
— Dan Smith, Fort Edward (1999-2001); Tom
Gipson, Lake George (1999-01); Brandon Seeley,
Cambridge (2001-02); Lucas Maciariello,
Schuylerville (2000-02); Bob West, Warrensburg
(2003-04); Sam Luke, Cambridge (2005-06); Tom
Jackson, Granville (2005-06); Zac Kozersky,
Schuylerville (2006); Dan Morrison, Glens Falls
(2007-08); Tyler Carpenter, Fort Edward (2006-08);
Paul O’Brien, Whitehall (2005-06); Cole Rocque,
Whitehall (2006-07); Leejay Pollacchi, Saratoga
Springs (2007-08); Caleb Meroski, Lake George
(2007-09); Tony DeLoatch, Saratoga Springs
(2008-09).
Receivers
Jimmer Fredette, Glens Falls:
The current BYU basketball sensation played one
full season of varsity football at Glens Falls —
as a junior in 2005 – but it was enough to earn
Fredette Post-Star Player of the Year honors. A
tremendous athlete with deceptive speed, the
6-foot-2 Fredette doubled as a wide receiver and
kick returner for the Indians, catching a whopping
43 passes for 910 yards and scoring 15 total
touchdowns, some on kick returns. He was an
outstanding linebacker, as well.
Matt Thibodeau, Fort Edward: One
of the most productive receivers in the area,
Thibodeau was an outstanding weapon for the Flying
Forts from 2005-07, catching 78 passes for 2,044
yards and scoring 29 total TDs, allowing QBs Ryan
Carpenter and Damian Tyler to rack up a lot of
yards. Thibodeau was a star in the secondary at
cornerback, too.
Justin Alexander, Cambridge:
Catching passes from Zack Luke for two seasons
(2001-02), Alexander proved to be one of the best
in a long line of great Cambridge receivers.
Alexander finished with 59 receptions for 1,163
yards and scored 14 TDs in two seasons.
HM receivers — Dean Spitzer,
Lake George (1999-2001); Chris Doody, Hudson Falls
(2003-04); Tyler Herrington, Cambridge (2004-05);
Alec Conover, Glens Falls (2005-06); Cameron
Herrington, Cambridge (2006-07); Jesse Lybert,
Cambridge (2008-09); Ryan McFee, Greenwich (2009).
Tight ends
Blake Thomas, Schuylerville: Not
a commonly used position in the area, so there
have been fewer standout tight ends over the
years. However, the Black Horses had one of the
area’s best in 2004-05. The rangy, athletic
Thomas helped the Black Horses win back-to-back
Section II Class C titles and go 21-3 in that span
with two trips to the state semifinals.
HM tight ends — Ben Stanton,
Hudson Falls (2001-02); Nick Mylott, Fort Edward
(2002-04); Casey Strader, Queensbury (2004-05);
Isaiah Thomas, Hudson Falls (2007-08).
All-purpose players
Jordon Charbonneau, Corinth:
Starting out as a receiver and kick returner in
2007 and ‘08, Charbonneau emerged as a senior in
2009 as an all-around threat for the Tomahawks as
their quarterback in the wildcat formation. He
turned in one of the best single rushing seasons
in area history, scampering for 1,813 yards and
scoring 22 total touchdowns in leading Corinth to
a 6-3 season. Also an outstanding cornerback on
defense, Charbonneau was the 2009 Post-Star Player
of the Year.
Zach Coffinger, South Glens
Falls: Much like Charbonneau two years later,
Coffinger shouldered the bulk of the Bulldogs’
offense in 2007, racking up 1,529 yards total
offense as a quarterback and kick returner and
scoring 15 touchdowns. Also a standout defensive
back, Coffinger was The Post-Star’s Player of
the Year in 2007.
Damian Tyler, Fort Edward: A
four-year standout for the Flying Forts (2004-07),
Tyler first made a splash as a receiver and kick
returner, then played quarterback as a senior,
helping the Forts to their second straight Class D
sectional title in 2007. In his career, he caught
81 passes for 1,520 yards and scored a total of 46
touchdowns.
HM all-purpose: Jeff Caprood,
Fort Edward (1999-2000); Brian Harrington,
Cambridge (2000-02); Dylan Lynn, Greenwich
(2002-03); Mike DeGregory, Schuylerville
(2005-06).
Offensive linemen
Justin Tougas, Glens Falls —
The 6-foot-8, 275-pound Tougas was one of the area’s
most dominant linemen in 2001-03, helping to pave
the way for the Indians’ power-running attack of
Patrick O’Brien and Dan Girard, as Glens Falls
went 26-4 in that span. Tougas was also a state
champ and state runner-up in wrestling.
Zack Middleton, Hudson Falls —
A three-year starter for the Tigers from 2000-02,
the 6-foot-2, 280-pound Middleton helped lead the
Tigers to a Section II Class B title in 2000 and
reach the sectional final in 2002.
Zack Wilbur, Cambridge — Part
of the Indians’ dominant offense from 2001-03,
the 285-pound guard helped pave the road for the
Indians to reach the Carrier Dome twice in his
career, and rack up a 34-4 record in that span.
Adhem Elsawi, Saratoga Springs
— A dominant starter on the Blue Streaks’
offensive line from 2006-08, the 6-foot-6,
315-pound Elsawi went on to play Division I
football at Campbell University in North Carolina.
O.C. West, Salem — Salem
started off the decade with an outstanding run,
including a Section II Class D title and state
semifinal berth in 2002. West, a two-way standout
for the Generals, was a key player in 2001-02,
helping Salem go 19-2 over those two seasons.
Honorable Mention OL — Adam
Thorpe and Zach Beadle, Queensbury (1998-2000);
Kevin Hall, Glens Falls (2001-02); Adam McInerney,
Schuylerville (2001-03); Rich Canale, Glens Falls
(2002-03); Jake Mender, Glens Falls (2002-04);
Kevin Heinzelman, Hudson Falls (2002-04); Jon
Barnum, Schuylerville (2003-04); Jeff Duxbury,
Greenwich (2003-05); Ryan Sand, Saratoga Springs
(2005-06); Ryan Woodward, Hudson Falls (2005-06);
Sean Patrick, Schuylerville (2006-07); Tim
Hammond, Hudson Falls (2007-08); Greg Peterson,
Schuylerville (2007-08); Ben Barbur, Greenwich
(2007-09).
DEFENSE
Shane
Larkin, Schuylerville — A dominant defensive
end for the Black Horses from 2006-08, Larkin
changed many a game plan for Schuylerville
opponents. A vicious hitter and relentless pass
rusher, Larkin was also an outstanding fullback on
offense.
Adam Burr, Cambridge — A
standout two-way lineman for the Indians from
1999-2001, the athletic and talented Burr could
have excelled at tight end and linebacker for a
larger school. Instead, he dominated on both
offensive and defensive lines and helped Cambridge
make two trips to the Carrier Dome in his career
(in ‘99 and ‘01). Burr was The Post-Star
Player of the Year in 2001, and is now the Indians’
defensive coordinator.
Corey McCormack, Queensbury —
An outstanding defensive lineman for the Spartans
in 2000-02, McCormack was also a rugged fullback.
He was a key component of one of Queensbury’s
more punishing defensive units, as the Spartans
went 20-7 in his three-year career.
Dan Randall, Salem — The
athletic, 240-pound Randall was a force on the
Generals’ offensive line from 2003-05, helping
them reach the Section II Class D finals twice in
that span. He was a three-time Post-Star All-Star
first-teamer.
Honorable Mention DL — Will
Carpenter, Queensbury (2001-02); Elisha Flint,
Hudson Falls (2000-02); Alex Procter,
Schuylerville (2003-04); Dan Randall, Salem
(2003-05); Jesse Clark, Ticonderoga (2006-08);
Jedd Mason, Whitehall (2005-07).
Linebackers
Brian Howard, Hudson Falls —
One of the hardest-hitting middle linebackers in
the area when he played for the Tigers from
2001-03, Howard was also a big, strong tailback
for Hudson Falls.
Dominic Marino, Queensbury —
An imposing athlete at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds,
Marino was a dominant linebacker and fullback for
the Spartans from 2005-07.
Casey Shea, Salem — Shea
helped spearhead the Generals’ rock-solid
defense in 2001-03, helping Salem to a 26-5 record
over that three-year span, which included three
straight Section II Class D final appearances and
one title. Shea also stood out as a running back.
Patrick O’Brien, Glens Falls
— The quiet, unassuming O’Brien was everywhere
the ball was for the Indians in 2001-02, leading a
stifling defense that helped the Indians go 17-3
in his two varsity seasons. He was also an
outstanding running back for Glens Falls, and went
on to a fine college career at the University of
Rochester.
Jake Nelson, Lake George —
Nelson was one of the area’s best all-around
players during his 2006-08 varsity career. The
strapping 220-pounder was a punishing defender and
equally bruising fullback for the Warriors, whom
he helped go undefeated at 9-0 in his senior
season of 2008.
Other linebackers — Scott
Cronin and Bryan Steele, Hudson Falls (1998-2000);
Tim Lutgens, Greenwich (1998-2000); Kevin
Richards, Glens Falls (2000-01); James Edge, Salem
(2001-02); Dan Ehntholt, Granville (2001-02); Josh
Matatt, Cambridge (2001-03); Rich Duff, Saratoga
Springs (2002-04); Vince Monks, Greenwich
(2004-05); James Lenhart, Ticonderoga (2004-06);
A.J. Armstrong, Corinth (2005-07); Duke Ekblom,
Schuylerville (2006-08); Korey White, Hudson Falls
(2008-09).
Defensive backs
Tony Yushak, Salem: A star from
2000-02, Yushak the QB led the Generals to a
Section II Class D championship as a senior, but
also he made a huge impact in the Salem secondary.
An outstanding all-around athlete with speed,
Yushak was the Generals’ No. 1 playmaker on both
sides of the ball.
Austin Bateman, Schuylerville:
Like Hudson Falls’ Brian Howard and Salem’s
Dan Randall, Bateman was a three-time Post-Star
first-team all-star (2007-09). A four-year starter
at both cornerback and quarterback for the Black
Horses from 2006-09, Bateman excelled on defense
as a shutdown corner and safety, and on offense as
a scrambling option quarterback.
Rob Bolen, Lake George: Bolen,
who starred for Lake George from 1998-2000, may
belong to the ’90s more than this decade.
However, the lightning-fast Bolen was a two-way
standout for the Warriors as a senior in 2000, as
a defensive back, quarterback and tailback.
Matt Ali, Hudson Falls: The
Tigers have had quite a few outstanding defenders
over the years, but few were as effective in both
pass coverage and run stopping as Matt Ali in
2008. He was a key player in the Tigers’ march
to a 10-2 season and the state Class B semis.
HM defensive backs — Chad
Clark, Cambridge (2000-01); Dan Girard, Glens
Falls (2001-02); Jeff Kaier, Queensbury (2002-03);
Mike Crimmins, Saratoga Springs (2003-04); Ryan
Danaher, Schuylerville (2003-04); Corey Barber,
Hudson Falls (2004-05); Jeff Benway, Queensbury
(2005-06); C.J. Saunders, Corinth (2006-08); Ethan
Bain, Greenwich (2006-07); Ray Pasco, Hudson Falls
(2006-07); J.D. DeWaard, Lake George (2006-08);
Nick Daley, Saratoga Springs (2007-09, also stood
out as a placekicker).
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