With another exciting season of CHSAA football in the books, the five Brooklyn/Queens Catholic high school teams all have players worthy of recognition. These young men represented their schools well on and off the playing field.
While many of the seniors will be looking to continue their football careers in college, the underclassmen will begin their journey toward a 2012 CHSAA championship title.
In bringing back an old tradition, here is The Tablet’s 2011 Football All-Diocesan Team. Players were selected from one of the following five schools: Bishop Ford H.S., Park Slope; Christ the King R.H.S., Middle Village; Holy Cross H.S., Flushing; St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows; and Xaverian H.S., Bay Ridge.
Players were selected based on feedback from the Brooklyn/Queens coaches. An asterisk designates a first-team selection to the All-Tablet team. All others earn a roster spot based on All-League voting and statistics. Every Brooklyn/Queens CHSAA team is represented on the first team.
Offense
Quarterback
*Isaiah Kearney: Xaverian, Junior, All-League Selection, 1,255 Passing yds., 1,040 Rushing yds., 14 TDs, 229.5 yds./game (first in NYCHSAA)
Thomas Cani: St. Francis Prep, Senior, All-League Selection, 1,391 Passing yds. (third in NYCHSAA), 14 TDs
Yianni Gavalas: Holy Cross, Senior, All-League Selection, 1,702 Passing yds. (second in NYCHSAA), 11 TDs
Xaviah Mattocks: Bishop Ford, Junior, All-League Selection, 932 Passing yds., eight TDs
Running Back
*Devon Mitchell: Bishop Ford, Senior, All-League Selection, 1,270 Rushing yds., 16 TDs (fourth in NYCHSAA)
Casey Beaudoin: St. Francis Prep, Senior, All-League Selection, 619 Rushing yds., nine TDs
James Coleman: Christ the King, Junior, All-League Selection, 1,502 Rushing yds. (third in NYCHSAA), 166.9 yds./game, nine TDs
Laray Smith: Xaverian, Junior, All-League Selection, 993 Rushing yds., 80-yd. long run, nine TDs
Full Back
*Dante Aiken: Bishop Ford, Sophomore, 322 Rushing yds. (second in NYCHSAA among FBs), 9.2 yds./carry, two TDs
Brandon Pelzer: Holy Cross, Sophomore, 281 Rushing yds. (third in NYCHSAA among FBs), four TDs
Wide Receiver
*Jordan Fuchs: Christ the King, Junior, All-League Selection, 25 Receptions, 492 Receiving yds., nine TDs (first in NYCHSAA)
*Ramel Joseph: St. Francis Prep, Junior, All-League Selection, 31 Receptions, 586 Receiving yds., four TDs
Sean Binckes: Xaverian, Senior, All-League Selection, 16 Receptions, 288 Receiving yds., five TDs
Lekeith Celestian: Holy Cross, Junior, All-League Selection, 34 Receptions, 528 receiving yds.
Tight End
*Rodney Gonzales: Bishop Ford, Sophomore, 20 Receptions, 343 Receiving yds. (2nd in NYCHSAA among TEs), four TDs
Kalief Joyner: Christ the King, Senior, 19 Receptions, 196 Receiving yds., three TDs
Offensive Line
*Christopher Jones: Xaverian, Junior, All-League Selection
*Jordan Pagan: Holy Cross, Junior
*Justin Reid: Christ the King, Senior
*Anthony Spadaro: Xaverian, Senior
*Tariq Stewart: Bishop Ford, Junior
Matthew Testani: St. Francis Prep, Senior
Christopher Quadrino: Christ the King, Senior
Defense
Defensive Line
*Malachi Hoskins: Holy Cross, Junior, 67 Tackles (47 solo), two Sacks
*Rocky Iannocone: Xaverian, Senior, All-League Selection, five Sacks, scored defensive TD
*Joe Magnavita: Xaverian, Senior, All-League Selection, seven Sacks
*Maurice Parker: St. Francis Prep, Senior, 58 Tackles, eight Sacks (third in NYCHSAA)
Walter Ferdinand: Bishop Ford, Sophomore, 60 Tackles, three Sacks
Anthony Tagliavia: St. Francis Prep, Senior, 35 Tackles, 5.5 Sacks
Linebacker
*Carmine Colletti: Xaverian, Senior, All-League Selection, four sacks, averaged 8.0 yds. lost/sack
*Joshua Senford: Christ the King, Junior, All-League Selection, 103 Tackles (4th in NYCHSAA)
*Juwan Wilson: Holy Cross, Junior, 117 Tackles (1st in NYCHSAA), 11.7 Tackles/game
Ryan Gibson: Holy Cross, Senior, 100 Tackles (67 solo), three Sacks
Devonte Linton: Bishop Ford, Junior, 87 Tackles, two Sa
Defensive Back
*Bryan Lopez: Bishop Ford, Senior, All-League Selection, 66 Tackles, 2.0 Sacks, one INT
*Robert Myers: St. Francis Prep, Senior, All-League Selection, 32 Tackles, seven INT (first in NYCHSAA)
*Tu Shaun Plummer: Xaverian, Senior, All-League Selection, six INTs (second in NYCHSAA), 527 receiving yds. (as WR)
*Joshua Wallace: Holy Cross, Sophomore, 88 Tackles (first in NYCHSAA among DBs), four INTs
Rayquan Williams: Bishop Ford, Junior, 67 Tackles, one Sack
Shyheim Wingate: Holy Cross, Senior, All-League Selection, 57 Tackles, 406 Rushing yds. (as RB)
Special Teams
Kicker
*Michael Guzman: Xaverian, Sophomore, three-for-three on Field Goals, Long 35 yds., 30 PAT
Punter
*Pierrot Senat: Holy Cross, Senior, 21 Punts, 696 Punt yds., 33.14 Punt avg., Long 41 yds., seven Punts within 20 yd. line
Head Coach
Jim Esposito: Bishop Ford
Victory for Falcons
The Bishop Ford Falcons defeated the St. Francis Prep L’il Terriers for the NYCHSAA Class ‘A’ Championship crown Nov. 12 at Mitchel Field, Uniondale, L.I.
Ford junior quarterback Xaviah Mattocks orchestrated a game-winning drive in the final seconds to secure the victory. He found his sophomore tight end Rodney Gonzales on an 11-yd. strike in the back of the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown.
Senior running back Devon Mitchell rushed for 148 yds. on 33 carries and was named the championship’s MVP. Prep senior running back Casey Beaudoin scored two touchdowns for the L’il Terriers.