Excitement for the upcoming high school football season is growing by the day, as local teams are gearing up for scrimmages before the season opens with a handful of teams taking advantage of the extra week to put together a Central Mass. version of Week Zero on September 6th and 7th.
There are plenty of exciting players returning, but who is the best-of-the-best? It will certainly be a big topic of conversation in the stands this fall, so we picked 40 players, many are returning Joe Mewhiney All-Stars, that should be primed for big things this season. Cast your vote below as the fan sections make their voices heard:
Cast Your Vote
Ransford Adri, QB, South
Adri earned a spot on the T&G Hometeam high school football (offense) Super Team after rushing for nearly 1,400 yards and passing for over 1,000 more as the Colonels finished 7-4 and reached the Division 4 state playoffs.
Jake Attaway, QB, Hudson
Attaway was a threat to find the end zone anytime he touched the ball last season, as he rushed for 1,565 yards and 25 touchdowns and also threw for 1,409 yards and 19 more scores as the Hawks reached the Division 6 state semifinals.
Isaiah Birchett, WR/DB, Doherty
Birchett emerged as a top threat for the Highlanders, catching 47 passes for 496 yards (10.6 yard average) as Doherty finished 8-3 and qualified for the Division 3 state playoffs.
J.T. Bresnahan, DL, Ayer-Shirley
Bresnahan was a bright spot on the defensive line for the rebuilding Panthers squad and was named to the Division 8 all-star team as a junior.
Kaiden Brochu, RB, Bay Path
Brochu was a force for the Minutemen last season, rushing for a school-record 2,471 yards and 32 touchdowns on 217 carries ‒ all three numbers that led Central Mass. as Bay Path reached the State Vocational Large Schools Super Bowl championship.
Alex Burgos, QB, Valley Tech
Burgos completed 109 of 182 passes for 1,685 yards and 20 touchdowns to lead a potent Valley Tech offense. He also rushed for 760 yards and 13 touchdowns as the Beavers finished 7-5 before falling in a 42-41 thriller to Bay Path in the State Vocational Large Schools Super Bowl.
Thomas Cashman, TE/LB, Westborough
A two-way threat for the rebuilding Rangers, Cashman was named an all-star after recording 40 tackles and catching 25 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns.
Matt Chatterton, LB, Bay Path
Chatterton was one of the leaders of a defense that carried the Minutemen to the State Vocational Large Schools Super Bowl, as he finished third in Central Mass. with 118 tackles and recorded two sacks to help Bay Path finish 10-3 and earn the Division 6 Defensive Player of the Year award.
Kellen Clarkson, QB/LB, Oxford
Clarkson tied for second in Central Mass. with six interceptions and also completed 113 of 204 passes for 1,847 yards and 22 touchdowns while rushing for 580 yards to help the Pirates finish 5-6.
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Xavier Cora, RB/LB, Leominster
Cora had a stellar junior season, earning a spot on the MHSFCA D1 All-State Honorable Mention list after rushing 141 times for 806 yards and seven touchdowns and also recording 67.5 tackles to help the Blue Devils finish 6-5 before falling to St. John's Prep in the Division 1 state playoffs.
D.J. Daniels, WR, Burncoat
Daniels turned heads last year after finishing third in Central Mass. with 40 catches for 690 yards and five touchdowns while also rushing for 162 yards to help the Patriots finish 5-6.
Ryan Dennis, WR, Doherty
Dennis is looking to capitalize on a solid season last year where he caught 24 passes for 485 yards and 5 touchdowns to help the Highlanders finish 8-3.
Dylan DiPietro, QB, St. John's
DiPietro impressed last year under center as the Pioneers finished 5-6 in the ultra-tough Catholic Conference.
Jarrett Ellis, OL, Shrewsbury
Ellis was named to the Joe Mewhiney Division 1 all-star team after leading a stout Shrewsbury offensive line to a 6-5 season.
Owen Ellsworth, RB, Algonquin
The Titans recorded just two wins last season, but Ellsworth was a bright spot for coach Mark Allen, earning a spot on the Joe Mewhiney Division 2 all-star team.
Alex Figueroa, QB, Gardner
Figueroa keyed a resurgent Wildcats team under center, passing for over 1,600 yards and 22 touchdowns as Gardner finished 9-2 and qualified for the Division 7 state playoffs.
Ethan Frisch, TE/LB, Clinton
Frisch was a monster on defense for the Gaels, notching 12 sacks and 89 tackles to help Clinton finish 7-5.
Dylan Gallo, QB, Maynard
Gallo was one of the top quarterbacks around last year, passing for over 1,700 yards and 22 touchdowns as the Tigers finished 7-4 and reached the Division 6 state playoffs.
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Finn Gilmore, RB/DB, Grafton
Gilmore is expected to fill some big shoes on offense, and showed he can handle it with a sensational junior season where he rushed 154 times for 1,045 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Garrett Giorgio, LB, Hudson
Giorgio led a unit that held six opponents to 14 points or less last season, as he picked off two passes and made 93 tackles as the Hawks finished 9-3 and reached the Division 6 state semifinals.
Aidan Hamilton, LB, West Boylston
Hamilton was a key piece of West Boylston's perfect run to the Division 8 state championship, earning a Joe Mewhiney all-star spot after recording 39.5 tackles for the Lions.
Jake Hannes, LB, Tyngsborough
Hannes made 78.5 tackles to help the Tigers finish 8-3 and reach the Division 7 state quarterfinals.
Adam Howe, QB, Tantasqua
Howe finished second in Central Mass. with 2,017 passing yards, completing 151 of 228 passes for 20 touchdowns as the Warriors finished 5-6.
Tedi Hunt, RB/LB, Littleton
Hunt was named to the Joe Mewhiney Division 7 all-star team as a standout two-way player for a Tigers team that finished 6-5.
Ryan Keddy, WR/DB, Shrewsbury
Keddy shined on both sides of the ball as the Colonials won three of their last four games to finish 6-5.
Camden LaChapelle, RB/LB, Uxbridge
With plenty of talent graduating from a Spartans team that rolled to a perfect season and the Division 7 state championship, LaChapelle will continue on a splendid sophom*ore season where he rushed 138 times for 1,322 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Liam Lawton, DL, Maynard
Lawton recorded 51 tackles and two sacks to take a spot on the Joe Mewhiney Division 6 all-star team as the Tigers finished 7-4.
Ethan LePoer, WR/DB, Shrewsbury
LePoer was named to the Joe Mewhiney Division 1 and Mid-Wach A all-star teams after helping the Colonials finish 6-5.
Logan Letourneau, OL/DL, Bay Path
Letourneau paved the way for a pair of running backs that rushed for over 3,000 yards in Kaiden Brochu and Bradyn Downes as the Minutemen were crowned the State Vocational Large School Super Bowl champions. He also notched 35 tackles and four sacks on defense.
Osiris Lopez, QB, Leominster
Only a junior, Lopez has emerged as one of the most dynamic athletes in Central Mass., helping the Blue Devils to a Division 1 playoff spot after passing for over 1,800 yards and 22 touchdowns. Lopez also picked off three passes as a defensive back.
Brady Marcoux, OL, Bay Path
Marcoux was named to the Joe Mewhiney Division 6 all-star team after anchoring an offensive line that accounted for over 3,000 rushing yards as the Minutemen finished 10-3.
Corey Mills, RB, North Middlesex
Mills was named to the Joe Mewhiney Division 5 all-star team after rushing 77 times for 435 yards and six touchdowns to help the Patriots finish 8-3.
Zach Milner, RB/LB, Littleton
Milner earned a spot on the Joe Mewhiney Division 7 all-star team after the Tigers went 6-5.
Owen Nanartowich, LB, Hudson
Nanartowich turned quite a few hears last season with his play, finishing in the Top 10 in Central Mass. with 100 tackles and recording three sacks as Hudson went 9-3 before falling to Fairhaven in the Division 6 state semifinals.
Josh Romeo, QB, Doherty
Romeo was a force for the Highlanders last season, finishing third in Central Mass. with 1,969 passing yards and 16 touchdowns as Doherty went 8-3.
William SirLeaf, OL/DL, Shepherd Hill
SirLeaf recorded 47 tackles and 5 sacks and even picked off as pass to earn a spot on the Joe Mewhiney Division 3 all-star team as the Rams went 5-6.
John Walsh Karam, WR/DB, St, Paul
Karam emerged as a top athlete for the Knights, catching 48 passes for 1,003 yards and 15 touchdowns as a receiver his sophom*ore season and passing for nearly 1,000 yards and six touchdowns at quarterback as a junior. He also has established himself as a top defensive back that should help St. Paul improve on a 1-9 season.
Travis Wells, OL/DL, Quabbin
Wells was an anchor on both lines for the Panthers earning a spot on the Joe Mewhiney Division 6 all-star team after Quabbin finished 5-6.
Nick Whitlock, WR/DB, Valley Tech
Whitlock was fifth in Central Mass. receiving yards, catching 31 passes for 652 yards and 13 touchdowns to propel the Beavers to a 7-5 record and a spot in the State Vocational Large School Super Bowl.
Daniel Wing, RB/DB, St. John's
Wing should play a big role on both sides of the ball for the Pioneers this year as a captain for coach John Vassar as St. John's looks to improve on a 5-6 season.
