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2003 Fall All-Scholastics

Football

Players of the Year

Frank Nuzzo, Everett DIVISION 1
		With Nuzzo, it's not about the numbers. On a dominant Everett team, the senior running back did most of his work in the first half of games, before the Crimson Tide pulled away and sent in the second string. Still, Nuzzo racked up 550 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns this year on just 50 carries, impressive statistics in any light. He was also one of the most devastating linebackers in the state, recording 100 tackles. A cocaptain and three-year starter, Nuzzo finishes his high school career with more than 2,000 rushing yards, 1,000 receiving yards, and 40 touchdowns. He was named the Gatorade Massachusetts Player of the Year, and is a finalist for the Wendy's High School Heisman award. He has maintained a 3.9 GPA at Everett, and lists Harvard, Yale, Brown, Stanford, Penn State, and Northeastern as possible college choices.

David Leach, Chelmsford DIVISION 2
		Leach was the engine that powered the Chelmsford offense to the Division 2 Super Bowl for the second year in a row. The senior totalled more than 1,700 rushing yards and found the end zone a school-record 23 times in the regular season, good for a division-best 142 points (he also ran in two 2-point conversions). His performance was recognized by the Merrimack Valley Conference, which named him a league coMVP. Leach was also named to the all-conference team for the third time this year, and his 3,500 career yards and 50 career touchdowns are also school records. His finest moment may have come in the Lions' playoff win over Chelmsford, when Leach rushed for more than 250 yards and five touchdowns to send the team to the Super Bowl. He also plays hockey and baseball at Chelmsford, and hopes to play football at a Division 1AA college.

Brian Kiley, Mansfield DIVISION 3
		At 5 feet 8 inches, 180 pounds, Kiley surprised defenses across the Hockomock League, proving to be one of the toughest backs to tackle. A workhorse for Mansfield's undefeated Super Bowl team, Kiley rushed for 1,036 yards on 93 carries. While he was punishing any defender who dared try to tackle him, Kiley's strength was even more evident on defense. The middle linebacker recorded 70 tackles (54 solo, 16 assists), including 11 tackles for a loss. A high honor roll student, Kiley is also a member of the Mansfield lacrosse team. He was a first team EMass all-star for the lacrosse team last year. Next fall he hopes to play football for St. Anselm, Merrimack, or Hobart.

John McCoy, Bishop Feehan DIVISION 4
		"[McCoy] accounts for more yardage than any player I have coached," said coach Jack Peavey. Impressive praise from the coach of a team that made its fourth consecutive Super Bowl appearance this year. McCoy has earned that praise, passing for 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns and adding 500 rushing yards. A two-year starter, McCoy has thrown for more than 3,000 yards and 34 touchdowns with a 68 percent completion rate. He has also proved to be one of the most agile quarterbacks in Eastern Mass., rushing for 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns in two years. McCoy also uses that speed to run winter and spring track. Next year he hopes to study broadcasting or journalism in college.

J.J. Sullivan, Tyngsboro DIVISION 5
		For most of the season, the race for Division 5 player of the year was a three-headed monster, with Pat Franey, Mike Hinkley, and Sullivan all making strong cases. But the senior tailback ended any discussion by rushing for at least three touchdowns in each of his final six games, including a 263-yard, 4-TD performance in the Tigers' 42-14 playoff win over Bishop Fenwick. Sullivan has 2,562 yards rushing going into the D5 Super Bowl, with 38 TDs. Also a defensive back, the 5-foot-11-inch senior garnered the Commonwealth Athletic conference MVP for his efforts.

Vincent Orlando, Manchester DIVISION 6
		Manchester was back in the Super Bowl yesterday, looking to avenge last season's Bowl loss, thanks in large part to Orlando and his Eastern Mass.-leading 31 touchdown passes, including five against Minuteman Nov. 7. The 6-foot-2-inch, 180-pound quarterback also threw for 2,147 yards, rushed for three touchdowns, and was named Commonwealth Conference MVP this season. He was also named conference all-star for the second time. He has 51 touchdown passes for his career. The senior is undecided about his plans for next year.

Jason White, Charlestown DIVISION 7
		White lead Division 7 in scoring this year - it wasn't close. The junior running back's 114 points were 29 more than his closest competitor as he helped lead Charlestown to a three-way tie atop the Boston South with a 8-2 overall record. He finished the season with more than 1,500 yards and 17 touchdowns as he led the City in rushing for the third straight year. White put up 20 points in a game twice this season, against Hyde Park and Brighton. Also a member of the three-time defeding state champion basketball team, White maintained honor roll grades for this fall.

Coaches of the Year

Kwame Dixon, Cambridge DIVISION 1
		Dixon oversaw an extraordinary turnaround at Cambridge, as the Falcons rebounded from last year's 3-7 record with an 8-2 mark and a second-place showing in the Greater Boston League. In just his fourth year as the head coach at Cambridge, Dixon has implemented his option system effectively and established the program as one to watch in Division 1. The 38 year-old University of Pittsburgh grad (1987) cited "tremendous leadership from the seniors and captains" as the biggest reason for the school's best football season ever. "I looked forward to practice every day," he said. "It was an honor and privilege to coach them."

Bill Tighe, Lexington DIVISION 2
		The Minutemen hadn't been to the postseason since 1984, or Tighe's 10th year as head coach. Under his guidance, this season's Lexington squad finished 8-3 overall and 8-1 in the Middlesex League. It was good enough for a Division 2 playoff berth in this, Tighe's 29th season, and made this one of the more special seasons in his long tenure. "This team made the impossible dream of winning the Middlesex League come true," said Tighe. A graduate of Ashland High School (1942) and Boston University (1949), Tighe has a career record of 227-175-4.

Bob Noble, Quincy DIVISION 3
		Three years ago, the Quincy football program never considered December football. At 1-10 in 1999, his first year as head coach, Noble could not have envisioned taking his team to the first Atlantic Coast championship in school history. That is just what he did. A graduate of UMass-Boston in 2001, Noble was quick to mention the help of the rest of his coaching staff. "This honor would not have been possible if it wasn't for the coaching staff I have had the pleasure to work with for the last eight years," said Noble. A football coach for 19 years, Noble led the Presidents to a 7-2-1 record.

Paul Killinger, Hingham DIVISION 4
		With a 29-40 career coaching record before this season, Killinger had experience coaching a struggling football program. Apparently he grew tired of it, as he coached the Harbormen to a 10-1 record this season. Leading a talented senior class, including running back John Murphy, who rushed for over 1,000 yards, Killinger turned a struggling program into one of the best in the competitive Patriot League. A graduate of Rockland High School and Boston State, Killinger was a three-sport athlete in school, playing football, basketball, and track. A coach at Hingham for 10 seasons, he enjoys skiing and traveling in his free time.

Jim Von Euw, Westwood DIVISION 5
		Von Euw has the Wolverines in position for their first Super Bowl victory since 1996, which would be the sixth in school history. After a 10-1 regular season and Tri-Valley League championship, Westwood ousted Cohasset, 20-7, in the first round of the playoffs. The win was Von Euw's first appearance in the postseason during his five-year tenure as the Wolverines head coach. The Catholic Memorial graduate is also an assistant on the spring track staff, and coaches middle school basketball.

John Sousa, East Boston DIVISION 6
		In his ninth year as head coach at East Boston, Sousa led the Jets to their first 11-win campaign, an undefeated regular season, a Boston North league title, and a playoff berth. Always one to put the players before his own accomplishments, the 1969 East Boston graduate had this to say about the honor, "I would like to share this most prestigious award with my players, dedicated coaches, my family, and the East Boston High School community. This great season was a total team effort. It was the unselfish attitude of the team that enabled us to have such a perfect season. You made us all very proud."

Jeff Venter, O'Bryant DIVISION 7
		Venter set the bar high both on and off the field in his first year at O'Bryant, and it paid off. By instituting mandatory study halls for his players, he promoted academic improvement and the Tigers took home a share of the Boston South championship with a 5-1 league record to finish in a three-way tie atop the league. "We had a great season, said Venter, "The coaching staff is proud of our team. This award is a credit to the entire coaching staff and the kids' hard work." Prior to this season, the 1993 Northeastern graduate had been coaching semi-pro football.

The All-Scholastics

Bobby Abare, Acton-Boxborough TAILBACK/LINEBACKER
		Abare and twin brother Larry have ushered in an era of dominance at A-B. Bobby led the Colonials with 1,200 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns this year, while his 80 tackles were a team high on the defensive side of the ball. He shared the Dual County League's Defensive Player of the Year award with his brother, and A-B played in its third consecutive Division 2 Super Bowl yesterday. Bobby (6-1, 200 lbs) also plays varsity basketball and baseball for the Colonials and is an honor roll student.

Larry Abare, Acton-Boxborough WING BACK/SAFETY
		Larry Abare couldn't stay away from the ball in 2003. Along with his DCL Co-Defensive Player of the Year Award (two interception returns for touchdowns), Abare also made an impact on offense as both a rusher and receiver. He caught four touchdown passes and ran for five, putting his season total at 11. In the three years Larry and Bobby have played varsity football, the Colonials have lost only one game (the brothers' first contest in 2001) and rolled off 36 consecutive wins. Larry also plays baseball and basketball for the Colonials.

Paul Arsenault, Everett GUARD
		The 6-foot, 200-pounder has started on the Everett offensive line for the past three years, all of which have ended in a trip to the Division 1 Super Bowl. As a senior cocaptain, Arsenault anchored an offense that rushed for 40 touchdowns while compiling a 9-0 regular-season record. He is a two-time Greater Boston League All-Star, as well as a 2002 GBL track all-star. Arsenault also captains the Everett track team. His brother, Adam Arsenault, was a Globe All-Scholastic for Everett last season. Paul is interested in attending Bentley, Bates, Merrimack, or Bowdoin.

John Barker, Xaverian WIDE RECEIVER/CORNERBACK/KICKER
		Barker was the Swiss Army knife of Eastern Mass. this season, making an impact no matter where he lined up. The Catholic Conference MVP caught 50 passes at wide receiver for 700 yards and 5 touchdowns, and also intercepted 5 passes from teams brave enough to throw at him on defense. He also returned a punt for a touchdown. Barker is recognized as perhaps the state's best kicker, and connected on 5 of 8 field goals (putting his career totals at 12 of 15) while leading the Hawks to an 8-2 record. Barker has been a conference all-star the past two seasons, and plans to continue as a placekicker in college.

Jake Beers, Duxbury RECEIVER/CORNER
		Beers has played a major role in bringing the Green Dragons to the playoffs two years in a row. The 6-foot-1-inch, 185-pound receiver compiled more than 350 yards receiving and four touchdowns. In the last two years, Beers has been named a Bay State League All-Star twice as a defensive back and was named defensive MVP last year as a junior. In his career, Beers has been equally impressive on defense and offense, compiling eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. Also a captain of the baseball team, he enjoys skiing and playing poker in his free time. Next year Beers hopes to begin his college education and continue to play football.

Jason Blydell, Swampscott RECEIVER/LINEBACKER
		Blydell was the answer to every Big Blue fan's question: what will we do without Kyle Beatrice? The primary receiver for both Shane Corcoran and Jason Losano, Blydell compiled over 1,000 yards and 17 touchdowns on 51 receptions. In just two years of playing football, the agile receiver amassed 27 touchdowns. On defense, Blydell had 70 tackles, 3 interceptions, and a touchdown on a fumble recovery. A key element in Swampscott's undefeated season, Blydell is a three-time Northeastern Conference all-star in basketball and a two-time all-star in baseball. A member of the National Honor Society, he hopes to attend an Ivy League school next fall.

Drew Carey, Masconomet QUARTERBACK/DEFENSIVE BACK
		A junior, Carey has established himself as a leader. The star quarterback led Masconomet to the Division 4 Super Bowl and led the division in touchdown passes with 18. Working with receivers Zach Lamkin and Mike Garrity, Carey completed 81 passes for 1,358 yards with just one interception. Already a two-time Cape Ann All-Star, Carey was named team MVP in his sophomore year. A three-sport athlete, Carey has played since freshman year on the varsity basketball and lacrosse teams. With Garrity and Lamkin graduating, there is no doubt Carey will find new receivers to help him dominate the Cape Ann League again.

Tom Farrell, Mansfield RUNNING BACK/FREE SAFETY
		One cog in the machine that is the Mansfield football program, Farrell set himself apart as the utility man. Averaging 11.3 yards per carry, the 5-foot-10-inch back compiled 903 yards rushing and 441 yards receiving for 20 touchdowns. A captain of the undefeated Hornets, Farrell was the largest contributor on offense, compiling more than 1,700 total yards of offense. On defense, Farrell intercepted three passes as a free safety. An honor roll student and a member of the track team, he hopes to attend the University of Hawaii, Wagner College, or Sacred Heart.

Todd Faiella, Marshfield LINEBACKER/TIGHT END
		The 6-foot-2-inch, 210-pound Faiella was the prototype tight end for Marshfield this season, providing the offense with a solid red zone target as well as blocking on a line that drove the Rams to the Division 1 Super Bowl. A captain the past two years, Faiella caught three touchdown passes this season and picked off three passes from his linebacker position. In a Nov. 14 win over Barnstable, the senior caught a 10-yard touchdown pass and returned an interception 60 yards for a score. He earned a spot on the Old Colony League first team at LB, his second selection as an OCL all-star. Faiella was also a Globe All-Scholastic selection in lacrosse last spring.

Pat Franey, Arlington Catholic QUARTERBACK
		Despite the dizzying sequence of events that left the Cougars sitting at home during the postseason, Franey had a season to remember. In his first year as a starter, the 6-foot, 175-pound senior threw for more than 2,200 yards and 28 touchdowns. He added six rushing TDs to his totals, helping AC to a 9-1 record. In one of his most impressive performances, Franey threw for 263 yards and four TDs as the Cougars defeated Mike Hinkley and Cardinal Spellman, 35-32. He is undecided on college for the fall, but is considering St. Anselm.

Chris Harris, East Boston RUNNING BACK/LINEBACKER
		After being named Most Valuable Underclassman in 2002, the Jets were relying on Harris to again be a team leader and he didn't disappoint. The 5-foot-8-inch, 180-pound, senior cocaptain rushed for 1,290 yards and 13 touchdowns and had 85 solo tackles and 25 assists to help lead the Jets to the Division 6 playoffs. He finished his high school career with 30 touchdowns and 180 solo tackles. A National Honor Society member with a 4.09 GPA, Harris is also a member of the swim team and holds the school record in the breaststroke. He is undecided on his college plans, but is interested in automotive engineering.

Jeff Hibbard, Dedham WIDE RECEIVER/FREE SAFETY
		Whether he was catching passes from Justin Castellanos or the opposition's quarterback, Hibbard was creating points for Dedham. The star receiver and safety was pulling down passes on offense and defense for the Marauders, compiling 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. With 700 yards receiving, Hibbard averaged 30 yards per catch. A two-time Bay State All-Star, he has amassed 19 interceptions and 16 touchdowns in the last two seasons. Also a member of the baseball team, Hibbard enjoys spending time with his friends and playing sports in his free time and he hopes to play football in college next fall.

Mike Hinkley, Cardinal Spellman RUNNING BACK/MIDDLE LINEBACKER
		The Earl Campbell of the Catholic Central, Hinkley's style resembles that of a Mack truck. Hint to opposing players: He's going to run you over if you stand in his way. The Cardinal captain has the stats to make him an easy choice for the squad: 2,284 yards rushing, 31 touchdowns, 198 total points, as well as 150 tackles as a middle linebacker. Add in the fact that he's a four-year varsity shortstop and a three-year varsity power forward, and you're looking at one of the best athletes to come through Spellman in a long time.

Ryan Mahoney, Swampscott CENTER/LINEBACKER
		Passing has been the name of the game for Swampscott for the last four years. A senior captain, Mahoney was the heart of the Big Blue's offensive line. While his strength on the offensive line bought the Swampscott quarterbacks enough time to throw the ball with frequency, his brilliance on defense made him Swampscott's all-time leader in tackles with more than 450. This year alone, the inside linebacker made 125 stops, including two sacks and 14 tackles for a loss. A two-time NEC All-Star, Mahoney holds the school record for most varsity games played with 45. An honor roll student with a 3.6 GPA, he hopes to play football at an Ivy League or Atlantic 10 school in the fall.

Anthony Messia, Wareham OFFENSIVE GUARD/DEFENSIVE GUARD
		In six of 10 games this season, Wareham held its opponent to single-digit scoring. Messia was the heart of that stingy defense, which helped the Vikings finish with an 8-2 record and a South Coast championship. The nose guard managed more than 90 tackles, including 18.5 sacks. A three-time South Coast All-Star, Messia forced four fumbles and recovered three. Starting since his sophomore year, he has accumulated an astounding 40 sacks and has averaged 60 tackles per season. Messia excels academically as well, and is an honor roll student in advanced placement and honors program classes. In his free time he enjoys weightlifting and video games and he hopes to play football at Wesleyan, St. Anselm, or Sacred Heart next year.

J.J. Niamkey, Quincy RUNNING BACK/DEFENSIVE BACK
		Winning the first Atlantic Coast title in team history can be pretty exciting. Being the driving force behind that title makes it that much better. Niamkey was the heart of the Presidents' offense, rushing for 10 touchdowns in his second consecutive 1,000-yard season. The lightning-quick back was consistently the difference for Quincy, including a four-touchdown performance against Sandwich Nov. 1. A two-time ACL All-Star, Niamkey has compiled 2,500 yards rushing in 2 years. Niamkey was a force on special teams, scoring on two punt returns and a kickoff return against Dennis-Yarmouth. Also captain of the basketball team, he plans to attend college.

Matt Nuzzo, Everett QUARTERBACK
		A starter since early in his freshman season, Nuzzo has showed a steady hand and has added a playmaking ability to the Everett offense. He is the winningest quarterback in school history (34-1 record, three Super Bowl appearances), with 2003 his best campaign yet. With 10 touchdown passes and 8 touchdown runs, Nuzzo boosted his career totals to 23 and 16, respectively, and his total yardage surpassed 3,000. Expect him to assume an even larger role in the offense next season as a senior, but don't expect the winning to stop anytime soon. Nuzzo has a sterling 4.3 GPA at Everett, and is a two-time GBL All-Star in baseball.

Matt O'Brien, Cambridge QUARTERBACK
		O'Brien led a surprising turnaround at Rindge & Latin this year, lifting the Falcons to an 8-2 record on the heels of last year's 3-7 campaign. O'Brien ran Cambridge's option offense to perfection, rushing for more than 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns, while tossing 6 TD passes. His performance set up a winner-take-all Thanksgiving Day game for the GBL title with Everett, which the Falcons lost, 35-7. Despite the loss, the season was an impressive accomplishment for the 5-foot-7-inch, 175-pound sparkplug, and with O'Brien returning next year, the future looks bright at Cambridge.

Mike O'Sullivan, East Bridgewater TAILBACK
		The scoring leader in Division 4 with 124 points, O'Sullivan carried the 8-2 Vikings on his back. Rushing for 1,458 yards and 19 touchdowns (18 rushing), he was the workhorse of the East Bridgewater offense. In brilliant performances against Rockland (five touchdowns) and Oliver Ames (four touchdowns), the 5-foot-8-inch, 170-pound back accounted for nearly all pf his team's scoring. Named to the Patriot League All-Star team this year, O'Sullivan is also a member of the basketball and baseball teams. He has not decided on his college plans.

David Paine, Bishop Feehan OFFENSIVE TACKLE/DEFENSIVE TACKLE
		Being recruited by UMass, Boston College, Harvard, and Maryland to name a few, Paine is one of the state's, if not the country's, top linemen. A two-time Eastern Athletic Conference All-Star, Paine has drawn comparisons to ex-Feehan player and Denver Bronco Tom Nalen. In three years on the offensive line, he has not given up a single sack. A member of the basketball and track teams, Paine finds plenty of time for his schoolwork. He is a member of the National Honor Society and has made honor roll all four years at Bishop Feehan.

Michael Pitt, St. John's Prep LINEBACKER
		The senior was an unstoppable force in the middle of the Prep defense this year, terrorizing ballcarriers from his linebacker position. Pitt led the Eagles in tackles this season, and carried the team to a 22-21 Thanksgiving Day win over Xaverian for the Catholic Conference title and a berth in the Division 1 playoffs. Pitt was named a conference all-star and the league's Defensive Player of the Year. He also contributed on offense, playing fullback on Thanksgiving and making a crucial fourth-down catch to keep the game-winning drive alive. A three-year starter at linebacker, the 6-foot-3-inch, 220-pound Pitt is undecided on college plans.

Chris Pizzotti, Reading QUARTERBACK
		The 6-foot-5-inch, 215-pound quarterback rewrote the recordbooks at Reading, tossing a whopping 40 touchdown passes in his high school career, including 19 this season. He also passed for 1,700 yards for the 8-2 Rockets, bringing his career yardage total to 3,300. He added three rushing touchdowns. Pizzotti was named the Middlesex League's Offensive Player of the Year, the second consecutive season he has won the award. Pizzotti is a member of the National Honor Society and the president of his class. He hopes to attend Harvard.

Bruce Rich, Chelmsford QUARTERBACK
		Rich was quick to make teams pay for overplaying the Lions' running game this year, throwing a school-record 15 touchdown passes en route to the Merrimack Valley Conference title and a berth in the Division 2 Super Bowl. For his efforts, Rich was named the league's coPlayer of the Year (along with teammate David Leach) and earned a spot on the MVC's All-Conference first team for the second consecutive year. He winds up his high school career as Chelmsford's all-time leader in touchdown passes (29). Rich is a three-time all-conference wrestling selection.

Michael Satterwhite, St. Mary's TAILBACK/LINEBACKER
		Satterwhite controlled the St. Mary's offense this season, rushing for 990 yards and 16 touchdowns on 181 carries. He also attempted 45 passes for the Spartans, completing 19 for 510 yards and 7 touchdowns. A three year starter, Satterwhite again led St. Mary's to the top of the Catholic Central (Small) with his 106 points. He finishes his high school career with over 1,000 yards both passing and rushing. Satterwhite, a 6-0, 225 pound senior, also plays baseball at St. Mary's.

Jeff Smith, Needham RUNNING BACK
		Smith was a one-man gang at tailback this season, powering Needham to the Bay State title with more than 2,100 yards rushing and 23 touchdowns. Both were good for school records, as were his 333 yards in an Oct. 18 win over Brookline. Smith also rushed for three touchdowns in that game. The Rockets eventually fell to Acton-Boxboro in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs, but without the 5-foot-11-inch, 185-pound horse in the backfield, the season would have ended about a week earlier. Smith also plays hockey and baseball at Needham, and is undecided on his college plans.

Jesse Spartichino, Lexington RUNNING BACK/LINEBACKERK
		Spartichino was the 6-foot-2-inch, 225-pound workhorse who carried Lexington into the postseason for the first time in 19 years. Minutemen coach Bill Tighe was quick to give much of the credit for the playoff berth to his junior running back, and with good reason - Spartichino broke the school's scoring record with 19 touchdowns, good for third in Division 2. He also piled up 1,360 yards rushing and averaged 7.2 yards per carry, earning a spot on the Middlesex League All-Star first team. Spartichino maintains a 3.4 GPA and plays basketball and hockey at Lexington, and was a member of the Bay State Games baseball team.

John Sperrazza, Mansfield QUARTERBACK
		The leader of a potent offense, boasting an undefeated regular season and a Super Bowl appearance, Sperrazza threw for 21 touchdowns and added one rushing. An easy pick as the All-Hockomock League quarterback, he compiled 1,415 yards passing in his impressive senior year. In seven of 11 games this season (not including the Super Bowl), Sperrazza threw for multiple touchdowns, including a four-touchdown game against Attleboro. An honor roll student, a member of the basketball team and captain of the baseball team, he enjoys listening to Bruce Springsteen. Next fall he hopes to attend UMass, Holy Cross, Hofstra, or Merrimack.

Jay Stahl, Central Catholic DEFENSIVE/OFFENSIVE TACKLE
		Stahl was a two-way force in the trenches for Central this season, opening holes on offense and bringing down ballcarriers on defense. His 85 tackles and 13 sacks earned him the Merrimack Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year Award, and he proved adept at both run and pass blocking in the Red Raiders' scheme. The 6-foot-2-inch, 235-pound Methuen resident is an avid snowboarder. Stahl is looking at several Atlantic 10 schools, including New Hampshire, Northeastern, and UMass-Amherst.

Alex Stone, Swampscott RUNNING BACK/DEFENSIVE BACK
		Stone will transfer his strength and desire on the football field to the US Marine Corps next fall. The 5-foot-9-inch, 155-pound back juked and bashed his way to 1,300 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. A captain of the winningest team in Swampscott history, Stone was named the Northeaster Conference Most Valuable Player. He compiled more than 3,000 career rushing yards and 36 touchdowns and was twice named to the NEC all-star team. Equally talented on ice, Stone has more than 100 career points, is a two-time NEC all-star, and was the team MVP as a junior.

Matt Troila-Kelliher, Xaverian RUNNING BACK
		This 5-foot-11-inch, 180-pound senior entered the season as a question mark at tailback and exited as an exclamation point. The first-year starter became the focal point of the 9-2 Hawks' offense as the year wore on, rushing for 16 touchdowns and catching three more, good for a tie for the Division 1 scoring lead. Troila-Kelliher also tied a school record by scoring five touchdowns in a Nov. 15 win over Catholic Memorial, capping a three-game stretch in which he scored 11 touchdowns (8 rushing). He also plays baseball and runs track at Xaverian, and lists Tulane and Central Florida as possible college choices.

Jeff White, Westwood QUARTERBACK
		There is something to be said for leading your team to the Super Bowl in your first year as a varsity player. A key component in Westwood's high-octane offense, White gets the nod for keeping the Wolverines on track after the loss of starting tailback Amadeus Guerrero midway through the year. The 5-foot-11-inch, 165-pound junior quarterback racked up 20 touchdown passes and 1,450 yards in the air, with four rushing touchdowns en route to guiding Westwood to a date with Tyngsboro in the Division 5 Super Bowl. He also plays AAU baseball and box lacrosse.

J.D. Wild, Martha's Vineyard RUNNING BACK/LINEBACKER
		"Running Wild" was a dominant force in the second half of the season. Coming into week five, he had four touchdowns. From week five on, he tacked on 17 more. He finished the season with 876 yards rushing on only 147 carries, thanks to a bruising power-running style that let him carry would-be-tacklers to the tune of 5.95 yards per carry. In the playoffs against East Boston, he returned the opening kickoff 81 yards to set the tone for the 17-12 win that gave the Vineyarders their second Super Bowl appearance in three years. Defensively, he helped anchor a unit that allowed only 7.3 points per game, kicking in 69 tackles from his linebacker position.

Christopher Zardas, St. John's Prep RUNNING BACK
		Zardas emerged as one of the top running backs in Eastern Mass. this year, tying for the Division 1 scoring lead with 19 touchdowns. Only a junior, Zardas is a four-year starter at the Prep, and was named a Catholic Conference All-Star this year. Showing natural running ability, Zardas has turned the Prep's option game into a lethal attack capable of taking any play to the end zone. He rushed for more than 1,600 yards this season and led the Eagles to a league title before bowing out in the first round of the playoffs. But with Zardas set to return next year, St. John's is prepped for another run deep into the postseason in 2004.

HOW WE PICKED THE TEAM

The All-Scholastic football team was selected by the school sports staff. Selection is limited to MIAA schools that compete in EMass leagues. Text by Mike Grimala, Jon Hussey, Dwayne Dahlbeck, and Jason Dunbar. Photos by David Kamerman.

Fall all-scholastics

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Girls' cross-country

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