Gatorade P.O.Y.

Holliston's Matt Bellomo hauled in Gatorade's Massachusetts Player of the Year honor for the 2007 football season. Here's a bit more info from a release:

RISE selects Holliston High School standout as Gatorade Massachusetts Football Player of the Year.

In its third decade of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade joined with RISE Magazine to name senior running back/defensive back Matt Bellomo of Hollistion High as its 2007-08 Massachusetts Football Player of the Year.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Bellomo gained 1,725 yards and scored 16 rushing touchdowns, averaging 8.4 yards per carry. On defense, Bellomo recorded 42 solo tackles and made six interceptions. He added another 628 yards in receiving and return totals, finishing with 2,353 all-purpose yards and averaging 10.1 yards per touch.

Bellomo has maintained a 3.26 GPA in the classroom and is an active participant in multiple community-service initiatives, donating his time to his St. Mary’s Church group, serving as a coach at an area youth sports camp and volunteering for the local chapter of Best Buddies International, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.

“He does everything a million miles an hour,” said Holliston head coach Todd Kiley. “He’s so versatile. I can put him anywhere; even his pass-protection is the best on the team. He’s got incredible hands. He’s the Tri-Valley League MVP. I can’t imagine I’ll every have another kid like him.”

Bellomo remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.

Analysis: When we saw Holliston in the preseason, we walked away most impressed with Bellomo. That's not a slight on Division 1 recruits Mike Stone (Boston College) and Matt Edwards (UConn), we were simply wowed by Bellomo's speed and athleticism. Even in a practice setting, he seemed like the most fundamentally sound player on the field. Here's hoping the award casts a little more spotlight on Bellomo, who might not be the most talented all-around running back in the state, but certainly one deserving of some more college looks.