By Justin Rodriguez
Section 9 Football Insider
Quarterbacks Sam Mongelli of Marlboro and New Paltz’s Jimmy Verney are rivals, but they enjoy a mutual respect for each other.
They also share a spot on the New York State Sportswriters Association Class B all-state second-team. Mongelli and Verney led a group of six Section 9 Class B players on the second-team, which also included linebackers Kenny Verney of New Paltz and Marlboro’s Myles Barrington, Spackenkill defensive lineman Kyiev Bennermon and his teammate, running back Dhyquem Lewinson.
Verney made the second team as a quarterback and Mongelli, a junior, was honored as the all purpose player.
“It’s great for Sam and I to be on the second team,” Verney, a senior, said. “It’s great for Section 9. Being a junior, it’s a nice for Sam. This just shows how much work our schools and our section puts in. It’s definitely an honor, especially with so many great Class B teams out there in the state.”
Verney passed and ran for 1,000 yards for the second consecutive season in 2017, throwing for 1,150 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. He rushed for 1,518 yards and 13 scores. Verney had 5,277 all-purpose yards and 53 touchdowns the last two seasons.
“It’s great for Sam and I to be on the second team,” Verney, a senior, said. “It’s great for Section 9. Being a junior, it’s a nice for Sam. This just shows how much work our schools and our section puts in. It’s definitely an honor, especially with so many great Class B teams out there in the state.”
Verney passed and ran for 1,000 yards for the second consecutive season in 2017, throwing for 1,150 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. He rushed for 1,518 yards and 13 scores. Verney had 5,277 all-purpose yards and 53 touchdowns the last two seasons. He led New Paltz to the 2016 Section 9 Class B title.
A gifted athlete, Mongelli also lined up at running back and wide receiver for the Iron Dukes this year. He did his most damage under center for Marlboro, putting up 1,876 all-purpose yards and 24 touchdowns. Mongelli was also one of Section 9’s best kickers, converting 4-of-5 field goal attempts. He has already verbally committed to play baseball at Division I Sacred Heart University.
Mongelli went 2-0 against Verney in two much anticipated games this season. Top-seeded Marlboro held on to defeat New Paltz, the third seed, 27-25 to win this year’s Section 9 Class B championship. The Iron Dukes had won five consecutive Class B titles in a row before New Paltz ended their run in 2016. Marlboro also defeated New Paltz 21-7 during the regular-season this fall.
“I have nothing but respect for Sam and Marlboro,” Verney said. “They were great competitors this year and last year. We are rivals, but I have nothing but respect for Marlboro. Sam is a great player.”
Added Marlboro Rich Ward: “I think New Paltz vs. Marlboro has been a very heated rivalry, but it’s a health rivalry. It’s what makes high school sports so special. I know Sammy and Jimmy have a lot of respect for each other and I have a lot of respect for (New Paltz coach) Tom Tegeler. He runs a great program and we looked forward to playing New Paltz every year.”
Follow Justin Rodriguez on Twitter at jrodsportshs
New York State Sportswriters Association Class B All-State Team
Co-Players of the Year
Jeremiah Allen (RB, Chenango Forks-4, Jr., 5-8, 190) and Joseph Girard III (QB/DB, Glens Falls-2, Jr., 6-1, 175
First Team Offense
QB KeShone Beal Cheektowaga-6… Jr.. 5-8. 225
RB Rashad Law… Maryvale-6……… Jr.. 5-11 175
RB Ray Leach…… Batavia-5……….. Jr.. 5-11 195
RB Charlie McPhee……………………. Pleasantville-1 Sr. 5-11 185
OE Jalin Cooper.. Medina/Lyndonville-6….. Sr. 6-4 180
OE Messiah Swinson………………….. Long Island Lutheran-AIS Sr. 6-7 225
OL Andew Chirico…………………….. Seaford-8 Sr. 6-0 195
OL A.J. DeSantis. Maine-Endwell-4 Jr.. 6-4. 285
OL Tim Driscoll.. Pleasantville-1…. Sr. 6-6. 215
OL Kyle Kandel.. Clarke-8…………. Sr. 6-4. 260
OL Tariq Whitaker…………………….. Cheektowaga-6 Sr. 6-2 300
AP Michael Ferrara……………………. Valhalla-1 Sr. 5-7 165
PK Jack Howe….. Pleasantville-1…. Jr.. 6-0. 175
First Team Defense
DL Connor Borchardt…………………. Chenango Forks-4 Sr. 6-4 240
DL Jakwon Ingram…………………….. Lackawanna-6 Sr. 6-1 205
DL Anthony Ray. Batavia-5……….. Sr. 6-0. 280
LB Rayyan Buell. Hornell-5………… Jr.. 6-2. 240
LB Nick Costanzo Maryvale-6……… Sr. 6-0. 205
LB Taivaughn Roach…………………. Cheektowaga-6 Jr. 5-10 182
LB Nick Salzaulo Pleasantville-1…. Sr. 6-0. 205
DB Rob DiNota… Westlake-1……… Sr. 5-10 170
DB Connor Fenlong…………………… Gouverneur/Harrisville-10 Sr. 6-4 205
DB Khalil Horton Lackawanna-6…. Sr. 5-8. 205
DB Tucker O’Donnell…………………. Homer-3 Sr. 6-1 170
Second Team Offense
QB Jimmy Verney…………………….. New Paltz-9 Sr. 5-10 160
RB Dhyquem Lewinson…………….. Spackenkill-9 Jr. 5-10 220
RB Aaron Sampson……………………. Glens Falls-2 Sr. 5-7 170
RB Will Waterhouse………………….. Hackley-AIS Sr. 6-0 175
OE Ray Blackwell Maryvale-6……… Sr. 5-7. 150
OE Declan McDermott……………….. Pleasantville-1 Sr. 5-11 170
OL Vincent Basile Homer-3…………. Sr. 5-10 185
OL Michael Booth Cardinal Spellman-CHS… Sr. 6-0 285
OL Tiernen Joseph Chenango Forks-4…. Sr… 6-1 270
OL Luke Norstad. Marcellus-3…….. Sr. 6-1. 240
OL Spencer Quinn Wayne-5………… Sr. 6-2. 285
AP Sam Mongelli Marlboro-9……. Jr. 6-0. 165
PK Anthony Muratore………………… Wayne-5 Jr. 5-9 155
Second Team Defense
DL Kyiev Bennermon……………….. Spackenkill-9 Sr. 6-5 290
DL Terrance Bass Cheektowaga-6… Sr. 6-2. 235
DL Taylor Tanner Babylon-11…….. Sr. 6-2. 200
LB Myles Barrington………………… Marlboro-9 Jr. 5-10 210
LB Dante Kimbrough…………………. Windsor-4 Sr. 6-1 210
LB Matt Martusciello…………………. Hornell-5 Sr. 5-10 180
LB Dakota Trombley…………………. Glens Falls-2 Sr. 5-10 190
LB Kyle Vachon. Glens Falls-2…… Jr.. 6-0. 220
LB Kenny Verney…………………….. New Paltz-9 Jr. 5-8 220
DB DeJuan Booker…………………….. Babylon-11 Sr. 5-10 170
DB Tywon Wright Dunkirk-6………. So. 6-2. 215
Third Team Offense
QB Connor Desiderio…………………. Maryvale-6 So. 6-1 170
QB Julian McGarvey………………….. Ardsley-1 Sr. 6-2 210
RB Joe Angelastro Seaford-8……….. Jr.. 5-8. 175
RB Roy Penn-Cosentino……………. Liberty-9 Sr. 5-8 180
RB Peyton Schmitt…………………….. Gouverneur/Harrisville-10 Jr. 6-1 175
OE Quinn Girard. Glens Falls-2…… Sr. 5-8. 150
OE Spencer Sands…………………….. Rondout Valley-9 Sr. 5-7 135
OL Saiquan Kneeland…………………. Babylon-11 Jr. 6-3 306
OL Joe Libretti…. Cold Spring Harbor-8 Sr… 6-1 215
OL Ed Longest…. Kennedy Catholic-CHS…. Sr. 6-1 265
OL Robert Rice…. Lackawanna-6…. Sr. 6-1. 185
AP Mitch Senecal Plattsburgh-7…… Sr. 6-1. 235
PK Sam Hogan…. Glens Falls-2…… Jr.. 6-1. 160
Third Team Defense
DL Cameron Coleman………………… Rye Country Day-AIS Jr. 6-1 217
DL Tim Dahl……. Cobleskill-Richmondville-2 Sr. 6-3 205
DL Max Lunati.. New Paltz-9……. Sr. 6-3. 310
LB Zach Barber… Homer-3…………. Sr. 6-0. 180
LB Treijen Garrett Notre Dame-3….. Jr.. 6-1. 190
LB Darnell Green Schalmont-2……. Sr. 6-0. 183
LB Luke Kiballa.. Owego-4………… Sr. 6-1. 220
LB Julian Nixon.. Newfane-6………. Sr. 5-10 190
DB Dylan Casey.. Maryvale-6……… Sr. 5-9. 160
DB Allan Houston Rye Country Day-AIS Jr… 6-1 180
DB London Smith Lackawanna-6…. Sr. 6-2. 155
Fourth Team Offense
QB Shakel Clarke Franklin K. Lane-PSAL… Jr. 5-10 165
QB Joe Rende…… Babylon-11…….. Sr. 6-1. 185
RB Nick Calandra Seaford-8……….. Sr. 6-0. 225
RB John Horner III…………………….. Homer-3 Sr. 5-10 150
RB Matt Hyde….. Livonia-5……….. Sr. 6-0. 180
OE Nathan Palmer Vernon-Verona-Sherrill-3 Sr. 5-6 150
OE Christian Snell Alden-6………….. Sr. 6-0. 175
OE Dante Yacavone…………………… Homer-3 Sr. 6-0 185
OL Thomas Donovan…………………. Schuylerville-2 Sr. 5-9 240
OL Sean Kane….. Susquehanna Valley-4…… Sr. 6-1 190
OL Carter Post….. Depew-6………… Sr. 6-3. 250
AP James Tehui-Matautia…………. James O’Neill-9 Jr. 5-8 165
PK Kieran Horton Windsor-4………. Jr.. 5-10 150
Fourth Team Defense
DL Sam Goldberg Hackley-AIS…… Sr. 6-1. 245
DL Sam Rizzo….. Glens Falls-2…… Sr. 6-0. 200
DL Brennan Slater Norwich-4………. Sr. 5-10 210
LB Brandon Buffham…………………. Potsdam-10 Sr. 5-10 180
LB Dalton Lopez. Waverly-4………. Sr. 6-0. 205
LB Dominick Natale………………….. Homer-3 Sr. 6-2 185
LB Billy Williamson…………………. Marlboro-9 Sr. 6-0 215
DB Roberto Auguste………………….. Xaverian-CHS Jr. 5-11 180
DB Ryan Lambert Livonia-5……….. Jr.. 6-2. 175
DB Mason Lewis. Medina/Lyndonville-6….. Sr. 5-11 160
DB Stratton Sherman………………….. Schuylerville-2 Jr. 6-2 180
Fifth Team Offense
QB Ralph Gonzalez……………………. Valhalla-1 Sr. 6-3 210
QB Brandon Gross Newfane-6………. Sr. 6-0. 195
RB Phil DeSantis Marlboro-9……. Sr. 5-10 195
RB Ugene Harrison……………………. Albion-6 Jr. 5-11 165
RB Derek Willson Schuylerville-2… Sr. 5-7. 160
OE Henry Froass. Oneida-3………… Sr. 5-10 165
OE Austin Fullington…………………. Johnstown-2 Sr. 6-2 186
OE Nathaniel Larkins…………………. John Glenn-11 Sr. 6-1 200
OL Derek Biscaro Pioneer-6………… Sr. 6-4. 335
OL Jordan Countryman………………. Gouverneur/Harrisville-10 Sr. 5-11 230
OL Matt Jackson Marlboro-9……. Jr. 6-0. 200
AP Nick Patterson Marcellus-3…….. Sr. 6-1. 160
PK Anthony DiMiceli…………………. Valhalla-1 Sr. 5-10 180
Fifth Team Defense
DL C.J. Ozolins… St. Mary’s-MM… So. 5-11 175
DL Jared Thivierge…………………….. Schuylerville-2 Jr. 6-0 245
LB Orion Anderson……………………. Schuylerville-2 Sr. 5-3 140
LB Isiah Czarnecki…………………….. Notre Dame-3 So. 6-3 225
LB Josh Godosky Fieldston-AIS….. Sr. 6-0. 205
LB Civy Merritt.. Far Rockaway-PSAL Sr… 5-11 235
LB Ryan Pierce… Marcellus-3…….. Sr. 6-2. 180
DB Alexzander Bryant………………… Cheektowaga-6 Sr. 6-4 175
DB Dan Crowingshield……………….. Chenango Fork-4 Sr. 6-2 180
DB Jaisann Lovett University Prep-5 Sr. 5-11 190
DB Dylan Vincent Olean-6………….. Sr. 6-0. 205
Honorable Mention:
Quarterback — Todd Bentley (Cold Spring Harbor-8, Sr.), Jesse Cooper-Leary (Fieldston-AIS, Jr.), Tony Maple (Burgard/MST-6, Sr.), Christopher Miraba (Long Island City-PSAL, Jr.), Ryley O’Connell (Peru-7, Jr.), Donovan Pacatte (Cobleskill-Richmondville-2, Jr.), Trevor Porter (Johnstown-2, Sr.), Frankie Sayegh (Edgemont-1, Sr.), Noble Smith (Lackawanna-6, Sr.)
Running Back — Cris Arzola (Beekmantown-7, Sr.), Andrew DiBiase (Westlake-1, Jr.), Quantavis Kleckley (Dunkirk-6, Jr.), Glenmour Osboure (Ardsley-1, Sr.), Jake Stein (Nanuet-1, Sr.), Sean Tyrell (KIPP College Prep-PSAL, Jr.), Willie Walker (Hudson-2, Sr.)
Offensive End — Austin Carpenter (Peru-7, So.), Kellel Felisme (William Grady-PSAL, Jr.), Tim McCabe (Xaverian-CHS, Sr.), John Perugino (Marlboro-9, Sr.)
Lineman — Gio Fabi (Owego-4, So.), John Futter (Livonia-5, Sr.), Connor Hill (Newfane-6, Sr.), Damien Hoyt (Homer-3, Jr.), Brennan McQuade (Maine-Endwell-4, Jr.), Anthony Parker (Homer-3, Sr.), Niko Policelli (New Hartford-3, Sr.), James Rumbaugh (Schalmont-2, Sr.), Schyler Russell (Hudson Falls-2, Sr.), Jack Simon (Westlake-1, Jr.)
Linebacker — Josh Barber (Batavia-5, So.), Brodryk Benton (Broadalbin-Perth-2, Jr.), Eric Conant (Norwich-4, Sr.), Jarred Freije (Susquehanna Valley-4, Jr.), Tariq Hollingsworth (Franklin K. Lane-PSAL, Jr.), Philip Iacona (Xaverian-CHS, Sr.), Dennis Jakubauskas (Long Island City-PSAL, Sr.), Brian Kenney (New Paltz-9, Sr.), Steven Manfredi (Cardinal Spellman-CHS, Sr.), Dan Matthews (Susquehanna Valley-4, Jr.), Daniel Shillingford (Putnam Valley-1, Jr.), Icar Simon (Olean-6, Jr.)
Defensive Back — Logan Blackenberg (Wayne-5, Sr.), Michael Carson (Norwich-4, Sr.), Joe Doty (Owego-4, Sr.), Carson Dunkel (Schuylerville-2, Sr.), Zach Neil (Vernon-Verona-Sherrill-3, Sr.), Cameron Strang (Cobleskill-Richmondville-2, Sr.), Rylie VanFleet (Maine-Endwell-4, Jr.)
All-Purpose — Javon Coleman (Hackley-AIS, Sr.), Paul Harshbarger (Schuylerville-2, Jr.), Trey Stover (Johnstown-2, Jr.), Zac Wilburn (Hudson-2, Sr.)
