Today, we present the 25 best football players on the North Shore: the 72nd Item All-Star team.This year’s team features three players each from four teams that made divisional finals in the MIAA playoffs: St. Mary’s, Lynn English, Lynn Tech, and Marblehead. In addition, there are three representatives from last year’s team: Calvin Johnson of St. Mary’s, Aidan Gillis of Marblehead and Steffan Gravely of Lynn Tech.The Item All-Stars are selected by The Item sports staff with input from coaches of the teams covered by The Item.
The team will be honored at the Item All-Star Football Dinner Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Tedesco Country Club in Marblehead.
Ticket orders can be placed through 5 p.m. Tuesday by calling 781-593-7700, ext. 1229, or by emailing [email protected]. No tickets will be sold at the door unless reserved in advance.
Recognized at the dinner will be the Item/Agganis Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year; the Peter Gamage Coach of the Year, named for the late publisher of The Item; William F. Connell Student-Athlete Award, named for the late businessman and philanthropist; and the Edward H. Cahill Player of the Year, named for the late sports editor of The Item.
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACKS
Colin Frary
Swampscott
Senior, 6-0, 211
Passed for 2,466 yards and was 154-for-254 … also threw 33 TD passes and had only 7 interceptions … backboned Big Blue to a 7-4 record.
Calvin Johnson
St. Mary’s
Senior, 6-0, 190
Between running and passing, he had 1,781 total yards … threw for 12 TDs and 9 conversions, and ran for 25 TDs and 4 conversions … as a defensive back, he had 30 tackles and an interception and scored a defensive TD.
Matt Mortellite
Lynnfield
Senior, 6-1, 165
Was 111-for-163 for 1,878 yards, 17 TDs and 4 2-point conversions … also ran for 383 yards on 55 carries and 5 TDs … threw at least one TD pass in 20 out of 21 games played … set school record with 38 TD passes.
RUNNING BACKS
Keoni Gaskin
Lynn Tech
Senior, 5-11, 175
Ran for 810 yards and 14 TDs … made 38 tackles and intercepted 2 passes as a linebacker … helped Tigers to a 12-1 record and a state vocational championship.
Vinnie Gaskins
Salem
Senior, 5-11, 190
Ran for 1,682 yards, had 229 receiving yards, and scored 154 points … had 2,578 career rushing yards … set school records for most points in a game (31), most TDs in a game (5) and most yards in a game (305).
Steffan Gravely
Lynn Tech
Senior, 5-11, 175
Became fourth-leading rusher in state history this year with 5,693 yards … ran for 2,044 yards this season and scored 31 TDs … finished career with 83 TDs, No. 7 all-time in the state … made 76 tackles … intercepted 3 passes as a linebacker.
Aise Pream
St. John’s Prep
Junior, 5-8, 160
The Eagles’ go-to back in 2017 … ran for 1,211 yards on 172 carries and 10 TDs … also caught 18 passes for 204 yards and 4 TDs … picked off three passes as a defensive back.
ENDS
Prince Brown
Lynn English
Junior, 5-10, 175
Had 580 receiving yards, 10 receiving YDs, 159 rushing yards and 1 TD on just 8 carries and a TD on a kick return … had 2 interceptions as a defensive back … second in Division 3 for receiving TDs … played final three games with a fractured hand.
Nashaun Butler
Lynn Classical
Junior, 5-6, 165
Set school record with 1,028 yards on 82 catches, 12 of them for TDs … helped the Rams to an 8-3 season after they were 3-8 in 2016.
Nick Kinnon
Lynnfield
Senior, 6-0, 175
Caught 40 passes for 736 yards, 7 TDs and 2 conversions … ran for 130 yards on 15 carries … set school record with 15 career TD receptions.
LINE
Andy Clough
Marblehead
Senior, 6-7, 240
Though tight end is his rightful position, he was moved to quarterback after a shoulder injury … as a quarterback, he had 77 carries for 768 and 11 TDs.
Patrick Henry
St. Mary’s
Senior, 6-2, 245
A tight end, he caught 12 passes for 278 yards and scored 3 TDs and 3 conversions … outstanding blocker on a team that ran the ball most of the time and averaged 40 points a game … had 39 tackles, 10 solo, with 6 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.
Jacob Miller
Lynn English
Senior, 5-10, 225
Captain, 4-year starter … leader on defense … helped anchor an offensive line that rushed for 29 TDs … had 87 tackles, 15 solo, 13 for a loss, 12 sacks and 2 interceptions … a National Honor Society member and looking at some of the top colleges in the country.
DEFENSE
LINE
Howie Burns
Malden Catholic
Senior, 6-0, 240
Had 46 tackles and 5 sacks for the Lancers … on offense, as a fullback, he had 112 carries for 546 yards … rushed for 8 TDs.
Chris Fisher
Bishop Fenwick
Senior, 6-2, 225
Catholic Central League All-Star … had 55 tackles and one sack … anchored offensive line, and team rushed for 1,727 yards and passed for 1,161 … 2-year 2-way starter at tight and defensive end.
Aidan Gillis
Marblehead
Senior, 6-2, 230
Missed first three games with mono and still had 101 tackles and 3 sacks … has been a part of 4 Northeastern Conference championships and 39 wins as a starter … also a captain in hockey and lacrosse … a 4-year starter.
Edeh Ballo
Revere
Senior, 5-10, 170
Captain … led the Patriots in tackles with 54 … also had 4 sacks and 5 fumble recoveries … Northeastern Conference All-Star … “a great leader,” says coach Lou Cicatelli.
LINEBACKERS
Eric DeMayo
Peabody
Senior, 6-0, 235
A 2-year captain … had 124 tackles, 27 for losses … also had 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions (both returned for TDs) … ran for 542 yards on 100 carries for 542 yards and 5 TDs.
Derek Marino
Marblehead
Senior, 6-2, 195
A force on both sides of the ball for the Northeastern Conference champion Magicians … had 57 tackles and 3 interceptions on defense … caught 36 passes for 741 yards and 8 TDs as a receiver.
Ricky Martinez
Saugus
Senior, 5-10, 190
Captain … had 117 tackles … as a wide receiver, he had 32 catches for 444 yards, 4 TDs … ran for 243 yards on 35 carries and scored three TDs.
Emerson Ramirez
Lynn Tech
Junior, 5-6, 175
Had 95 tackles and two sacks in only 11 games, averaging 13 per game … defensive mainstay on a team that made the Division 8 North final and went on to win the state vocational championship.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Isaiah Bascon
Swampscott
Senior, 5-10, 170
Had 44 tackles as a safety and picked off four passes … scored two defensive TDs … ran for 526 yards on 86 carries, for a 6.1 average … scored 5 TDs.
James Brumfield
St. Mary’s
Senior, 5-9, 170
Had 49 tackles, 21 solo, intercepted 2 passes and scored a defensive TD … ran for 1,364 yards on 120 carries … rushed for 7 TDs and 5 conversions … caught 3 TD passes and 2 conversions … had a total of 21 TDs.
Chase Buono
Lynn Classical
Junior
5-11, 190
Had 94 tackles, 10 for losses, 1 sack and 2 forced fumbles … has a twin brother, Chance, who plays for Lynn Tech … was a defensive leader for the 8-3 Rams, who reversed their record from 2016.
Matt Severance
Lynn English
Junior, 5-10, 174
Captain, 3-year starter … had 91 tackles, 16 solo tackles, 5 for a loss and 1 forced fumble … 2-Time NEC All Conference … ranked 9th in his class … as quarterback he had 1,395 yards and 16 TDs (third in Division 3), 485 rushing yards and 9 TDs.
HONORABLE MENTION
BEVERLY: Ryan Barror. BISHOP FENWICK: Matt DiBiase, Michael Sellards, George Fiskatoris, David Cifuentes. DANVERS: Tagh Coakley, Justin Mullaney. GLOUCESTER: Jan Pena-Ortiz. KIPP ACADEMY: Kymani Morrison, Oliver Pyram, Donnie Rodriguez. LYNN CLASSICAL: Keith Ridley, Marcus Tucker, Ishmael Johnson, Matt Gisono, Dennis Pierre, Nick Labella, Ahmad Jolaoso. LYNN ENGLISH: Emil Rossi, Ski Gaston, Ishmile Bangura, Tyshawn Anderson, Alex Rodriguez, Isaac Ramirez. LYNN TECH: David Barrios, Kevin Anguilar, Josue Pena, Elvin Gonzalez. MALDEN: Jose Monteiro. MALDEN CATHOLIC: Geoffrey Ingrando, Marcus Romboli. MEDFORD: Keith Barrasso. MARBLEHEAD: Will Bosworth, Tyrese Hardy. PEABODY: Daniel Canela, Nolan Murphy, Cam Powers, Noah Freedman, Chris Glass. REVERE: Jimmy Kioussis. SALEM: Joseph Diaz, Jeffrey Rodriguez, Aneudy Espinal, Tylor Giles, Tyler Skeffington. SAUGUS: Michael Mabee, Marvins Jean. ST. JOHN’S PREP: Michael Slattery, Kevin Dewing, James Taylor. ST. MARY’S: Kyle Bernardini, Nino Echevarria, Marlon Scott, Brendan McCarthy. SWAMPSCOTT: Jake McIntire, Dominic Codispoti. WINTHROP: Calvin Tufa, Jake Adamson.