SALEM NEWS 2008 FOOTBALL ALL-STAR TEAM
PlayerSchoolYr.Pos.
Kevin BettencourtPeabodySr.FB/LB
Evan BunkerMasconometJr.RB/S
Jimmy CadoganIpswichSr.RB/FS/P/K
* Chris CameronSwampscottSr.QB/S
Keaton CashinMasconometSr.OG/DT/DE
Casey ColyerHamilton-WenhamSr.TB/ILB
Ben ComeauBeverlySr.OT/DE
Cody CroftDanversSr.WR/CB
Brendon FelderSt. John's PrepJr.WR/RB/CB
Nick HallerMarbleheadSr.RB/QB/S
Nick HiouPeabodySr.RB/CB
Dan KennedyBishop FenwickSr.TB/S
Dave LittlefieldHamilton-WenhamSr.OG/DL
Andrew McHughSt. John's PrepSr.FB/LB
Sam PerlowMarbleheadSr.TE/DE
Jon PothSwampscottSr.WR/LB
Derek PrattPingreeSr.TB/S
Rashad SimsBeverlySr.RB/DB
Chris SplinterMasconometJr.QB/DB
Melikke Van AlstyneSalemSr.TB/DB
Chris WheelerNorth Shore TechSr.WR/RB/CB
Trevor WheelerSwampscottSr.WR/DB
FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
CHRIS CAMERON
Swampscott Senior
Quarterback/Safety
One of the biggest compliments a football coach can give a player is trusting him with the ball when the game is on the line. There is no one besides Chris Cameron that Swampscott coach Steve Dembowski would've wanted handling his football team in 2008.
Inheriting the reins of a prolific offense and a Super Bowl champion, first-year starter Cameron wasted no time in putting his own unique footprint on the Big Blue's history. One of the best running quarterbacks Swampscott has ever had, the senior led the team with 756 rushing yards and 15 TDs.
His passing prowess was on par with the Big Blue's greats as he tossed 22 TD passes for 2,308 yards. In all, he accounted for a mind boggling total of 37 TDs and 3,102 yards from scrimmage.
A captain and safety as well, Cameron showed his defensive prowess in the NEC Small title clinching game Thanksgiving Day. The 100th holiday meeting with Marblehead was a memorable one for Cameron, who made an end zone interception as time expired to seal the 21-13 victory.
Six total TDs against Salem and the game winning points against Winthrop — the list of Cameron's exploits grew all season. As the Big Blue suffered injury after injury, Cameron was the glue that kept them together.
KEVIN BETTENCOURT
Peabody Senior
Fullback/Linebacker
A tremendous asset at linebacker for a Peabody team that quadrupled its win total from 2007 ... Coach Scott Wlasuk called him the heart and soul of the Tanners' defense ... A big play threat at fullback, where he scored four TDs and ran for 388 yards ... Averaged 9.1 yards per carry ... Plans to study finance and has drawn interest from the likes of Dartmouth College ... Had TD runs of 46 and 53 yards along with 10 tackles and a sack in a come from behind win over Salem.
EVAN BUNKER
Masconomet Junior
Running back/Defensive back
Had the breakout year that coach Pugh predicted as far back as eighth grade, finishing with 1,095 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns ... Most powerful performance was against Pentucket with 215 yards in 20 carries ... Joins teammate Splinter in saying his best stat was Masco winning eight games and making the playoffs ... CAL all-league ... Has a good feel for the game and excellent vision, noted coach Pugh ... Capped off regular season with 121 rushing yards against North Andover.
JIMMY CADOGAN
Ipswich Senior
Running back/Safety
Mr. Everything for the Tigers as the leading rusher, placekicker and punter ... Totaled 12 TDs with 7 PATs and a two-point run for 82 points ... Ran for 740 yards and amassed 886 yards of total offense ... Was the Tigers' Most Valuable Player as a junior ... Showed his versatility against CAL Small champion Amesbury, where he had two TDs, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery ... Carries a 3.65 GPA.
KEATON CASHIN
Masconomet Senior
Guard/Defensive tackle/Defensive end
CAL All-Star who says his best game came in a big win over league rival Wilmington ... Three-year starter who had his best season as a senior ... Coach Pugh calls him the most athletic lineman in the Cape Ann League ... Fast, quick and strong at 6-2, 215 pounds ... Was the key to opening up holes for Bunker, who surpassed 1,000 yards rushing on Thanksgiving Day ... Proudest of the fact that his team qualified for a postseason berth ... Has a 3.9 grade point average.
CASEY COLYER
Hamilton-Wenham Senior
Tailback/Inside linebacker
Colyer initially draws attention for the blonde locks of hair that spill from the back of his helmet, but opponents quickly realize his ability on the football field ... A two-way terror for the Generals, Colyer ran for 790 yards and seven touchdowns this season and helped anchor the defense ... Rushed for 173 yards and one score in a 21-0 win over North Andover ... Also had a 144-yard, two-TD performance in 40-21 victory over Lynnfield ... Still deciding between college and prep school.
BEN COMEAU
Beverly Senior
Offensive tackle/Defensive end
Anchor of Panthers' offensive line that allowed its backs to run for nearly 1,700 yards this fall ... Tough, physical and smart in the trenches ... Had nine tackles against Lynn Classical ... Finished top five on the team in tackles ... Carries a 3.51 GPA ... Looking to study physical therapy in college ... Admires legendary Iowa wrestling coach Dan Gable and his mantra of being able to reach all of your goals through hard work and determination.
CODY CROFT
Danvers Senior
Wide receiver/Cornerback
Falcons captain led all receivers in pass receptions (26) and yardage (258) ... Hauled in eight passes for 90 yards and a touchdown against Peabody ... Carries 3.3 GPA ... Hoping to major in political science at UMass Amherst ... Says assistant coach Peter Bush has been a terrific mentor to him on both sides of the ball.
BRENDON FELDER
St. John's Prep Junior
Wide receiver/Running back/Cornerback
Considered by many to be one of the state's best all-around athletes ... Led Eagles in receptions (36), receiving yardage (595) and touchdown passes caught (5) ... Also ran for 355 yards and 5 TDs ... Preseason all-state choice ... Had 260 all-purpose yards with three touchdowns in win over Malden Catholic ... 3.0 GPA ... Is already drawing interest from schools such as Boston College, Maryland, Oregon, Stanford, Nebraska and Penn State ... Says father is the driving force behind his success.
NICK HALLER
Marblehead Senior
Running back/Defensive back
Undersized at 5-foot-7, 150 pounds, but played with a huge heart as he helped lead the Magicians to their first winning season in 16 years ... Paced the team with 540 rushing yards ... Finished with five touchdowns and three interceptions ... Had over 100 yards rushing plus a touchdown and an interception against Ipswich ... Gutsy player who started at quarterback in the Thanksgiving Day game against Swampscott ... Excels in classroom with a 3.3 grade point average.
NICK HIOU
Peabody Senior
Running back/Cornerback
Used breakaway speed to run for 910 yards, the most by a Peabody player in seven years ... Including receiving, totaled 1,054 yards and nine TDs ... Captained the Tanners to four wins, quadruple their 2007 total ... Scored 3 TDs with a crucial 72 yard kickoff return in a win over Lynn Classical ... Led Peabody in rushing as a junior and a senior with 1,458 total yards ... Ranked 43rd academically in a class of 486 at PHS.
DAN KENNEDY
Bishop Fenwick Senior
Tailback/Safety
A do-it-all player for the Crusaders, Kennedy scored seven rushing touchdowns, returned two kickoffs for scores and powered the defense from his safety position ... Ran for a team-leading 696 yards, despite missing the final 3 1/2 games with a broken ankle suffered against Arlington Catholic ... Piled up 218 yards and two touchdowns in Fenwick's 20-14 victory over Medford ... Hopes to play Division 1AA college football.
DAVID LITTLEFIELD
Hamilton-Wenham Senior
Offensive guard/Defensive end
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Littlefield is a rock on both lines for the Generals ... Named Hamilton-Wenham's Lineman MVP in his sophomore year ... Selected to the All-Cape Ann League team in his junior season ... Credits his father with teaching him how to play football and how to respect the game ... Has narrowed his college choices down to Stonehill, Assumption, Marist and Endicott.
ANDREW McHUGH
St. John's Prep Senior
Fullback/Linebacker
Rambled for nearly five yards a carry, gaining 351 yards on 71 attempts this season ... Swampscott resident was named a preseason all-state selection ... Team captain ... Ferocious linebacker stopped nearly anything that came his way ... Looking at Harvard, Columbia, Princeton and Duke ... Carries 3.75 GPA ... Drew inspiration from his father's battle with cancer.
SAM PERLOW
Marblehead Senior
Tight end/Defensive end
A physical specimen at 6-1, 245, Perlow made his presence felt on defense with 61 tackles, including 20.5 for a loss, and 13.5 sacks ... Also caught 10 passes during the season and scored both touchdowns in Thanksgiving Day game vs. Swampscott ... Northeastern Conference and Eastern Mass. All-Star ... Had nine tackles, including two sacks, against Revere ... Ivy League schools were interested in him, but he recently made a verbal agreement with Amherst ... Carries a 3.4 grade point average.
JON POTH
Swampscott Senior
Wide receiver/Linebacker
When injuries forced changes to the Big Blue's defense, Poth was the one constant as a stalwart at linebacker ... Totaled 57 tackles for the season, including two sacks ... Also a deep threat at wide receiver, where he had 24 catches for 364 yards ... Scored 3 TDs ... Owns a 3.65 GPA ... Captains the lacrosse squad at SHS ... Enjoyed a big game in Swampscott's crucial victory over Winthrop, which helped deliver the NEC crown
DEREK PRATT
Pingree Senior
Receiver/Defensive back
Had his season cut short by a knee injury but still chipped in 18 catches for 347 yards and four touchdowns ... A four-year captain for the Highlanders, who started a football program his freshman year ... Set the tone for his team when he returned the opening kickoff of the season for a touchdown ... Has drawn interest from UConn, UMass, New Hampshire and Syracuse ... Has been timed at 4.49 and 4.5 in the 40 ... Coach Chris Powers calls him a physical player with phenomenal hands.
RASHAD SIMS
Beverly Senior
Running back/Defensive back
Became the third straight Panther in as many seasons to rush for over 1,000 yards, finishing the year with 1,174 ... Tied for the North Shore's lead with 18 touchdowns and 114 total points ... Exploded for 229 yards on the ground and 3 total TDs in a romp over Peabody ... Also a staunch defender in the secondary ... Thanks his grandparents for their undying love and support.
CHRIS SPLINTER
Masconomet Junior
Quarterback/Defensive back
Coach Jim Pugh puts it best, calling him a playmaker and gamebreaker ... Accounted for 20 touchdowns running and passing ... Combined for more than 1,600 running/passing yards and the total would've been much higher if his team wasn't involved in so many blowouts ... Cape Ann League all-league the last two years ... Added six interceptions on defense, where he is a fierce tackler, said Pugh ... Ranks No. 7 academically in a class of 380.
MELIKKE VAN ALSTYNE
Salem Senior
Running back/Defensive back
Three-time Salem News all-star set new school record for career carries (611), rushing yards (3,853) and touchdowns (42) this season ... Ran for over 1,000 yards in each of his three varsity seasons ... Team captain finished this year with 1,624 yards and 18 TDs ... NEC North Player of the Year ... Had school record 302 yards and four TDs in Thanksgiving Day upset of Beverly ... Two-time MVP for Witches ... Tied for area lead in TDs and points (114) ... Thanks his parents and head coach Scott Connolly for all of their support.
CHRISTOPHER WHEELER
North Shore Tech Senior
Wide receiver/running back/cornerback
Senior skill player helped lead the Bulldogs to a tremendous 9-3 season after suffering through a winless (0-11) campaign last year ... Led North Shore with 30 receptions for 514 yards and three touchdowns ... Also ran the ball 56 times for 321 yards and six TDs ... Had five catches for 108 yards and scored twice as the Bulldogs edged Greater Lowell, 33-30, this season ... Considers his uncle Danny and his coach, Mike Drouin, as his biggest athletic influences.
TREVOR WHEELER
Swampscott Senior
Receiver/Defensive back
Finished as the North Shore's second leading receiver despite missing the second half of the season with a knee injury ... Totaled 659 yards and nine TDs on 31 grabs ... Torched Salem for 187 yards and three TDs in a Big Blue win ... Scored nine touchdowns ... Captains the Big Blue basketball squad ... Boasts career totals of 61 catches, 1,169 yards and 15 TDs ... Swampscott's leading receiver in two straight seasons — both playoff years.
HONORABLE MENTION
Beverly: Mark Hannable, Jr. QB/S, Therichnide Roc, Jr. DE; Dylan Terry, Jr. WB/DB; Peter Kallas, Sr. OG/LB, Nick Kozlowski, Jr. OG/LB, Joe SantaMaria, Sr. WR/OLB.: Justin Marrs, Jr., WR/DB.
Salem: Ben Henderson, Sr. WR/CB; Chris Dunston, Sr. LG/DE; Zach Gilbert, Sr. OT/DL.
Danvers: John Gikas, Sr. OG; Nick Pellino, Sr. OT/DE/K.
Peabody: Jon Balcacer, Sr., RB/LB; Mark D'Addario, Jr, RB; Howard Brown, Sr., OL/DL; Anthony Panopoulos, Sr., OL/DL
Marblehead: Taariq Allen Jr., WR; Matt Evans, Jr. LB
Swampscott: Charlie Baker, Sr., OL/DL; Shawn Hubauer, Sr., FB/LB; John Rosenthal, Sr., OL/DL; Kyle Shonio, Jr., RB/S
Masconomet: Clay Cleveland, Sr., FB/DL; Kevin Anderson, Sr., WR/DB; George Alexandrou, Jr., LB; Steve Russo, Sr., OT; Mike Hutchinson, Sr.; TE/DT.
Hamilton-Wenham: Andy Duval, Jr., QB; Corey Daff, Sr., TE/DT; Derek Keith, Sr., OLB/TE; Paul Littlefield, Jr., G/DT
Ipswich: Neil Berzins, Sr., OL/DL; Chad Leonard, Sr., FB/DL
Bishop Fenwick: Dale Crispin, Sr., FB/LB; Kyle White, Sr., RB/LB; Dennis Kanarkiewicz, Sr., OL/DL; Chris White, Sr., OL/DL
St. John's Prep: Andrew Valeri, Sr., OT/DT; Zak Kline, Sr., C/DE; Griffin Cardew, Sr., FB/LB; Andrew Knowlton, Sr., OT.
North Shore Tech: Dave St. Pierre, Jr., QB; Mike Sudak, Sr., RB/LB; Juan Juan, Jr., OL/LB; Ray Tobin, Sr., OL/LB; Eric Josephson, Sr., OL/DL.
Pingree: Pat George, Sr, RB/LB; Anthony Sardo, Sr., WR; Josh Shain, Sr., OT/DT; Danny Rogers, Sr., C/DE.
