After each put together seasons for their respective football teams this fall, St. Mary’s junior running back David Brown Jr. and Bishop Fenwick senior quarterback Steven Woods have been named co-MVPs of the Catholic Central League for the 2021 season. Of the 27 players chosen as CCL all-stars this year, only Brown has been selected three times.
Brown was a do-it-all man for the Spartans this fall, totaling more than 2,000 all-purpose yards on the year — with 1,297 of those yards coming on the ground. He also scored 25 total touchdowns (18 rushing, four receiving, three return) and averaged 11.2 yards per carry and 117.9 yards per game for the year.
Brown capped off his season with a big performance on Thanksgiving Eve, as he rushed for 90 yards, had 48 receiving yards and notched 145 yards of kick and punt returns — totaling 283 all-purpose yards in a win over Austin Prep. He also picked up four touchdowns, with all of those coming in the first half.
As for Woods, he lit it up all season long under center for the Crusaders. Woods broke multiple school records, including for touchdown passes (30). He threw for 2,044 yards and only threw four interceptions in 223 pass attempts. He also got the job done on the ground, leading the team in rushing with 638 yards and five touchdowns. He played just as well on defense, finishing second on the team in tackles with 82 and also notching an interception and a fumble recovery.
He closed out his season in style on Thanksgiving morning, completing 13-of-16 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns in a blowout win over Malden Catholic.
But those two weren’t the only local players who were honored with awards, as St. Mary’s junior defensive lineman Tommy Falasca was one of two players named CCL Lineman of the Year. Falasca finished the year with 78 total tackles, three sacks and 20 tackles for loss. Bishop Feehan offensive lineman Case Mankins was the other recipient.
St. Mary’s had four other players chosen as all-stars in senior quarterback Ali Barry, senior running back Donovan Clark, junior tight end Jack Marks and junior running back Derick Coulanges. Falasca, Barry and Marks all earned CCL all-star honors for the second time.
Fenwick had three other players chosen as all-stars in senior receiver Chris Faraca, senior receiver Jason Romans and senior defensive lineman Jacob Vargus. Faraca was the lone Crusader to earn CCL all-star honors for the second time.
The rest of the CCL all-stars for the 2021 football season were Aidan Crump, Matt Saunders, Dante Bruschi, Cam Burns and Connor McHale (Bishop Feehan); Brenden Walsh, Henry Jalbert and Lee Poulin (Austin Prep); Zach McBrine and Jack Duffy (Cardinal Spellman); Matt Kowalski and Will LeClair (Archbishop Williams); Nick Hyland and Michael Golden (Bishop Stang); and Niko Ceppi and Isaiah Osgood (Arlington Catholic).
