It was the year of the quarterback on the North Shore this year, and that was proven true even further when a pair of passers — Marblehead’s Joshua Robertson and Peabody’s Shea Lynch — were named Northeastern Conference MVPs when the NEC announced its all-star teams and season awards Tuesday afternoon.
Robertson — who threw for 2,577 yards and 32 touchdowns for the undefeated Division 3 Super Bowl champions — took home MVP honors in the Dunn Division, while Lynch — who broke program records for passing yards (2,311) and touchdown passes (32) — was named MVP of the Lynch Division.
The NEC also announced its 44-player All-Conference teams, with 22 players (11 offense, 11 defense) for both the Dunn and Lynch Divisions, in addition to naming Coaches of the Year and all-star teams.
Swampscott was the area leader for most All-Conference picks, with eight players selected to the squad. Leading the pack was running back Xaviah Bascon, who rushed for 1,509 yards and 24 touchdowns to help lift the Big Blue to the Division 5 Super Bowl title. Also receiving All-Conference picks for the Big Blue were offensive lineman Joe Mignone, receiver Cole Hamernick, receiver Elijah Burns, linebacker Jake Papazoglou, linebacker Cam O’Brien, defensive back Dylan Dubiel and defensive back Jason Codispoti.
The Magicians were close behind with five All-Conference picks in addition to Robertson. Running back George Percy, receiver Connor Cronin, tight end James Doody, linebacker Drew Annese and defensive back Craig Michalowski were all chosen.
Marblehead’s Jim Rudloff and Swampscott’s Bob Serino were voted the co-Coaches of the Year in the Dunn Division. Nick Broughton, who coaches the offensive and defensive lines at Marblehead, was named Assistant Coach of the Year.
Peabody, which won a league title for the first time in 20 years, also had five All-Conference selections alongside its MVP quarterback. A pair of record-breakers in receivers Danny Barrett and Eli Batista were chosen after both notching a program-record 10 touchdown receptions, while linebacker Michael Perez, defensive back Jovante Dailey and offensive lineman Peter Gardikas also earned All-Conference nods.
A resurgent Salem team, behind NEC Lynch Coach of the Year Matt Bouchard, also had five All-Conference players in receiver/quarterback Michael Ready, running back Jariel Del Valle, quarterback/tight end Corey Grimes, defensive lineman Dante Roper and linebacker Jeandavis Cardenas.
Winthrop also had five All-Conference picks in Peter Jurovich and Cam Martin on the offensive line, Chuck Dassau on the defensive line, Ian Harris at linebacker and Mikey Chaves at defensive back.
Saugus had receiver Drew Gardiner, offensive lineman Braden Faiella and linebacker Mark MacEachern chosen.
Other All-Conference selections from the Lynch Division included Bryan Swain, Frank DeSisto, Aidan Cornetta and Caleb DeCoste of Gloucester. Other All-Conference selections in the Dunn Division included Zach Sparkman, Jordan Irvine and Grant Eastin of Beverly, Danny Ganji, Mat Natworny and Corin Canada-Hunt of Masconomet and Colin Kelter and Mike Leon of Danvers.
The rest of the NEC All-Stars in the Dunn Division were AJ Andriano, Liam McIlroy, Ned Fitzgerald, and James Galante (Marblehead); Nakarree Davis and Al Bangura (Swampscott); Tyler McMahon and Matt Richardson (Masconomet); Devon Smalls (Beverly); and Aris Xerras (Danvers).
The rest of the NEC All-Stars in the Lynch Division were Jordan Tompkins, Giovanni Guglielmo and Dominic Scalese (Peabody); Robert Noonan (Winthrop); Alex Paulino and Quinn Rocco (Salem); Jake Camuso (Saugus); and Robbie Schuster (Gloucester).
