The Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association (MHSFCA) announced its inaugural Divisional All-State teams late last week, and a number of local players found themselves among the ranks.
The creation of these new divisional All-State teams came about as the MHSFCA decided to expand its recognition of outstanding high-school football student-athletes in conjunction with the new statewide divisions and tournament.
As expected, several members of the Division 3 Super Bowl champion Marblehead and Division 5 Super Bowl champion Swampscott teams were highlighted on their respective All-State teams.
For the Magicians, senior quarterback Joshua Robertson added yet another bullet point to his long list of honors after being selected to the All-State team and the MHSFCA Super 26 All-State Team, which is made up of the 26 best football players in the state. Robertson, who was named the 2021 Edward H. Cahill Player of the Year by The Daily Item, threw for 2,577 yards and 32 touchdowns while also rushing for 358 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Also getting named to the Division 3 All-State Team from Marblehead were senior receiver James Doody and junior defensive back Connor Cronin. Elsewhere on the team, Marblehead’s George Percy and Lynn English’s Jesse Maggs and Wesley Chandler were selected as honorable mentions.
The Division 5 team was highlighted by Big Blue senior running back Xaviah Bascon, who was named the Agganis/Item Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for a record 1,509 yards and 24 touchdowns. Bascon’s teammates — senior quarterback Cam O’Brien and senior lineman Joe Mignone — were also named to the Division 5 All-State Team.
Bishop Fenwick had two players named to the Division 5 team in senior receiver Jason Romans and senior quarterback Steven Woods.
Earning honorable mention honors in Division 5 were Bishop Fenwick’s Chris Faraca, Bishop Fenwick’s Jacob Vargas and Swampscott’s Cole Hamernick.
The only other local player to be named to the MHSFCA Super 26 All-State Team came out of Division 1, and it was St. John’s Prep receiver Jackson Delaney. An Item All-Star and a Brown University commit, Delaney hauled in 51 receptions for 978 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Eagles this season. Delaney’s teammate Jack Perry was also selected to the Division 1 All-State Team as a quarterback, while fellow Prep receivers Jesse Ofurie and Stephon Patrick both earned honorable mention status.
Division 6 was well-represented with local players, as two players from St. Mary’s, two players from Lynnfield and a player from Winthrop all made the Division 6 All-State Team. Three of those players — Lynnfield’s Michael O’Brien, St. Mary’s Tommy Falasca and Winthrop’s Peter Jurovich — played on the offensive and defensive lines, while the other two — St. Mary’s David Brown Jr. and Lynnfield’s Spencer Riley — played all over the field. Brown was named the Item Special Teams Player of the Year after putting up 2,051 all-purpose yards (1,297 rushing) and 26 total touchdowns, while Riley was named Cape Ann League co-Defensive Player of the Year as a linebacker.
The Division 8 All-State Team had four local players on it, highlighted by Lynn Tech senior linebacker Domenic Giordano — who was named the Agganis/Item Defensive Player of the Year. Giordano notched 129 total tackles, two sacks, three forced fumbles and 14 tackles for loss. Also making the Division 8 All-State Team were KIPP junior quarterback Juan Setalsingh, KIPP senior receiver Jaythean Im and KIPP senior lineman Hakim Badmus.
Although there were no local players who made the Division 2 All-State Team, Peabody junior quarterback Shea Lynch — who broke four program passing records and threw for 2,311 yards and 32 touchdowns — was given honorable mention status.
