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By Joseph Staszewski
Brooklyn Daily
Brooklyn was again the place for premier high school football in New York City — including some of the nation’s best players.
Penn State-bound defensive lineman Thomas Holley helped lead Abraham Lincoln to its second undefeated Public School Athletic League City conference football title. Ohio State-bound running back Curtis Samuel and Erasmus Hall reached the semifinals and Fort Hamilton enjoyed a resurgent season. South Shore took home its second-straight bowl championship and Bishop Ford reached the Catholic High School Football League’s Class AA postseason. Poly Prep and Notre Dame-commit Jay Hayes has the school’s best record since 2010.
Here are the players who helped make it another memorable football season.
All-Brooklyn Football Player of the Year: Javon Moore, Abraham Lincoln
The senior quarterback had the by far the best season of his career to help lead the Railsplitters to an undefeated city championship. The 5-foot-8 Moore, who bulked up in the offseason, threw for 29 touchdowns and 2,190 yards and added five more scores on the ground.
“He’s an amazing player,” Lincoln defensive tackle Thomas Holley said. “Everybody always underestimates him because of his size.”
Moore was at his gritty best in a 28-27 win over Tottenville in the title game. Nursing two hurt ankles, Moore threw for two touchdowns and 191 yards, including a tying 61-yard toss to Malik Andrews in the fourth quarter.
All-Brooklyn Football Coach of the Year: Shawn O’Connor, Abraham Lincoln
The Railsplitters’ maturity into a championship team was a two-year process for O’Connor. He molded this group from a young and inexperience team a year ago, into an unbeaten juggernaut that rolled through opponents this season. O’Connor is a tough but enthusiastic teacher of the game, who makes his players better than he found them. Lessons are learned and mistakes not repeated. He has turned Lincoln into arguably the city’s top high school football program.
All-Brooklyn Football First Team
WR: Malik Andrews, Abraham Lincoln
Andrews filled the role of the Railsplitters’ top receiver to perfection after Jamiek Davis transferred. The senior had 47 catches for 887 yards and nine touchdowns to help Lincoln to a perfect regular season. No grab was bigger than his 61-yard score in the fourth quarter of the title game.
RB/DB: Jaleel Brown, New Utrecht
The senior was one of the city’s most explosive runners. His play on both sizes of the ball was a big reason for the Utes’ success. Brown rushed for 1,428 yards and 13 touchdowns, including five against Truman. He added two picks, a fumble recovery and 61 tackles on defense.
QB: James Esposito, Bishop Ford
Esposito, a junior, had a monster year in his first season as the varsity starter. Adding an aerial attack was a big reason why Ford got over the hump and reached the Catholic High School Football League Class AA playoffs. Esposito earned the league’s AA offensive player-of-the-year award after throwing for 1,932 yards and 21 touchdown passes.
DL/OL: Jay Hayes, Poly Prep
The Notre Dame-bound lineman continued to be a dominant force on the gridiron. Opponents continually ran their offensive plays away from Hayes, who is an excellent run stopper. On offense he provided key blocking that helped Poly achieve the dynamic running game that became its signature.
DL/OL: Thomas Holley, Abraham Lincoln
This was only Holley’s second season playing football, and you can see the improvement and his potential begin to be realized. The Penn-State bound lineman had seven sacks, 68 tackles and recovered a fumble to help make the Railsplitters one of the toughest defenses to run on this season.
RB: Antoine Holloman, Abraham Lincoln
The senior running back put together another superb and versatile season. Holloman rushed for 1,436 yards and 23 touchdowns as the lead back of the Lincoln running attack. He also had 183 yards receiving and two touchdowns to go along with his ability as a productive kick returner.
QB: Chris Parker, Poly Prep
Parker is one of the city’s most underrated players. The undersized junior doesn’t look like much until the ball is snapped. Then he can beat with his arm and his legs, something the did often this season for the Blue Devils. Parker’s best performance was 228 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in a win over the Hun School.
DB/WR: Darin Peart, Erasmus Hall
There may not be a more efficient player in New York City. The senior was all over the place on defense. He made 23 tackles and collected five interceptions. Peart also had seven catches for 191 yards and four touchdowns to help keep defenses honest against the Erasmus running attack.
RB: Khalil Lewin, Erasmus Hall
Lewin continues to be one of the city’s most productive runners. The senior has the ability to stay low, be physical, and get the tough yards up into the heart of a team’s defensive line. He rushed for 1,459 yards and 19 touchdowns and added an 82-yard kick return score for the Dutchmen.
RB/DB: Curtis Samuel, Erasmus Hall
There isn’t a more physically gifted player in the five borough’s, period. The Ohio State-bound Samuel could turn every time he touched the ball into a big play. The two games Erasmus loss Curtis Samuel did not finish because of injury. He scored 21 total touchdowns and rushed for 1,451 yards.
RB/LB: Hollis Superville, Boys & Girls
The senior is the epitome of a do-it-all player. Superville was the stand out in the Kangroos multi-back offensive attack. He recorded 824 yards of total offense and nine touchdowns. Superville also had 23 tackles on defense, a sack, an interception and two fumble recoveries for Boys & Girls.
Honorable mentions:
RB/LB: Donte Aiken, Bishop Ford
RB: Rhamel Ashby, Grand Street
RB/LB: Timothy Bowers, South Shore
OL/DL: Jose Duncan, Erasmus Hall
RB/LB: Brenden Femiano Poly Prep
RB: Brandon French, Midwood
TE/LB: Rodney Gonzales, Bishop Ford
RB: Leroy Hancel, Abraham Lincoln
OL/DL: Kamari Jones Hunter, Canarsie
QB: Sharif Legree, Fort Hamilton
OL/DL: Alejandro Oregon, Erasmus Hall
DB: Khendell Puryear, Abraham Lincoln
LB: Dupreme Robinson, South Shore
RB/LB: Tristin Thomas, FDR
RB: Isaiah Washington, Fort Hamilton