A week ago we published our season-ending individual statistics and the records of the six Chenango County football teams. At the top was a summation of team records, and the overall winning percentage (36 percent) was the second lowest in my 19 seasons covering area football with my first year (1995), the only year where the victory percentage was lower.

While team play slid, the individual play of the young men named to 2013 Evening Sun Football All-Stars did not. It’s fair to say that this year’s best rank favorably with every other set of gridiron greats we have placed on this exclusive club.

Take Norwich junior running back Mike Oralls, who eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards. He is the first Norwich back to reach 1,000 rushing yards in six years, and just the second junior to accomplish that feat since our paper started keeping official records in 1970.

Over the past two decades, how many local football players have gone on to play Division I college football? Not many.

Sherburne-Earlville senior Austin Jasper, already a two-time all-state selection, was recently accepted at Youngstown State, a four-time 1-AA national champion. This will be Jasper’s third appearance in this issue as he leads our 23-player group.

S-E junior Cody Marango also returns to our all-star team, and what a season he had. Marango was an easy choice as either a defensive safety or at quarterback. He swept the passing awards with 16 TD passes and over 800 yards through air. The former total, according to our statistics, is the highest single-season TD passing total at Sherburne-Earlville since we began charting those numbers. Marango also had four interceptions at safety, and his coach, Mike Jasper, said that Marango merits all-state consideration on defense.

Oralls, Jasper, and Marango are three of just five returning all-star players, the lowest total in 19 seasons. Also making the grade – again – are Unadilla Valley juniors Alex Avolio and Richie Conklin.

The rest of our group, as you will read below, includes a mix of seniors making their high school swan song, and upstart underclassmen; building blocks for next season.

All-stars are listed by team:

BAINBRIDGE-GUILFORD

Mike Carlin, sr., WR 6-1, 170 pounds

Carlin had just three offensive touches the first five weeks of the season, but it was his spectacular final month that earned him a spot on our all-star squad. Due to injuries and absence, Carlin was cast in a featured role the last month, and all he did was score 10 touchdowns the final four weeks. He had 14 catches and six TD receptions in those four games, and at running back – a position he never played on varsity – he ran for 257 yards the last three games, while also scoring four more touchdowns. He also had a defensive touchdown during that hot streak, and his 11 touchdowns were second among Chenango County gridders. “He was our number one target when we needed to throw the ball, and he had a great set of hands,” said B-G coach Tim Mattingly. “He stepped up and had a great year for us.”

Shane Curtin, sr., OL, 5-11, 250 pounds

The Bobcats’ selection to the Ernie Davis Football Classic, the veteran two-way player was the unquestioned leader of a young and inexperienced offensive line. With Curtin leading the way, the Bobcats averaged better than 200 yards rushing per game over the last seven weeks of the season. “He was our best lineman on both sides of the ball,” Mattingly said. “On defense, we moved him to defensive tackle, and he just controlled opposing centers. On offense, if we needed to pull, we pulled him. He understood our offense, and was just another one of those tough kids. He was smart making the line calls, and had a great year.”

Dylan Moffitt, jr. RB, 5-8, 165 pounds

The first two weeks of the season gave no indication of the season Moffitt would have. Moffitt broke loose for 170 yards against Deposit-Hancock, and over his last six games, averaged 113 rushing yards per game. “He really came on this year,” Mattingly said. “Not only is he fast, but he is a very physical runner. He was a tough guy to bring down.” Moffitt had an outside burst that led to several long runs. He finished with 745 rushing yards with a 6.3 average per attempt. Defensively, he was a big part of the Bobcats’ aggressive approach. “He’s another one of those kids who plays much bigger than his actual size,” Mattingly said.

Cole Webb, sr, LB, 6-0, 180 pounds

Bainbridge-Guilford’s season nearly took a serious turn for the worse the first week of the season when Webb suffered a broken thumb. The injury kept Webb from quarterbacking for nearly a month, but it didn’t keep him off the field. Webb, with a hard cast en tow, continued to start at linebacker, and moved to the offensive line as a blocking tight end. “He is a kid who just had a nose for the ball, and he always played with a high level of intensity,” said B-G coach Tim Mattingly. “He just got after it on defense.” Over the last five weeks, Webb returned as the starting QB, and led the Bobcats to all three of their wins. During those weeks, he threw nine touchdown passes and ran for three more. “When we got (Cole) back, it made all the difference in the world for us,” Mattingly said.

GREENE

Alex Kosisky, sr., OL/P 6-0, 195

Kosisky was a leader on both sides of the line for the young Trojans, and also sported the area’s best punting average at better than 37 yards per kick. “He practiced harder than anyone on our team,” said Greene coach Dave Gorton. “He went every play in practice like it was game conditions. If I had five of him on the line, I’d be very excited.” A hybrid defensive end/linebacker, Kosisky was excellent at rushing the passer, but was also adept at dropping into pass coverage. As a lineman, he knew everyone’s assignments across the front, and was his teammates’ best friend in helping them know their assignments. “He was the clearcut leader on the line,” Gorton said.

Brendan Wheeler. Sr. LB, 5-7, 145 pounds

Although undersized for his position on defense, Wheeler made up for an apparent physical disadvantage with tremendous speed, tenacity, and toughness. Head coach Dave Gorton didn’t have to look at who made a particular hit, he could tell by the sound if it was Wheeler delivering the blow. “He plays much bigger than his size, and he was one of those mauling type of tacklers,” Gorton said. Wheeler was the Trojans’ defensive MVP, and his passion for the game was contagious. “Brendan has great enthusiasm for the game, and he’s as intense a linebacker as we’ve had here in years,” Gorton said.

Joe Beckwith, QB, 5-9, 155 pounds

Beckwith was more of a game manager his first two years as starting quarterback, and justly so as he took the snaps for a pair of Section IV title contenders. As one of the few veteran presences on this year’s Greene club, Beckwith was asked to do much more, and he came away with his best individual season. “He did a great job for us this year, and he threw the ball much better than the statistics reveal,” Gorton said. Beckwith threw for over 500 yards, and was also a dangerous threat running the ball. Moreover, he became the team leader Gorton needed. “He was so much more mature this year, and very positive with the younger kids,” Gorton said. “At one point we had three sophomores and a freshman on the line, and Joe took a couple of big hits. Joe didn’t back down, and he didn’t belittle the linemen. He was very encouraging.” Beckwith was the biggest bright spot for the Greene offense, and was deservedly named his team’s offensive MVP.

NORWICH

Jaden MacRabie, sr. DE, 5-10, 195 pounds

Norwich coach Mike Chrystie said there may not have been a player on the Norwich team who improved more from last year to this year than MacRabie. A starter on the defensive line at end and Norwich’s “receiving back” on offense, MacRabie adapted to a new role on defense, and by midseason, was shutting down opposing team’s outside runs to his side. “He improved his technique so much, teams just could not run outside to his side,” Chrystie said. MacRabie also benefited in the passing game when Norwich had its rushing attack on point. He led the Tornado with 12 catches for 191 yards and four TDs including a pair of two-TD games.

John Marvin, sr., LB 5-10, 170 pounds

Second on the Norwich team in tackles, Norwich’s Coach Chrystie said that Marvin came out of nowhere after not seeing significant playing time the past two seasons. “We had a competition for linebacker during preseason,” Chrystie said. “Once he grabbed the starting spot, he never looked back.” A physical player who “played downhill,” Chrystie said, Marvin was a playmaker who had a number of forced turnovers and fumble recoveries. “He was not one to play on his heels at all,” Chrystie. “He knew his role, and he relished it. He was enthusiastic, upbeat, and ready to play.”

Mike Oralls, jr., RB, 6-0, 195 pounds

Oralls showed more than a few flashes of his potential last year as a sophomore, and he blossomed this season in Norwich’s “Pistol offense.” Oralls became first Norwich junior since 1981 to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing finishing with 1,066 to capture the area rushing title by over 250 yards. “When we were implementing our offense, we knew we needed a stud fullback, and Mike fit that bill,” Chrystie said. “His skill set fit our offense, and we expected big things. Mike definitely didn’t disappoint.” Oralls averaged just a tad under seven yards per carry posting six 100-yard rushing games including a high of 203 yards in a victory over Owego. He also tied teammate Mike Sutton with eight rushing scores. “The best thing about Mike’s running is that he never gives up, and you seldom saw one guy bring him down,” Chrystie said. “He works all year-round in the weight room to better himself. Everything he accomplished this year was well deserved.”