Area players receive All-State accolades
New Paltz, Marlboro tandems, Ellenville standout highlight 15 local selections with second-team NYSPHSAA selections
New Paltz High’s Jimmy Verney and Kenny Verney, Sam Mongelli and Myles Barrington from Marlboro, plus Raymond Younger of Ellenville headed 15 area athletes who have been named New York State Sportswriters Association state football AllStars.
Jimmy Verney and Mongelli were both selected to the Class B Second Team Offense, while Barrington and Kenny Verney made the Second Team Defense. Younger was chosen to the Class C Second Team Defense.
Verney, the Freeman’s two-time Player of the Year, led the Huguenots to the Class B finals. He threw for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushed for 1,518 yards and 13 TDs. He had career highs rushing yardage, completions (66), completion percentage (61.1), TD passes and quarterback rating (120.5).
Mongelli, one of six members of a Marlboro team that won the Section 9, Class B championship, was the Second Team All-Purpose Back. The junior quarterback ran for 948 yards and 12 TDs, passed for 830 yards and 11 touchdowns, caught a TD pass and also had four field goals and converted 52-of-56 extra points.
Barrington had 95 tackles, five sacks and one interception and Kenny Verney picked off two passes and made 94 tackles to anchor their teams’ defenses.
Younger, who anchored the defense for an Ellenville squad that
made the postseason for the first time in seven years, set school records with three interceptions in a single game and seven for the season. The senior safety also had 32 tackles.
Ellenville’s Edjren Jorge, who had 55 tackles and six sacks, was chosen to the Class C Third Team Defense.
Named to the Class B Third Team Defense was Max Lunati, while Marlboro’s Billy Williamson made the Fourth Team Defense and fellow Dukes Phil DeSantis and lineman Matt Jackson were selected to Fifth Team Offense.
Williamson had eight sacks, 63 tackles and an interception. DeSantis ran for 1,152 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Making the Class B Third Team Offense was Spencer Sands, who caught 41 passes for 777 yards and 10 TDs.
Class B Honorable Mention honors went to New Paltz linebacker Brian Kenneyt, Marlboro defensive end John Perugino, plus running back Willie Walker and All-Purpose Back Zac Wilburn from Hudson.