The News-Times (Sunday)

H.S. football All-State teams

- Profiles by Sean Patrick Bowley | Photos by Arnold Gold, Sean Patrick Bowley and Catherine Avalone

PLAYER OF THE YEAR MOZI BICI

Greenwich, DL, Sr.

Stats: Made 97 total tackles, including 59 solo and 14 for a loss, and had a school-record 17 sacks to go with 16 hurries while leading a defense that allowed a school-record 54 points on defense en route to the school’s first state championsh­ip since 2007. Made a state-record eight sacks vs. Ridgefield and had a sack in all but two games. Set school career record with 31 total sacks. Recovered four fumbles and caused another five fumbles. Also returned a blocked punt for a touchdown and blocked another punt. …Due to his influence, Greenwich’s defense had six shutouts and set a school record with 57 sacks.

Honors: All-FCIAC First Team, CHSCA AllState First Team, Walter Camp Foundation AllConnect­icut First Team.

Up Next: Will play at Brown University.

GARRETT BRADEN

New Canaan, LB, Sr.

Stats: Was a consistent presence during New Canaan’s 10-3 Class LL runnerup season. Made 62 tackles (4.8 per game), including 41 solo, and four for a loss. Was second on the team with 71⁄ sacks, had three 2 pass defenses and forced a fumble in the Class LL semifinals vs. Fairfield Prep.

Honors: All-FCIAC First Team, CHSCA All-State First Team, Walter Camp Foundation All-Connecticu­t Second Team.

Up Next: Will play at Rice University.

CONNOR FAY

Darien, LB, Sr.

Stats: Made 79 total tackles, including 46 solo and 17 for a loss. Also had 21⁄ sacks, four passes de2 fended, two forced fumbles and two hurries. Finished his career with 205 tackles, six sacks, 30 tackles for a loss, four fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and an intercepti­on.

Honors: All-FCIAC First Team, CHSCA All-State First Team, Walter Camp Football Foundation AllConnect­icut First Team, USA Today All-USA Connecticu­t Second Team.

Up Next: Undecided.

CADE KLARIDES-DITRIA

Seymour, LB, Sr.

Stats: Senior, 6foot-1, 225-pound captain and linebacker was an unescapabl­e force during the Wildcats’ 6-4 season. Made 149 total tackles, including 18 for a loss and 11 sacks.

Honors: All-NVL First Team, CHSCA All-State First Team, Walter Camp Football Foundation All-Connecticu­t First Team.

Up Next: Undecided.

RYAN RAYBUCK

Greenwich, DB, Sr.

Stats: Six-foot-3, 180-pound senior led the Class LL championsh­ip secondary, leading the team with six intercepti­ons, 11 passes defensed and a fumble recovery in 13 games. Had an intercepti­on return touchdown vs. Trumbull. Also made 51 tackles, 34 solo, for 3.9 per game.

Honors: All-FCIAC First Team, CHSCA AllState Class LL, Walter Camp Foundation AllConnect­icut First Team.

Up Next: Undecided.

IAN BUTLER

Hand, DB, Sr.

Stats: For the second consecutiv­e year, the senior was one of the state’s best lock-down defensive backs. Had five intercepti­ons, three of which he returned for touchdowns. Had six passes defended and made 36 total tackles, 23 solo and 31⁄ for a loss as Hand fin2 ished 13-0 with its secondcons­ecutive Class L championsh­ip. Honors: All-SCC Tier II First Team, Walter Camp Foundation All-Connecticu­t First Team. Up Next: Will play at Union College.

JACK FEDA

Greenwich, LB, Sr.

Stats: Was the primary stopper on the Class LL championsh­ip defense, which allowed a school-record 54 points. Led the team with 127 tackles (9.8 per game) and had 10 for a loss. Also made 51⁄ sacks and had eight hur2 ries, three intercepti­ons, five passes defensed, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. Set school record with 338 career tackles.

Honors: All-FCIAC First Team, CHSCA All-State First Team, Walter Camp Foundation All-Connecticu­t First Team.

Up Next: Will play at Bucknell.

VICTOR MARQUEZ

Maloney, DB, Sr.

Stats: Versatile 6-foot, 195pound senior starred on both sides of the ball for the 10-3 Class L runners-up. As a defensive back, was in on 100 tackles and had three intercepti­ons for the Spartans. Did much of his damage on the offensive side of the ball with 74 catches for a school-record 1,146 yards and 16 touchdowns. For his career, his 181 catches for 2,397 yards and 31 touchdowns are all school records.

Honors: All-CCC, CHSCA AllState First Team, Walter Camp Football Foundation All-Connecticu­t First Team, USA Today AllUSA Connecticu­t Team.

Up Next: Undecided.

RAQUAN TOMPKINS

East Hartford, DB, Sr.

Stats: Dynamic, 5-foot-9, 205-pound senior playmaker who lit up the stat sheet and led East Hartford to a second consecutiv­e 8-2 season, one that fell just short of a Class LL playoff berth. Played defensive back, quarterbac­k and was the Hornets’ kick returner. Threw for 1,784 yards and ran for another 1,134 yards.

Honors: All-CCC, CHSCA All-State First Team, Walter Camp Football Foundation All-Connecticu­t First Team, USA Today All-USA Connecticu­t First Team.

Up Next: Undecided

BEN CORNIELLO

Hand, DL, Jr.

Stats: Helped lead Hand to a 13-0 season and a secondcons­ecutive Class L championsh­ip. Led Tigers with 111⁄ 2 sacks. Finished with 56 total tackles, including 34 solo and 291⁄ for a loss as Hand al2 lowed 106 points. Was also a force on the offensive line at tackle, helping the Tigers compile 4,809 yards of total offense for 362.2 yards per game and 79 touchdowns, a school record. Honors: All-SCC Tier II, CHSCA All-State First Team, Walter Camp Foundation All-Connecticu­t First Team.

LUKE KIRBY

St. Joseph, P, Sr.

Stats: Was an integral part of the Hogs’ sterling special teams play during their 12-1, repeat state championsh­ip season. Kirby punted 18 times for 689 yards, an average of 41 yards per punt, with four inside the 20. As St. Joseph’s primary placekicke­r, Kirby made 73 of 75 extra points and 3-of-6 field goals for 82 total points. Also averaged 50.8 yards on 15 kickoffs, including one touchback.

Honors: All-FCIAC First Team, CHSCA All-State Class M, Walter Camp Foundation All-Connecticu­t First Team.

Up Next: Undecided.

JACKSON MITCHELL

Ridgefield, DL, Sr.

Stats: Two-way threat returns to the first team, this time as a defensive lineman where he continued to dominate for the 6-4 Tigers. He made 61 tackles, including 44 solo and 131⁄ for loss, and added 141⁄ 2 2 sacks. Also had two intercepti­ons, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Honors: All-FCIAC First Team, CHSCA All-State First Team, Walter Camp Foundation AllConnect­icut First Team, USA Today All-USA Connecticu­t First Team and Defensive Player of the Year. Up Next: Has signed to play

at UConn.

JERMAINE WILLIAMS

St. Joseph, DL, Jr.

Stats: Five-foot-10, 300-pound junior was a handful and attracted constant attention with incessant double teams on the defensive line of St. Joseph’s 12-1, Class M championsh­ip season. Finished with 35 total tackles, including 14 solo and 10 for a loss. Also made 41⁄ sacks and had 2 11 hurries. Honors: All-FCIAC First Team, CHSCA AllState Class M.

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