12 players to watch in finals
Here are 12 player to watch in Saturday’s six CIAC state championship football games:
CLASS LL NO. 2 GREENWICH’S JACK WILSON
Year: Senior
Position: QB
Stats: The senior has thrown for 2,209 yards, 25 touchdowns and has only thrown five interceptions through 12 games. Coach Anthony Morello said the Cardinals’ offense — which averages 42.4 points per game — runs through Wilson. He uses his legs too, adding 13 rushing touchdowns.
Best game: In Week 6 against St. Joseph, Wilson completed 69% of his passes and threw for 242 yards and one touchdown. He rushed for 83 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Cardinals to a 36-26 win over the Hogs.
NO. 5 FAIRFIELD PREP’S JON MORRIS
Year: Junior
Position: DB
Stats: The junior defensive back has made 105 total tackles this season to lead a Fairfield Prep defense that is playing lights out. Morris has anchored the defense which has allowed just 178 points (14.8 points a game).
Best game: While Morris has many games with double-digit tackles — including 17 in a fourpoint win over North Haven — it was his play in the Class LL quarterfinals that stands out. With three seconds left and his team clinging to a one-point lead, he knocked down a Staples’ pass on the goal line forcing the Wreckers to try a game-winning field goal.
The kick went wide and the Jesuits advanced.
CLASS L NO. 3 MALONEY’S JOZIAH GONZALEZ
Year: Senior
Position: RB/WR/DB
Stats: The do-it-all Spartans senior contributes on all sides of the ball. He has 69 catches, 851 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. He has two rushing scores, over 500 special teams returning yards and three special teams touchdowns. On defense he has made close to 50 tackles, caught two interceptions.
Best game: In Week 4 against Hall, Gonzalez had himself a game. He caught six passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns. He scored on a punt return and totaled 239 allpurpose yards.
NO. 4 NEW CANAAN’S MATTHEW SALMINI
Year: Senior
Position: LB
Stats: The senior linebacker is the leader of the Rams’ shut-down defense which has allowed just 112 points this season (9.3 points a game). He has over 100 tackles, 4.5 sacks and three interceptions.
Best game: In the season opener against Xavier, Salmini made 10 tackles, had 2.5 sacks and an interception.
CLASS MM NO. 3 KILLINGLY’S SOREN RIEF
Year: Junior
Position: RB/LB
Stats: The junior has quietly put together a stellar season. He has rushed for 1,876 yards and 28 touchdowns, caught a touchdown, threw for a score and returned a kick for a touchdown. On defense, he has made 40 tackles.
Best game: In Week 2, Rief ran all over Norwich Free Academy. He rushed for 315 yards and four touchdowns on just 17 carries in a 56-6 win. On defense, he made five tackles.
NO. 5 NORTH HAVEN’S JEFFREY KARAVAS
Year: Senior
Position: RB/DB
Stats: The senior has rushed for 1,256 yards and 20 touchdowns through 12 games, while making 44 tackles and making two interceptions.
Best game: In the regular-season finale, Karavas had the best game of his senior season. He rushed for 170 yards, five touchdowns and made six tackles in a 55-14 win over Amity.
CLASS M NO. 1 BERLIN’S JOSH GRIMM
Year: Senior
Position: DB/K
Stats: The senior does a little bit of everything for the Redcoats. The state championship winning hockey player brings a “hockey grit” to the defense with over 100 tackles. He has contributed on offense with five touchdown receptions, has kicked 90% of his extra points and has kicked two field goals, including a game-winning 35 yarder against Bloomfield.
Best game: In Week 4 the Redcoats clawed all the way back into a game against Bloomfield with Grimm drilling the game-winning field goal as time expired. He also made 12 tackles on defense in the 37-34 win.
NO. 2 NOTRE DAME-WEST HAVEN’S JACOB STATON
Year: Senior
Position: RB/LB
Stats: The SCC Tier I Player of the Year has taken his game to the next level in the second half of the season. He has rushed for 1,394 yards and 16 touchdowns. In his last three games, he has rushed for 497 yards and seven scores. Defensively, he has been just as impressive. He has close to 90 tackles, two sacks and three interceptions.
Best game: It might be recency bias, but Staton went for 247 rushing yards, three touchdowns and caught a pass for a 73-yard touchdown in NDWH’s 28-14 win over Law in the Class M semifinals.
CLASS SS NO. 3 JOEL BARLOW’S DANNY SHABAN
Year: Senior
Position: QB/LB
Stats: The senior quarterback is one of the most feared runners in the state. He has rushed for over 1,700 yards and 30 touchdowns. He has thrown for 11 touchdowns and made over 60 tackles on defense with at least eight sacks.
Best game: In the Falcons’ season finale, Shaban rushed for 320 yards, five touchdowns, threw for another one and recorded two sacks to clinch a spot in the playoffs for his team.
NO. 6 VALLEY REGIONAL / OLD LYME’S DIANGENLO JEAN-PIERRE
Year: Senior
Position: WR/DB
Stats: The co-op’s senior does a little bit of everything. He has rushed for 10 touchdowns and caught nine passes for scores. He has made over 30 tackles on defense and caught six interceptions.
Best game: In the season finale, with his team’s playoff hopes on the line, Jean-Pierre caught seven passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns and on defense he made two interceptions in a 28-8 win over Haddam-Killingworth.
CLASS S NO. 1 ANSONIA’S DAVID CASSETTI
Year: Senior
Position: RB/LB
Stats: The senior has been the focal point of the Chargers’ offense and defense this season. He has put up big numbers all season leading the Chargers to a 12-0 start.
Best game: Cassetti rushed for over 200 yards and three second half touchdowns to lead the Chargers to a 35-20 win over Woodland in the state semifinals.
NO. 2 BLOOMFIELD’S DAVIEN KERR
Year: Junior
Position: WR/DB
Stats: The junior had a solid sophomore season and exploded this season. He has rushed for 697 yards and six touchdowns, has 924 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns this season. He has over 50 tackles and a handful of sacks and interceptions.
Best game: In the Warhawks’ 45-21 win over Holy Cross in the state semifinals, Kerr caught five passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 184 yards and two more touchdowns. pete.paguaga@hearstmediact.com; @PetePaguaga