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January 1, 2012

Dramatic recovery

Peru's dramatic comeback in football earns Indians 7 First Team All-Stars

Press-Republican

The Peru football team enjoyed a resurgence this season, going unbeaten in Northern Football Conference play and grabbing the Section VII Class B title.

The Indians, under second-year head coach Nick Damiani, went from three wins last season to 10 this year. Peru didn't lose until its final game against Schalmont in state regional play.

For all that success, the Indians garnered eight spots between seven players in the Section VII Football All Stars first-team unit.

The Indians featured one of the most balanced offenses in the league, tallying 2,023 rushing yards and 1,432 passing yards.

Erik Provost was a big part of that in the trenches, and the senior lineman earned a first-team spot.

Shawn Hendrix was chosen at running back. Though Hendrix, a senior, didn't lead his team in rushing yards, his big-play ability made him a threat on every touch. He finished the season with 556 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 10.5 yards per touch.

Mike Holdridge was chosen at wide receiver. Holdridge, a senior, led the Indians with team-highs of 26 receptions, 380 yards and six touchdowns.

The Indians had five spots in the first-team defense, and for good reason. In league play, Peru had the best rushing defense, limiting opponents to 81.1 rushing yards per game. Opponents averaged just 12.7 points.

Juniors Tim Remillard and Austin Porter were chosen on the defensive line. Senior Alex Cederstrom was named as a linebacker. Remillard had two interceptions and returned both for touchdowns — another specialty of Peru's defense.

Holdridge and Zane Bazzano were selected as defensive backs. Holdridge picked off three passes and Bazzano nabbed two.

Beekmantown, which went 7-3 and fell to Peru in the Class B title game, had the next most selections, grabbing six spots.

Senior Carter Frechette was named the first-team quarterback. Frechette, a four-year starter, passed Matt Bezio for most career passing yards in Section VII. This year, Frechette completed 79-of-154 passes for 1,661 yards, 23 touchdowns and three interceptions. He also led the Eagles in rushing with 747 yards (5.4 average) and nine scores.

Senior Luke Weaver earned distinctions at three different positions — wide receiver, kick returner and defensive back. He was the conference's leading receiver with 977 receiving yards and a stellar 16 touchdowns. He also had a 95-yard kick return and had one interception.

Cody Watts, a junior, was the only non-senior to make the first-team offensive line. He helped a unit that racked up 1,483 rushing yards at 5.3 yards per clip.

Derek Flemming was named the first-team punter. Flemming, a senior, averaged 45 yards per punt and also made 25-of-33 extra-point kicks.

Saranac Lake, which won its second straight Section VII Class C title and went 8-2, had four players make the first team.

Lukas Atkinson, the only returning starter from last year, was named as an offensive lineman. The Red Storm had one of the most potent offenses in the league, averaging 38.3 points per game. They averaged 6.3 yards per rush and had 3,629 total yards of offense.

Junior Mike Burpoe made a splash in his first full season on varsity, catching a team-high 25 passes for 502 yards and a team-best 10 touchdowns.

Junior Kellen Munn (defensive line) and senior Kyle Dora (linebacker) were the two Saranac Lake players named to the first-team defense.

The Red Storm's starting defensive unit yielded few points all season. Many of the opponents points came against reserves after Saranac Lake built big leads.

The Saranac Chiefs made it to the playoffs for the second consecutive year, finishing 6-3 and falling in the Class B semifinals to Beekmantown. The team had five players selected to the first team.

Matt McCasland was selected as one of two running backs. The junior led Saranac in rushing with 597 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 9.6 yards per carry. He had a season-high 245 yards and three scores in a win over Franklin Academy.

Senior Francis Frederick was a part of an offensive line that allowed Saranac to rush for 1,335 yards (at 5.3 yards per run) and pass for 1,442.

Ryan St. Clair, a senior, was chosen at tight end. He led the team in catches, yards and touchdowns with 29, 603 and eight.

Senior Nolan Rock was selected at linebacker and senior Jordan Gillespie made it at defensive back. Gillespie was one of the tops in the conference with six interceptions. He returned one for a touchdown.

Ticonderoga ended Moriah's three-year reign as Section VII Class D champs this season. The Sentinels finished out with a 6-5 record and had two players total three spots on the first team.

Ryan Borho, a senior, was selected at fullback and linebacker. Borho was one of the Sentinels' three-headed running attack. He totaled team-highs of 134 carries, 710 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Cody Henthorn, a junior, was selected on the defensive line. Henthorn and Borho were a part of a tough defensive unit that pitched five shutouts this season, including Ticonderoga's victory in the Class D title game.

Carlo Calabrese was Moriah's lone first-team selection. The senior was chosen on the offensive line. Although Moriah's success on the ground was not as prolific as years past, the Vikings did generate 1,257 yards and eight touchdowns.

Connor Manning, an AuSable Valley senior, was chosen as the first-team place kicker. Manning kicked a 20-yard field goal and made seven extra-point kicks.

—

2011 Section VII Football All-Stars

Offense

First Team

Quarterback     Carter Frechette     Beekmantown     Senior

Running Back     Shawn Hendrix     Peru     Senior

     Matt McCasland     Saranac     Junior

Full Back     Ryan Borho     Ticonderoga     Senior

Wide Receiver     Michael Burpoe     Saranac Lake     Junior

     Mike Holdridge     Peru     Senior

     Luke Weaver     Beekmantown     Senior

Tight End     Ryan St. Clair     Saranac     Senior

Offensive Line     Lukas Atkinson     Saranac Lake     Senior

     Carlo Calabrese     Moriah     Senior

     Francis Frederick     Saranac     Senior

     Erik Provost     Peru     Senior

     Cody Watts     Beekmantown     Junior

Place Kicker     Connor Manning     AuSable Valley     Senior

Kick Returner     Luke Weaver     Beekmantown     Senior

Second Team

Quarterback     Ben Weightman     Saranac     Senior

Running Back     Miles Austin     Ticonderoga     Junior

     Alex Cederstrom     Peru     Senior

Full Back     Kyle Dora     Saranac Lake     Senior

     Jeff Kurz     Peru     Senior

Wide Receiver     Zane Bazzano     Peru     Sophomore

     Devin Darrah     Saranac Lake     Senior

     Ryan Kerner     Saranac     Senior

Tight End     Tim Remillard     Peru     Junior

Offensive Line     Tim Breeyear     Moriah     Senior

     Hayden Head     Beekmantown     Senior

     Corey King     Ticonderoga     Senior

     Patrick Woodward     Saranac Lake     Senior

     Nick Daniels     Saranac     Junior

Place Kicker     Bret Boyer     AuSable Valley     Junior

Kick Returner     Shawn Hendrix     Peru     Senior

Defense

First Team

Defensive Line     Cody Henthorn     Ticonderoga     Junior

     Kellen Munn     Saranac Lake     Junior

     Austin Porter     Peru     Junior

     Tim Remillard     Peru     Junior

Linebacker     Ryan Borho     Ticonderoga     Senior

     Alex Cederstrom     Peru     Senior

     Kyle Dora     Saranac Lake     Senior

     Nolan Rock     Saranac     Senior

Defensive Back     Zane Bazzano     Peru     Sophomore

     Jordan Gillespie     Saranac     Senior

     Mike Holdridge     Peru     Senior

     Luke Weaver     Beekmantown     Senior

Punter     Derek Flemming     Beekmantown     Senior

Second Team

Defensive Line     Hayden Head     Beekmantown     Senior

     Chris LaFontaine     AuSable Valley     Senior

     Kyle Prinsen     AuSable Valley     Senior

     Erik Provost     Peru     Senior

Linebacker     Shawn Hendrix     Peru     Senior

     D.J. Puchalski     Plattsburgh     Senior

     Tanner Roser     Beekmantown     Junior

     Dillon Savage     AuSable Valley     Sophomore

Defensive Back     Landon Cross     Moriah     Senior

     Devin Darrah     Saranac Lake     Senior

     Austin House     AuSable Valley     Senior

     Tyler Murphy     Peru     Senior

Punter     Kyle Dora     Saranac Lake     Senior

Honorable Mention

AuSable Valley     Elijah Fitzgerald     Junior     Michael Thompson     Junior

Beekmantown     Devin Backes     Senior     Craig Livsey     Senior

Moriah     Jim Curran     Senior     Justin Cutting     Senior

Peru     Casey Imhoff     Senior     Taylor Rock     Senior

Plattsburgh     Andrew Harris     Senior     Shawn Shea     Junior

Saranac     Nate Bedell     Senior     Austin Velie     Senior

Saranac Lake     Ben Monty     Senior     Matt Phelan     Junior

Ticonderoga     Nate Lenhart     Senior     Dennis Towne     Senior

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