DILLON BOOS, SAYVILLE
QB, 6-1, 185, Sr.

Long Island’s most efficient passer, Boos ran for two TDs as Sayville won the Class III title, 13-7, over Bethpage. Boos completed 163 of 260 passes for 2,386 yards and 22 TDs. He also rushed for 560 yards and six scores. In his career, Boos completed 228 of 336 passes (69 per cent) for 3,425 yards and 32 TDs.

MIGUEL MAYSONET, RIVERHEAD
HB, 5-11, 195, Sr.

The three-year starter capped his career with a 251-yard, four-TD performance in Riverhead’s 42-6 win over Elmont in the Class II championship. Maysonet led the undefeated (12-0) Blue Waves to the school’s first Long Island title with 2,328 yards rushing and 33 TDs. He also played linebacker, finishing with 53 solo tackles. He is the recipient of the 49th Hansen Award presented to Suffolk’s top player. He finished his career with 5,971 yards rushing, the second-highest total in Long Island history. He also scored 458 points.

TERRELL WILLIAMS, HEMPSTEAD
RB, 5-9, 190, Sr.

Williams was an overwhelming choice as the 2008 Thorp Award winner. His coach, Antoine Moore, called him “the best I’ve ever seen.” In leading Hempstead to a 7-3 playoff season, Williams scored 23 TDs (14 rushing, five receiving, four on kick returns). Included were a 91-yard run, 85- and 96- yard kickoff returns and a 101-yard interception return. He had 2,667 all-purpose yards, in- cluding 1,379 rushing. He was an All-Long Island defensive back last season.

RANDY TILLMAN, HARBORFIELDS
RB, 6-1, 180, Sr.

Tillman helped lead Harborfields to a 9-2 record and into the Suffolk Division III final against Sayville. In a losing effort in that game, Tillman gained 152 yards, giving him 1,836 for the season. He scored 19 TDs and fumbled only once in 308 carries. As a defensive back he had 48 tackles and three interceptions.

JUSTIN MAYERS, ELMONT
RB, 6-0, 180, Sr.

Mayers rushed for 1,703 yards and 20 TDs while adding three receiving TDs on 13 catches for 242 yards. He had a 70-yard fumble recovery return for a TD after a botched field-goal attempt in leading Elmont past Hewlett in the Nassau Class II title game.

NICK BARBUTO, SEAFORD
RB, 5-7, 165, Sr.

Barbuto rushed for 1,749 yards and 24 TDs, averaging 7.3 a carry for the Vikings (11-1). “He’s a slasher. Most people don’t get a good hit on him,” Seaford coach Rob Perpall said. “He doesn’t need much room to operate. He sees the crack and he takes it.”

NICK STOVER, SAYVILLE
WR, 6-1, 170, Jr.

Stover is the lone junior on the this year’s All-Long Island team. He had a Long Island-leading 55 receptions with 829 yards and 10 TDs to earn the Dragon Award, given to Suffolk’s top wide receiver. He was a deep threat the past two seasons for All-Long Island quarterback Dillon Boos, and averaged 15 yards per catch as the Golden Flashes won the Class III crown. On defense, he had 28 tackles, eight interceptions and a fumble recovery.

ROB BELLAIRS, PLAINEDGE
WR, 6-0, 180, Sr.

Bellairs caught 37 passes for 692 yards (18.7 avg.) and 13 TDs. He returned two punts for TDs on runs of 80 and 85 yards, and added a 75-yard TD on a kickoff return. Bellairs also played safety, notching 52 tackles, one interception, four forced fumbles and two sacks.

CHRIS WILLIAMS, SYOSSET
OL, 6-3, 270, Sr.

Did not allow a sack in his junior or senior years according to coach Paul Rorke. He was a four-year varsity player and three-year starter, who was a fierce blocker at the line of scrimmage. He also was valuable in downfield blocking.

TOM LINDLEY, FLOYD
OL, 6-3, 300, Sr.

A second-team All-Long Island choice last year, Lindley was a three-year standout lineman for a team that won 31 straight before a loss to Lindenhurst in the playoffs this year. The 2008 Zellner Award winner as Suffolk’s top lineman, Lindley, a guard, “turned our spread offense into a power offense because of his pulling ability,” according to coach Paul Longo. Lindley also played defense in short-yardage situations.

JOE DOYLE, BALDWIN
OL, 6-3, 260, Sr.

The Martone Award winner as Nassau’s top lineman, Doyle was a two-way force for the Bruins. On offense, he was the left tackle that Baldwin ran behind most often. At right defensive end he made 42 tackles and had two sacks.

JONATHAN REALI, HALF HOLLOW HILLS WEST
OL, 6-1, 265, Sr.

A three-year, two-way starter, he played all three positions on the Colts line. He had 55 pancake blocks to clear the way for 1,400-yard rusher JeVahn Cruz. The team captain helped the Colts average more than 30 points per game. At defensive end, he had 65 tackles, including 15 for a loss and eight sacks.

JONATHAN STERNBACH, CONNETQUOT
All-purpose, 6-0, 180, Sr.

Sternbach, his team’s captain, was a multidimensional player who had six interceptions - one for a school-record 100-yard TD return against North- port. He had a 95-yard kickoff return for a score, and made 71 tackles as a strong safety. A speedy wide receiver, he caught 37 passes for 670 yards and six scores, and had three TDs on reverses. “He gave us so many options,” said coach Mike Hansen. “He could do it all.”

JOE BOTTI, SACHEM EAST
All-purpose, 6-3, 165, Sr.

Botti moved from wide receiver to quarterback and guided the Flaming Arrows into the playoffs for the first time since the Sachem district split into two schools and two teams. Botti had eight receptions for 129 yards and a score before moving to quarterback. He completed 58 percent of his passes and threw for 845 yards and seven scores, and rushed for 280 yards and four TDs. At safety, he had 38 tackles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

NICK FERRARA, ST. ANTHONY’S
Kicker, 6-1, 195, Sr.

A two-year kicker, he made 46 of 48 extra-point kicks and hit 14 of 16 field goal attempts, including a 47-yarder to score a school-record 88 points for kickers. His 14 field goals this year was also a Long Island record. He was the top-ranked kicker nationally by One-on-One kicking at the Miami Expo 2008. Ferrara will attend Maryland on a football scholarship.

CHRIS DOOLEY, CHAMINADE
DL, 6-2, 235, Sr.

His team’s MVP, Dooley led a stingy defense with 68 total tackles, seven sacks and five forced fumbles. He also blocked four extra-point kicks and was also used in short yardage situations on offense. He scored on a short TD run and added the two-point conversion reception for the Flyers in their playoff game against St. Anthony’s.

JIMMY GORDON, PATCH.-MEDFORD
DL, 6-4, 250, Sr.

Gordon was a two-year captain. As a def- ensive end, he had 12 pass deflections and totaled 46 solo tackles - 16 for a loss - and eight sacks. As a tight end, he caught seven passes for 85 yards. “Teams couldn’t run on his side of the field because no one could block him,” said Patchogue-Medford coach James Chiarello. “He was very strong and very athletic.” Gordon also punted 39 times for a 38.6-yard average.

ANDREW SMITH, RIVERHEAD
DL, 6-3, 220, Sr.

Smith had 21 tackles for a loss, 63 solos, nine sacks and forced four fumbles as Riverhead won the Class II title. He is considering a host of Division I offers, including Syracuse and Maryland. “It’s hard to replace a gifted athlete like Andrew,” said Riverhead coach Leif Shay. “He was all over the field making plays and shutting people down.”

JEREMY LEGGIERO, CONNETQUOT
LB, 6-0, 220, Sr.

He totaled 153 tackles, including 22 for a loss and five sacks as Connetquot defeated Freeport, 21-13, in the Class I title game. He had nine tackles in the first quarter of a 15-13 win over Sachem North before leaving with an injury. Leggiero forced three fumbles and had five interceptions in earning the Collotta Award as Suffolk’s top linebacker. At fullback, he cleared the way for a bruising offense that averaged 210 yards a game on the ground. He rushed for 357 yards and six TDs.

JOE VESPIER, LINDENHURST
LB, 6-0, 195, Sr.

Vespier, who helped to lead the Bulldogs into the Suffolk Division I championship game, keyed the season’s biggest upset - a 24-21 semifinal playoff win over Floyd. He rushed 117 times for 746 yards and 15 TDs and caught five passes for 119 yards and a score. He had 95 unassisted tackles, one sack, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions.

JAHI FIELDS, HEMPSTEAD
DL, 6-3, 210, Sr.

As a defensive end, Fields made 10 sacks, giving him a school-record 26 in his career. He also made 77 tackles and recovered three fumbles this season. On offense, he caught 12 passes for 194 yards and two TDs, and was a key blocker for Thorp Award winner Terrell Williams.

TYLER GILLIAM, RIVERHEAD
LB, 5-9, 185, Sr.

Gilliam captained a team that rolled through Class II with a 12-0 record. He was used in every position on defense because of his quickness, making 71 tackles (11 for loss) and two fumble recoveries. “His pregame speeches were inspirational,” said Riverhead coach Leif Shay. “He would talk of family and commitment and togetherness and it would fire us up. He was something special.” Gilliam was also a blocking fullback.

KEVIN GLUECKERT, BETHPAGE
LB, 5-11, 195, Sr.

A second-team All-Long Island selection in 2007, Glueckert led Bethpage in tackles with 123, including 79 solo. He made seven interceptions, returning one for a TD, and had three sacks. He also rushed for a school-record 1,704 yards and 19 TDs.

MAALIK McVEA, FREEPORT
LB, 6-0, 210, Sr.

McVea was a speedy presence, leading Freeport with 48 solo tackles and 39 assists. He also forced two fumbles, recovered one and defended four passes. He played left tackle in the Red Devils’ potent spread offense.

JOHN JANSEN, WANTAGH
LB, 6-1, 210, Sr.

Jansen won the Piner Award as Nassau County’s top linebacker (Wantagh’s. Anthony Polo won it in 2006). He led the Warriors’ defense with 128 tackles, and intercepted three passes, returning one for a TD. For his career, Jansen made 306 tackles and had seven interceptions.

ERICK LAPICE, FREEPORT
DB, 6-0, 180, Sr.

As quarterback, Lapice completed 97 of 186 passes for 1,588 yards and 18 TDs. He also made coverage calls in the secondary at safety, and made 15 solo tackles and assisted on 12 others. He had one interception and defended 10 passes.

CRAIG GEOGHAN, SACHEM NORTH
DB, 6-1, 185, Sr.

A second-team All-Long Island pick in 2007, the three-year starter had 75 tackles, 50 solo, from his safety position with one interception, one fumble, one forced fumble and one sack. The two-year starting quarterback passed for 1,185 yards and 10 TDs while running for 410 yards and six more TDs this season.

JACK NICKLA, BELLPORT
All-purpose, 6-2, 190, Sr.

As quarterback, Nickla rushed for 596 yards and nine TDs, and passed for 440 yards and one score. His kicking was exceptional as he converted 27 of 29 attempts, and boomed 11 kickoffs out of the end zone. He had a string of 20 straight extra-point kicks, a school record, and he averaged 35.7 yards on 28 punts.

BRYAN SCHWEITZER, BABYLON
All-purpose, 6-0, 185, Sr.

Despite a spleen injury that sidelined him for four weeks and a head wound suffered when he was the victim of an alleged assault, Schweitzer led Babylon to the Class IV championship with his running (808 yards and 17 TDs) and as a linebacker. He made 65 tackles, 2.5 sacks and returned two interceptions, one fumble and one kickoff for touchdowns.

Sunday has the makings for a special day at the Meadowlands. The Jets, controllers of their destiny, return home to face the Buffalo Bills as the organization will celebrate its Fan Appreciation Day.

But there is a story that everyone should be aware of before walking through the stadium gates this weekend.

It began on Nov. 23 when Jets fans celebrated the team’s high-water mark, a 34-13 pasting of the undefeated Tennessee Titans. But back in Clifton, N.J., about 25 miles from the Jets’ headquarters in Florham Park, something went terribly wrong.

Malloosseril, who died just two days before his 26th birthday, was a Giants fan who actually had planned to go to a game at the Meadowlands before this violent attack. But as an organ transplant donor, Malloosseril has given a Jets fan an opportunity to live a better life.

John Muscarella, a 21-year-old with cystic fibrosis, was in need of a double-lung transplant. He couldn’t even walk without difficulty and he faced the real possibility of death without new lungs.

Just a day after the shootings, Muscarella received a call, was informed there was a perfect match and to get to Newark Beth Israel Medical Center as soon as possible. The police escorted Muscarella an hour from Toms River and then Malloosseril’s lungs were transferred to his body during a six-hour operation.

After the transplant was complete, Muscarella and donned a green and white Brett Favre jersey and met with reporters. And Sunday he might get a chance to meet Favre because the Jets have named Muscarella an honorary captain.

“John is a fighter,” Boomer Esiason told Randy Lange and me this week on our “Jets Two-Minute Drive” radio broadcast. “He is a huge Jets fan. He is so excited about the honor of being an honorary captain at the Jets game this weekend against the Buffalo Bills.

“And for any Jets fan who goes to the game, if you’re there and you hear his name announced, give him a huge round of applause not only for what he’s going though and what he’s accomplishing but maybe even more importantly for what the donor’s family has done to give him a second lease on life.”

If there’s anyone who understands the dangers of cystic fibrosis, it’s Esiason. After the Jets acquired the blond bomber from the Bengals prior to the 1993 season, he was informed that his 2-year-old son, Gunnar, had the disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of children and has no cure.

More than 15 years later, the Boomer Esiason Foundation has raised more than $65 million for CF and Gunnar continues to fight a seemingly endless battle. He not only achieved of his goal of playing high school football but he also threw a TD pass during the just-concluded season for Friends Academy.

“I hope that there isn’t a time in our lifetime that we don’t have to go through a transplant, but reality tells us that Gunnar someday will be on a transplant list,” Boomer said. “I just hope that it is many, many, many years from now as opposed to like John at the age of 21.”

But Esiason will celebrate John Muscarella’s victory Sunday. Through tragedy, there is triumph and hope.

“Watching John walk out there on Sunday is all that we’re about,” Esiason said. “It’s about giving kids a second chance at life and that’s what we’re doing now.”

In an effort to help other people, John Dennis Malloosseril lost his life. But his lungs have given John Muscarella a fresh breath as the Esiasons feverishly sprint to find a cure.

Maysonet rushed for 2,328 yards and scored 33 touchdowns on 285 carries for a Riverhead squad that went undefeated and captured its first Long Island Class II championship. Maysonet, a three-year starter, ended his career with 5,960 rushing yards, which ranks second on Long Island’s all-time list, and was the recipient of the 47th Carl Hansen Award, presented to Suffolk’s top player.

Maintaining a B average, he scored a 1,810 on his SAT.

Maysonet is a finalist for the Gatorade national football player of the year.

Legree was recently at Fort Hamilton supporting his former team and coach, on the sidelines, in their huge semi-final win over Wagner. Legree hasn’t made a decision yet but it looks like Oregon and Virginia Tech may be he teams that are in the running to land this highly touted QB. Besides being a pure QB, Legree is also a student of the game and will be a prize catch for any college program.

How Maysonet got where he is today is inspirational. It speaks of courage. It speaks of focus. And it speaks of parental guidance.

“I come from nothing,” said Maysonet, Riverhead’s outstanding high school football star. “But my mother’s love and the right teachers in school make a world of difference. I never thought I’d have this much success. It’s just incredible.”

Last night, he became the envy of every football player in Suffolk County when he was named the 47th recipient of the Carl Hansen Award, presented to Suffolk’s top player at the Suffolk County Football Coaches Association dinner at the Hyatt Wind Watch in Hauppauge.
Maysonet, the leader of the only undefeated football team on Long Island, rushed for 2,328 yards and scored 33 touchdowns as the Blue Waves finished with a 12-0 record and rolled to the school’s first Long Island Class II championship.

“You don’t find many kids as happy and humble as Miguel,” Riverhead coach Leif Shay said. “He’s a rare talent and a student-athlete that will go places in life. He’s a role model to every kid in this town. He’s a true leader, an absolute pleasure to coach.”

“I’m going to miss Riverhead football and all the guys,” Maysonet said. “I’ll never forget our last bus ride home from the championship and heading into Main Street in Riverhead with the police and fire department escort. It was so exciting. But all I kept thinking was there better not be an emergency anywhere in Riverhead, because it seemed like the whole town was celebrating.”

It might have been. The buses pulled up to the town’s victory bell, and as thousands cheered, Maysonet and his teammates rang the bell 42 times for each point scored in the title win.

“Little kids were asking for autographs and the people were so happy,” Maysonet said. “We were like celebrities. I threw my gloves into the crowd and an older man asked me to sign one of them. I couldn’t believe it.”

You look at Maysonet and you see a bright, well-spoken athlete with a great sense of humor. He scored 1,810 out of 2,400 on his SAT and wants to be a teacher.

You might think he’s had every advantage in life when, in fact, he’s had almost none.

Maysonet lives in the heart of Riverhead in a small apartment above an auto repair shop. If you want to see how Maysonet handles adversity, all you need to do is see what he calls home. He has no shower, no bathtub, no air conditioning and certainly no computer.

“Hey, home is home,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t even have a shower. So I get a big bucket and I fill it with water. And I make sure it’s not burning hot so I don’t get burned. I do what I have to do to make it work.”

The front yard is strewn with abandoned cars and garbage. A large pit bull patrols the yard and protects the families that live there. His name is Blackie and he is very intimidating. Up the long flight of stairs is Tyson, a big black pit bull.

“When I was little, I used to jump from car to car, roof to roof, and hood to hood,” Maysonet said. “And when I wasn’t jumping on cars, I was playing football in the street. And the dogs are fine - if they know you.”

So that’s where he developed the lightning-quick reflexes and unbelievable balance that enabled him to rush for more than 4,000 career yards and attract interest from schools such as Connecticut, Syracuse and Hofstra.

Living just above the buzz of the shop along with his mother, Yolanda Santana, is no problem for Maysonet. His mom works full-time at a local hotel to make ends meet.

“I love my mother because she made this possible for me and takes care of me,” he said. “I’m going to be the first one in my family that goes to college and gets a degree. And then I’m going to buy her a house and get her out of there.”

Maysonet said his father, Jose, who’s been divorced from Yolanda since Miguel was 3, is not a part of his life. “Miguel and I have a great relationship,” Yolanda said. “I am so proud of him. He is a real good boy, very giving.”

He’s a real good football player, too — and indeed someone who’s very giving, having made plenty in Riverhead very happy with that first Class II title.

The elusive and speedy 5-9, 190-pound senior was named the 2008 Thorp Award winner as Nassau County’s most outstanding football player last night at the Nassau County Gridiron Dinner held at Crest Hollow Country Club.

Williams is the sixth player in school history to win the award and first since Lamont Hough in 1988. “I’ve watched Hempstead football for 30 years,” Moore said, “and he’s the best I’ve ever seen. He’s the best of the best.”

Justin Mayers of Elmont and Anthony Brunetti of Holy Trinity were the other finalists for the award, presented by Newsday since 1942.
It’s hard to imagine any player meaning more to his team than Williams did. In leading the Tigers to a 7-3 record, Williams set nine school records and defined the term all-purpose back with numerous breathtaking, game-breaking long runs.

He also finished No. 1 in Hempstead history in career touchdowns (42), points (266) and all-purpose yards (4,799).

“He’s done everything you can ask of a player. He’ll play any position,” Moore said. “He loves running the ball, but we’ve used him at quarterback, wide receiver, linebacker, cornerback, kick returner and punter. Wherever there’s a need, he’s there.”

Williams scored 14 rushing touchdowns, five on runs of more than 50 yards, including a 91-yard burst against Baldwin on Nov. 8. He completed 8 of 12 passes for 179 yards, one TD and two PATs. He caught 12 passes for 385 yards and five TDs. He returned 18 kicks for 722 yards and had a total of four returns for touchdowns (74-yard fumble recovery return, 85- and 96-yard kickoff returns, 101-yard interception return). He made 61 solo tackles with 35 assists, intercepted three passes, recovered five fumbles and averaged 32.4 yards as the team’s punter.

Rumors to the contrary, he did not lead the marching band at halftime or sell hot dogs at the concession stand. But if asked, he would have. “Not every great athlete is a great citizen,” Hempstead athletic director Robert Cincotta said. “This kid is a great citizen.”

Moore echoed those sentiments. “He’s humble and he’s a competitor,” he said. “He never once mentioned the records or the award. All he wanted to do was win. He always thinks team first. He brought camaraderie back to the program. He’s a team leader who never missed practice. It wasn’t just his productivity on the field, it was the intangibles he brought - the hard work, the commitment.”

Williams said the Thorp Award represented all of those intangibles. “It tells me that all the work and the determination was worth it,” he said. “I didn’t talk about [the award], but after finishing second last year, I thought about it. I wanted to win the championship but as it got closer, I did think about it.”

Williams was in tears coming off the field after the Tigers were eliminated by Massapequa in the county semifinals Nov. 13, so this award softened the blow.

“This means a lot to me. This was a special year,” Williams said, carrying the hefty trophy. “The bonding with my teammates and everything my coaches taught me. I’m grateful I had them all in my life.”

Williams has Division I college football aspirations but needs to improve his academic standing. According to Moore, several D-I schools have shown interest, including Stony Brook, Hofstra, Albany, Connecticut, Syracuse and Maryland. But the coach said Williams fell short on his SATs this fall and will take the exam again, as well as the ACTs. Moore said Williams’ GPA is “borderline,” so prep school remains a strong possibility for next year.

“I think he’s a Division I player and I know that’s what he wants,” Moore said. “He may have to wait a year, but the offers will come.”