The Huntington football teams Most Valuable Player Award recipient Jahmar Francis.
The Huntington football teams Most Valuable Player Award recipient Jahmar Francis.

Huntington Football Celebrates 100th Season at Dinner

January 25, 2024

The Huntington football program celebrated its 100th season at a dinner for players and parents in the high school cafeteria on Wednesday night. Dozens of awards were presented to the top performers on the varsity, junior varsity and middle school teams during the three hour affair.

Huntington fielded a team for the first time in 1924 and last fall’s Blue Devil varsity squad took just as much pride in wearing a blue and white uniform as its predecessors over the decades.

While the varsity team struggled at times, the JV went 6-2 and the Finley Middle School compiled a 5-1 mark. About 140 students participated on the three teams lifting the hopes of everyone involved for future success on the field.

Huntington head coach Ronald E. Wilson and his assistants were joined by a crowd of about 250 for the dinner and awards presentation. An impressive buffet consisting of hot and cold items was spread across numerous tables. The dessert table was equally spectacular. Most players tasted at least a little bit of everything, with some returning for seconds and thirds. The Blue Devil coaching staff spoke warmly about their respective teams.

School officials and retired coaches were also on hand for the festivities. The awards dinner is always a happy time for Blue Devil players and their families. The teenagers have fun getting a pat on the back and are happy to get together with their teammates.

This year’s honorees included:

Offensive Awards:

The John Paci Outstanding Offensive Back Award: David Dorilus Dax

Outstanding Receiver Award: Jahmar Francis

The Pete Sansiviero Offensive Lineman Award: Carmine Carusone

Most Outstanding Offensive Player Award: Kei Shan Miller

Defensive Awards:

Outstanding Defensive Back Award: Thomas Kline

Outstanding Linebacker Award: Timmy McDonald

Outstanding Defensive Lineman Award: John Genova

Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award: Thomas Smith

Special Teams Player of the Year Award:

Navado Petro-Young

The Joe Lucey Coaches Award:

Joseph Zink

The Christopher Pettit Scholar-Athlete Award:

Thomas Smith

The Bob Brush Courage Award:

Jonathan Granito

The Steve Henry 12th Man Award:

Cristian Alfaro-Bueso

The Most Improved Award:

Nicholas Rosan

The Outstanding Rookie of the Year Award:

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Jacob Guzik

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Keegan Malone

The Fred Fusaro “Hard Hat” Award:

Christian St. John

Navado Petro-Young

The Al White Service Award:

Riley LaCosta

The Most Valuable Player Award:

Jahmar Francis

JV Awards

The Joe Lucey Coach’s Award: Chase Northrop

Outstanding Offensive Player: Jack Kamenstein

Outstanding Defensive Player: Frank Algieri

Outstanding Lineman Award: Banny Soc Concua

Most Outstanding Player Award: Henry Gerberg

Finley Football Awards

Most Outstanding Offensive Player: Rasiere Blizzard

Most Outstanding Defensive Player: Rory McDermott

The Joe Lucey Coaches Award: Logan Mazure

Special Teams Player of the Year: Yovani Garcia Zavala

Team Most Valuable Player: Charles Rosselli