Burnt Hills' Daviero leads all-state football selections

PHOTOGRAPHER: Peter R. Barber

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake senior Vincent Daviero is an all-state first-team selection.

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake senior Vincent Daviero was named to the all-state Class A first-team offense after a bounce-back football season that included 23 touchdowns and more than 1,500 rushing yards.

Daviero sparkled not only as a running back, but also as an inside linebacker for the state semifinalist Spartans.

“He was the heart and soul of the team,” Burnt Hills head coach Matt Shell said of Daviero. “He was exceptional on both sides of the ball.”

Daviero was the only Section II football player to earn first-team honors in Class AA and Class A by the New York State Sportswriters Association. He was selected to the all-state honorable mention group as a sophomore and again as a junior despite dealing with a series of physical issues.

He ran for 918 yards as a junior and scored 15 touchdowns. As a senior he piled up a Section II-leading 1,549 rushing yards (10.8 average) and scored 23 touchdowns.

“He was healthy and it showed in his production,” Shell said. “He came back strong.”

Daviero ran for a season-high 221 yards against Mohonasen and had eight other games with more than 100 yards. He ran for 22 touchdowns, including two when Burnt Hills beat Queensbury 21-16 in the Section II Class A title game and two more in a 21-20 state semifinal loss to Cornwall. Daviero was a member of three Section II championship teams.

“His playing level week in and week out was a big reason for our success,” Shell said of the Section II Class A Player of the Year and Daily Gazette All-Area first-team pick.

Running back Liam O’Mara and offensive lineman Devin Hunt of Queensbury made the all-state Class A second team, as did Burnt Hills linebacker Bryce Mussen. Mussen was previously tabbed Daily Gazette Defensive Player of the Year.

Guilderland linebacker Nick Popolizio was selected to the all-state Class AA second team.

CLASS AA

Offense

Dylan Blowers, Shenendehowa, OL, 12 (third team); Richie Quinn, Niskayuna, OE, 12 (fourth); Logan Souza, Shaker, AP, 12 (fourth); Carter Steingraber, Saratoga Springs, AP, 12 (fifth); James Altenburger, Shenendehowa, OE, 12 (sixth).

Defense

Nick Popolizio, Guilderland, LB, 12 (second); Andy Weyrauch, Shenendehowa, DL, 12 (third); Dylan Olson, Guilderland, DL, 12 (fourth); Mahdi Elsawi, Saratoga Springs, LB, 12 (fourth); Jou Toutai, Shaker, DL, 12 (fifth).

Honorable Mention

Brendan Belott, Shenendehowa, QB, 12; Brandon Camaj, Saratoga Springs, L, 12; Nate Ratigan, Shaker, LB, 11; Shane Lavender, Shaker, DB, 12; Hunter Regels, Saratoga Springs, P, 12.

CLASS A

Offense

Vincent Daviero, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, RB, 12 (first); Liam O’Mara, Queensbury, RB, 12 (second); Devin Hunt, Queensbury, OL, 12 (second); Sean Collins, Queensbury, OL, 12 (third); Alex Roca, Queensbury, PK, 11 (fourth); D.J. Lashley, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, RB, 12 (fifth).

Defense

Bryce Mussen, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, LB, 12 (second); Kyle Nethercott, Averill Park, LB, 12 (third); Jake Bornt, Averill Park, DB, 12 (third); Jake Stangle, Ballston Spa, DL, 12 (fifth).

Honorable Mention

Darien LaPietro, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, QB, 12; Victor Little, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, L, 9; Jake Lucier, Averill Park, L, 12; Zach Washington, Ballston Spa, L, 12; Carl Nitz, Averill Park, LB, 12; Xavier Leigh, Troy, DB, 10; Logan Stubblebine, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, DB, 11; James Finelli, Averill Park, AP, 12.

Reach Gazette Sportswriter Jim Schiltz at 518-3953143, [email protected] or @jim_schiltz on Twitter.