Central's Doherty named Eagle-Tribune Defensive MVP

2012 Football All-Stars (Defense)

Name School Yr. Position

Matt Halaby Central Catholic Sr. DL

Sam Weeks Methuen Sr. DL

Nate Hitchcock North Andover Sr. DL

Kevin Cooney Windham Sr. DL

Santino Brancato Central Catholic Sr. LB

*Ryan Doherty Central Catholic Sr. LB

Matt Madden Pinkerton Jr. LB

Corey Alberico Windham Sr. LB

Andrew Deloury Andover Sr. DB

Jaddiel Polanco Lawrence Sr. DB

Cody Rothwell Pentucket Sr. DB

Brett Stuart Pinkerton Sr. DB

Ryan McCarthy Timberlane Sr. DB

Joe Lorenz Windham Sr. DB

* Denotes Eagle-Tribune defensive MVP

Honorable Mentions

Andover: Andreas Christopulos, Sr., OL; Jack Sylvester, Jr., RB; Ommel Bonilla, Soph., DL

Brooks: Ryan Miles, Sr., OL, Groveland; Chris Cervizzi, Soph., RB, North Reading

Central Catholic: Sean Kirchner, Sr., OL; D’Andre Drummond-Mayire, Jr., DB; Ben Tavitian, Sr., OL

Georgetown: Niko Edwards, Sr., QB; Tom Zargaj, Sr., DB

Greater Lawrence: Marcos Ortiz, Sr., QB; Jake Barchard, Sr., DL; Danny Ojeda, Sr., OL

Haverhill: Shain Roche, Sr., DB Tommy Maguire, Sr., DB

Lawrence: Franger Baez, Sr., WR; Nelson Valerio, Soph., QB

Londonderry: Troy Ward, Sr., FB

Methuen: Anthony Giorgio, Sr., OL Colin Langford, Sr., WR; Austin George-Williams, Sr., QB

North Andover: Nick Oswald, Sr., RB

North Reading: Jackson Kellogg, Sr., QB; C.J. McCarthy, Jr., running back

Pelham: Chadd Loring, Sr., OL

Pentucket: Mike McCarron, Sr., OL; Tim Freiermuth, Sr., LB; Franco Pizzarella, Sr., DL

Pinkerton: Matt St. Onge, Sr., LB Chris St. Onge, Sr., DB; Dave Hansen, Sr., OL

Salem: Dominic Giganti, Sr., LB; Jarred Lozowski, Jr., DL; Jason Martinez, Jr., RB

Sanborn: Jon Scheidegger, Sr., TE

Timberlane: Josh David, Sr., RB

Whittier: Connor Bradley, Soph., QB; Jesus Sanchez, Soph., RB

Windham: Danny Cannone, Sr., LB; Artem Aristov, Sr., DL

Former Eagle-Tribune MVPs

(Note: first player listed is offense, second is defense)

2011:Text ColorSwatch/NoneStrokeStyle/$ID/SolidText ColorSwatch/NoneStrokeStyle/$ID/Solid$ID/NothingText ColorText Color$ID/NothingText ColorText Color Jerickson Fedrick, Salem; Jesse Trottier, Pinkerton; 2010: Cal Carroll, Methuen; Brandon Walsh, North Andover; 2009: Max Jacques, Salem; Zack Lattrell, Central; 2008: Mike Bartlett, Methuen; Joe Esposito, Georgetown; 2007: Nate Adames, Gr. Lawrence; Josh Lane, Pinkerton; 2006: Andrew Foote, North Andover; Jeff Ragoza, Pinkerton; 2005: Andrew Foote, North Andover; Steve Boyle, Pinkerton; 2004: Sean Simpson, Pinkerton; Mike Muccio, Andover; 2003Text ColorSwatch/NoneStrokeStyle/$ID/SolidText ColorSwatch/NoneStrokeStyle/$ID/Solid$ID/NothingText ColorText Color$ID/NothingText ColorText Color: Chris Sharpe, Pinkerton; Jay Stahl, Central; 2002: Matt Maroon, Central; Derrick Marsan, Methuen; 2001: Kyle Harrington, Timberlane; Brian Griffiths, Pentucket; 2000: Mike Grella, Pinkerton; Brad Dick, Georgetown;

1999:Text ColorSwatch/NoneStrokeStyle/$ID/SolidText ColorSwatch/NoneStrokeStyle/$ID/Solid$ID/NothingText ColorText Color$ID/NothingText ColorText Color Steve Miller, Londonderry; Ian Hendrick, Pentucket; 1998: Niall Murphy, Central; Andy MacInnis, Londonderry; 1997: Tim Gale, Masconomet; Joe Uliano, Central; 1996: Alex Tarr, North Andover; Ryan Minzner, Londonderry; 1995: Rafael Guzman, Lawrence; Derek Dembkoski, Salem; 1994: John Routhier, North Andover; Todd Harris, Phillips (Andover); 1993Text ColorSwatch/NoneStrokeStyle/$ID/SolidText ColorSwatch/NoneStrokeStyle/$ID/Solid$ID/NothingText ColorText Color$ID/NothingText ColorText Color: Matt Jordan, Pinkerton; Todd Kobelski, Central; 1992: Matt Jordan, Pinkerton; Joe Cerami, Methuen; 1991: Ralph Fast, Pinkerton; Eric Domek, North Andover; 1990: Sean Finneran, Central; Joe Marinaro, Andover; 1989: Sean Finneran, Central; also 1985: Ryan Mihalko, Pinkerton; 1970: Randy Hart, Lawrence

MATT HALABY, Central Catholic, Senior, Defensive Line

First-year starter. Finished with 77 tackles, nine for a loss, three sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery and three knocked down passes. Tremendously strong 6-foot-1, 245-pounder. All-MVC Division 1. Methuen resident. “He is as quick a lineman getting off the ball as I have ever had,” said 16th-year Central head coach Chuck Adamopoulos. “He worked so hard to get ready for this year.”

SAM WEEKS, Methuen, Sr., Defensive Line

All-MVC Division 2. Methuen’s defensive MVP. Led team with 76 tackles. Recorded two sacks in Thanksgiving victory over Dracut. 6-foot and 205 pounds. Also starting offensive lineman. Quad-captain. Track star was third in the area in discus (133-11) and fourth in shot put (50-5) last spring. “He played every play for us on offense and defense and never asked to come off the field,” said coach Tom Tone.

NATE HITCHCOCK, North Andover, Senior, Defensive Line

Made 68 tackles, second most on the team, and four sacks. Recorded 10 tackles, two sacks and an interception in 28-21 upset of defending MVC D1 champion Chelmsford. Also a starting guard. 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds. Co-captain. All-MVC Division 2. Three-year starter. Scored over 2,000 on SATs. Hoping to play football at NESCAC school. “He was instrumental to everything we did on offense and defense,” said coach John Rafferty.

KEVIN COONEY, Windham, Senior, Defensive Line

Repeat Eagle-Tribune All-Star. Jaguars’ No. 2 tackler, averaging six stops a game. Had two interceptions, one he returned for touchdown. Just 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds. Fullback rushed for team-high 901 yards and 15 touchdowns on just 98 carries. Ran for 167 yards and 3 TDs on six carries against John Stark. Three-time All-NH Division 4/5. Racked up 2,423 career rushing yards. Hearing from Division 3 colleges.

SANTINO BRANCATO, Central Catholic, Senior, Linebacker

Made 72 tackles, eight for loss, and three sacks. Forced two fumbles. All-MVC Division 1. Recorded 12 tackles in win over Chelmsford and 14 in win over Tewksbury. Made all the defensive calls. Rushed for 831 yards. Scored 10 TDs, including winning score against Chelmsford with 41 seconds left. Battled knee injury throughout the season, which needed recent surgery. Three-year starter. MVC All-Star in 2011.

MATT MADDEN, Pinkerton, Junior, Linebacker

Made team-high 82 tackles, 41 solo and eight for loss. Also had 3 1/2 sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions. Two-time All-N.H. Division 1. Notched 14 tackles and an interception in win over Bishop Guertin. Also started at fullback. 6-0, 208 pounds. Bench presses 245 pounds. Starter since freshman year. Tore ACL in victory over Nashua South. Two-year lacrosse starter hopes to return late in spring.

COREY ALBERICO, Windham, Senior, Linebacker

Repeat Eagle-Tribune All-Star made team-high 56 tackles despite often only playing the first half of blowouts. Middle linebacker for team which gave up just 15.0 points a game. Powerhouse blocker on offensive line. Quad-captain. Three-year starter. Former hockey tri-captain switched to wrestling. Placed third at 195 pounds at Division 3 States last winter. Wrestling tri-captain. Two-year starting defender in lacrosse.

ANDREW DELOURY, Andover, Senior, Defensive Back

Recorded 49 tackles, four for a loss, and two interceptions. Came back from foot surgery which cost him most of his junior season. Receiver/tight end caught 33 passes for 511 yards and eight TDs. Also punted. Recovered on-sides kick to clinch win over Tewksbury. Fine target at 6-2, 186 pounds. “He’s a great player,” said quarterback C.J. Scarpa. Started as a sophomore. Hit .288 with 11 RBIs for baseball team.

JADDIEL POLANCO, Lawrence, Senior, Defensive Back

All-MVC Division 2. Took on opponent’s top receiver every week. At just 5-foot-6 and 140 pounds excelled in man-to-man coverage. First-year starter. Helped limit Haverhill to 95 passing yards in near upset. “He’s a kid you look at, and say no way he’s a football player. Then he goes out on the field and proves you wrong,” said Lancers coach Mike Yameen. Made 18 tackles, blocked two kicks. Sprinter in track.

CODY ROTHWELL, Pentucket, Senior, Defensive Back

Made a team-high 94 tackles and eight interceptions. Rushed for 2,019 yards on just 194 carries for an improbable 10.4 yards average. Surpassed 250 yards three times and two other times was over 200. Scored 22 TDs. Rushed for just 251 yards as a junior. 5-10, 176 pounds. Saw significant time as a sophomore at St. John’s Prep. “Rothwell is just so fast and so strong,” said Lynnfield coach Neil Weidman.

BRETT STUART, Pinkerton, Senior, Defensive Back

From cornerback spot finished second on Astros in tackles with 74, while making a team-best 42 solo stops. Intercepted three passes including a 75-yard pick-six. All-Division 1. Made team-high 17 tackles in state title game loss. 6-0, 175 pounds. First-year starter. “He waited a long time for his turn, but when it arrived he really took advantage. He was far-and-away our best corner,” said coach Brian O’Reilly.

RYAN MCCARTHY, Timberlane, Senior, Defensive Back

Two-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star. Led defense from cornerback position. Picked off pass in win over Salem and had an interception in 7-0 near upset of eventual Division 2 champ Winnacunnet. Team’s top receiver, catching 26 passes for 510 yards, including 99 yards in win over Merrimack. All-Division 2. 5-10, 166 pounds. Also returned kicks and punted. Three-year starter. Hit .302 with 14 runs as infielder for baseball team.

JOE LORENZ, Windham, Senior, Defensive Back

Aggressive safety. Intercepted three passes. Threw for 937 yards and 15 TDs and did not throw a single interception. Finished career with 2,376 passing yards and 29 TDs. Punted and snapped on extra points. 6-2, 185 pounds. Quad-captain. All-Division 4 this year and All-Division 5 as a junior. Averaged 8.7 points in basketball last year. Brother Mike caught game-winning TD pass in OT for Salem in 2009 championship game.

Doherty goes from backup to superstar

Heading into the season, Central Catholic head coach Chuck Adamopoulos didn’t know how to fill one very big hole in his defense.

“My biggest concern was how I was going to replace (Eagle-Tribune All-Star) Devon Lattrell,” he said. “I wasn’t sure we had a guy that could do that. But Ryan Doherty certainly did. I feel like he was the league’s best defensive player.”

A backup as a junior, the 6-2, 200-pounder from Methuen exploded onto the scene with a dominant senior campaign.

The outside linebacker notched 81 tackles, 14 for a loss, with 11 sacks and a pair of interceptions.

Doherty came up huge in the big games. He had two sacks in a win over Tewskbury, two more in a victory over Chelmsford and caught a touchdown pass and had 12 tackles in the Thanksgiving Day showdown vs. Andover.

Adamopoulos credited a great deal of Doherty’s growth to his emergence as a track standout. Last spring, he was an Eagle-Tribune All-Star in the shot put with an area-best 52-8 1/2.

“He took a huge jump,” said Adamopoulos. “He probably was a below-average player early in his career, and worked so hard to get better. He flies around, makes plays all over the field.

“I think track had a big part in that. It got him in great shape, but I think throwing really made him into a competitor.”

Doherty is looking at Division 2 schools to continue his football career with Merrimack and Stonehill high on the list.