HS FOOTBALL: Tuzzo, Kujo earn top league honors

Staff Report

It’s no surprise, but the North Tonawanda Lumberjacks are at the top of the class of Section VI AA North football. The Jacks landed nine players on the first team all-star squad, and for good reason. NT will play New Rochelle for the Class AA state title on Sunday at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.

Seniors Mike Tuzzo and Steve Kijowski earned top honors. Tuzzo, the Jacks’ senior quarterback, was named co-Offensive Player of the Year along with Lockport’s David Fluellen. Kijowski, a senior linebacker, shared Defensive Player of the Year honors with Luke Rankie of Lockport.

“Mike has a pretty tough offense to run and does a good job, and Steve’s been pretty dominant defensively,” Jantzi said, adding that it was an easy decision for the league’s coaches.

While all-star selections are an individual thing and something the coaches try not to stress, Jantzi said it’s nice that so many of the Jacks’ linemen were recognized.

“It’s pretty evident how dominant our offensive and defensive lines have been just by the success we’ve been having,” Jantzi said. “Those kids are doing a lot of work in there.”

In addition to the players’ awards, NT’s Eric Jantzi was named coach of the year. It’s an honor he said goes back to the kids and his coaching staff. “That’s another award for the kids if you ask me. All I do is try and organize stuff. My coaches and kids do all the rest. That’s a program award.”

In addition to Tuzzo, the Jacks placed four others on the first-team offensive unit, including seniors Kyle Shreve (OL), Aaron Davis (RB) and Casey Shreve (OL), and junior Travis Charsley (TE).

Kenmore West senior Dan Hannon was named to the first team at tight end.

The Class AA North first team defensive squad features senior Sean McDonough, who was named the Jacks’ defensive MVP in Saturday’s state semifinal win over Baldwinsville.

Also on the first team are NT’s Darrik Bloomfield (DB) and Joe Montesanti (DB).

For Kenmore West, senior Zach Bouley (DB) and sophomore Marcus Lobdell (kick returner) were first-team selections.

CLASS AA NORTH

OFFENSE

First Team — Kyle Shreve (Senior, OL, North Tonawanda), James Donner (Senior, OL, Niagara-Wheatfield), Greg Farkas (Junior, OL, Lockport), Casey Shreve (Senior, OL, North Tonawanda), Travis Charsley (Junior, TE, North Tonawanda), Dan Hannon (Senior, TE, Kenmore West), Darryl Smith (Senior, WR, Niagara Falls), Mike Tuzzo (Senior, QB, North Tonawanda), David Fluellen (Senior, RB, Lockport), Aaron Davis (Senior, RB, North Tonawanda), Dale Stewart (Junior, RB, Niagara Falls), Brian Orzechowski (Senior, K/P, Lockport).

Co-Offensive Players of the Year — Fluellen, Tuzzo; Coach of the Year — Eric Jantzi (North Tonawanda)

DEFENSE

First Team — Adam Donner (Junior, DL, Niagara-Wheatfield), Laeson Bradley (Senior, DL, Niagara Falls), Paul Kennon (Senior, DL, Niagara Falls), Sean McDonough (Senior, DL, North Tonawanda), Steve Kijowski (Senior, LB, North Tonawanda), Mike McCartney (Junior, LB, Niagara Falls), Luke Rankie (Senior, LB, Lockport), Jalen Gayle (Senior, LB, Niagara Falls), Zach Bouley (Senior, DB, Kenmore West), Darrik Bloomfield (Senior, DB, North Tonawanda), Joe Montesanti (Junior, DB, North Tonawanda), Jake Chenez (Senior, DB, Lockport), Will Cody (Senior, DB, Niagara-Wheatfield), Marcus Lobdell (Sophomore, Kick Returner, Kenmore West).

Co-Defensive Players of the Year — Kijowski, Rankie; Team Sportsmanship Winner — Niagara Falls.

Second Team

Kenmore West — Sergey Denz (Sr.), Tim Griffin (Sr.), Warren Hemphill (Sr.), Mike Peters (Sr.), Edgar Rosario (Sr.); Lockport — Kevin Bronson (Jr.), Jimmy Graziano (Sr.), Sean Mulvey (Sr.), James Renford (Jr.); Niagara Falls — Billy Gee (Sr.), Jermaine Fryling (Jr.), Anthony Moss (Sr.), Branton Shine (Sr.), Linsey Travis (Jr.), C.J. Williams (Sr.); Niagara-Wheatfield — Pat Ciera (Sr.), Joe Ditto (Sr.), Jacob Kelly (Soph.), Matt Knotts (Sr.); North Tonawanda — Dan Montesanti (Jr.), Collin O’Donnell (Jr.), Jim Rogers (Sr.), Jeff Schinaman (Sr.).

Honorable Mention

Kenmore West — Dominic Czarniak, Alex Fumerelle, Ryan Meldrum, Shawn Wozniak; Lockport — Thomas DiCarlo, Thurman Harden, Weston Lederhaus, Dorian Polk; Niagara Falls — Quandry Gray, Bruce Hartinger; Niagara-Wheatfield — Ken Alexander, Tyler Marchetti, Devon Strausburg; North Tonawanda — Ryan Daigler, Josh Kern, Jordan Marrs, Clayton Schmidt, Tom Sell.