Named in tribute to legendary/ Hall-of-Fame Coach, Vince O’Connor (St. Francis Prep); if defense really does win championships as the saying suggests; then there is not a more appropriate namesake than a man who retired having won more games and titles than anyone in NYCHSFL history (341 wins; 16 crowns)…
The award that perhaps carries with it the greatest lineage of future successes at higher levels of the sport; when we look at past selections such as former NFL players— Maurice Evans (2005; Christ the King), Gavin Heslop (2014; Archbishop Stepinac), and Trill Williams (2017; Archbishop Stepinac); as well as more recent recipients—Zyian Moultrie-Goddard (Iona Prep; playing at Syracuse) & Ian Strong (St. Anthony’s; playing at Rutgers); it is easy to see that correlation that exists between winning this trophy and then realizing your dreams…
Comprised of two DL and a “Do Everything LB”, our 2024 picks “owned property” in rival backfields, as they accrued combined totals of 192 stops, 28 TFLs and 14 sacks, etc…
One a present-day NYCHSFL Champ; another a former League and State King; and the third a 2024 runner-up…All three studs would have made Coach O’Connor proud if they had played for him!!!
It is with absolute euphoria and pride that we salute the newest members of the “Brotherhood of Hitters”—Jaiden Cadotte (Xaverian; AA-II), Cosmo D’Amelio (St. Peter’s; AA-I), & Kahmari Valentine (Cardinal Hayes; AAA)…
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Cadotte: Described in our NYCHSFL AA-2 finals preview as “popping on film”; before we ever saw a single statistic on the 6’4, 240-pound Brooklynite, we knew that this was a young man that had the potential to take over games single-handedly…And when we were afforded the opportunity to enjoy watching him play a full-48; he not only lived up to the hype; he exceeded expectations in leading the Clippers to their first Metro Catholic prize since 2015…Either directly or indirectly responsible for creating a pair of turnovers on that chilly November 23rd morning (finals weekend), on back-to-back opposing possessions, #99 would both tip a pass that initiated an interception, as well as being on the back end of a tipped pass (on his own 9-yard line) to register an INT of his own as part of the 14-6 triumph…This performance in his final game as a Xaverian football player reminiscent of how his senior campaign as a whole manifested, Cadotte was credited with a division-leading 8 sacks (two in the finale) to go along with 29 total stops (22 solo), 3 TFLs, 5 pass deflections/break-ups, and a forced fumble!!…Not one to undertake any endeavor with a “half-hearted” spirit; Cadotte performed Ironman duties by starting on the OL for offense that featured two of the top-3 runners in AA-2, as well as the #2 passer…In addition to being the third Xaverian representative to win the “O’Connor” (joining Julius Arcaro in 2016; and 2023 recipient, Tommy McMorrow), Cadotte had the added privilege of receiving the highest award given out by the NYCHSFL; as he doubled up on Sunday by also taking home the “Monsignor Peter’s Award” in recognition as the top scholar-athlete in the league!
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D’Amelio: The first Eagle since 2013 (Joe Bilotti) and just the second in history to be selected for the “O’Connor”; despite having to miss a week during the season, the 220-pound MIKE LB performed at such a high-level and motor that he still managed to be among the AA-1 leaders in just about every defensive category…Racking up no fewer than 7 or more tackles (season-best of 14) in 11 of his 12 outings; the #2 shirt gave a complete/universal effort every time she stepped onto the gridiron, as demonstrated by the 102 stops (5th in AA-1), 13 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 2 pass break-ups, and three recovered fumbles…Come postseason, while others have been feeling the grind of the long route, D’Amelio did not take his foot off of the proverbial gas pedal one idiota, as he’d average 8 tackles (24 in total) and record both of his sacks during the playoffs to vault Eagle Nation to their first championship weekend since 2010!
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Valentine: Traveling back to his Harlem home with special hardware in tow for a second straight year; the 317-pound beast followed up “Thomas Lineman of the Year” distinction in 2023 by making that small leap in adulation to the overall “Best Defender” in the Triple-A division as a senior…His speed and agility quite extraordinary for an individual of his size, the #99 jersey played with such unwavering and unmatched desire and ferocity that he’d top all traditional defensive linemen in Triple-A with 61 total stops, while finishing 2nd among his peers with 12 TFLs…To boot, the “Maddog” tacked on 4 sacks, a pair of induced fumbles, two blocked kicks, and a safety to his resume as an illustration that the damage inflicted extended beyond “numbers for numbers sake”…Highlighted by League and State crowns as a junior; the ultimate compliment we can give to Valentine is that brought with him, a “championship” swagger and attitude, as the Cardinals went from a 1-win team when he was an underclassman to perennial Metro semifinalists and/or titlists as he assumed greater responsibility/leadership on “D”…In what we regard as a befitting treat; after years of spotlighting on offense as a lead blocker in the jumbo run package; Valentine would bask in the glory of being the one to punch the ball across the line in his final game wearing the Hayes’ colors, as he took the hand-off 5 yards to the house during the Turkey Bowl victory over Mount St. Michael Academy!…While the “where” remains unknown at this juncture; there is little doubt that Valentine is going to be an asset to whichever collegiate program is blessed to secure his services!!…Per his social media handle, he is sure to bring “99nightmarez (nightmares)” to any foe he faces on future Saturdays!….Valentine joins Gallo Henson (2009) as the lone Cardinals to receive this accolade!