OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Named in honor of the former All-Catholic Lineman/Assistant Coach at Archbishop Stepinac, Joseph Riverso, who tragically lost his life on 9/11 while working as a financial broker at Cantor Fitzgerald; like the gentleman himself (also worked as a bartender four nights a week), our 2024 recipients wowed us with their versatility and ability to impact the game in a variety of different roles…
Following in the footsteps of recent past winners such as Rich Belin (2023; Cardinal Hayes; will play collegiately at Syracuse), Dante Torres (2022; St. Anthony’s; playing at Harvard), Ajani Sheppard (2021; Iona Prep; playing at Rutgers), and Matthew Sluka (2017/2018; Kellenberg Memorial; 2x Walter Peyton Award Finalist/2023 Patriotic League Player of the Year at Holy Cross); history has shown us that to have this honor bestowed upon you is a badge representing future success at higher levels of the sport…
Each playing a different offensive position for their respective schools; the three student-athletes acknowledged today combined to amass 6,336 yards and 75 touchdowns in helping each of their school advance to NYCHSL Championship weekend!!
Our deepest congratulations to Brayden McMahon (AA-II WR; Holy Cross), Jeremiah Williams (AA-1; RB; St. Peter’s), and Gary Merrill (AAA; QB; St. Anthony’s) on their selection to this club!!
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McMahon: Doing his home neighborhood of Flushing proud in his senior campaign, the 5’10, 150-pound wide-out turned in a banner swan song that witnessed him emerge as the AA-2 Triple-crown winner with totals of 46 receptions (2nd among all Metro personnel) for 580 yards (4th among all Catholic players) and 7 TD hauls…Registering four or more catches in seven different games this season (including 14 for 142 yards and 2 TDs in the postseason), the #10 jersey was an invaluable component in the Knights reaching their first league title game since winning it all in 2004!!…Providing a second wave of spark, McMahon would serve as the squad’s primary return man on punt, racking up 196 yards and two additional scores to further make his presence known!!….The third Knight to win this award, he makes it consecutive years for the HC program; as it was Isaac Glaudin taking home the trophy in ‘23!
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Williams: The first repeat choice since Sluka; one year removed from garnering All-State distinction (3rd Team) behind 1,228 yards and 16 touchdowns on 169 carries (7.3/per); the 5’6, 155-pounder out of Staten Island was even better in his final season donning the Eagles’ jersey….Topping all AA-1 ball-carriers this year with 1,777 (7th in NYS; 2nd among all NYXHSFL personnel) and 16 touchdowns (292 attempts), Williams was practically automatic at times as demonstrated by the 10 unique occasions in which he surpassed the century mark in a game this fall (high of 282 versus Holy Trinity)….His contribution as a receiver out of the backfield also increasing, he’d jump from an 11-grab, 166-yard, 1TD output as a junior to 23 catches for 256 yards (1TD) in 2024…As an added bonus, he also notched a punt return TD to emphasis how lethal he was anytime he had the pigskin in his arms!!!…Now a two-time winner as noted above; Williams is the lone STP rep to seize the Riverso!
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Merrill: Unseating a reigning NYCHSFL and NYS OPOY (Belin) by putting forth a campaign that will not soon be forgotten; the University of North Carolina bound [lacrosse] stud already has one 1st-Team All-State distinction to his name (2023); and it need not be said that he is certainty to repeat the feat in 2024…Raising his stat line across the board from one season to the next, the Friar turned future Tar Heel went from a sum of 2,606 yards (1,452 in the air; 1,154 with his legs) and 28 touchdowns (13 passing, 15 running) as an 11th grader to a mind-blowing 3,717 yards and 51(!!!) total touchdowns as a senior….His 1,955 yards (5th) and 32 touchdowns (3rd) on 214 attempts rushing (as a QB) both ranking in the top-5 in the entire Empire State, the Bayport resident would also be quite prolific with his arm, as he’s finish in the top-3 among all Metro Catholic field generals with 1,762 yards (2nd) and 19 TD tosses (3rd) to truly exemplify what it means to be a “dual-threat”!!!…Recording at least 3 touchdowns in 10 of 11 appearances against NYCHSFL opponents this fall (the exception being a 2-score effort in the AAA finale), Merrill banked 5 or more TDs on six occasions, including 5 in the semifinal win over Cardinal Hayes…The third QB and fifth overall St. Anthony’s rep to claim this acclaim; Merrill follows in the footsteps of the aforementioned Torres (2022), as well as James Brady (2007), and Running Back 2x Matt Hahn (2002, 2003; went on to play at Penn State)