See the 37 nominations for the Finocchiaro Award as top Savannah high school football player
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Nominations for the 45th Michael Finocchiaro Memorial Outstanding Football Player Award recognizing the top high school football in Savannah, as voted on by Savannah head coaches and media, were recently announced by the award’s coordinator, Karl DeMasi.
The winner will be announced on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27.
Inspired by the Heisman Trophy, Finocchiaro, a Benedictine alum and avid high school football fan, started the award in 1976 in an effort to recognize local players. He died in 2001. The award continued on until a hiatus from 2010-2015 before DeMasi brought it back.
Last year, Ra’Shawn Truell, the New Hampstead quarterback now playing at Savannah State, won the award, after sharing the honor the year prior with Calvary Day quarterback Jake Merklinger, now playing at Tennessee.
Here are this year’s candidates, 37 players who were nominated by their coaches. Statistics are through the regular season.
45th Michael Finocchiaro Memorial Outstanding Football Player Award
2025 Nominees
Benedictine
Chris “Bubba” Frazier, sr., WR/ATH —Notre Dame commit had 36 catches for 602 yards and 10 touchdowns; 30 carries for 163 yard and two scores; 1,068 all-purpose yards and 14 total touchdowns in nine games. Frazier was named Region 1-4A Player of the Year.
Stephen Cannon, sr., QB — Texas Tech commit was 91 of 144 passing (63%) for 1,491 yards with 20 touchdowns and three interceptions; 59 carries for 355 yards and four scores. Cannon was named the Region 1-4A Offensive Player of the Year.
Kameron Cody, sr.,DL — The Clemson commit had 51 tackles with seven for losses, 5.5 sacks and five quarterback hurries. He was named the Region 1-4A Defensive Player of the Year.
LaDamion Guyton, edge —The Texas Tech commit has 49 tackles with 12 TFLs, six sacks and 15 QB hurries.
Carlton Hall, sr., OL — Hall was named the Region 1-4A Offensive Lineman of the Year. He had 23 pancake blocks.
Bethesda Academy
Raleigh Wesley, sr., WR: — Standout senior had 31 receptions for 963 yards and 20 touchdowns; 24 total scores including returns.
Isaiah Jones, jr., OLB — Junior linebacker had 73 tackles, three sacks, four interceptions, 22 passes defended and four defensive touchdowns.
Isaiah Redman, sr., DE — The senior defensive lineman had 74 tackles and 7.5 sacks.
Jordan Turner, soph., QB — Sophomore quarterback was 76 of 111 passing for 1,881 yards and 31 touchdowns with three interceptions; 164 rushing yards and four scores.
Beach High
Jayvion Williams, jr.,QB — The standout junior had more than 1,300 yards passing with 400 yards rushing.
Jordan Newton, jr., RB — The junior running back had close to 1,000 yards rushing.
Kejuan Ferguson, sr., WR — Talented senior had more than 20 receptions and 600 receiving yards.
Dakari Smith, sr., LB/TE — Two-way star had more than 10 sacks, 50 tackles with 400 yards receiving and seven touchdowns.
Calvary Day
James Mobley, jr., QB — Junior signal caller was 125 of 194 passing (64%) for 2,095 yards and 20 touchdowns; 34 carries for 255 yards and four touchdowns.
Jalen Hicks, sr., WR/RB — The senior had 36 catches for 586 yards and four touchdowns with five rushing scores.
Marlon Knight Jr., sr., WR — The junior had 33 receptions for 576 yards and nine touchdowns.
Groves
Ivan Martinez, sr., OG — Senior didn’t allow a sack and had 12 pancake blocks.
William West, sr., WR — Senior receiver had 600 total offensive yards and four touchdowns
Islands
Ethan McKinney, sr. RB/LB/DL/P — Versatile athlete set single-season school records for rushing attempts and yards with 158 carries for 668 yards with four rushing touchdowns. Had seven catches for 60 yards and completed three passes for 26 yards.
Jenkins
Dominique Johnson Jr., sr., ATH — The senior had 30 rushes for 308 yards with 21 receptions for 482 yards. He had 495 returns yards and 1,287 all-purpose yards and 16 total touchdowns. On defense, he had three interceptions with seven tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Demetrius Holloway Jr., sr., QB — Dual-threat quarterback was 56 of 90 passing for 1,175 yards with 14 touchdowns and rushed for 364 yards and six scores on 36 carries in the regular season.
Ryan Scott, sr., RB — The senior standout had 109 carries for 929 yards and nine touchdowns with five catches for 93 yards in the regular season for the Region 3-3A champs.
Aujshawn Izzard, sr., LB — Senior leader had 61 tackles with 11 for losses and four sacks with three quarterback hurries, an interception, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble in the regular season.
Brandon Brown, jr., LB — First-year starter had 86 tackles with one for a loss and a sacks. He had two quarterback hurries, a fumble recovery and two forced fumbles in the regular season.
Johnson
Shamari King, jr., QB — Dual threat quarterback rushed for 839 rushing yards and 10 scores and had 566 yards passing and four more touchdowns.
New Hampstead
Erik Hockman, sr., QB — The senior completed 58% of his passes for 2,190 yards, the most in Savannah area, with 16 touchdown passes and four scoring runs.
Savannah Christian
Blaise Thomas, sr., QB — The team captain and three-year starter threw for 1,822 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed for 831 rush yards and nine scores. He had 2,664 total yards has more than 6,000 career yards.
Athen Hudspeth, sr., S/RB — Two-way standout and team captain had 65 tackles and two interceptions and rushed for 336 yards and nine scores with 11 catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns.
Weston Hughes, sr., WR/S — Standout senior had 39 catches for 803 yards and nine touchdowns and picked off two passes with 26 solo tackles as a safety.
JT Howell, sr., OL/DL — Two-way starter and team captain had 41 tackles with 6.5 for losses and a pair of sacks, while playing a key role on the Raiders strong offensive line.
John Gross, sr., LB/WR — Senior tied for the team lead with 84 tackles, with six for losses and a sack in the regular season and also started at receiver.
Savannah Country Day
Hayes Beaver, sr., LB/FB — The senior captain, who has committed to play at James Madison, had 91 tackles, with 12 TFLs, four sacks and two interceptions. He also rushed for 91 yards on 17 carries and had eight catches for 102 yards.
Thomas Holland, jr., RB/QB/LB — The junior did it all for the Hornets as he rushed for 991 yards and 11 TDs, while throwing for 633 yards and three scores. He added 15 tackles with two for losses on defense.
Savannah
Eli Frieson, sr., RB/LB — Senior leader had 782 rushing yards with 164 receiving yards and 1,121 all-purpose yards. On defense he racked up 98 tackle with 10 for losses.
St. Andrew’s School
Amari Cook, sr., ATH — Senior star rushed for 630 yards and seven scores and had 20 catches for 420 yards and seven touchdowns as he amassed 1,327 all-purpose yards with 15 touchdowns. He also had 21 tackles and two interceptions.
Windsor Forest
Zane Rowland, soph., QB — Rowland threw for 1,756 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for 273 yards and four scores.
Jayden Thomas, sr., WR/DB — The senior had 25 receptions for 324 yards and three scores and added a pair of interceptions on defense.
Ja’Shawn Green, jr., MLB — The senior had 53 tackles with seven for losses and two fumble recoveries.
Past Finocchiaro Award winners
1976 — Tommy Cupstid, Windsor Forest
1977 — Randy Lanier, Benedictine
1978 — Chris McCarthy, Benedictine
1979 — J.J. Young, Groves
1980 — Harry South, Benedictine
1981 — Joel Carter, Benedictine
1982 — Jack McCollum, Jenkins
1983 — Stephen Jones, Jenkins
1984 — Peter Brennan, Benedictine
1985 — Tim Smart, Groves
1986 — Corey Ladson, Tompkins
1987 — Keith Jones, Savannah High
1988 — Stanley Smart, Beach
1989 — Daryl Wall, Windsor Forest
1990 — Marcel Cooper, Groves
1991 — JJ Mobley, Beach
1992 — Bill Sparks, Savannah Country Day
1993 — Mede Lewis, Savannah High
1994 — Vinson Cooper, Groves
1995 — Patrick Smith, Benedictine
1996 — Prince Jonson, Beach
1997 — Walter Simmons, Benedictine
1998 — Jamaal Argrow, Benedictine
1999 — Craig Thomas, Calvary Day
2000 — Lamar Owens, Benedictine
2001 — Joey Boaen, Country Day
2002 — Joey Boaen, SCD
2003 — Sage Glasper, Groves
2004 — Jonathan Armstrong, Groves
2005 — Demarcus Dobbs, Calvary Day
2006 — Franklin Green, Jenkins
2007 — Franklin Green, Jenkins
2008 — Chris Barnwell, Savannah Christian
2009 — Chris Barnwell, SCPS
2010-15 — No winner
2016 — Wesley Kennedy, Benedictine
2017 — Javonte Middleton, Jenkins
2018 — Jakeen Harris, Benedictine
2019 — Ronald Cooper III, Jenkins
2020 — Justin Thomas, Benedictine; and Spencer Robicheaux, Savannah Christian
2021 — Justin Thomas, Benedictine
2022 — Pauly Seeley, New Hampstead
2023 — Jake Merklinger, Calvary Day and Ra’Shawn Truell, New Hampstead
2024 — Ra’Shawn Truell, New Hampstead
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Nominations for Finocchiaro Award as top Savannah football player announced
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