2011 All-City football team

Meet the athletes who excelled during the 2011 football season in New York City.

The teams were selected by Dylan Butler, Pat O’Keefe and Nick Meidanis.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

KAREEM FOLKES
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Running back, Sr, Lincoln

One of the few returning starters from a Railsplitters team that lost in the PSAL title game a year ago, Folkes is the biggest reason why Lincoln captured the title and finished undefeated. He rushed for 1,756 yards and a PSAL-best 28 touchdowns and came up with a pair of championship-clinching pass deflections at Yankee Stadium despite a high ankle sprain.

JESSEL JONES
Quarterback, Sr, Lincoln

Jones went from scout team quarterback to one of the heroes of the Railsplitters undefeated championship season. He threw for 1,163 yards and 11 touchdowns, while running for 850 yards and 15 more scores in his first year as starting QB.

SHAQUELL JACKSON
Running back, Sr, Erasmus Hall

The 5-foot-10 senior rushed for 1,239 yards and 13 touchdowns, but suffered a knee injury early in the second half of an overtime win against Tottenville in the semifinals.

ALVIN CORNELIUS
Wide receiver, Sr., Tottenville

The Syracuse-bound senior did a little bit of everything to help lead the Pirates to the PSAL semifinals. He rushed for five touchdowns, had 27 catches for 404 yards and three scores, had six interceptions, one returned to the house, and returned a kick and two punts for TDs. Oh yeah, and he threw for a touchdown in the playoffs.

TRAVON REID SEGURE
Wide receiver, Jr., Fort Hamilton

Emerging from Brandon Reddish’s shadow, Segure was one of the top playmakers in the city before his junior season was cut short by injury. He had two rushing touchdowns, two receiving scores, a pair of interceptions and even stepped in as quarterback briefly when Marvin Centeno went down with a broken collarbone.

JONATHAN BADYNA
Tight end, Jr., Xaverian

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound junior had 29 receptions for 378 yards and three touchdowns, including five catches for 41 yards in the CHSFL Class AAA semifinal overtime loss to Stepinac.

WAYNE MORGAN
Athlete, Sr., Erasmus Hall

A four-year starter for the Dutchmen, the lightning quick Semper Fidelis All-American is being recruited by Syracuse, UConn and Rutgers as a defensive back. He threw for 773 yards and six touchdowns, rushed for 600 yards and six TDs, returned a punt for a score and had two defensive touchdowns.

ARMANI GORDON
Offensive line, Sr, Lincoln

The 6-foot-2, 310-pound senior was a two-way standout on the Lincoln line. Offensively, he helped create holes for Jones and Folkes and defensively he was one of the best run-stuffers in the city with 24 tackles.

JAY HAYES
Offensive line, So., Poly Prep

A first-year starter on an inexperienced Poly team, the 6-foot-4, 270-pound man-child of a left tackle has already received major Division I-A interest. The sophomore also started at defensive end.

JAMES DRIVER
Offensive line, Sr, Campus Magnet

Before the start of the season, Magnet coach Eric Barnett believes he had the best tackle in New York City and the 6-foot-7, 295-pound Driver didn’t disappoint. The senior provided ample protection for quarterback Kahlik Greenwood.

FRANCISCO MENDEZ
Offensive line, Sr, John F. Kennedy

Heavily recruited, the 6-foot-7, 305-pound beast was one of the best offensive lineman around, opening up holes for Romario Dillion and making sure quarterback Anthony Cruz was untouchable.

KEITH MITTENZWEI
Offensive line, Sr, Monsignor Farrell

Lions quarterback Paul Quadrato was among the top passers in the CHSFL this season and big Keith Mittenzwei, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound two-way senior lineman was a big reason why.

MARK WALSH
Special teams, Sr, Riverdale

The senior was a threat every time he touched the ball and a huge reason why the Falcons recorded their first undefeated season since 1999. He might have saved his best for last, rushing for 293 yards and four touchdowns in a season-ending win against Dalton.

----------------------------------------------------------------

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

Zach Kearney, QB, Xaverian, 5-9, 180 Junior
Laray Smith, RB, Xaverian, 6-1, 175 Junior
DeQuan June, RB, Cardinal Hayes, 5-9, 170 Senior
Malik Rodriguez, WR, Poly Prep, 6-3, 190, Senior
Sean Binckes, WR, Xaverian, 6-4, 220, Senior
Tushaun Plummer, ATH, Xaverian, 5-7, 160, Senior
Armani Garrick, OL, Fort Hamilton, 6-4, 265, Junior
Tykeem Williams, OL, DeWitt Clinton, 6-1, 280, Senior
Arian Balidemic, OL, Lincoln, 6-2, 210, Senior
Rujel Henry, OL, Erasmus Hall, 6-5, 225, Junior
Ricky Comis, OL, Xavier, 5-11, 235, Junior
Ben BiFalco, K, Tottenville, 5-8, 150, Senior

----------------------------------------------------------------

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

ROBERT KITCHING
Defensive line, Sr., Lincoln

The lone returning defensive starter for Lincoln, the 6-foot-2, 310-pound lineman had 43 tackles and 10 sacks and was instrumental in a quarterfinal win against Thomas Jefferson. He made three consecutive goal-line stops.

OMARI MANHERTZ
Defensive line, Sr., Mount St. Michael

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior was one of the top tackles in the city. The two-sport athlete – he’s also a standout on the Mount basketball team – Manhertz had 44 tackles and six sacks.

OLUWATOBA AKINLEYE
Defensive line, Sr., Fort Hamilton

No one in the city had more sacks than Akinleye, who recorded 15 during the regular season and one more in the playoffs. The senior defensive linesman also had 63 tackles.

ASHTON MCKENZIE
Linebacker, Jr., DeWitt Clinton

The anchor of the hard-hitting defense and the Governors’ heart and soul, McKenzie never left the field and always dominated the action. He had 66 tackles and a sack, while on offense, he rushed for 964 yards and 10 touchdowns and added a receiving TD.

DONCHERVELL SMITH
Linebacker, Jr., Canarsie

For a second consecutive year, the hard-nosed linebacker was among the PSAL’s leaders with 100 tackles. The 5-foot-10, 240-pound junior also rushed for 277 yards and 10 touchdowns.

NATHANIEL FELIZ
Linebacker, Sr., John F. Kennedy

He doesn’t just have a Troy Polamalu-like hairstyle. The senior linebacker alsohits like the Pittsburgh Steelers standout. Feliz led the PSAL with 109 tackles and also had two sacks and an interception.

KAREEM TURNAGE
Linebacker, Sr., Campus Magnet

One of the top linebackers in the city for a second consecutive year, Turnage had 88 regular-season tackles and 16 more in the postseason, four fumble recoveries, three sacks, two safeties and two defensive touchdowns.

BRUCE PARKER JR.
Defensive back, Sr., Mount St. Michael

Parker was one of the most electrifying players in the city whenever he touched the ball. He had 37 tackles and four interceptions and was always a danger when returning a kickoff or punt.

RICHARD GUINYARD
Defensive back, Sr., Campus Magnet

No one had more interceptions in the PSAL’s highest classification than Guinyard, who picked off quarterbacks seven times. The senior also had 45 tackles and a sack, while adding a kickoff return and a punt return for touchdowns.

NAJEE BROWN
Defensive back, Sr., Mount St. Michael

The senior stepped in and had a stellar first season at quarterback, rushing for 13 touchdowns and throwing for four more, but he was once again one of the best lock-down defensive backs in the five boroughs with 44 tackles and four interceptions.

DENZEL DUCHENNE
Defensive back, Sr., Lincoln

One of the unsung heroes of Lincoln’s championship squad, the versatile senior had 27 tackles, four interceptions and two defensive touchdowns, while also adding five rushing touchdowns, eight receiving scores and a punt return TD.

LUDER JEAN LOUIS
Athlete, Sr., Erasmus Hall

An emotional leader and captain of the Dutchmen, the senior linebacker had 52 tackles, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions and a sack to help lead Erasmus Hall to the PSAL final at Yankee Stadium.

----------------------------------------------------------------

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

Rocky Iannacone, DL, Xaverian, 6-1, 215, Senior
Denis Shpigel, DL, Madison, 6-0, 200, Senior
Mensur Ibric, DL, Fort Hamilton, 6-2, 225, Senior
Kenny Coughlin, LB, Tottenville, 5-11, 230, Senior
Kenny Acquah, LB, Mount St. Michael, 6-1, 220, Senior
Tevin Fraser, LB, Lincoln, 5-10, 205, Senior
Tristan Laurore, LB, Boys & Girls, 5-8, 175, Junior
Rob Myers, DB, St. Francis Prep, 6-0, 170, Senior
Jeremiah Obang-Agyapong, DB, Clinton, 5-9, 160, Senior
Emmanual Johnson, DB, MSIT, 6-0, 200, Senior
Brian Sussingham, DB, Fordham Prep, 6-0, 160, Senior
Robert Thomas, ATH, Fort Hamilton, 5-11, 220, Senior

----------------------------------------------------------------

COACH OF THE YEAR

SHAWN O’CONNOR, Lincoln

Lincoln isn’t just a basketball school anymore and O’Connor has a lot to do with that. He changed the football culture in Coney Island and made sure his team wasn’t concerned about the players who graduated from last year’s team – 26 in total – that suffered a heartbreaking two-point loss in the title game. The Railsplitters responded and the result was an undefeated season.
 

More from MSGVarsity.com