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мÓƶà¶à¿ª½±¼Ç¼'s Football Player of the Year: Camren Hoag, Cato-Meridian

Leading a revitalized run game, Hoag amassed 1,101 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground during his senior season. On the way to the Blue Devils finishing the regular season at 7-1, he posted a career-high 220 rushing yards and three scores in a 52-20 win over Beaver River. The senior then saved his second 200-yard performance of the year for the postseason. In the quarterfinals of the Section III, Class D tournament, Hoag took 13 carries for 213 yards and three scores as Cato-Meridian defeated Westmoreland/Oriskany 54-21. Along with his rushing during the season, he added five catches for 123 yards and a touchdown, and picked up 15 tackles on defense.

Logan Merriam, Cato-Meridian

With Hoag primarily rushing on the outside, Merriam added another dynamic to the Blue Devils with his success between the tackles. The junior ran for 661 yards and 11 touchdowns, which ranked third and second on the team, respectively. Playing linebacker on defense, he led the team with 50.5 tackles and tallied one forced fumble and an interception. He also set a single-game career-high in rushing yards against Herkimer on Sept. 21, taking 14 carries for 112 yards and two scores.

Joe Baylor, Moravia

After missing the entire 2023 season due to a torn ACL, Baylor bounced back in a big way in 2024. The senior wide receiver led the Blue Devils with 1,008 yards and 17 touchdowns on 50 receptions as they advanced to the New York state 8-man championship. Defensively, he racked up 44 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. One of Baylor’s most efficient outings of the season came in the Section IV 8-man semifinals, when he hauled in three passes for 100 yards and three scores in a win over Groton. 

Thomas Palmer, Moravia 

Palmer quarterbacked an offense that scored an average of 44.5 points en route to its 8-man state final appearance against Frankfort-Schuyler. In his last start as a Blue Devil against the Maroon Knights, Palmer completed 29 of 47 attempts for 381 yards and four touchdowns — 181 of those yards and three scores going to Riley Jones. The senior signal caller finished the season with 161 completions for 2,807 yards and 40 touchdowns. 

Matt Smith, Auburn 

The Maroons finished the season with a record over .500 (7-3) for the first time since 2019 after receiving a big boost on the ground from their quarterback. Smith rushed for a team-and career-high 1,087 yards and 16 touchdowns. Through the air, the junior completed 54 passes for 581 yards and five scores. He had one of his best games of the season in Auburn's Section III, Class A quarterfinal win against East Syracuse-Minoa. Smith took 10 carries for 178 yards and a touchdown, while completing all nine of his passes for 96 yards and a score.

Johntae Smith, Auburn

While the Maroons’ quarterback led the team in rushing, the junior running back had his fair share of success on the ground. Smith finished the season with 429 rushing yards and six scores, with 138 of those yards and two of those touchdowns coming in a 40-20 win against Henninger on Oct. 4. As an edge rusher, he recorded five sacks — second on the team to Logan Polcovich’s seven — as well as 29 tackles, a fumble recovery for a touchdown and an interception for a touchdown. 

Hugh Carroll, Skaneateles

Carroll commanded a balanced offense that ran for 2,100 yards and totaled 1,784 yards through the air. The junior quarterback was instrumental in the Lakers’ dynamic offense, as he rushed for a team-high 749 yards and 13 scores, while throwing for 1,586 yards and 12 touchdowns. To open the season, Carroll completed 18 passes for 159 yards and two scores, and took nine attempts for 130 yards and one score on the ground in a 41-6 win over Fulton. 

Reid Danforth, Skaneateles

Leading the Lakers in receiving, Danforth caught a team-high 32 passes for 659 yards and five touchdowns. The junior set a single-game career-high in receiving yards against General Brown in the Section III, Class C semifinals, catching seven passes for 179 yards and a touchdown. On top of his offensive production, Danforth was pivotal for Skaneateles’ secondary. The ball hawk intercepted a team-high six passes and added 21.5 tackles. 

Brady Ellis, Skaneateles

The Lakers’ Swiss Army knife had an effect at nearly every level in 2024 as he captained the team to a 8-2 season. Offensively, the senior carried the ball 19 times for 110 yards and three touchdowns, while also catching 19 passes for 214 yards and another three touchdowns. On the other side of the ball, Ellis led a defense that allowed 19.7 points a game by racking up a team-high 87 tackles. 

Trevor Moon, Weedsport 

Moon contributed in almost every phase as well during his junior season. He led the Wolverines with 671 yards and 12 scores on the ground, and paired that with a team-high 15 receptions for 168 yards. He also paced Weedsport defensively with a team-high 109 tackles — 55 solo and 54 assisted. One of his best games of the season came when he rushed for 162 yards and four scores in a 30-6 win against Thousand Islands on Oct. 18. Due to his all-around impact in 2024, Moon was named to the West Division’s first team.