The FCIAC had 18 players selected to several of the Connecticut High School Coaches Association’s all-state football teams which were recently released.
The head coaches throughout the state voted on the teams for each of the four all-state class teams designated by the class sizes of the schools – Class LL, Class L, Class M and Class S – and from that voting there was a selection of the state’s top players who were moved up from their respective class teams to the Top 26 team.
There are nine FCIAC players on the Top 26, including three from St. Joseph and two from Greenwich. St. Joseph and Daniel Hand each have three selections to tie for the most from all the statewide teams represented on the Top 26.
Two of the three quarterbacks on the Top 26 are from the FCIAC – New Canaan’s Drew Pyne and St. Joseph’s Jack Wallace.Running back Jaden Shirden and defensive lineman Jermaine Williams are the other St. Joseph Cadets on the Top 26.
Shirden is the only FCIAC player who made the Top 26 for the second consecutive year as he was on last year’s Top 26 with when the conference also had nine selections and the other eight of them were seniors.
The other five FCIAC players on this year’s Top 26 include wide receiver A.J. Barber and defensive lineman Edward Iuteri from Greenwich, Darien linebacker Sam Wilson, Wilton offensive lineman Matt Gulbin and Danbury defensive end Jah Joyner.
Positions were provided only for reference on the Top 26, while the all-state teams for each of the four classes were separated into players designated for the offense and the defense.
The four FCIAC players on the Class LL all-state team are offensive lineman Reid Englert and defensive back Alex Hanna from Ridgefield, Darien quarterback Peter Graham and Staples defensive back Jake Thaw.
There are four more conference players on the Class L all-state team: wide receiver Zach LaPolice and punter Nick Radman of New Canaan, and placekicker Austin Jose and linebacker Cole DaSilva of St. Joseph.
Most of the FCIAC schools are in the Class LL and Class L classifications.This was the first year of the Trinity Catholic/Wright Tech cooperative program from Stamford. Trinity Catholic/Wright Tech defensive back Tahjee Morgan made the Class S all-state team.
The CHSCA will announce a Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Assistant Coach of the Year, and Team of the Year during its annual All-State Banquet at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington on Jan. 12.