Andrews, Cosgrove make All-Conference team
Published in the December 5, 2019 edition.
WAKEFIELD — The Middlesex League’s football coaches met recently to vote on All-Stars for the 2019 season.
The Wakefield Warriors, who finished the season third in the Freedom Division with an overall record of 6-5 and a league record of 3-2, had seven All-Stars selected.
In addition to division All-Stars, the league voted on an All-Conference team with 11 starters on offense and defense from both divisions. The Warriors had two selected to the All Conference team: seniors Taaj Andrews and Liam Cosgrove.
Andrews made the list as one of the best four defensive linemen in the league along with Stoneham’s Chris Belliveau, Reading’s Dom DeCrescenzo and Woburn’s Jimmy Pappas.
Cosgrove made it as one of five offensive lineman, along with Lexington’s Nick Ursino, Winchester’s Brendan Gill, Melrose’s Jared Karelas and Belmont’s Ryan Hoffman.
Both have been key members of Wakefield’s line for three seasons.
In addition to Cosgrove and Andrews, the Warriors had senior lineman Anthony DeVito, senior QB/WR/DB Wesley Pierre, junior LB/FB/K Danny Hurley, junior RB/LB Tucker Stikeman and sophomore RB/DB Aidan Sweeney named as Freedom Division All-Stars.
DeVito concluded a terrific career as an offensive lineman and linebacker even while fighting through injuries.
Pierre also battled injuries but was a key component in all three phases, first as a QB then later a RB/WR hybrid for the offense, a safety on defense and a kick returner. He had four interceptions, three offensive touchdowns and a kick return touchdown.
Hurley scored four rushing touchdowns and was Wakefield’s best lead blocker. He also accounted for multiple sacks playing a vital role as a linebacker. During his third season as the starting kicker Hurley was once again terrific going 33-for-36 on PAT’s and 2-for-2 on field goals.
Stikeman was a key running back and defensive player. The junior accounted for seven rushing touchdowns and covered plenty of ground for the Warrior defense.
Sweeney, who led the Warriors with 12 rushing touchdowns as a freshman last year, took another step as Wakefield’s top option, accounting for 22 rushing touchdowns to lead the team this season. The sophomore ran for five touchdowns in back-to-back weeks against Dracut on Nov. 8 and North Reading on Nov. 15.
Wakefield improved from 3-8 in 2018 to 6-5 this season. After missing the playoffs last year, the Warriors made the Div. 4 North bracket as a 6-seed and traveled to No. 3 Wayland in the first round where they fell 27-14.
Wakefield’s seven were tied with Stoneham, who finished second in the Freedom Division. First-place Melrose had 10 All-Stars selected including Freedom MVP Chris Cusolito. The Red Raiders also led the balloting for the All-Conference team as their five selections were more than any other Middlesex League team, outnumbering Reading by one.
Stoneham had three named to the All-Conference team and Winchester joined Wakefield with two as only five of the 12 teams had multiple selections.
Following Melrose, Stoneham and Wakefield, Wilmington was next with five Freedom Division All-Stars followed by four from Burlington and one from Watertown.
Reading set the pace in the Liberty Division with seven All-Stars followed by seven from Winchester, six from Belmont, six from Lexington, four from Woburn and three from Arlington. The Liberty MVP was QB Tommy Degnan who accounted for all three of the Sachems’ touchdowns during their 21-7 win over Wakefield on Oct. 11.
2019 MIDDLESEX LEAGUE FOOTBALL ALL-STARS
Freedom Divsion
Name School
Chris Cusolito Melrose MVP
Billy Pesce Melrose
Matt Hickey Melrose
Jared Karelas Melrose
Charlie Haggerty Melrose
Brendan Fennell Melrose
Sean Herbert Melrose
Brendan Maher Melrose
Mical Duntin Melrose
Micye Duntin Melrose
Deshawn Chase Stoneham
Luke Moriarty Stoneham
Victor Fernandes Stoneham
Mike Driscoll Stoneham
Chris Belliveau Stoneham
Chris Dragone Stoneham
Pat McNamara Stoneham
Liam Cosgrove Wakefield
Aidan Sweeney Wakefield
Taaj Andrews Wakefield
Wesley Pierre Wakefield
Tucker Stikeman Wakefield
Danny Hurley Wakefield
Anthony DeVito Wakefield
Bailey Smith Wilmington
Pat McAndrew Wilmington
Dean Nally Wilmington
Christian Robarge Wilmington
Gavin Erickson Wilmington
Khyle Pena Burlington
Shawn Pinkham Burlington
Ray Magliozzi Burlington
Chris Jones Burlington
David Manoukian Watertown
Liberty Division
Dom DeCrescenzo Reading
Jeremy Rosh Reading
Colin Comerford Reading
Colin DuRoss Reading
Dan DiMare Reading
James Murphy Reading
Brendan DiSilva Reading
Tommy Degnan Winchester MVP
Jimmy Gibbons Winchester
Brendan Gill Winchester
Aria Manfred Winchester
Jakob Flores Winchester
Michael Sirignano Winchester
Henry Kraft Winchester
Chad Francis Belmont
Avery Arno Belmont
Justin Rocha Belmont
Ryan Santoro Belmont
Zach Hubbard Belmont
Ryan Hoffman Belmont
Mason Hatfield Lexington
Beau Vernet Lexington
Justin Siri Lexington
Kevin Xiong Lexington
Ethan Xi Lexington
Nick Ursino Lexington
David Langlois Woburn
Jimmy Pappas Woburn
Mike Koussa Woburn
Symon Sathler Woburn
Tyler Callahan Arlington
Charles Gillis Arlington
Calvin Pike Arlington
All-Conference Team
Offense
Name School Position
Tommy Degnan Winchester QB
Chris Cusolito Melrose RB
Deshawn Chase Stoneham RB
Colin DuRoss Reading WR
Shawn Pinkham Burlington WR
Tyler Callahan Arlington Util
Liam Cosgrove Wakefield OL
Nick Ursino Lexington OL
Brendan Gill Winchester OL
Jared Karelas Melrose OL
Ryan Hoffman Belmont OL
Defense
Victor Fernandes Stoneham DB
Charlie Haggerty Melrose DB
Jeremy Rosh Reading DB
Colin Comerford Reading LB
Bailey Smith Wilmington LB
Matt Hickey Melrose LB
Billy Pesce Melrose LB
Taaj Andrews Wakefield DL
Chris Belliveau Stoneham DL
Dom DeCrescenzo Reading DL
Jimmy Pappas Woburn DL
