Leading off today: Jack Coan has added a final honor as the record-setting Sayville quarterback begins his college career this month at the University of Wisconsin: He's now a two-time New York State player of the year.
Coan and Somers wide receiver Matt Pires were announced as co-players of the year in Class A on Wednesday as the New York State Sportswriters Association released its all-state teams in the two large-school football classes. Poly Prep lineman Isaiah Wilson was selected the player of the year in Class AA.
Coan shared the 2015 player of the year honor as a junior with Buffalo South Park QB Tyree Brown. In his senior season, he threw for 2,162 yards and 31 touchdowns with just four interceptions. He also ran for 766 yards and 11 touchdowns en route to being selected Gatorade's state player of the year last month.
Coan set Long Island single-season records for touchdown passes (40) and passing yards (3,431) in 2014 and Long Island career records in those categories of 128 and 9,787, respectively.
Pires helped Somers to a New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship in the Carrier Dome and finished his season with 27 receptions for 873 yards -- a startling 32.3 yards average -- as well as 35 rushing attempts for 636 yards -- an average of 18.2 yards per carry. He totaled 25 touchdowns.
Poly Prep's Wilson, labeled the state's top prospect for two years running, committed last month to the University of Georgia. He is the first full-time interior lineman to be selected player of the year in the top enrollment class since the NYSSWA named Sachem's Mark Wojciechowski its large-school co-player of the year in 1985 and Elmira Southside's Pete Curkendall its large-school player of the year in 1983.
Here are the links to the all-state teams:
• 2016 Class AA all-state team
• 2016 Class A all-state team
A few more links related to the all-state football team announcement:
• 2016 Class B all-state team
• 2016 Class C all-state team
• 2016 Class D all-state team
• Recent NYSSWA players of the year
• All-state teams, 1999-2016
• Final 2016 AA and A state rankings
• Final 2016 B, C and D state rankings
More all-state: As always, thank you to the New York State Sportswriters Association's Steve Grandin for editing the all-state picks in all five classes. We will assemble a list of those who provided key assistance in tomorrow's blog.
Park looks devastating: It would be premature to anoint Park School as the sure-bet boys Class A champion in the Federation basketball tournament, but ...
Noah Hutchins scored 17 of his game-high 23 points in the first half as the state's top-ranked team pulled away from Canisius a 73-47 victory in Monsignor Martin Association action.
Junior Joe Jones finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks as the Pioneers improve to 8-1.
Park returns to action Thursday with a huge home game against seventh-ranked Williamsville South.
More boys basketball: Jeff Anastasia became the winningest boys basketball coach in Western New York history when Olean defeated Fredonia 70-44. Monty Shoemaker paved the way with 20 points.
Win No, 545 broke a tie with Mel Palano, the retired coach at Bishop Timon-St. Jude.
