A joint poll by the Observer‑Dispatch and Times Telegram is now open to identify the top returning high school football player from the Mohawk Valley for the 2026 season. The competition highlights the region’s most promising underclassmen who earned all‑state honors last fall.
Rising Stars of the Valley
Ten underclassmen who were recognized on the all‑state teams are among the candidates, each bringing standout performances from the 2025 campaign.
Connor McDonald of Whitesboro, a key figure in three straight Class A titles, rushed for a record‑setting season, while Ethan Briggs from Holland Patent threw for 1,656 yards and 16 touchdowns. Ian Carney of Waterville combined rushing and passing yards to exceed 2,000, and Wesley D’Imperio of Morrisville‑Eaton powered the ground game with over 1,000 yards.
Additional standouts include Tim Gomez of Dolgeville, who posted 811 passing yards and nine touchdowns while adding 412 rushing yards, Caleb Herringshaw of Dolgeville who led the defensive unit with 95½ tackles, and Cade Zaleski of Morrisville‑Eaton who topped Section III with 17 sacks.
The poll remains open until noon on Monday, August 17, with the winner to be announced on Wednesday, August 19, on TimesTelegram.com and UticaOD.com. High school football teams across New York, including those in the Mohawk Valley, will begin training camp on Monday, setting the stage for the upcoming season.