On Wednesday, WATD announced the 10 semifinalists for the inaugural Bill Wilhelm Award.
Student athletes were selected from nine different schools, with several two-way players making the list.
A group littered with captains, leaders, and next-level players, the 10 semifinalists are truly the class of South Shore football for the 2022 season.
Below, we have highlighted some of the achievements of each of these student athletes.
Will Baker, Cohasset
The senior captain and Williams College commit was as talented a dual-threat quarterback as the area saw this season.
Baker amassed 1,740 passing yards with a 68% completion rate, 18 touchdowns and just six interceptions.
He added another 18 scores on the ground, to go along with 1,268 rushing yards on just 180 carries.
In addition to surpassing the 3,000 all purpose yards mark, Baker was a key contributor on defense during the Skippers Division 7 semifinal run, totaling 47 tackles, three interceptions, and a pick-six.
Jacob Coulstring, Rockland
The senior was nearly impossible to contain this season, as he racked up 20 rushing touchdowns and 1,383 rushing yards.
A contributor in the passing game as well, Coulstring caught 12 passes for 316 yards and another three scores.
Defensively, Coulstring had three interceptions and two fumble recoveries for the Bulldogs, who came up a single point shy of a return to Gillette. His coach, Nick Liquori, lauded him as a key leader of the defense, setting the backfield with alignments and responsibilities.
Matt Festa, Duxbury
With unmatched passing numbers, the senior captain went from another in a line of great Duxbury quarterbacks to perhaps the preeminent Dragons signal caller.
A sparkling touchdown to interception ratio of 33 to 3 jumps off the page immediately. So, too, does Festa’s 2,681 passing yards, which were good enough to eclipse Bobby Maimaron’s program record.
Festa also added another 10 scores on the ground, to go along with 429 rushing yards.
With a Super Bowl game remaining, Festa has a few more program records in his crosshairs.
Nick Freel, Hanover
The Hawks’ workhorse back, Freel averaged over seven yards per carry as he passed the 1,000 yard threshold.
With 13 rushing touchdowns, and another three receiving, Freel was on of the areas best all-down backs.
Equally good on defense, the senior amassed 80 tackles, four sacks, eight tackles for loss, and an interception.
John Gianibas, Hull
Perhaps the most electrifying runner in the area, “Johnny G” has already eclipsed 1,500 yards rushing on the season, averaging over 10 yards per touch.
The Pirates’ captain has 23 total touchdowns on the season; 18 on the ground, four receiving, and another on a scoop-and-score on the defensive side of the ball.
A two-way stalwart for Super Bowl-bound Hull, Gianibas has over 40 tackles and an interception on the year.
Casious Johnson, Plymouth South
After bursting onto the scene as a freshman in 2020, Johnson has lived up to his billing every step of the way.
Despite having one of, if not the biggest target on his back on the South Shore, the junior still managed to average a shade under nine yards per carry on the season.
A touchdown scorer in every facet of the game, Johnson finished with 1,703 rushing yards and 17 rushing TDs, as well as one passing and one receiving score.
Owen McHugh, Milton
Still amidst a perfect season with an eye on leading the Wildcats to their first ever Super Bowl season, McHugh has been nothing short of spectacular.
The former baseball commit has showed off his arm time and again, racking up 2,253 passing yards and 31 touchdowns while leading one of the state’s best big strike offenses.
McHugh has been a factor in the ground game as well, adding six touchdowns and 499 yards rushing.
Cam Monteiro, Brockton
It’s hard to believe that Monteiro is still just a junior. The do-it-all Boxer entered the season expecting to be one of the state’s best receivers, transitioned to a more predominantly rushing role, before being asked to take the reins of the offense at quarterback.
He responded with eye popping numbers—1,055 rushing yards and 19 total touchdowns.
All that despite missing two games of the season due to injury.
Already on WATD’s short list of the area’s best players, Monteiro will be one of high school football’s top returning talents next year.
Michael Oates, Xaverian Brothers
The senior UConn baseball commit proved himself one of the best multisport athletes in the area with a big season on the ground for the Hawks.
Against one of the state’s toughest schedules, Oates put up an eight yards per carry average with 1,211 yards and 16 TDs. He chipped in as a receiver, too, snagging a pair of touchdowns.
Ben Scalzi, Hanover
You’d be forgiven if you forgot that Scalzi was expected to be another pass catcher in the Hawks receiving corps at the end of last year.
The junior washed away any questions about his abilities to fill the shoes of his predecessor Michael Landolfi with a prolific 2,800 yard, 27 touchdown season through the air, coupled with another 244 yards rushing and five ground scores.
Despite the heavy attrition Hanover will have to deal with next year, Scalzi will keep them firmly in the mix in the Patriot League Fisher Division.
The three finalists for the Bill Wilhelm Award will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 6 during The Main Event with Quinn Kelly on 101.1 WBMS/1460 AM. The program airs live from 6 to 8 p.m.
At a date of yet to be determined, WATD will announce the inaugural winner of the Bill Wilhelm Award live on the Sports Exchange.
