Worcester, MA - With the 2025 high school football season concluding this past weekend, it’s time to unveil the fifth annual Player of the Year candidates for the top gridiron stars from across Central Mass.
Who had the best season? Who meant the most to their respective team? See their stats and accomplishments and cast your vote below.
Please note, this a personal ballot compiled from firsthand observations and conversations with football followers and is separate from the Hometeam Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, who will be selected along with the rest of the Super Team by the T&G staff and revealed at a later date. All stats were submitted to the T&G staff and used to compile bios.
Bradyn Belanger, Auburn
Although he missed some time this fall, this bruising running back delivered big time for the boys in blue. Belanger brought the boom, rushing 103 times for 1,016 yards and 24 touchdowns en route to being named the Joseph R. Mewhiney CMass Division 5 Offensive MVP. His four-touchdown performance in the Rockets’ 39-33 win over Uxbridge in overtime on Oct. 10 handed the Spartans their first loss since 2022. A 5-foot-11, 204-pound junior, Belanger rushed for three TDs and a 2-point conversion to earn Offensive MVP honors in Auburn’s win over Grafton on Thanksgiving.
Taetum Cassella, Clinton
A key cog in Clinton’s dynamic three-headed monster in the offensive backfield, this senior captain might have made a bigger impact on defense. A menacing middle linebacker, Cassella collected 90 tackles (heading into his team’s Thanksgiving win over Nashoba) and was named the Joseph R. Mewhiney CMass Division 7 Defensive MVP. Cassella helped the Gaels reach a third straight Div. 7 state semifinal and rushed for 1,034 yards and 15 touchdowns and was one of 15 non-QBs in the area to surpass 100 points this fall.
Dylan Devine, Nashoba
Despite Devine being the focal point of game plans from opposing teams, this senior dual-threat QB did it all for Nashoba. The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder completed 65 passes for 1,100 yards and 9 touchdowns and rushed 130 times for 1,180 yards and 18 TDs. Devine had six games of either throwing for 100-plus yards or rushing for 100-plus yards this season and was named the Joseph R. Mewhiney CMass Division 4 Co-Offensive MVP along with Shepherd Hill’s Devin Rowden.
Logan Dome, Hudson
With big shoes to fill this fall, this junior quarterback found his footing right away for the Hawks. Dome delivered week in and week out for the defending Division 6 Super Bowl champs. He scored three touchdowns in Hudson’s Week 1 win over Auburn, twice in his team’s victory over Clinton in Week 5 and two more times in his team’s playoff win over Old Rochester on Nov. 14. Dome dashed for 1,047 yards and 11 TDs and passed for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. The dual-threat quarterback was named the Joseph R. Mewhiney CMass Division 6 Offensive MVP and helped Hudson compile a 10-2 record.
Toby Edie, Hudson
Like his team’s quarterback above, this junior served as a Swiss-army knife of sorts for the Hawks. Edie, a linebacker on defense, collected a team-high 91 tackles (15 for a loss) en route to earning the Joseph R. Mewhiney CMass Division 6 Defensive MVP award. As a rumbling running back on offense, Edie rushed for 632 yards and 6 touchdowns to support the Hawks (10-2) in securing their third straight trip to the Division 6 state semifinals.
Troy Greaney, Wachusett
This senior, and his twin brother, Danny, were a dynamic duo for the Mountaineers this fall. Troy nearly led the area in tackles with 112, as he was just three behind Quabbin’s Wes Anderson for the top spot and had six more than teammate Mike McGurn (third in tackles in Central Mass.). During his team’s biggest game of the regular season, Greaney garnered 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks in Wachusett’s 45-42 win over Leominster on Oct. 3. Greaney, a linebacker, earned Joseph R. Mewhiney CMass Division 1 Defensive MVP honors.
Camden LaChapelle, Uxbridge
An ultimate workhorse for Uxbridge over the past three seasons, this senior was the only running back from the area to surpass 200 carries this fall. LaChapelle rushed 223 times for 1,859 yards (second most in Central Mass.) and 24 touchdowns and was named a Division 7 Joseph R. Mewhiney CMass All-Star. The 5-foot-5 rusher recorded over 5K career rushing yards and finished his highly-decorated high school career as a two-time Super Bowl champion.
Joel LaChapelle, Northbridge
Like his cousin above, this senior QB was as reliable as they come for the Rams this season. Despite taking some licks as a dual-threat quarterback, LaChapelle led Northbridge — both emotionally and physically — to a spot in the Division 7 state semifinals. LaChapelle passed for 2,162 yards and 16 TDs and rushed for 841 yards and 21 touchdowns as the Rams finished with a 10-2 overall record. He earned Division 7 Joseph R. Mewhiney CMass Division 7 Offensive MVP honors.
Osiris Lopez, Leominster
After wrapping up his high school career with six tossing touchdowns on Thanksgiving, this Leominster QB set the new state record for career passing touchdowns with 123. Lopez, a four-year starter, garnered a lot of attention during his tenure with the Blue Devils. And for a good reason. This year, the 6-foot-2 quarterback threw for 2,529 yards and 40 TDs while rushing for 895 yards and 8 touchdowns. A three-time league MVP and the Joseph R. Mewhiney CMass Division 1 Offensive MVP this year, Lopez concluded his time with Leominster with 11,631 total offensive yards and 147 total TDs.
Gavin Naughton, Clinton
If Taetum Cassella was the thunder to Clinton’s highly explosive run offense, then Naughton was the lightning. This senior speedster dashed his way to 1,203 yards (on just 97 carries) and 13 touchdowns for the Gaels. Naughton averaged a Central-Mass. best 12.4 yards per rush attempt and provided 183 rushing yards and two TDs on 19 carries in Clinton’s 18-6 win over West Bridgewater in the Division 7 state quarterfinals. He’s also a standout sprinter in track and
Fred Neiray, David Prouty
Speaking of being under the radar, this senior running back compiled quite the season for David Prouty. Neiray toted the ball 145 times for 1,234 yards and 12 touchdowns to propel the Panthers to a perfect 8-0 record in the regular season. David Prouty finished the season with an 8-2 overall record. In perhaps his team’s biggest win of the season, a 36-18 victory over Keefe Tech on Oct. 17, Neiray rushed 20 times for 191 yards.
Jayden Orhin, Doherty
The statistics may not jump off the page at first, but Orhin’s impact was certainly felt on the field (and scoreboard) for the Highlanders. As a wide receiver, Orhin caught 31 passes for 334 yards and 2 touchdowns and was named the Joseph R. Mewhiney CMass Division 3 Offensive MVP. At defensive back, this senior secured 37 tackles and 2 interceptions to help the Highlanders secure a spot in the Div. 3 playoffs. He also had multiple fumble recoveries, kickoffs and punts returned for a touchdown.
Matt Oswitt, St. John’s
Linemen don’t get a lot of love. But this St. John’s senior stood tall this season to secure his place on this list. Oswitt was dominant, even across a grueling slate of Catholic Conference games, on both sides of the ball and propelled the Pioneers to a spot in the Division 1 MIAA playoffs. An offensive and defensive lineman, Oswitt earned Joseph R. Mewhiney CMass Division 1 All-Star honors and helped St. John’s finish with a 6-5 overall record.
Aiden Phillipo, Millbury
As the most consistent downfield threat in Central Mass. this fall, Phillipo put up eye-popping stats during his senior season. The 6-foot, 165-pound wide receiver recorded 69 receptions for 1,295 yards (tops in the area) and 12 touchdowns for the Woolies, who earned a Division 7 state postseason berth. In Millbury’s 33-22 playoff win over Manchester Essex on Nov. 7, Phillipo caught 10 passes for 199 yards and scored four total touchdowns. He was named a Joseph R. Mewhiney CMass Division 7 All-Star.
Dominick Renzoni, West Boylston
The Lions run on Renzoni, and it’s no secret why. The leader for rushing yards in Central Mass. with 2,257, this senior tailback also is No. 1 in rushing TDs with 36 and came into the Super Bowl averaging 12.3 yards per rush in coach Mike Ross’ double-wing offense. Renzoni led Central Mass. in scoring, too, with 240 points (37 total TDs, 9 two-point conversions) and was named the Joseph R. Mewhiney CMass Division 8 Offensive MVP after leading the Lions into the Division 8 Super Bowl, where West Boylston fell to Randolph.
Devin Rowden, Shepherd Hill
A touchdown and tote machine, Rowden teamed up with classmate Aiden Tyler to form the best one-two punch in Central Mass. for running backs this fall. A 5-foot-8, 200-pound senior with a 3.9 GPA to boot, Rowden recorded 1,315 yards on 150 carries and 20 rushing touchdowns. Rowden rumbled for over 150 yards and four touchdowns in wins over Doherty and Nashoba and was named the Joseph R. Mewhiney CMass Division 4 Co-Offensive MVP along with Nashoba’s Dylan Devine.
Lawrence Smith, Bartlett
A true dual-threat in the Bartlett backfield, this senior signal-caller saved his best for last this fall with the Indians. Smith secured 1,430 rushing yards and 22 rushing TDs to go along with 407 passing yards and 7 tossing touchdowns as Bartlett went 7-4 this season and earned a spot in the Division 8 MIAA playoffs. Smith finished fourth in Central Mass. in rushing yards and was named a Joseph R. Mewhiney CMass Division 8 All-Star.
Thatcher Sweeney, Uxbridge
This senior made the most of his chances this season. Sweeney hauled in 29 catches for 763 yards, that’s an amazing 26.3 yards per reception, which was tops in Central Mass., and 10 receiving touchdowns for a Spartans team that made the Division 7 state quarterfinals. A savvy 6-foot-2, 190-pound three-way player, with a penchant for making a big-time play, Sweeney also added 7 interceptions — returning two of them for touchdowns — on defense to earn Joseph R. Mewhiney CMass Division 7 All-Star honors.
Zeeland Youngblood, Grafton
With perhaps the best name on this list, Youngblood inserted life into the Gators on both sides of the ball this fall. This senior running back finished third in Central Mass. in rushing yards (1,858) and put up 14 touchdowns for Grafton. Youngblood also grabbed 53 tackles on defense. He amassed 302 yards and five TDs in the Gators’ 40-28 win over Nashoba on Nov. 7 en route to being named a Joseph R. Mewhiney CMass Division 4 All-Star.
To Cast Your Vote for Fred Neiray of David Prouty High School, Click Here.
As published in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette, December 8th, 2025, 1:08 p.m.