The winner of the 44th Michael Finocchiaro Award, recognizing the top high school football player in the city of Savannah, will be announced on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28.
Nominations for the honor were announced this week by the award’s coordinator, Karl DeMasi. The winner is determined by voting from the head football coaches from public and private schools in Savannah, along with local media members.
Finocchiaro, a Benedictine alum and avid high school football fan, started the award in 1976. He was inspired by college football’s Heisman Trophy and thought it would be a great way to recognize local players. He died in 2001. The award continued on until a hiatus from 2010-2015 before DeMasi brought it back.
Last year Calvary Day quarterback Jake Merklinger, now a freshman playing at Tennessee, shared the honor with New Hampstead quarterback Ra’Shawn Truell, now a senior who is up for the award again.
Here are this year’s candidates, 31 players, who were nominated by their coaches.
The senior had 12 pass break ups, four interceptions and five touchdowns on the season.
Versatile playmaker had six touchdown catches, with 10 sacks and 20 tackles for losses.
The sophomore complete 50 of 85 passes (59%) for 895 yards and ran for 275 yards.
The junior’s stats through nine games included 40 catches for 640 yards and three scores and 378 yards rushing and four touchdowns. He has rushed for 378 yards and four scores and has 253 in returns and an interception.
The Miami commit has 64 tackles, including 12 for losses, and 17 sacks on the season (through nine games).
Williams has 55 tackles, four pass break ups and two interceptions and has four catches for 85 yards and a pair of scores.
Headed into the SCISA Class 2A championship game, Best has rushed for 1,015 yards and 17 touchdowns. He has 57 tackles and four interceptions.
Wesley has 38 catches for 711 yards and seven scores and has rushed for 177 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He has 40 tackles and a pair of touchdowns on defense. He has 14 touchdowns on the year ― including a pick six, two punt returns for scores and two kickoff returns for scores.
The senior wide receiver announced his commitment to Georgia in May. He has 37 receptions for 847 yards and 13 touchdowns in eight games and has rushed for 53 yards on 11 carries.
Calhoun had 76 tackles, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and nine quarterback hurries.
The senior had 512 yards receiving and three touchdowns and picked off four passes on the season.
The senior had 78 tackles this year.
The junior had 57 tackles on the season and returned a kickoff for a score.
Rhodes has 1,659 all-purpose yards on the season with 14 touchdowns for the Warriors headed into their second round playoff game.
Collins has 95 tackles, including 13 for losses, with four sacks and two interceptions and has run for 82 yards and a pair of scores.
Two-way star has 65 tackles, including 18 for losses, with 13 sacks and an interception, while helping anchor the Warrior offensive line.
Robinson rushed for 854 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 114 carries.
Lovett had 77 tackles, including 15 for losses with three sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Scott had 389 rushing yards and three touchdowns and 84 receiving yards and a score, to go along with 50 tackles on the season.
The All-Region selection threw for 900 yards with 11 TDs and rushed for 321 yards and a score, with 65 receiving yards and another touchdown.
Truell led the GHSA, across all classifications, with 3,032 passing yards and had 31 touchdown passes, while rushing for four scores in nine games. Last year’s Co-Finocchiaro Award winner also set a GHSA record for passing yardage in a game with 635 yards against Perry.
Smalls has rushed for 1,255 yards on 181 carries with 19 touchdowns. He has set a Savannah City record with 72 career rushing touchdowns. He’s closing in on the Savannah career record with 4,883 career rushing yards. He has committed to Charleston Southern.
Wall has 1,000 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns on the year. He has picked off three passes, returning two for scores, and has a punt return and kick return for touchdowns.
Ranked as the No. 4 overall player in the nation, and the top defensive lineman by 247Sports, the Georgia commit has 49 tackles, including 24 for losses, with 7.5 sacks on the season. In his career, he has 297 tackles and 47 sacks.
The senior has 121 tackles, with a sack, and interception and four passes defended on the season. He has committed to pay at Bryant University.
The senior has 48 catches for 398 yards and five touchdowns and 41 tackles with a pair of sacks and two fumble recoveries.
The senior had 75 tackles, with three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He was also the Blue Jacket punter, averaging 34 yards per kick with a long of 60 yards.
The junior had 1,049 all-purpose yards with 13 touchdowns and two interceptions on the year.
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
