Best Returning QB/WR Duos in New York: Upstate
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Continuing the series of the best QB/WR duos in New York and an article that was originally supposed to be just duos starts of with a four-man wide receiver room that is just so well-rounded and deep it goes outside…
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Continue ReadingContinuing the series of the best QB/WR duos in New York and an article that was originally supposed to be just duos starts of with a four-man wide receiver room that is just so well-rounded and deep it goes outside our guidelines. Some of these groups return after putting up historic numbers for their schools while some showed flashes of dominance but with more consistency in 2023 could become some of the most dangerous offensive duos in the state. Plenty of talent at the QB and WR positions in upstate New York.
Michael Rescigno Michael Rescigno 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Arlington | 2024 State NY & Lucas Mackin Lucas Mackin ATH Arlington | 2024 NY , James Davenport James Davenport ATH Arlington | 2024 State NY , Robbie Jordan Robbie Jordan ATH Arlington | 2024 NY , and Luke Lavello Luke Lavello 6'1" | 165 lbs | ATH Arlington | 2024 State NY – Arlington
Talk about a returning group of five who will all be seniors next season. We have seen some WR duos and trios, but this is the first quad of receivers and for good reason. While Arlington are a dominant team on the ground behind star OL Colin Cubberly Colin Cubberly 6'6" | 310 lbs | OL Arlington | 2024 State NY the smooth lefty Michael Rescigno Michael Rescigno 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Arlington | 2024 State NY made a ton of plays through the air last season. Recsigno did a great job of spreading the ball around last season, and all four receivers either over 200 yards or over 15 receptions each. With the loss of their top three running backs this offseason Arlington may look to take advantage of this deep receiver group and a returning quarterback in Rescigno. One player to watch is Luke Lavello Luke Lavello 6'1" | 165 lbs | ATH Arlington | 2024 State NY , who was a standout on defense but registered 222 yards on just 5 receptions, 3 of those being touchdowns.
Joey Tomasso Joey Tomasso 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Waverly | 2024 State NY & Jay Pipher Jay Pipher 5'9" | 160 lbs | WR Waverly | 2024 State NY – Waverly
Waverly returns one of the most dominant duos in the state. Joey Tomasso Joey Tomasso 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Waverly | 2024 State NY was one of the few quarterbacks in the state to hit the 2,000-yard mark last season, and over half of those yards went to Jay Pipher Jay Pipher 5'9" | 160 lbs | WR Waverly | 2024 State NY . Pipher is quick and speedy and one of the only receivers in the state to be responsible for not only for a 1,000 yard season but near 50% of his teams receiving yards. Pipher has a knack for getting open and Tomasso can make every throw on the field on all three levels. This is the type of duo that every opponent is planning for this season but they showed that not many defenses can slow them down.
Chris Mclaughlin Chris Mclaughlin 5'8" | 150 lbs | WR Harrison | 2024 State NY & Marco Citro Marco Citro 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Harrison | 2024 State NY – Harrison
Chris Mclaughlin Chris Mclaughlin 5'8" | 150 lbs | WR Harrison | 2024 State NY is one of the best two-way player in New York but as a receiver is one of the most valuable players in New York. His ability to create separation and create after the catch are elite. Marco Citro Marco Citro 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Harrison | 2024 State NY is a really solid quarterback who showed really solid flashed of creating out of rhythm and making difficult throws. Citro throws a really nice deep ball and Mclaughlins ability to track the ball down the field and make plays make this a dangerous duo headed into next season.
Nico Savini Nico Savini 5'11" | 195 lbs | QB Ballston Spa | 2024 State NY & Blaine Zoller Blaine Zoller 6'4" | 215 lbs | WR Ballston Spa | 2024 State NY – Ballston Spa
Not only does this Ballston Spa duo return with strong tape and good state but they both have some of the best accolades on this list as Nico Savini Nico Savini 5'11" | 195 lbs | QB Ballston Spa | 2024 State NY was Section II Class A Offensive Player of the year and Blaine Zoller Blaine Zoller 6'4" | 215 lbs | WR Ballston Spa | 2024 State NY was the All Purpose Player of the Year. Savini and Zoller were unstoppable all season with Zoller accounting for nearly roughly 75% of Ballston Spa’s receiving yards. Zoller is a big target and his catch radius and ability down the field led to 800+ yards and 15 touchdowns. Savini is quick and shifty and is one of the best throwers on the run. Savini does a good job of making the right decisions and his 5-1 TD to INT ratio is one of the best in the state.
Michael Whatley Michael Whatley 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB Shenendehowa | 2024 State NY & Luke McAuliffe Luke McAuliffe 6'2" | 200 lbs | WR Shenendehowa | 2024 State NY – Shenendehowa
Another Section II duo Michael Whatley Michael Whatley 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB Shenendehowa | 2024 State NY and Luke McAuliffe Luke McAuliffe 6'2" | 200 lbs | WR Shenendehowa | 2024 State NY showed a lot of promise at the beginning of the season with a few hundred-yard receiving games for McAuliffe and 7 TDs in their first five games. The next few games were some blowouts than some really competitive playoff games and they never seemed to regain their form from early in the season, as seniors I would say this could be the most promising duo coming into this season. Whatley has a big arm and good touch on throws down the field. Whatley can make plays with his legs and keep broken plays alive making throws down the field. McAuliffe is a dynamic player with size who runs really crisp routes at all three levels of the field. This duo showed some flashes last year of being one of not the top duo in NY, more consistency can keep them at the top of this conversation.
Caden Bellis Caden Bellis 5'10" | 155 lbs | QB Tioga | 2024 State NY & Valentino Rossi Valentino Rossi 6'3" | 180 lbs | ATH Tioga | 2024 State NY – Tioga
An undefeated season for Tioga was in big part to Caden Bellis Caden Bellis 5'10" | 155 lbs | QB Tioga | 2024 State NY and Valentino Rossi Valentino Rossi 6'3" | 180 lbs | ATH Tioga | 2024 State NY . Bellis threw for over 1500 yards and had a TD-to-INT ratio of 8-1 one, the best in New York for a player who has played over 13 games. Bellis throws the ball well on all three levels and does a really good job throwing the ball through the middle of the field. Rossi had nearly 700 yards but registered a strong 10 touchdowns, twice as many as the next-best receiver for Tioga. Rossi is an elite deep threat and can separate with strong releases of the LOS and good speed. Rossi averaged over 27 yards per catch and showed he can even beat off coverage with solid route running down the field. This duo led Tioga to a dominant season that featured on losses and only two one-score games. Who knows what their numbers would have looked like if they did not blow out so many opponents.