Western New York Rising Stars: Class C (North Division)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are student-athletes with at least 2 more years of High School left that are on the rise and looking to make an impact in their team's success. These are players from Class C of Section VI. Class C is broken up into two divisions (North and South). This article will focus on the North Division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1134786,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1345194' first='Blake' last='Gerstung']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Akron High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1345194' first='Blake' last='Gerstung'] is the prototypical Slot Wide Receiver. Crisp route runner with fantastic hands to catch the short to intermediate routes to move the chains. Although Blake missed the final 2 games of the season, he was still one of Akron's top receivers catching 23 passes for 326 yards and a team high 5 touchdowns, including a game against JFK when he took over catching 6 for 120 and 3 TDs. Gerstung is very quick and has great vision when following his blockers. He also helped out on returns, averaging 24.8 yards on 7 attempts. This is a young man with a bright future.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659461d6cc37f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1134791,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1345232' first='James' last='Crooks']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Akron High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Crooks made All Western New York honorable mention as a Sophomore in 2023. He has an incredibly high motor and at 6'2 245 lbs, he was a terror for opposing Offensive Linemen. He often demanded double teams but his grit and determination kept involved in every play. In 6 games, Crooks had 22 tackles (4 for loss) and 3 sacks. This was his first year playing Varsity football. He is only going to get better as adapts to the game.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1212776' first='Christian' last='Moss']","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Medina High School","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1212776' first='Christian' last='Moss'] runs like a man amongst boys. He possess great vision and patience. His balance is superb. Christian made honorable mention for the All Western New York team in 2023, leading Medina to a 10-1 overall record. Moss finished the season with 1,362 yards and 16 touchdowns but of those 11 games, Moss played in 9 of them (due to forfeit wins) and in the Class C semi finals, an ankle injury forced him from the game in the first quarter. Averaging over 166 yards in the other 8 games, there's no doubt, he would have have reached 1,700 yards and a possible 1st/2nd team All Western New York. At 6'0 190 lbs, Moss has the stature to run as a workhorse Running Back. This is a great athlete that is poised to dominate Class C once again and get the recognition he deserves.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1249378' first='Isaiah' last='Gerstung']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Newfane High School","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1249378' first='Isaiah' last='Gerstung'] was somewhat of a u0022jack of all tradesu0022 as a Sophomore. Newfane used Gerstung in various way in different packages, lined up as a Running Back or a Wide Receiver and he was effective at both, as well as being their primary Kick Returner. Isaiah accumulated 380 all purpose yards and 4 touchdowns. A 3 game losing streak to end the season saw Gerstung's usage decline but that doesn't take away from his ability to be a productive runner with his vision and speed or a receiver with a excellent route running and solid hands. His quickness made him hard to defend and his Junior year will show the confidence of Newfane to keep giving him the rock.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1624567' first='Mac' last='Capen']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Newfane High School","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"An Honorable Mention from the All Western New York Team, [player_tooltip player_id='1624567' first='Mac' last='Capen'] had an extraordinary season, rushing, receiving and on defense. Offensively, he was 2nd on Newfane with 22 catches for 329 yards and 5 touchdowns and added 8 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, as a Safety, he was amazing with a nose for the ball recording 4 INTs, 2 fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and 5 pass defensed. At 6'3 200 lbs, Capen has size, speed and power to play any positions. 2024 will be an interesting year for Mac and Newfane to see what happens as star Wide Receiver, [player_tooltip player_id='807849' first='Ben' last='Dickinson'] and Quarterback, [player_tooltip player_id='807850' first='Nate' last='Snow'] are graduating this year. Do they move Capen to QB, where Capen does have experience playing or does he stay at Wide Receiver and command the targets left by Dickinson. It is intriguing but either way, [player_tooltip player_id='1624567' first='Mac' last='Capen'] has all the tools to make an impact at any position.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Colin Doxey","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Newfane High School","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Another Honorable Mention from the All Western New York team, Colin Doxey was a two way starter as a Defensive End and the imperative Blindside Tackle for 2nd team All WNY QB, [player_tooltip player_id='807850' first='Nate' last='Snow']. Doxey has a wicked kick step that allowed Newfane to have a successful passing attack and his quickness and fantastic blocking technique helped them score 23 rushing touchdowns in 2023. He showed his endurance playing defense, piling 52 tackles (3 for loss) and 5 sacks in 8 games. Colin Doxey is a multi sport athlete with experience as a Wrestler, a skill that is beneficial to the Linemen positions.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6595a1ce23d7c"} /-->