Poll Results: McFarland edges Farnsworth for top spot

Who will be the Player of the Year in Vermont this season? That's a question Prep Redzone asked readers in a poll last week. The results indicate it should be a good season for St. Johnsbury Academy, as the Hilltoppers had players who finished first and second in the voting. St. Johnsbury was the Division I runner-up in 2025. The five players who garnered the most votes are listed in order below. Note: There was a tie for fourth place.    McFarland is coming off a strong season statistically and helped St. Johnsbury advance to the Division I championship game, where the Hilltoppers came up short against Middlebury, 13-7. As a sophomore, McFarland passed for 1,199 yards and 13 touchdowns with eight interceptions in 11 games, and gained 926 yards on the ground and rushed for another 13 TDs. He devoted a good chunk of his summer working on his game, as he was spotted at numerous camps throughout New England. He should be primed to improve on his 2025 season.     Farnsworth, a 277-pound two-way lineman, picked up 37.5 percent of the votes. He was the player St. Johnsbury ran behind when they were close to the goal line last season. Farnsworth was an All-State selection as a junior, when he was part of an offense that generated 1,886 yards rushing and 33 rushing touchdowns as well as 1,804 yards and 19 TDs through the air. He anchored the St. Johnsbury offensive line at left tackle, but may have been just as valuable when he lined up at noseguard.     Although he finished third in the voting, Hotaling may be undervalued. The reason? He was an All-State selection at defensive back last season, but could move into the starting quarterback role for an Essex team that is seeking its seventh consecutive playoff appearance this year. Hotaling was a backup QB to Sam Bent last season. He certainly doesn't shy away from contact, as evidenced by his team-high 123 tackles in 2025.     Spallieri is one of two quarterbacks who were Honorable Mention selections on the 2025 Vermont All-State Team, and will be among the favorites to direct the Vermont offense in next summer's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl. He may have been at his best last season in a 33-30 victory over Burr and Burton when he passed for 253 yards and four touchdowns, and also scored a go-ahead TD late in the fourth quarter. Spallieri is another QB who won't shy away from contact, as he lines up at middle linebacker when Rutland is on defense.     Kyhill tied Spallieri for fourth place in the voting. He played through a knee injury suffered in Week 1 last season, but was still a significant contributor on both sides of the ball for Fair Haven. As a running back/wide receiver, he rushed for 776 yards and seven touchdowns, had 378 receiving yards and eight TDs and also threw a touchdown pass. At linebacker, he recorded 82 tackles, including one sack, and intercepted two passes. It's hard to envision a player who will be more valuable to his team this season than Kyhill.

Who will be the Player of the Year in Vermont this season? That's a question Prep Redzone asked readers in a poll last week. The results indicate it should be a good season for St. Johnsbury Academy, as the Hilltoppers had players who finished first and second in the voting. St. Johnsbury was the Division I runner-up in 2025. The five players who garnered the most votes are listed in order below. Note: There was a tie for fourth place.