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Dante Torres of Long Island high school football juggernaut St. Anthony’s has just been named the 2022-23 Gatorade New York Football Player of the Year.
The announcement was made Friday.
The quarterback helped lead the Friars to a Catholic state title in November with a thrilling come-from-way-behind win against Saint Francis High School in Buffalo, N.Y.
In December, he was named MaxPreps New York High School Football Player of the Year.
Torres, of Massapequa, is the first Gatorade New York Football Player of the Year to be chosen from St. Anthony’s in S. Huntington. He is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award to be announced in January.
Torres joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Trevor Lawrence (2018-19 & 2016-17, Cartersville High School, Ga.), Matthew Stafford (2005-06, Highland Park High School, Texas) and Emmitt Smith (1986-87, Escambia High School, Fla.).
The Gatorade awards have been going on for 38 years.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior quarterback passed for 3,320 yards and 35 touchdowns, and also rushed for 504 yards and 13 scores.
He ran for two TDs in the state title come-backer.
“Dante Torres did it all for St. Anthony’s,” said Michael O’Donnell, the head coach of Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains. “In the championship game, he had the best game I’ve seen a player have in years. He did it both passing and running.
“He was the player that drove that team.”
Torres has also maintained an A-minus average in the classroom.
He will play football next year at Fordham University.
Photo Credit: Sue Scarlatos on Facebook
