By Nate Beutel<br><a href="mailto:beuteln@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Nate</a>
GRAND ISLAND — It was like something only a super hero could do. Alex Neutz darted across the middle of the field, stretched his arm seemingly to the sky and snared a dart from his accomplice Joe Oliverio. Not to mention it was against the archenemy, Sweet Home.
“That catch brought a lot of excitement to everybody,” the Grand Island senior admitted with a big grin this past week.
It was plays such as that that solidified Neutz as the 2008 Niagara Gazette CRUNCH Player of the Year. It didn’t hurt that he finished with 51 catches for 1,182 yards and scored a whopping 22 touchdowns.
Neutz’ season yardage totals place him first all-time in school and Western New York history and fourth in the state record books. The two-time all-Gazette wide receiver was also the Class A North Offensive Player of the Year and is one of 10 finalists for the prestigious Connolly Cup, annually given to Western New York’s most outstanding player.
“Alex had a fantastic career,” veteran GI coach Dean Santorio said. “He is one of those players that may never come around again… and he put up numbers that may never be touched again.”
Neutz added, “This season was just incredible. I never envisioned breaking records or anything like that. It was a blast.”
Making Neutz’ accomplishments that much more impressive, for Santorio, was the way he conducted himself on and off the field.
“He has proven to be a great leader and teammate and is a kid that is honest, trustworthy, respectful, intelligent, dedicated and as hard a worker as we have ever had,” the coach said. “He is deserving of everything he gets and is proof that extra effort will always pay off.”
In typical fashion, Neutz couldn’t answer any question without mentioning his teammates.
“This season wasn’t all about myself,” he said. “I couldn’t have done anything without Joe (Oliverio), Lance (Robinson), Eddie (Weiser), my lineman, the coaches — really everybody on the entire team.”
That type of approach will serve Neutz well in the coming years when he suits up for the University at Buffalo Bulls. Neutz recently gave a verbal commitment to the Division I Mid-American Conference school and plans on signing his National Letter of Intent in February.
“We are so proud of him and the opportunities ahead of him… at the University at Buffalo,” Santorio said. “I think it is always tough to predict how any player will do at the next level, but if there is anyone that can be successful, it is Alex Neutz.”
Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, ext. 2262.
ALEX NEUTZ
WR
• SCHOOL: Grand Island
• GRADE: Senior
• STATS: 51 catches, 1,182 yards, 22 total touchdowns
• SCOOP: School and Western New York record holder for most receiving yards in a season… Fourth best receiving season in state history in terms of yardage… A first team all-Gazette pick a year ago.
