While games haven’t been played for quite some time, there is one more thing left to do before we can officially say the 2024 high school sports fall season is officially over.
It’s time to announce the 2024 Providence Journal All-State teams.
No one covered more high school sports this fall than The Providence Journal, which allowed us to see all of Rhode Island’s best athletes. That’s the fun part of the job. The difficult part is picking our first- and second-team athletes in their respective sport.
Some sports are easier than others. Cross Country and Girls Tennis hold individual championships and selections were made prioritizing performance at their respective RIIL final events.
Selections for team-based sports require more conversation. Athletes were selected based on in-person evaluations, statistics, conversations with various sport sources, postseason performance and other factors, including the coaches’ postseason awards.
Teams were selected positionally. There is only one goalie in soccer and field hockey and one quarterback in football and our All-State teams reflect the positions you would see on the field or court. It can lead to difficult decisions, especially at “premier” positions, but we believe it’s important to honor all the positions, not just a select few.
Our goal is to try to put as much work and effort into our selections as the athletes we’ve chosen put into their respective sports.
So, while putting together The Providence Journal All-State teams can be difficult, it’s nothing compared to what these athletes have done to get to this level and we’re happy to honor the best Rhode Island has to offer.
There was no sophomore slump for Husereau, a second-team All-State selection a year ago, who continued to grow on an impressive trajectory. His pocket presence and ability to make throws anywhere were unmatched and some big stats followed. Despite missing three games with an injury, Husereau still managed to throw for 2,015 yards and 27 touchdowns with only two interceptions. What comes next will be fun to watch.
Injuries prevented the two-time All-State linebacker from playing both sides of the ball full-time this fall, but didn’t stop him from becoming a first-team All-Stater for the third straight season. Campbell ran with the speed of a sports car and power of a freight train and nobody was scarier hitting a hole. The senior had over 1,100 total yards and 11 touchdowns and will play at the University of Rhode Island next fall, making the switch back to linebacker.
When the Purple put the ball in his hands, there wasn’t a better offensive weapon in all of Rhode Island. No opponent in Division III could stop or even slow Duke, who put up absurd numbers this past fall. The senior ran for 1,045 yards with 24 touchdowns and caught 37 passes for 901 yards and 11 touchdowns, setting a school record for most TDs in a single season. Duke is still undecided about his future, but he should find a home at the Division I college level at some point.
He came to the Skippers as a quarterback, transitioned to receiver and ended up being one of the state’s best in his senior season. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Iacuele was the No. 1 target for quarterback Jack Diano and had big games all season, finishing with 67 catches for 1,104 yards and 12 touchdowns, including a five-catch, 101-yard performance in NK’s win over Burrillville in the D-I Super Bowl. Iacuele is still weighing his options to play in college next fall.
On a team loaded with offensive firepower, Stitchell’s talents were undeniable and he made plays whenever he had the ball. There wasn’t a receiver in Rhode Island who could match the athleticism and speed that Stitchell has and the 6-foot-1, 170-pound senior made plenty of plays. He finished with 33 catches for 502 yards and five touchdowns, including six catches for 76 yards and two scores in the Rams’ Super Bowl loss. Stitchell will play at URI next fall.
At perhaps the most underappreciated position on offense, Ray shined in his role for the Clippers’ offense. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Ray showed off his physicality as a blocker for a dominant Cumberland run game, but he was hardly a one-trick pony. Ray was a big-play target for quarterback Evan Spencer, catching 26 passes for 501 yards and scoring four touchdowns in his final season for the Clippers.
No one in Rhode Island defined “football player” better than Spencer. Part quarterback, part fullback, part linebacker, Spencer carried a heavy load this season and helped the Clippers have their best season in 40 years. The senior was the best dual-threat in the state, rushing for 1,126 yards and 14 touchdowns while throwing for 1,117 yards and eight TDs. Spencer is committed to play at the University of Rhode Island as a running back or linebacker — or both.
The physical attributes have always been there, but Antonucci played with an edge this past fall. Soft-spoken off the field, Antonucci was a beast on the gridiron and was destructive to defenses. At 6-foot-3, 285 pounds, Antonucci used his speed to open holes for the Hawks’ vaunted running attack and punished tacklers who dared to try to make plays. He’ll continue his playing career next fall, recently committing to the University of Rhode Island.
A second-team selection a year ago, Bigden stood out as the Rams’ top lineman in his senior season. Bigden, a 6-foot-1, 260-pound guard, was equal parts powerful and explosive, helping the Rams find consistency with the run game. His experience was also key early as the young La Salle line built chemistry as they put together a season that ended with a trip to the Super Bowl. Bigden is weighing his college decision.
Charnley continued the Hawks’ tradition of producing All-State centers in his junior year, but his play this fall was even better. A second coach on the field, Charnley’s consistency was immaculate. His 6-foot-3, 280-pound size was helpful as well, but his athleticism is what made him stand out in Hendricken’s state-title season. Charnley is still weighing his future, which includes options as a potential All-Stater in track as a thrower.
The anchor to the Islanders’ Division III Super Bowl in 2022, Kleinknecht had little trouble adjusting to play in D-II and more than earned his first-team All-State selection. The 6-foot-3, 285-pound Kleinknecht had the size and athleticism to play all five positions on the line, but held it down in the middle for Middletown, moving defenders at will. He’s still weighing offers about his college future.
It was a breakthrough season for Taglianetti, who stepped into a full-time starting role and shined, earning himself first-team All-State honors. The junior played right guard for the Hawks and his ability to pull and destroy allowed the offense to thrive in whatever direction it ran. At 6-foot-3, 285 pounds, Taglianetti can play any of the five spots on the line and will be the anchor Hendricken needs next fall.
QB – Logan Gelinas, Burrillville, Senior
RB – James Branch, West Warwick, Senior
RB – Leland Kelleher, Burrillville, Senior
WR – Charlie Cornell, Cranston West, Junior
WR – Armand Northup-Reed, St. Raphael, Sophomore
TE – Caleb Williams, Westerly, Junior
ATH – Adam Conheeny, Portsmouth, Junior
OL – Arion Amoruso, Hendricken, Senior
OL – Dylan Calore, Woonsocket, Senior
OL – Noah O’Hagan, South Kingstown, Senior
OL – Jeremy Redd, Hendricken, Senior
OL – Dmitry Sermos, St. Raphael, Junior
