Fredonia quarterback Ethan Fry was announced on Monday as one of the 10 finalists for the Connolly Cup as the top football player in Western New York. OBSERVER File Photo by Ashleigh Brown

Coming into the season, there were plenty of questions surrounding the Fredonia Hillbillies. Among the top concerns was the task of replacing star quarterback Nick Whitfield, who went on to play college football at Saint Francis, Pennsylvania.

Ethan Fry was up to the task.

Fry’s spectacular senior season as Fredonia’s starting quarterback earned him a nomination as a Connolly Cup finalist. The Connolly Cup is given to the most outstanding high school football player in Western New York.

Fry has a pretty good case, too.

After leading the Hillbillies in receiving a year ago, Fry transitioned to quarterback and led all of Section VI in passing yardage on the way to a second-place finish in Class C for a second straight season. Fry completed 195 passes for 2,740 yards and 27 touchdowns, with nine interceptions.

But it wasn’t just through the air that Fry was a lethal force for Fredonia. Fry also tallied 617 yards rushing and added eight rushing touchdowns, including a season-opening 138-yard, three-touchdown performance.

Fry never lacked confidence, claiming his offense was among the best in Western New York, and complimenting the talent around him after every big win. He backed up the talk all year long, and now, the Connolly Cup is a possibility for the senior leader of the Hillbillies.