When one thinks back to all the team speed Piscataway has had over the years, most notably under Dan Higgins, with every passing year it becomes more and more difficult to top them.
At the risk of leaving many others out, Elijah Barnwell, Tevin Shaw, Malcolm Jenkins, and Kyle Wilson, are just a few of the names that instantly come to mind.
Add Antonio “Speedy” Rivera to that list.
He will close out his two-year varsity career (with his sophomore season wiped out by COVID) with a program record five career kick returns for touchdowns, some on punts, some on kickoffs.
And he also will close out that career with a $500 scholarship from Bellamy & Son Paving, which sponsored the Player of the Week award on Central Jersey Sports Radio for a second straight season.
Each week during the 2022 regular season, a Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week was chosen from nominations by the league’s coaches. Out of those nine, we chose one to receive a $500 scholarship. And this year, it’s Antonio Rivera.
Rivera won the award for his Week 5 performance in a 38-14 home win over Old Bridge on September 30th. He had a 69-yard punt return for a touchdown, as well as a 71-yard kickoff return for a score. That gave him the school record for career touchdown returns, previously held by Kyle Wilson with three.
Wilson went on to star for Boise State and play with the Jets and Saints in the NFL.
Who every gets Rivera will be one lucky son-of-a-gun indeed.
Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko surprise Antonio Rivera of Piscataway with the Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Scholarship award:
Here’s the full list of Bellamy & Son Paving Players of the Week for 2022:
- Week 0: Matt Yascko, Edison
- Week 1: Antonio Rosato, Woodbridge
- Week 2: Kyle Hall, Rahway
- Week 3: Jaeden Jones, Colonia
- Week 4: Vito Tropeano, Elizabeth
- Week 5: Antonio Rivera, Piscataway
- Week 6: Nyekir Eato, Edison
- Week 7: Matt D’Avino, Montgomery
- Week 8: A.J. Bosch, Woodbridge
I am so proud of Antonio because of his determination to represent Piscataway School for excellent come back in football it was such a wonderful season attending football games this year will miss Antonio Rivera next season. Much success for him.
Antonio was exciting to watch speedy
Antonio R you have truly worked hard and smart to leave a precious foot print in your high school hometown. Thank you to all who sponsored and contributed to making this moment in time possible and honoring Antonio Rivera with Bellamy and Son scholarship award this year 2022. 🌟