Carteret’s Jackson was game changer against South Plainfield, earns Week 2 Bellamy & Son Player of the Week accolades

Antwaun Jackson is the young man most fans don’t know about, until they do.

His impact on a game defensively can’t be measured by stats alone. But they can begin to paint the picture.

Case in point: In a 40-7 Carteret win over South Plainfield, the game would have certainly been a lot closer were it not for Jackson’s 12 tackles (10 solo), seven TFLs, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

For that performance, the senior Rambler defensive end is the Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week for Week 3.

Jackson is putting together a very nice career. And if he hasn’t drawn the attention of local sports fans yet, he will. The coaches already know about him.

“They game plan him every week,” says third-year head coach and Carteret alum Kevin Freeman. In his career so far, the senior has logged 122 tackles, 38 1/2 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, five forced fumbles, three recoveries, and interception and a safety.

Jackson says as far as colleges go, he’s been talking to schools like Temple, Maine and Wagner, among others.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Week Two Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Antwaun Jackson of Carteret:

The Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week is chosen from nominees by Big Central coaches. At the end of the season, one player will be chosen to receive a $500 scholarship courtesy of Bellamy & Son Paving. As we did last year, we will recognize a few “Honorable Mentions,” and include all other all nominees in our weekly story.

Honorable Mentions:

Jackson Jankowicz, Hillsborough: In a 29-21 win over Bridgewater-Raritan in the Battle of Route 206, the junior runningback carried 20 times for 162 yards and had two touchdowns, of 53 and 30 yards. He also played every snap of the game at cornerback. On offense, through three games, he has 420 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns, while averaging 7.5 yards per carry.
Salvatore Marchione, Monroe: The senior wideout was instrumental in getting head coach Nick Isola his first win as head coach at his alma mater, with 62 rushing yards and 39 receiving yards – plus a touchdown – on offense, while also throwing a touchdown pass for 47 yards. He also had two pass breakups that would have won the game for the Bears. He also had a 40-yard run that could have been a touchdown, but instead he went to the turf to allow the Falcons to simply run out the clock.
Tamir Gladden, North Brunswick: In a revenge win after last season’s wacky playoff game in the Central Jersey Group 5 semifinals, the senior had an all-around game on both sides of the ball in a 23-16 win over Edison. At defensive back, Gladden had five tackles, and a forced fumble and recovery. At runningback, he carried 13 times for 114 yards and two scores.
Braden Paulmenn, South Brunswick: The numbers are impressive enough: 20 carries for 154 yards and 3 touchdowns, but Paulmenn also threw 4-for-10 for 119 yards and another score. The three-year starter – who also boasts a 3.6 GPA coming into his senior year – led a 70-yard scoring drive that gave the Vikings the decisive score with just 70 ticks left on the clock.
James Curnal, Spotswood: In a lightning-shortened almost 42-minute game Saturday that was called with 6:09 remaining – and ended as a 31-14 win for the Chargers when both schools mutually agreed not to finish – Curnal led the defense with 17 total tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception from his middle linebacker spot, while also grabbing two catches for 29 yards on offense at wide receiver.
Carter Shallcross, Summit: The senior runningback is a big reason the Hilltoppers are off to a 2-0 start. In a 46-13 win at Cranford on Friday, Shallcross got the ball 22 times and rushed for 224 yards and three touchdowns of 70, 58 and five yards.

Other Nominations:

(in alphabetical order, by school)

Connor Laverty, Bernards: The senior quarterback only had to play 14 minutes in a 42-7 home win over South River, but the captain made the most of it: 4-for-5 passing for 125 yards and four touchdowns.
Jaeden Jones, Colonia: The senior again was up to his usual tricks on the ground. He only needed six carries to rush for 193 yards and four scores. Two of them went for nearly the distance: 80 and 72 yards!
James Campbell, Governor Livingston: In a rare 2-0 win over North Plainfield at Kean University back on Friday, he helped the Highlanders’ defense pitch a shutout, with 6 tackles – half of them for a loss – plus a sack and a fumble recovery, allowing the Canucks just 145 total yards on offense.
Jax Jarvis, Middlesex: In a 34-0 win over Manville Friday night, the junior runningback carried seven times for 82 yards, scoring three times. He also had an interception at free safety on defense.
Nicholas Ramaci, North Hunterdon: The sophomore showed out with five catches for 113 yards – that’s 22.6 yards per catch! – in a home loss to Watchung Hills.
Jahmeil Brown, Perth Amboy: In a 26-0 win over JP Stevens on Friday, the senior running back carried eight times for 70 yards and a touchdown, while also logging nine tackles, 6 solo, and a pick from his strong safety position.
Elijah Abass-Shereef, St. Thomas Aquinas: In a 35-0 win over Scotch Plains-Fanwood in the “Holman Bowl” – between head coach brothers Tarig Holman of the Trojans and Austin of the Raiders – the senior runningback carried seven times for 124 yards and touchdown runs of 25 and ten yards.
Renick Dorilas, Union: The junior had a great game on both sides of the ball. At wideout, he had six catches for 71 yards and a touchdown, but also added four carries for 94 yards and a score, and even throw a 35-yard pass. At d-back, he logged a 43-yard interception.
Derek Anderson, Woodbridge: The junior quarterback scored the go-ahead touchdown with six minutes remaining in a wild 20-19 win over visiting Linden, finishing 10-of-17 for 111 yards, while also rushing for 48 and two scores.