Dillon Nunes: Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week

Sometimes the Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week is a runningback or QB who put up a bunch of yards, or a defensive end who hit the quarterback too many times to count. Sometimes it’s just that one big play in a critical moment that won a game.

Friday night, Dillon Nunes of Watchung Hills came up with two such plays, both of which came in the final minute of the Warriors’ season opener against Moorestown. And for that, Nunes is the Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week for Week Zero.

Up 6-0 in the fourth after a one-yard touchdown run by Christian Warnicke – and having not kicked the PAT, Moorestown took a 7-6 lead late. But Watchung Hills marched down the field and got into field goal range to set up Nunes. He’s also a wide receiver, though, so while he was in the game, he came in to kick cold.

No problem. And with 59 seconds remaining, Hills was up 9-7. But Moorestown would still get a chance.

Well, Nunes squashed that, too, coming up with an interception on a third-down pass play that gave his team the ball back and go into victory formation to close with the win.

Watchung Hills has now won its last four season openers, including two-in-a-row over Moorestown.

The Warriors are back at it Friday, hosting Woodbridge, in a battle of 1-0 teams.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko’s interview with Week Zero Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Dillon Nunes of Watchung Hills:

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 always, we will recognize selected “Honorable Mentions,” and recognize all other all nominees in our weekly story.

Honorable Mentions:

Sean Arcelay, Bernards: In a 27-15 win over Cranford, the junior wideout had three catches – all for touchdowns of 54, 34 and 10 yards, while also taking two carries for 16 yards. His TD receptions fed a scoring barrage that helped the Mountaineers wrest control of the game, the first meeting between the schools since 1941.
Arique Fleming, Elizabeth: In a 42-7 win at rival Linden Friday night, the junior signal caller was 12-of-14 passing for 272 yards and four touchdowns, along with 48 rushing yards and a score on the ground. Fleming was versatile, getting off long bombs, and short passes in space for yards after the catch. And all those numbers came in just the first half!
Shaun Jackson, Sayreville: The Bombers’ senior runningback rushed for 214 yards and three touchdowns – while catching a fourth for a 90-yard score – in a 26-18 win at Colonia, their second in three seasons against the Patriots.
Zymere Weaver, St. Thomas Aquinas: The Trojans – who have a new coach in Shamir Bearfield – haven’t missed a beat, as they trounced Montclair Friday at home, 56-3. And a big reason why was Weaver, the sophomore quarterback who completed six of just seven passes, but for 260 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for another.
Sam Meekings, Voorhees: Typically a big rushing offense, senior quarterback Sam Meekings went 15-of-17 for 241 yards and three touchdowns through the air in a 39-16 win at Orange Thursday night. The win was the first in a season opener for Voorhees since 2002.

Other Notable Performances:

Matt Resende, Brearley: In a 20-3 loss to Wallington, Resende took eight carries for 58 yards and a touchdown, while also recording 14 tackles from his linebacker spot on defense.
James Mongno, Hunterdon Central: In a 36-28, hang-on-for-dear-life win at North Hunterdon, Mongno grabbed 11 catches for 161 yards and four touchdowns.
Fiheem Howell, JFK: The senior runningback rushed 17 times for 157 yards and a touchdown, while also recording three tackles and a 37-yard interception return in a 36-0 win over Perth Amboy Thursday night.
Evan Canica, Manville: The senior had a big day at middle linebacker for the Mustangs in a 19-6 win over Manville Saturday afternoon. More than just a team-best 14 tackles, he had four TFLs and a sack, and was instrumental in two key fourth-down stops, while his fourth down QB hurry on the Red Raiders’ opening drive quashed their 17-play push at the Manville 21. At center, on offense, he helped pave the way for a 285-yard Mustang ground attack.
Obinna Obuba, Montgomery: The senior wide receiver had two catches for 32 yards and a touchdown, but the catch that mattered was a big-one: a 25-yard TD reception in overtime at Hopewell Valley that gave the Cougars the lead, before they sealed the game on defense, winning 35-28.
Michai Coffee, New Brunswick: While the Zebras ultimately fell 14-8 at Freehold Boro on Saturday, the senior runningback took five carries and made them count for 142 yards and the lone New Brunswick score.
Cole O’Connor, North Hunterdon: Though a late rally fell short in a 36-28 home loss to Hunterdon Central, the senior runningback carried 18 times for 102 yards and three touchdowns (one of nine yards, two each of one) and also had two receptions for 43 yards.
Ja’Quan Robinson, Rahway: The junior quarterback was 15-of-23 for 256 yards and four touchdowns (19, 48, 6, 72) on offense, though the Indians fell short, losing 35-33 to visiting Willingboro. On defense, at linebacker, he recorded two solo tackles, a three-yard sack, a TFL and two quarterback hurries.
Se’mir Tolbert-Brimage, Spotswood: In a season opening 38-0 win over Middlesex, the senior signal-caller carried 14 times for 118 yards and three touchdowns. Passing, he was 5-of-8 for 53 yards and another score to Ryan Foster.
Alex Schwark, Summit: The senior quarterback was solid on the ground, too, for the Hilltoppers in a 14-11 win over Morristown. He rushed 14 times for 260 yards and two scores to rally his team back from an 11-0 third quarter deficit.
Josh Allen, Woodbridge: The senior runningback was a workhorse Friday night for the Barrons in a 14-0 home win over Union. Allen carried 26 times for 170 yards and had two catches for 14 yards, plus a 16-yard kick return in the game.