Dylan Chiera Named Bellamy & Son Player of the Week

To be honored as a Player of the Week, Month, or Year, it often requires going above and beyond, sometimes playing – and succeeding, obviously – at more than one position.

Well, for the second week in a row, the Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week is a position player who also played a key role in the kicking game.

In Week Zero, it was Dillon Nunes of Watchung Hills, who put his team ahead of Moorestown a field goal, then sealed the win with a third-down interception on defense with the game on the line.

This week, it’s Dylan Chiera of Colonia.

The senior – also a member of the 2025 GMC Tournament and five-time defending North 2, Group 3 champion basketball team – had quite the game at quarterback, almost enough to win it there. He was 14-of-21 passing for 182 yards and two touchdowns.

But that still only had his team tied in the fourth quarter of last Friday night’s home game with North Hunterdon, 21-21. So, a little past the midway point of the fourth quarter, after a drive stalled, he put a foot on the ball instead of throwing it.

That 28-yard field goal gave Colonia a 24-21 lead they held on to, giving the Patriots their first win of the season.

Colonia is back in action Friday night at 6:00 when Linden (0-2) comes to play on the blue turf.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko’s interview with Week One Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Dylan Chiera of Colonia:

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:

Jackson Babiarz, Dayton: In a 21-6 win at South Hunterdon, he had a 27-yard touchdown catch, two interceptions, four total tackles in the secondary, and had two kickoffs go for touchbacks. He had two of the Bulldogs’ three takeaways on defense, and sparked a big second quarter in which Dayton scored all 21 of its points.
A.J. Whitehead, New Providence: The senior runningback was critical in a 42-7 season-opening win at Governor Livingston Saturday, heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio. He went for 68 yards on 14 carries with two rushing touchdowns, but didn’t stop there. Whitehead also had a 62-yard pick-six and a 55-yard punt return for a fourth touchdown. Oh, and he had another punt return called back!
Sam Dech, Phillipsburg: While the senior runningback’s 18 carries, 219 yards and three touchdowns may look like a pedestrian performance by the end of the season, this kid doesn’t do anything without going all the way. And he nearly did that, with a 95-yard touchdown in a 28-0 season-opening win at Westfield, setting two school records: longest rush and longest touchdown run in school history. And there’s a lot of history in Phillipsburg!
Aidan Vesuvio-Bush, Somerville: The Pioneer senior “put the team on his back,” Friday night in a 28-12 home win over Cranford, says head coach Matt Bloom. The runningback carried 26 times for 182 yards and three touchdowns – his longest from 42 yards out – and also had three catches for 23 yards, a two-point conversion, and two kick returns, including a 53-yarder.
Matteo Tramutola, Voorhees: The senior runningback – crowned the Higgins Speed Lab “Speedster of the Week” for Week One – was tops in the Big Central in Week One on the ground, going for 224 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries in a 43-13 road win at JFK. He also caught two passes for 37 yards, while logging six tackles on defense, including a “devastating” one , according to head coach John Hack, which he says “set the tone” for a dominating second half. Tramutola finished with six tackles, and also had two punts, averaging over 40 yards.

Other Notable Performances:

Logan Stevens, Bernards: In a two-day affair that finished Saturday, which Bernards won at Hillside, 24-14, Stevens carried 20 times for 130 yards, and had three catches for 33 yards, scoring twice. He had eight tackles at defensiveback as well, including a touchdown-saving stop at the five-yard line; he then came up with two critical goal-line tackles as well to keep the Comets off the board, and extend the Mountaineers’ state-best 27-game regular season winning streak.
Jake Markey, Bound Brook: The senior runningback was instrumental in a 43-28 home win over JP Stevens Friday night. He carried 26 times, a workhorse for 128 yards and a touchdown. And from his linebacker position, Markey had seven total tackles.
Ronelle Nimneh, Carteret: The senior linebacker was a monster on defense in a 28-2 win at Perth Amboy Friday, heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio. He had 12 total tackles, 11 solo, and recorded four TFLs and two sacks, and also had a 10-yard rushing touchdown, despite never getting a preseason carry – not in practice, or a scrimmage!
Kelton Ibach, Delaware Valley: The senior signal-caller was 14-of-22 passing for 256 yards and two touchdowns, also adding 19 rushing yards on five carries in a 26-0 home win over South Plainfield.
Andrew Schwarz, Hillsborough: In a 20-13 win over Union, the senior runningback ran for 190 yards on 23 carries, scoring touchdowns of 39 (on the third play of the game, to set the tone) and 64 yards, which put the Raiders ahead for good in the third quarter. He also had a catch for nine yards, and at linebacker had two tackles.
Reggie Osae-Aye, Hunterdon Central: The kid keeps putting up big numbers. In a 41-13 win over Monroe, he rushed for 197 yards and four touchdowns. He’s a big reason why the Red Devils are 2-0 and made their debut this week in the Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten at No. 7.
Jordan Burnett, North Plainfield: In a 19-13 home win over Belvidere, he carried 22 times for 167 yards and two touchdowns. With the score tied in the fourth quarter, he led the go-ahead drive with six carries, capping it off with a one-yard TD scamper for the win.
Brody Nugent, Old Bridge: The senior quarterback continues to be red hot. This week, in a 28-6 win over Edison, he threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 64 and another score. He also had an interception on defense.
Andrew Avent, Rahway: The senior runningback carried 19 times for 171 yards and three touchdowns – of 53, nine and two yards – in a 35-7 win at Scotch Plains-Fanwood on Friday. He also had two punts for 42 yards, and on defense, at linebacker, had five solo tackles, three assists and two TFLs.
Anthony Damiano, Roselle Park: In a 45-13 win over Middlesex, the senior QB rushed for a 12-yard touchdown and threw for a 20-yarder, while also picking off a pass from his outside linebacker position that he brought to the house, 53-yards for a third touchdown.
Se’mir Tolbert-Brimage, Spotswood: In a 31-8 home win over Roselle on Friday, the senior QB carried 17 times for 123 yard and a touchdown, but also slung it for 83 yards on 6-of-10 passing with another touchdown. At defensive end, he has two tackles, and two pass breakups.
Alex Schwark, Summit: The senior quarterback did it mainly with his feet in this one: 14 carries, 201 yards and four touchdowns – his second straight 200-yard game – in a 31-28 win at Montgomery. He was also 2-of-4 passing for 66 yards, including a huge completion on their field goal drive in the third quarter that gave them enough wiggle-room to survive a fourth-quarter Cougar touchdown.