Freshman QB goes on the road against unbeaten team, throws early pick-six, then pulls off the win: Somerville QB Dylan Boehm named Week 5 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week

This one wasn’t an easy pick at all, then again it kind of was.

One nomination was for an all-world runningback who went for 362 yards – tops in the Big Central this season – but for a loss. Then there was a quarterback who’s not generally a quarterback, but threw for 350 yards in a rivalry game and won.

Then, there was Dylan Boehm of Somerville.

Impressive enough that the Pioneers knocked off 5-0 Summit Saturday afternoon, but the win also came on the road. And the QB who threw for 349 yards and four touchdown on an efficient 13-of-16 day certainly led his team to victory. But add in that he’s a freshman, and rebounded after throwing an early pick-six when it all could have fell apart, well, now you have the Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week for Week Five in the Big Central Conference.

That effort, and that result, are a big reason why the Pioneers are one of several BCC teams sitting in the enviable spot of a top-seed come playoff time, with the Cutoff just three weeks away.

The No. 5 Pioneers (5-1) are back in action this Friday night at North Hunterdon (1-5).

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko’s interview with Week Five Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Dylan Boehm of Somerville:

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:

• Andrew Schwarz, Hillsborough: In a 42-21 come-from-behind win at Westfield Saturday, the senior runningback rushed 17 times for 151 yards and four touchdowns, as the Raiders rallied from a 14-0 deficit just six minutes into the game. More impressive, he only had 15 yards in the first half!
• Cam Hayes-Durina, Metuchen: The senior QB – who’s new to the position, according to head coach Jordan Leitner, went 20-of-26 passing for 350 yards and three touchdowns – while also rushing for 53 yards – in a 36-13 win at arch-rival Highland Park. He spread the ball around, connecting with five different receivers in the victory.
• Antonio Sauchelli, North Hunterdon: The Lions picked up their first win of the season against five losses on Friday with a 29-12 victory at Monroe. The wide reveiver had two catches for 45 yards and a touchdown for 40 yards, but also ran the rock 12 times for 113 yards and a 66-yard score.
• Andrew Avent, Rahway: The senior standout runningback put together the biggest rushing night in the Big Central Conference this season on Saturday night, in a 43-41 loss at Cranford, going off for 262 yards on 35 carries – more then ten yards per carry – and five touchdowns, with a long of 62. Four of his runs were over 30 yards. At defensive end, he also had two TFLs and a quarterback hurry.
• Shaun Jackson, Sayreville: The Bomber senior had 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns, along with 60 receiving yards and another score, in a 42-24 win at rival Piscataway Friday night.

Other Notable Performances:

• Justin Simpson, Bernards: Head coach Jon Simoneau says the senior offensive tackle helped the Mountaineer offense rush for five yards per carry and keep freshman QB A.J. MacCracken off his back and sack-free in his first high school start.
• Al-Naiquan Boseman, Carteret: The junior runningback carried 21 times for 232 yards and four scores in a 45-0 home win over New Brunswick. Hvaing been hurt for the previous two games, head coach Kevin Freeman says he powered through and came ready to play against the Zebras, scoring three times in the opening quarter.
• Kelton Ibach, Delaware Valley: The senior signal-called threw 9-for-11 for 142 yards and four touchdowns in a 43-13 win at South River on Saturday.
• Grant Lorentzen, JFK: In a 33-14 win over Scotch Plains-Fanwood, the senior wide receiver had six catches for 101 yards and three touchdowns, a 55-yard punt return on special teams, and logged five tackles in the secondary on defense. All that came in less than three quarters of action.
• Leban Chankotadze, Manville: The freshman defensive end helped lead a defense that allowed just 70 total yards to JP Stevens Saturday in a 41-12 win. He had four solo tackles, two tackles for loss, a pair of sacks and two broken up passes., not allowing a single first half point.
• Gavin Pereira, Spotswood: In high school, a really good kicker can make a really big difference. Pereira does it night in and night out, this time in a 36-7 home win over Bound Brook. He kicked a 48-yard field goal – apparently with distance to spare – connected on three extra points, had a 69-yard punt, and sent four kicks into the end zone for touchbacks.
• Logan Direny, Voorhees: The senior wide receiver had four catches for 52 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-13 win at North Plainfield Friday night, another player battling through injuries. At linebacker, he also recorded six tackles.