Clean Sweep! Somerville’s Vesuvio-Bush takes Week 7 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week award on dominating performance

When debating who to choose for the Week 7 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the week, I asked by broadcast partner for that game, Justin Sontupe, for his take.

“No doubt in my mind Somerville loses without him. He did everything.”

Surely, it takes a whole team to win. He doesn’t do what he did without the offensive line. Or the defense – which he had to be a part of when a cornerback went down – holding a talented Plainfield team in check. Then again, would anyone else on the roster have had 288 yards and three touchdowns on 40 carries, plus another 76 yards on four catches?

Probably not.

That, and the win over a solid team kept the defending Central Jersey Group 3 Pioneers’ chances alive – although they may need some help – to get a top-seed in the same section again this year.

And add in the fact “AVB” has had a dominant season, becoming just the 12th player in the history of Somerville football – which dates back to 1903 – to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season.

So, for his efforts, senior Adian Vesuvio-Bush of Voorhees – who also was this week’s Higgins Speed Lab “Speedster of the Week” with the top rushing performance in the Big Central – is the Week 7 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week.

Somerville (7-1) is back in action this Friday night at Watchung Hills (3-5).

Click below to hear Justin Sontupe’s postgame interview with Week Seven Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Aidan Vesuvio-Bush 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:

• Collin Shimp, Manville: The senior tight end led the aerial attack with just five catches by 127 yards and two toucdowns, including a 70-yard score just before the half to put the Mustangs up 28-7, then another from 45 yards away coming out of halftime to keep the Owls at bay.
• Caiden Miller, Montgomery: In a 43-15 win at previously-undefeated Sayreville on Friday, the senior runningback scored four touchdowns and ran for 128 yards on 23 carries. Two came in the second quarter, to give his team a 16-15 lead at the break. He then added one each in the final two quarters as the defense shut down the Bombers the rest of the way.
• Brody Nugent, Old Bridge: In a 45-29 win over Hunterdon Central, the dual-threat quarterback accounted for over 400 yards of offense. That’s 276 yards and two scores passing, while running for 185 and scoring three more times.
• Amauris Peguero, Perth Amboy: The Panthers picked up their first win of the season, 34-14 over Scotch Plains-Fanwood Friday night, in large part due to the senior quarterback’s play. He completed nine of 15 passes for 224 yards and four touchdowns in the win. In his first year on varsity, the yards and TD passes were career highs, and it was the first 100-plus yard passing game of his career.
• Andrew Avent, Rahway: OK, so he can’t rush for 300 yards every game! But the senior carried just nine times for 240 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-6 win over New Brunswick that was more impressive for the three school records he set – single season rushing, career total touchdowns, and career total points – along with a person milestone – cracking 4,000 for his career. His rushing total of 1,520 yards this season also is a career high.

Other Notable Performances:

• Tyce Hanratty, Bernards: The junior middle linebacker had 12 tackles, a sack, a TFL, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in a 35-7 win over Governor Livingston.
• Ben Culberson, Delaware Valley: The junior linebacker had a solid night on the defensive side of the ball, with 13 tackles, two TFLs and a sack. On the offensive side, the runningback had nine carries for 60 yards and two scores, which came in the fourth quarter to rally the Terriers from an 18-7 deficit to a 21-18 win over Roselle Friday night.
• Dan Poretti, New Providence: In a 49-3 win over Bound Brook Friday, the senior scored in all three phases of the game. He had two carries for 44 yards and a touchdown, a 30-yard pick-six from the secondary for another, and a 70-yard kickoff return for a touchdown as well.
• Sam Dech, Phillipsburg: The Stateliners bounced back from a loss at St. Joseph-Metuchen with a 42-0 home win over Union, and got 18 carries, 156 yards and four touchdowns from the senior runningback in the win.
• Mickeye Simmons, Piscataway: The senior ran nine times for 107 yards (with a long of 60) and two touchdowns Friday in a 21-7 road win at a very good Hillsborough team. A free safety, he also recorded seven tackles.
• Greg Brown, Ridge: The junior outside linebacker had nine tackles to lead the team, plus two TFLs, a sack, a forced fumble, and a 69-yard interception he brought to the house in a 57-20 home win over North Brunswick Friday night.
• Justin Scaramuzzo, St. Joseph-Metuchen: In a 41-19 win over St. Thomas Aquinas in North Edison Friday, the senior QB was 12-of-15 for 231 yards and five touchdowns, while also carrying the ball 11 times for 73 yards and another score. Coach Bill Tracy says, “He makes plays when there are no plays there.” Well said.