Defense with a “Furey”: Montgomery linebacker was all over the field in upset of Somerville, earns Week 4 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors

When Montgomery knocked off a ranked Somerville football team early in the 2025 season, after an OT win at Hopewell Valley and a home loss to Summit, it indicated that the Cougars could be in for a special year.

They wound up going 8-4 and playing in the North 2, Group 5 title game, which they lost at Phillipsburg. But it was indeed special, albeit bittersweet: it was Montgomery’s first-ever appearance in a sectional final.

One year later, maybe they’re at it again. After significant graduation losses and an 0-2 start – blanked by Hopewell Valley, and with a loss to now-third-ranked Old Bridge – the Cougars have won two in a row, the latest a 38-35 win over Somerville at Milich Field that puts them at 3-2 on the year.

Oh, and it was their second win in a row over the Pioneers.

But none of it happens without Zach Furey.

The senior linebacker was “all over the field,” according to second-year head coach Sean Carty. On Homecoming, he recorded 18 tackles – 14 solo – along with a sack, but also got it done on offense. he rushed eleven times for 49 yards and a touchdown, while also adding two catches for 55 yards to the mix.

And while they may have been outgained in yardage by Somerville overall – 273 to 221 – holding the high-powered Pioneer offense to under 300 yards when they’re averaging 335 is a big success.

And it was good enough to give Montgomery the win.

For his efforts, Zach Furey of Montgomery is the Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Player of the Week for Week Four.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko with Week Four Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Zach Furey of Montgomery:

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:

• Gabe Worrell, Cranford: In a thrilling 14-7 win at Rahway, Worrell rushed 23 times for 157 yards and two touchdowns – a 27-yard run in the opening quarter and a seven-yard run in the third, which capped a 12-play, 71-yard drive that took 9:42 off the clock, and in which he carried ten times for 66 yards. On defense, at linebacker, he was busy, too, recording 13 tackles.
• Gabriel Marquez, East Brunswick: In a 34-7 win against Voorhees, the senior runingback broke the school record for most touchdowns in a single game, with five total. How did he do it? He carried 22 times for 177 yards and four scores, which also catching two passes for 34 yards, one for a touchdown. He also plays safety, and had three tackles and an interception against the Vikings.
• Zion Farley, North Plainfield: The senior quarterback – a transfer by way of Hudson Catholic – had to sit out the first four games of the year. But in his season debut, he made up for it, completing 20 of 32 passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns, while running it 14 times for 160 yards and two more scores – with a long of 47 – in a 41-7 road victory against JFK that puts the Canucks above .500 (3-2) for the first time since a 7-0 season-opening win over Orange.
• Chase Rizzo, Old Bridge: The senior was a big reason for the Knights’ second-half rally – down 26-0 at the half – to beat Piscataway at Lombardi Field, 27-26. He carried 12 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns, while also catching two passes – both for touchdowns – for a total of 92 yards.
• Sherwin Appiah, Sayreville: The senior runningback was a monster on offense in a 37-21 win at St. Thomas Aquinas on Friday. He had 23 carries for 228 yards and four touchdowns, with a long run of 60, helping pace an offense that only had to throw two passes in the game. The linebacker also had three tackles on defense.

Other Notable Performances:

• Chase Hawthorne, Bernards: In a 28-0 win at Delaware Valley Friday, the senior cornerback had two interceptions, two tackles for loss, and eight total tackles, along with two pass breakups. His two picks were part of a three-interception night by the defense, which dominated in the whitewash.
• Dom Pintado, Dayton: The junior linebacker recorded 21 tackle – 10 solo – two TFLs and two forced fumbles in a 40-25 win at Roselle Park Friday night.
• Aaron Erb, Hunterdon Central: Just a freshman, the talented wide receiver had a half-dozen catches for 119 yards and a touchdown, along with four rushes for 79 yards and a second score in a 21-19 loss to Watchung Hills.
• Cassius Carter, Manville: The Mustangs’ junior H-back carried eleven times for 186 yards and three touchdowns, scoring from 15, 14 and 29 yards out in a 42-8 win at South Hunterdon.
• Stephen Prohidney, North Hunterdon: The senior wide receiver had seven catches for 106 yards and a 24-yard touchdown catch in a 33-22 loss Friday at Scotch Plains-Fanwood.
• Jamir Hall, Union: The senior runningback carried 15 times for 169 yards and three touchdowns – one of which was on the very first play from scrimmage – as the Farmers improved to 4-1 with a 42-13 win at Hillsborough Friday night.
• Evan Williams, Watchung Hills: In a 21-19 win over Hunterdon Central in Flemington, Williams carried 22 times for 168 yards and touchdowns of four and 82 yards. He also had two catches for 26 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown catch. That despite missing most of the second quarter due to injury, but he was able to come back, and “was the difference in the game,” according to first-year head coach Joe Ascolese.
• Justin Blake, Woodbridge: The junior runningback carried for 180 yards on 16 carries – including TD runs of 34 and 75 yards – while also going 4-for-4 on PATs – in a 28-21 win at Colonia Friday to take home the bragging rights trophy in a big rivalry game.