Bernards’ Favreau looks the part, steals the scene at Hillside, earns Week 5 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors

Let’s get the obvious question out of the way: Yes, he is related to that Favreau.

Now, we can move on to more serious business, like what Zach Favreau – technically, a cousin once removed of the Jon Favreau in Hollywood – did in Saturday’s Big Central Conference high school football game at Conant Street Park last Saturday afternoon.

Where do we begin?

How about in the third quarter, with Bernards down 19-7 to Hillside, but about to break through, with Favreau starring in an Oscar-worthy role as a one-man wrecking crew.

First, it was Nolan Walsh hitting Zach for a 14-yard touchdown late in the period to make it 19-14. Then, in the fourth, Favreau recovered a Hillside fumble, and the ensuing possession culminated in a 30-yard dash by Walsh into the end zone to take a 20-19 lead, failing on a two-point try. But when the Comets got the ball back, Favreau grabbed his second interception of the game, giving Bernards the ball back. And with a couple long runs and first downs gained by Walsh, the Mountaineers were able to get into victory formation for the win.

To recap: a Favreau touchdown catch, Favreau fumble recovery, a Walsh touchdown and a Favreau interception, for the win.

Not bad for one Saturday afternoon’s work.

For his efforts, Zach Favreau of Bernards is the Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Player of the Week for Week Five.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko with Week Five Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Zach Favreau of Bernards:

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:

• Al-Naiquan Boseman, Carteret: In a 33-14 win Friday night over North Brunswick, the senior runningback compiled 204 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries – many in the Wildcat – and went over the 3,000-yard mark for his career. He now has 3,033 yards and 29 touchdowns on 442 carries, for a whopping 6.9 yards per carry average!
• Zyaquann Fairley, North Plainfield: The senior wide receiver and strong safety did it on both sides of the ball on Friday in a 28-27 overtime home win against Spotswood. On offense, he had four catches for 139 yards, including a 70-yard TD haul, and scored the game-winning two-point conversion in overtime. On defense, Fairley registered six solo tackles, two TFLs, and a sack, with nine tackles overall.
• Landon Pernell, Piscataway: The senior was “perfect” playing quarterback Saturday in a 46-6 home win over Franklin: 12-for-12 passing for 247 yards, four touchdowns, and no picks. Doesn’t get much better than that, does it? He also rushed twice for 23 yards, leading an offense that outgained the Warriors 446-164.
• Tucker Hicks, South Hunterdon: In a brilliant turnaround season where the Eagles are 4-2 after a 1-7 campaign in 2025, senior quarterback Tucker Hicks has been a big bright spot. And coach Kyle Hart says he “controlled the game” Friday night in a 30-14 win at JP Stevens, throwing 11-of-15 for 184 yards and three touchdowns of 19, 10 and 20-yards. It was also South Hunterdon’s first win ever over a Group 5 school. (Group 5 was created for the 2012 season.) The Eagles play in Group 1.
• Aiden Noblecilla, South Plainfield: In a 28-24 home win over Scotch Plains-Fanwood Friday night, the senior defensive end did what he’s been doing all year: putting the other team behind the eight ball. He recorded two sacks, six tackles for loss, eight solo tackles and had a forced fumble in the win. He’s now got 10 sacks on the season – third best in New Jersey – and 28 TFLs.

Other Notable Performances:

• Ryan Nelson, Brearley: The junior quarterback had a monster game in a 48-13 win over Roselle on Friday. He was 13-of-15 passing for 265 yards and four touchdowns, with a long of 81. He also rushed eleven times for 53 yards and two more scores. On defense, he had two tackles – one, a tackle for loss – as the defense piled up seven TFLs on the night.
• Brady Hammond, Colonia: The Patriots’ senior QB threw 17-of-24 for 184 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-13 win at Hillsborough Friday night. He also rushed 13 times for 82 yards.
• Charlie Maneely, New Providence: In a 42-21 win at Dayton, the senior runningback carried 26 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns.
• Matt Esposito, North Hunterdon: In a 28-20 loss to Monroe on Friday, the senior runningback carried 15 times for 155 yards and two touchdowns, runs of 51 and 24 yards. He also had a 25-yard touchdown catch, accounting for all three of the Lions’ scores.
• Ariel Rosario Sime, Perth Amboy: In a 42-14 win against New Brunswick Friday night, the senior wide receiver hauled in six catches for 129 yards, half of those grabs (3) going for touchdowns.
• Ja’Quan Robinson, Rahway: The senior was solid in all three phases of a 38-20 win against South Brunswick on Thursday. The team’s mobile quarterback was 3-of-6 passing for 85 yards and a 48-yard touchdown pass, while also running it 17 times for 122 yards and four more scores, the longest of which came from 23 yards out. At linebacker, he recorded eight tackles, two solo, and had one QB hurry, while he also had two punts in the game, with a long of 50.
• Matt McKeever, Summit: “Completely dominated the game on both sides of the ball,” is how Summit coach Kevin Kostibos put it, and the stats bear that out: the senior quarterback rushed 12 times for 129 yards and a touchdown run of 60 yards. But he also excelled at middle linebacker, with 12 tackles, a TFL, and a 65-yard pick six.