Tag: Andrew Avent

Back again this year, Rahway’s Andrew Avent claims CJSR Three-Way Player of the Year in 2025

As many who have followed Central Jersey Sports Radio over the years know, beyond the typical Player of the Year winners, we often choose “specialty” awards, or put another way, find ways for more players than just a handful to be recognized.

Over 50 Big Central student-athletes are being noted this year alone, whether they be the Player of the Year in a particular category, win a specialty award, or are Honorable Mentions in any of several categories.

One of the awards we give every year is the Two-Way Player of the Year, for the Big Central football player who excels on both sides of the football.

Not every day does someone excel in all three phases, but when they do, we’re right there to make sure people know.

So, after a year’s hiatus, Andrew Avent of Rahway is the Central Jersey Sports Radio Three-Way Player of the Year.

On offense, with 1,961 yards rushing, he set several records: a personal best, the Rahway single-season record, and the Indians’ career rushing mark. HE also holds the career scoring record, and has the school’s all-time touchdown record, with 77 across offense, defense and special teams.

He was also the Higgins Speed Lab “Speedster of the Week,” with the most ranking points out of each week’s top ten rushers in the Big Central Conference.

He’s also moved from linebacker to defense end this year, where he grabbed 10 1/2 sacks and 21 1/2 TFLs, along with 56 1/2 tackles, and 43 1/2 solo.

And in the third phase, he’s a solid punter, averaging nearly 24 yards per boot, with five of his 20 landing inside the opponent 20. He even had a par of two-point runs.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with CJSR’s Three-Way Player of the Year, Andrew Avent of Rahway:

We’ve tallied up all the numbers, and it’s Rahway’s Andrew Avent who is the 2025 Higgins Speed Lab “Speedster of the Year”

All season long, Central Jersey Sports Radio has been highlighting Big Central Conference’s “Speedster of the Week” presented by Higgins Speed Lab in South Brunswick, recognizing the top runningbacks in the league every week of the 2025 season.

Now, at the end of the year, we tallied up all the outstanding players who made the list – assigned them points, 10 for a first place finish, nine for second, etc. – and come up with one winner, the Higgins Speed Lab “Speedster of the Year!”

And it’s Andrew Avent of Rahway!

Avent could have probably won this award for his whole career if we were doing it that long. He finished this year with a personal best 1,961 yards, which gives him the Rahway single-season rushing record. He also owns the Rahway career rushing record (4,524 yards), career touchdown record (55) and career scoring record.

Well done for one of the nicest kids, too, you’ll ever meet.

Scroll down for the full list of Top Ten “Speedsters of the Season” in the Big Central Conference!

Image highlighting Andrew Avent as the Speedster of the Year, featuring his achievements and statistics for the 2025 season.

Higgins Speed Lab in South Brunswick was founded by Kyle Higgins, son of longtime Piscataway head coach and NJFCA Hall of Famer Dan Higgins. Kyle grew up around the program and remains a Chiefs’ assistant coach to this day. At Higgins Speed Lab, Kyle has developed a system to help athletes increase speed while in a competitive small group environment of similar age and skill. Click here to listen to our interview with Kyle Higgins and learn more about Higgins Speed Lab!

Logo of Higgins Speed Lab, featuring bold lettering in black with a clean design.

They offer sport-specific training in football, lacrosse, soccer, basketball, baseball, golf, volleyball, track, gymnastics, and tennis. And “speed” isn’t their only focus. They’ll also work on proper running mechanics, plyometrics, acceleration/deceleration, top speed, linear and multi-directional speed, first-step quickness, endurance, strength, coordination, mobility and injury prevention.

Here are the Top Ten “Speedsters of the Year” for 2025!

10. Aidan Vesuvio Bush, Somerville: Week 7 winner vs. Plainfield with 40 carries for 228 yards and 3 TDs; for the season: 1,299 yards, 18 TDs
9. Sam Dech, Phillipsburg: Week 10 winner in the North 2, Group 4 semifinals vs. Colonia, with 217 yards and 2 TDs; for the season: 1,530 yards, 23 TDs
8. Mathew Resende, Brearley: for the season: 1,284 yards, 10 TD
7. Alex Schwark, Summit: Week 0 Winner vs. Morristown with 247 yards and 2 TDs; for the season: 1,274 yards and 12 TDs
6. Brody Nugent, Old Bridge: for the season: 1,262 yards, 20 TD (along with over 2,200 passing yards)
5. Matteo Tramutola, Voorhees: Week 1 winner vs. JFKK with 224 yards and 4 TDs; for the season: 1,338 yds, 17 TDs
4. Al-Naiquan Boseman, Carteret: Week 9 winner vs. JFK with 224 yards and 4 TDs; for the season: 1,338 yards and 17 TDs
3. Joshua Allen, Woodbridge: for the season: 1,579 yards, 20 TDs
2. Shaun Jackson, Sayreville: Week 6 winner vs. Franklin with 338 yards and 4 TDs, eight Top Ten appearances (most of any Speedster); for the season: 1,977 yards, 25 TDs
1. Andrew Avent, Rahway: Winner in Weeks 4, 5 and 8 (only multiple winner!); for the season: 1,961 yards (school single-season record) and 22 TDs

Disclaimer: All statistics are gathered from multiple public online sources. If someone is missing from this list, it likely means their coach has not updated statistics. All coaches are urged to do so no later than 11:59 pm on Sundays during the season.

Another 300-plus yard game for Rahway’s Andrew Avent earns senior third Higgins Speed Lab “Speedster of the Week” honor

As we’ve been doing all season long, Central Jersey Sports Radio is highlighting the high school football “Speedster of the Week” presented by Higgins Speed Lab in South Brunswick, recognizing the top runningbacks in the Big Central Conference every week.

And the Week Eight winner is Rahway’s Andrew Avent!

Already the school’s career and single-season rushing leader, Avent wins the “Speedster of the Week” award for the third time this season for his 312-yard effort on 23 carries – with one touchdown – in a 28-7 home win over No. 3 Montgomery heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio back on Friday night.

Avent also won back-to-back in Weeks Five and Six. The first was for a 219-yard rushing game on just eleven carries, with two touchdowns, in a 33-0 win over North Hunterdon. The second was came on a 35-carry, 362-yard, five touchdown effort in a 43-41 loss at Cranford.

Scroll down for a list of the top ten rushing performances of Week Eight in the BCC!

Image celebrating Andrew Avent from Rahway as the Speedster of the Week, featuring his stats: 23 carries for 312 yards and 1 touchdown in a 28-7 victory against Montgomery.

Higgins Speed Lab in South Brunswick was founded by Kyle Higgins, son of longtime Piscataway head coach and NJFCA Hall of Famer Dan Higgins. Kyle grew up around the program and remains a Chiefs’ assistant coach to this day. At Higgins Speed Lab, Kyle has developed a system to help athletes increase speed while in a competitive small group environment of similar age and skill. Click here to listen to our interview with Kyle Higgins and learn more about Higgins Speed Lab!

Logo of Higgins Speed Lab, featuring bold lettering in black with a clean design.

They offer sport-specific training in football, lacrosse, soccer, basketball, baseball, golf, volleyball, track, gymnastics, and tennis. And “speed” isn’t their only focus. They’ll also work on proper running mechanics, plyometrics, acceleration/deceleration, top speed, linear and multi-directional speed, first-step quickness, endurance, strength, coordination, mobility and injury prevention.

Listen to Mike Pavlichko run down the Top Ten rushing performances in the Big Central for Week 8!

Here are the top ten rushing performances from Cutoff Weekend in the Big Central:

  • Andrew Avent, Rahway: 23 carries for 312 yards and 1 TD in a 28-7 win over Montgomery
  • Dominic Massaro, South Plainfield: 26 carries for 243 yards and 4 TDs in a 42-14 win over JFK
  • Matteo Tramutola, Voorhees: 31 carries for 208 yards and 3 TD in a 27-7 win over North Hunterdon
  • Logan Stevens, Bernards: 8 carries for 196 yards and 3 TD in a 22-0 win over Carteret
  • Al-Naiquan Boseman, Carteret: 25 carries for 185 yards in a 22-0 loss at Bernards
  • Kah’mori Cotto, South River: 24 carries for 185 yards and 3 TD in an 18-0 win over Highland Park
  • Andrew Schwarz, Hillsborough: 18 carries for 178 yards in a 34-8 win at Hunterdon Central
  • Jacob Quiros, Highland Park: 15 carries for 166 yards and 3 TD in an 18-0 loss at South River
  • Sam Dech, Phillipsburg: 21 carries for 162 yards and 2 TD in a 36-13 win over Bridgewater-Raritan
  • Aidan Vesuvio-Bush, Somerville: 17 carries for 155 yards and 3 TD in a 35-15 win at Watchung Hills

Disclaimer: All statistics are gathered from multiple public online sources. If someone is missing from this list, it likely means their coach has not updated statistics. All coaches are urged to do so no later than 11:59 pm on Sundays during the season.

Saturday Big Central Roundup: Rahway’s Andrew Avent shatters school, personal rushing marks in 41-6 win at New Brunswick; Belvidere also comes up a winner on light afternoon

After a busy night with a number of critical results on Friday night in the Big Central, things cooled down a little bit – the calm before the storm of Cutoff Weekend – with just two games on the docket.

One of them was a historic occasion, indeed.

Rahway 41, New Brunswick 6…

Senior Andrew Avent set three Rahway football program records in a 41-6 win at New Brunswick that was over pretty early at Memorial Stadium.

On just nine carries, Avent ran for 240 yards and four touchdowns against the Zebras. Personally, he topped 4,000 yards for his career, now with 1,520 yards over 37 games across four varsity seasons. That’s also a single-season best for Avent.

And then there are the school marks:

  • Avent’s 1,520 yards this season is five over the school’s single-season record of 1,515 set by Harold “Butchie” Young in 1981. That team finished 8-1-2.
  • With four TDs Saturday, Avent now has 54 total career touchdowns, and he’s now one better than the mark of 51 overall set by Joe Williams. Avent also has once receiving touchdown, and another on defense.,
  • With the 24 points scored by Avent Saturday, he’s now got 330 in his career a dozen more than the 318 scored by Williams.

Williams played for Rahway from 1956 through 1957, with the team going 21-4 in that span, including 8-0 in 1958, when they were declared North 2, Group 3 champions by the NJSIAA – in the days before the playoffs – with 630 points in the Colliton system.

As for the 2025 team, Rahway sat in 16th place in North Group 4 after Friday’s results, and it’s unclear yet – at least until all scores are reported – if they’ll dip further (since New Brunswick remains winless with an SI under 25) or move up.

Either way, it likely sets up a “play in” type of situation for Rahway next Friday, when they host ranked Montgomery at Madden Field for a 7 pm kickoff. Central Jersey Sports Radio will broadcast the game live, with Mike Pavlichko and Dom Savino on the call. Bookmark this link to listen live!

Click hear to listen to Rahway senior Andrew Avent talk about his record-setting day with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

In the only game of the day involving a Big Central Conference school, Belvidere beat North Warren at home, 22-12, to improve to 4-4 on the season.

FRIDAY’S GAMES:

  • No. 1 St. Joseph-Metuchen 41, No. 3 St. Thomas Aquinas 19 (coverage from Marcus Borden)
  • Summit 10, No. 2 Woodbridge 7 (recap with audio)
  • No. 4 Phillipsburg 42, Union 0
  • No. 10 Montgomery 41, No. 5 Sayreville 15 (recap with audio)
  • No. 6 Bernards 35, Governor Livingston 7
  • No. 7 Somerville 40, Plainfield 28 (recap with audio)
  • No. 8 Piscataway 21, Hillsborough 7
  • No. 9 Old Bridge 45, Hunterdon Central 29
  • Franklin 40, Monroe 22
  • Bridgewater-Raritan 28, Westfield 7
  • Colonia 40, Cranford 15
  • JFK 42, Middlesex 0
  • Roselle Park 49, JP Stevens 6
  • New Providence 49, Bound Brook 3
  • Perth Amboy 34, Scotch Plains-Fanwood 14
  • East Brunswick 13, North Hunterdon 10
  • Ridge 57, North Brunswick 20
  • Elizabeth 28, Watchung Hills 14
  • Delaware Valley 21, Roselle 18
  • Spotswood 41, South Hunterdon 8
  • Dayton 48, Dunellen 0
  • Voorhees 6, Hillside 0
  • Manville 48, Highland Park 14
  • AL Johnson 36, North Plainfield 0
  • Linden 27, Carteret 10

Central Jersey Sports Radio announces football “Specialty Awards” for 2024

Our goal at Central Jersey Sports Radio since our founding in 2020 has always been to bring attention to all the great things done by the many outstanding student-athletes in our area, both on and off the field.

Even with Honorable Mentions in each category, just having one each of Offensive, Defensive Special Teams and Two-Way Player of the Year isn’t quite enough to cover the massive 59-team Big Central Conference.

So, in our quest to honor as many great student-athletes as possible, here are our 2024 Central Jersey Sports Radio Specialty Awards:

“Dynamic Duo” Award: Jett Genovese and Matthew Scerbo, Jr., Phillipsburg

You can’t really recognize one without the other.

The quarterback Genovese and wide receiver Scerbo – though they also both play defense – have both been three year starters for the Stateliners.

Phillipsburg’s Jett Genovese (#3) and Matthew Scerbo, Jr., (#10) greet each opther before a huddle in the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)

The two have had great success with the Stateliners, leading them to back-to-back wins over Easton for the first time since 2002/2003, and this year’s North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 title. They’ve connected for touchdowns 22 times in a three-year span.

Individually, they’ve been outstanding.

Genovese finishes his career with 4,565 yards passing and 43 touchdowns, while Scerbofinished with 2,375 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns. He’s the school’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and TD catches, and just signed with Lafayette last Wednesday, meaning he’ll play for the next several years on the same field where he and his teammates beat Easton twice.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Phillipsburg’s Jett Genovese and Matthew Scerbo, Jr.:

The “Scores Every Which Way” Award: James Bodley, Piscataway

One thing you know when you watch Piscataway football is you’re going to see some creative football and some electrifying plays.

And few on the Chiefs roster are more electrifying than James Bodley.

Piscataway’s James Bodley (Source: @JamesBodley3 on Twitter)

Bodley rushed for nearly 1,000 yards this season – finishing tenth on the all-time career rushing list with over 1,500 yards – and had over 100 tackles.

But it was how he scored that drew our attention:

  • 13 rushing touchdowns
  • 2 receiving touchdowns
  • 2 two-point conversions
  • 1 kickoff return for a touchdown
  • 1 punt return for a touchdown
  • 1 interception return for a touchdown

The only scores he didn’t have were a fumble recovery and a safety, but who are we to be nit-picky?

Click below to hear Alec Crouthamel talk with Piscataway’s James Bodley:

“Making the Grade” Award: Lamar Raiford, JP Stevens

This year’s awards are dotted with players who’ve been two-, three- and sometimes four-year starters for their teams.

Lamar Raiford is not one of them, but he’s grateful to get to suit up for his senior season for JP Stevens.

Lamar Raiford of JP Stevens (Source: Hudl)

Raiford – who played for the Shamrocks youth team – didn’t have the grades to play when he got to high school, and at the time he was enrolled in Edison. But he had a lot of friends there, got distracted, and couldn’t keep his grades up.

He moved within his hometown up the road to JP Stevens, cracked the books, and was eligible to play in 2024. And just in time, he helped the Hawks snap their 42-game losing streak, with a 22-21 overtime victory against Bound Brook.

Click below to hear Justin Sontupe talk with Lamar Raiford of JP Stevens:

“Rising Star” Award: Chukwuma Odoh, St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas was rolling along with a really good running back named Chase Young.

But this year, sophomore Chukwuma Odoh showed promise, so head coach Tarig Holman made him the No. 1 back, with Young picking up additional blocking duties – while also running for 611 yards – and the move paid dividends.

Chukwuma Odoh of St. Thomas Aquinas. (Source: @CHUDAGOAT on Twitter)

Odoh wound up rushing for 1,418 yards and 17 touchdowns, stringing together ten 100-yard rushing games this season, leading a backfield that accumulated over 3,000 yards rushing as a group.

Click below to hear Alec Crouthamel talk Chukwuma Odoh of St. Thomas Aquinas:

“Family Affair” Award: Derek and Bryan Anderson, Woodbridge

Quarterbacks and receivers at the high school level often have a special bond. Often times they grew up playing catch, did the same in Pop Warner, and continue right through high school, almost like they can read each other’s minds.

Well, Woodbridge has a QB/wide receiver duo who didn’t just grow up playing together. They grew up together.

To boot, Derek Anderson the quarterback and Bryan Anderson the receiver are twins!

Derek (left) and Bryan Anderson of Woodbridge. (Source: @DJA10_ and @BryAndy_5 on Twitter)

In their careers, Derek threw for over 3,200 yards and 40 touchdowns, most over the last two seasons. Derek passed for 1,470 yards this year with 19 TDs. Bryan had 1,721 receiving yards and 40 touchdowns on 116 career catches. This year he grabbed 50 for 857 yards and 11 scores, while also rushing for 203 yards and one more touchdown.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Derek and Bryan Anderson of Woodbridge:

The “OMG He’s Back Another Year” Award: Andrew Avent, Rahway

Everyone knows that player.

You know, the guy who never seems to leave? It seems like he had six years of eligibility? Looks like a college student?

Yep, that’s Andrew Avent, and he’s still got one more year to go.

Andrew Avent of Rahway. (Source: @AndrewAvent1 on Twitter)

Avent was a workhorse for Rahway this season en route to a 7-3 campaign. He carried the ball 194 times for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns in his third year a starter.

With one more to go, he’ll head into his senior season with 2,563 career yards and 31 career touchdowns, looking for even bigger and better things in 2025.

Click below to hear Justin Sontupe talk with Rahway’s Andrew Avent:

The “Unbreakable Record Breaker” Award: Jackson Jankowicz, Hillsborough

Some records are made to be broken, others you think might stand forever, even if they were just set a couple of years ago.

That was the thinking of Hillsborough head coach Kevin Carty when it came to a couple of records owned by some of the biggest stars in Raiders history: Shawn Mayer and Tommy Amankwaa.

Enter Jackson Jankowicz.

Hillsborough runningback Jackson Jankowicz. (@jacksonjank3 on Twitter)

An Offensive Player of the Year Honorable Mention, Jankowicz had 24 rushing touchdowns his season, breaking the mark set a long time ago by Shawn Mayer, who eventually played at Penn State and then a year in the NFL with the Patriots, getting to suit up for the Super Bowl across from another former Raider, Ricky Proehl.

He also had 30 total TDs, tying Tommy Amankwaa’s record set in 2021. Amankwaa went to Rutgers and just recently entered the transfer portal, looking to play more at wide receiver. That record, Carty said, “I thought that might stand forever.”

Looks like you were wrong, coach.

Oh, and if you include the fact he threw a touchdown pass this year as well, he accounted for 31 – one more than Amankwaa’s “unbreakable” record.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Jackson Jankowicz of Hillsborough:

Marcus Borden’s 2024 GMC/BCC Camp Caravan: Night scrimmage features Carteret at Rahway

Central Jersey Sports Radio high school football analyst Marcus Borden finished off a double-dip of coverage Monday, catching Carteret and Rahway’s get together at Rahway River Park.

You can find videos – including video highlights and interviews – from both teams below

Rahway: Head Coach Brian Russo; seniors Malachi Lowe (DE/RT), Donae Fish (G/DT), and Kevin Taylor (DE/OT); and junior Andrew Avent (RB/LB)

Carteret: Head Coach Kevin Freeman and seniors Ja’Kir Thomas (RB/FS), Eric Thompson (QB/DB), Jacob Bess (G/DE) and Yari Miranda (C/DT)

You can now watch all the 2024 Camp Caravan videos on YouTube by clicking this link!

Rahway looks to turn last year’s heart, youth and inexperience into this year’s success

Many football teams across New Jersey are looking for a new quarterback to step up this year. Others are looking for a new top runningback. Some are in need of both.

Rahway doesn’t have that problem.

While the Indians were just 3-7 in 2023, they were a team with heart, but also youth. They started a sophomore at quarterback in Ziare Fields, and fellow sophomore Andrew Avent led them in the ground attack as well. Both are back, and looking to make an impact in 2024.

Head coach Brian Russo is entering his tenth season with the Indians, and although they’ve been quite successful in that time, the last three seasons have been a challenge. But he’s banking on the fact that mistakes sophomores may make will be a thing of the past now that they are juniors.

Click below to hear from Rahway football coach Brian Russo and runningback/linebacker Andrew Avent: