Tag: awards

by Mike Pavlichko

55th annual Bill Denny awards dinner honors local football standouts, coaches, and more

More than three dozen high school football players from Middlesex and Somerset Counties, along with several coaches, administrators, educators and officials were honored Sunday at the 55th annual awards dinner of the Bill Denny/Rutgers Football Letterwinners Chapter of the National Football/College Hall of Fame at the Pines Manor in Edison.

The local chapter also awarded several scholarships, now having given out more than $380,000 in funds to deserving Middlesex and Somerset County Scholar-Athletes, over a span of nearly six decades.

The ceremony was presided over by Fred Roselli, chapter president, with awards presented by Tom Bara and Frank Noppenberger.

Read on to learn more about all the honorees.

Distinguished American: This award went to South River’s Rich Marchesi, the longtime Rams’ skipper and alum who will be heading into his 39th season this fall. Marchesi’s record is 228-154, with four Central Jersey Group 1 titles, in 1991, 1995, 2000 and 2001. He also played with with future Penn State All-American and NFL standout Kenny Jackson on the vaunted 1979 undefeated team as a senior, which went undefeated and was a state champion, ending the season ranked No. 3 in New Jersey. A five-time Bill Denny Coach of the Year, he is the winningest coach in South River football history, eventually surpassing Denny. Marchesi was inducted in the the New Hersey Coaches Hall of Fame in 2001.

Edward “Red” Losiewicz Distinguished Official: Given to the official who has “demonstrated sportsmanship, integrity and character in interscholastic athletics,” Tim McDonald was this year’s recipient. An East Brunswick resident, he started officiating football in 1997, and also has been an official for lacrosse, softball and basketball.

Chester Zdrodowski Distinguished Educator (Middlesex): Old Bridge Athletic Director Dan DiMino was the recipient of this award, A Monroe resident, he was named AD in 2016 and has overseen an athletics program that was won 31 division titles, 26 conference championships, 14 NJSIAA sectional crowns, and nine New Jersey state titles. DiMino also is on the Greater Middlesex Conference Executive Committee, and manages scheduling for the entire league. Among several charitable endeavors, DiMino helps lead the Old Bridge Holiday Knight Toy Drive around the holidays, partnering with the Marisa Tufaro Foundation.

Chester Zdrodowski Distinguished Educator (Somerset): This one goes to Michael Hoppe, the Athletic Director at Bernards. Hoppe is a Mountaineer through and through, an alum who has been at his old stomping grounds since graduating from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) in 19984. Starting out as a teacher and coaching three sports, he has been the AD for the last 26 years.

Coach of the Year (Middlesex): Matt Donaghue just wrapped up his fourth season as the Old Bridge football coach, promoted to the head job after Anthony Lanzafama stepped down. At 25-17 in that span, this past fall was a breakout year, following a 6-4 campaign in 2024, as the Knights went all the way to the “Central Jersey” Group 5 final, where they fell to Washington Twp. out of South Jersey. Donaghue also is the head coach of the baseball team at Old Bridge, which won the Central Jersey Group 4 title in 2023, and was a finalist a year ago.

Coach of the Year (Somerset): Montgomery’s Sean Carty takes home the award in his first year on the job, after being promoted from Offensive Coordinator under Zoran Milich, who stepped down as the school’s first and only football coach after the 2024 campaign. The Cougars went 8-4 this past fall, with signature wins over Somerville and Sayreville, and went all the way to the North Jersey, Section 2 Group 4 title game – their first ever – where they fell to defending champion Phillipsburg. A Rutgers graduate and four-year letterwinner, he played for his father, Hall of Fame coach Kevin Carty, at Somerville. His brother, Kevin Jr., is the head coach at neighboring Hillsborough, with his other brother, Ryan, is the head coach at the University of Delaware.

Sporstmanship School of the Year: Highland Park, Bridgewater-Raritan

STUDENT-ATHLETE HONOREES:

Rutgers: Jai Patel (South Brunswick)

Middlesex County:

  • Jonathan Hughes, Carteret
  • Dylan Chiera, Colonia
  • Jackson Portik, Dunellen
  • Noah DeJesus, East Brunswick
  • Robert Roma, Jr., Edison
  • Stamatis Hantsoulis, Highland Park
  • Grant Lorentzen, JFK
  • Esteban Reyes, JP Stevens
  • A.J. Crisci, Metuchen
  • Sean Hughes, Middlesex
  • John Lawless, Monroe
  • Jeffren Paulino, New Brunswick
  • Zachary Cipot, North Brunswick
  • Mark Fultz, North Plainfield
  • Brody Nugent, Old Bridge
  • Sebastian Medina Moreno, Perth Amboy
  • Brady Gallogly, Piscataway
  • Joseph Curbelo, Sayreville
  • Jacob Walczyk, South Brunswick
  • Kenneth Young, South Plainfield
  • Filipe Granadiero, South River
  • Gavin Pereira, Spotswood
  • Tom Myers, St. Joseph-Metuchen
  • Anthony Perez, Jr., St. Thomas Aquinas
  • Josh Allen, Woodbridge

Somerset County:

  • Justin Simpson, Bernards
  • Moaaz Abdelmonem, Bound Brook
  • Stephen Pikulin, Bridgewater-Raritan
  • Francis Flores, Jr., Franklin
  • Shane Khurana, Hillsborough
  • Bo Almeida, Immaculata
  • Collin Shimp, Manville
  • Michael Bellamy, Montgomery
  • Ryan Moye, Pingry
  • Anthony Valera, Ridge
  • J. Griffin Kaye, Somerville
  • Jake Herring, Watchung Hills

Pop Warner (Middlesex): Daniel Crowley, Edison Jets

Pop Warner (Somerset): Vincent Sandomenico, Watchung Hills Wolverines

by Mike Pavlichko

A look back at Central Jersey Sports Radio Award Winners through the years

With the 2025 Central Jersey Sports Radio Big Central Awards Show in the books, we decided to take a look back at all the award winners we’ve had in the show’s six years.

So far, we’ve honored 111 different players and 34 of the Big Central’s 59 teams, and that’s not even counting all the Honorable Mentions in the various categories.

Here’s a closer look at each category, followed by each year’s “specialty” awards:

Offensive Player of the Year:

  • 2020: Cookie Desiderio, Somerville
  • 2021: Colin Murray, Cranford
  • 2022: Jayden Young, St. Thomas Aquinas
  • 2023: Jaeden Jones, Colonia
  • 2024: Terrell Mitchell, Somerville
  • 2025: Brody Nugent, Old Bridge
Three individuals holding footballs in front of a brick wall with plaques, outdoors on a sunny day.
From left to right, Somerville RB Cookie Desiderio, head coach Dallas Whitaker, and DE A.J. Pena pose with their commemorative footballs honoring their CJSR Player of the Year picks, and Somerville’s Team of the Year award for 2020.

Defensive Player of the Year:

  • 2020: A.J. Pena, Somerville
  • 2021: Amari Macklin, North Brunswick
  • 2022: Adam Meiner, Ridge
  • 2023: Christian Magliacano, St. Thomas Aquinas
  • 2024: Terrence Hanratty, Bernards
  • 2025: Aedan Hywel, Phillipsburg
A smiling football player in an Edison team uniform with the number 11, standing on a field with a red turf background, holding a microphone from Central Jersey Sports Radio.
Edison LB Selbin Sabio had two of his team’s seven sacks in the Central Jersey Group 5 championship game on November 11, 2022. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

Special Teams Player of the Year:

  • 2020: Shawn Martin, Scotch Plains-Fanwood
  • 2021: Jai Patel, South Brunswick
  • 2022: Selbin Sabio, Edison
  • 2023: Jonas Gonzalez, Bernards
  • 2024: Alexie Moreira, Phillipsburg
  • 2024: Dominic Massaro, South Plainfield (Returner); Cooper Smoragiewicz, Summit (Kicker)

Two-Way Player of the Year:

  • 2020: Charlie Barth, New Providence
  • 2021: Thomas Amankwaa, Hillsborough
  • 2022: Derek Vaddis, North Hunterdon
  • 2023: Joel Cordoba, Plainfield
  • 2024: Josiah Zayas, St. Thomas Aquinas
  • 2025: Logan Stevens, Bernards
A group of six people pose for a photo after a signing event at Hillsborough High School, featuring a table with a red and black tablecloth and Hillsborough Raiders branding in the background.
Hillsborough’s Thomas Amankwaa and his family on signing day in the Hillsborough High School Library on December 15, 2021. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

Coach of the Year:

  • 2020: Mike Cipot, North Brunswick
  • 2021: Kevin Carty, Jr., Hillsborough
  • 2022: Tarig Holman, St. Thomas Aquinas
  • 2023: Jon Simoneau, Bernards
  • 2024: Joe Goerge, Woodbridge
  • 2025: D.J. Catalano, Bridgewater-Raritan

Leadership Award:

  • 2020: Angelo Drake, Manville
  • 2021: Jordan Bird, North Plainfield
  • 2022: Frankie Garbolino, North Brunswick
  • 2023: Cody Cardillo, Metuchen
  • 2024: David Silva, Bernards
  • 2025: A’Arrow Andrewz, Woodbridge
A young football player wearing a 'Metuchen' jersey smiles on a field with trees in the background.
Metuchen senior Cody Cardillo. (Photo: Marcus Borden)

Longevity Award:

  • 2020: Sean Levonaitis, Hillsborough
  • 2021: Owen Haughney, Old Bridge
  • 2022: Matt Yascko, Edison
  • 2023: Connor Laverty, Bernards
  • 2024: Ja’Kir Thomas, Carteret
  • 2025: Josh D’Ambrosio, Manville

Turnaround Team of the Year:

  • 2020: North Plainfield
  • 2021: East Brunswick
  • 2022: Piscataway
  • 2023: Dunellen
  • 2024: Highland Park
  • 2025: Montgomery

Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Scholarship

  • 2021: Zaon Laney, Rahway
  • 2022: Antonio “Speedy” Rivera, Piscataway
  • 2023: Owen Chait, Governor Livingston
  • 2024: Brendan Pacheco, Somerville
  • 2025: Matteo Tramutola, Voorhees
A football player in a white and orange uniform stands on the field, preparing for the snap, while a referee and teammates are positioned nearby.
Somerville quarterback Brenden Pacheco. (Source: @BrendenPacheco_ on Twitter)

Team of The Year

  • 2020: Somerville (7-0)
  • 2021: Hillsborough (13-0)
  • 2022: North Hunterdon (12-1)
  • 2023: Bernards (12-1)
  • 2024: Phillipsburg (11-3)
  • 2025: Phillipsburg (10-3)

SPECIALTY AWARDS

2020

  • Record Setter of the Year: Teddy Gouldin, Bernards
  • Tech Wizards of the Year: Bernards coaching staff
  • Mr. Consistency: Ali Lee, Jr., Woodbridge
  • Jack-Of-All-Trades: Khan-Yae Stevens, North Plainfield
  • Medical Comeback: Luke Burns, Bernards
A football player in uniform, wearing a face mask, smiles while holding a microphone and speaking on a field with goal posts in the background.
Ali Lee, Jr., of Woodbridge talks to Central Jersey Sports Radio prior to his senior season in 2020. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

2021

  • Big Humans Award: Geoff Gretta, Kevin Shriner, Kyle Fay, Ryan Heesters, Matt Fries of Cranford
  • Nobody Scores Award: St. Thomas Aquinas Defense, represented by Jon Wyatt
  • Zaimer Wright, Sayreville: Rising Star Award
  • Mr. Versatility: Alex Benitez, Montgomery
  • Mentorship Award: Jehu Andrews, Carteret
  • Perseverance Award: Matthew Ihemsie, Hillside
  • Most Electrifying Player Award: Josh Oluremi, Colonia
  • Most Highly-Sought After Recruit Award: Davison Igbinosun, Union

2022

  • Best Rushing QB Award: Jaeden Jones, Colonia
  • Best Backfield Duo: Kente Edwards, Alex Uryniak, North Hunterdon
  • Rising Star Award: Jett Genovese, Phillipsburg
  • Best Returning QB/WR Tandem Award: Michael Schmelzer, Jr., Matt D’Avino, Montgomery
  • Nobody Scores Award: Bernards Defense, represented by Kai Dallimore, Enzo Britez
  • Playoff Beast Award: Luke Martini, North Hunterdon
  • Walk-Off Defender Award: Zamir Hawk, Hillside
  • Injury-Be-Damned Award: Adam Bowles, South Plainfield
  • Full 48 Award: Robert Orzol, Old Bridge
  • MVP Award: Shawn Purcell, Manville; Matt Sims, Brearley
A group of football players in black and yellow uniforms celebrating on the field at night, with some players hugging and others cheering in the background.
North Hunterdon quarterback Luke Martini (5) gets a hug from a teammate after a 25-14 win over Morris Knolls in the North 2, Group 4 semifinals in Annandale on November 4, 2022. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

2023

  • Three-Way Player of the Year: Sal Marchione, Monroe
  • Shutdown Defender: Renick Dorilas, Union
  • Record-Setter Award: A.J. Bosch, Woodbridge
  • Trailblazer Award: Michael Schmelzer, Jr., Montgomery
  • Heart & Soul Award: John Wargo, Phillipsburg
  • MVP Award: Highland Park (team)

2024

  • Dynamic Duo Award: Jett Genovese, Matthew Scerbo, Jr., Phillipburg
  • Scores Every Which Way Award: James Bodley, Pisctaway
  • Making The Grade Award: Lamar Raiford, JP Stevens
  • Rising Star Award: Chukwumah Odoh, St. Thomas Aquinas
  • OMG He’s Back Award: Andrew Avent, Rahway
  • Family Affair Award: Derek and Bryan Anderson, Woodbridge
  • Unbreakable Record Breaker Award: Jackson Jankowicz, Hillsborough

2025

  • Bodybuilder Award: Brady Gallogly, Pisctaway
  • Comeback Award: Jack Kalikas, A.L. Johnson
  • Great Hands Award: R.J. Wortman, Colonia
  • Hard-Nosed Runner Award: Sam Dech, Phillipsburg
  • I’m Back Award: Devin Thomas, Plainfield
  • IS He A Lineman, Is He A Fullback Award: Mike Bellamy, Montgomery
  • Sure, I’ll Play Quarterback Award: Alex Schwark, Summit
  • Best Player Not To Play A Snap Award: Cole Sabol, Summit
  • Tough Break For A Recordbreaker Award: Thomas Diemar, Bernards
by Mike Pavlichko

The 2022 “Big Central Awards Show”

Listen back to Central Jersey Sports Radio’s 3rd annual “Big Central Awards Show,” as we honor Players of the Year and dish our our Specialty Awards to nearly two dozen players and coaches, plus give out our Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Scholarhsip for $500 and announce the winner of the fan-voted “Highlight Reel Play of the Year.”

Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe host.

by Mike Pavlichko

Young’s stellar year facing tougher competition garners CJSR Offensive Player of the Year Award

When St. Thomas Aquinas ran the table in the Big Central in 2021, and quarterback Jayden Young led an offense that put up big numbers, many pointed to their strength of schedule.

What do they point to now?

The numbers weren’t as gaudy, but the Trojans were productive, and so was Young, who is the Central Jersey Sports Radio Offensive Player of the Year in the Big Central for 2022.

Why? Only the senior quarterback’s 1,658 passing yards and 16 touchdowns, while rushing for another 577 yards on 75 carries and 11 TDs.

That caps a career that saw him and his team win 17 straight Big Central Conference games, the best in the league, and a mark Aquinas looks to extend into next year.

Young finishes his career as the winningest quarterback in school history, with 25 career victories, having gone 18-3 overall in the last two seasons, with only one of those losses coming in the regular season. He has amassed 5,013 passing yards in his career and 54 touchdowns passes.

Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko of Central Jersey Sports Radio talk with Jayden Young, the 2022 CJSR Offensive Player of the Year

Honorable Mentions:

There were so many great offensive players in the Big Central this year that five others received Honorable Mention status. All were honored individually among our specialty awards.

Luke Martini of North Hunterdon was the leading passer in the BCC this year, throwing for 2,306 yards and 22 touchdowns, with about half the yardage and 14 TD’s coming in a four-game span that stretched from the last game of the regular season – a win in the annual Milk Can Game against Vorhees – through the North 2, Group 4 title game win over Randolph. For that, he picked up “Playoff Beast” honors.

Kente Edwards of North Hunterdon also had a fantastic season, rushing for 1,442 yards, the most in the Big Central this season by a runningback (the only two to rank higher were quarterbacks) along with 15 touchdowns. Impossible to bring down, head coach Kevin Kley calls him”the most feared runner int he conference.” He was part of CJSR’s “Best Backfield Duo” award, shared with Alex Uryniak.

Jaeden Jones of Colonia actually rushed for more yards than he threw for, sprinting to the tune of 1,661 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground, but he was still a thousand-yard passer, amassing 1,059 yards through the air, connecting for six touchdowns en route to a division title for the Patriots. And there’s still more to come for Jones, the only junior in this bunch; he received the “Top Returning QB” Award this season from CJSR.

Matt Yascko of Edison has been a starter since his freshman year, and won this year’s “Longevity Award.” This year, he threw for 1,900 yards even and 16 touchdowns, with just four interceptions, while also rushing for 583 yards on 102 carries and 11 TDs. That’s even missing two games due to injury.

Matt Sims of Brearley is another one who ran more than the threw. He needed just 67 pass completions to eclipse the thousand-yard mark, going for 1,063 and 10 TDs with just a single pick all year. Sims, one of two to pick up “MVP” honors from CJSR – along with Manville’s Shawn Purcell – carried a whopping 219 times for 1,523 yards, making him the second-leading rusher in the Big Central this season, behind only Jaeden Jones. And his 26 touchdowns on the ground were the sixth highest total in the entire state.

Shawn Purcell of Manville could have been the MVP two years running, really. A three-year starter on both sides of the ball, he made his biggest impact on the program at runningback, where in 2021 and 2022 he rushed for a total of 2,414 yards and 37 touchdowns. With him carrying the ball, Manville went 14-5 over the last two seasons, its best run since 1968 and 1969 when the combined to go 14-4.

by Mike Pavlichko

State INT leader Meiner of Ridge wins CJSR Defensive Player of the Year honors

Sometimes the competition for player of the year honors can be neck and neck, as it turned out for the Offense category this year, with so many players in the conversation.

Not that it wasn’t that way defensively. It’s just that when a particular player leads the state in a key defensive category, it’s hard to argue with the numbers.

When he’s among the Top Five nationally, that makes it even more of a sure thing.

And that makes Ridge senior Adam Meiner the Central Jersey Sports Radio 2022 Defensive Player of the Year.

Meiner racked up ten interceptions for the Red Devils this year, en route to a 7-3 season and an appearance in the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 semifinals. Not only was that the best total in New Jersey, but the third highest total nationally, behind just 13 other players, including nine who had 11, and four who had 12 picks.

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Justin Sontupe talk to Ridge cornerback Adam Meiner:

Honorable Mentions:

Edison’s Selbin Sabio – the Special Teams Player of the Year – also played a significant role on defense for the Eagles, setting a school record this year with 137 total tackles. He had 30 TFLs and 5 sacks, two of which were part of the seven Edison had against Lenape in the Central Jersey Group 5 title game. He also happened to play most of the season with a broken finger and sore hip, yet didn’t miss a single game.

Zamir Hawk of Hillside – our “Walkoff Defender” of the Year – finsihed the campaign with 67 tackles, 15 TFLs, 4 sacks, and a pick six. He was critical in the Comets’ two playoff wins, sealing an opening round win with a pass breakup, then ending River Dell’s last-ditch effort after a big Hillside rally in the semifinals with an interception. Head coach Barris Grant called him “an unstoppable force the entire season.”

Sir Hezekiah Ragland of Carteret – just a junior – led the Ramblers with 119 tackles this season, 73 solo, and also has 21 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. This was his first season at inside linebacker, and head coach Kevin Freeman will expect more from him next year as schools like Rutgers are showing interest.

by Mike Pavlichko

North Hunterdon’s Vaddis excelled at WR/LB, is named CJSR Two-Way Player of the Year

A year ago, Derek Vaddis wasn’t nearly the first option at receiver for the North Hunterdon football team.

Again this year, quarterback Luke Martini had multiple guys he could throw to, and even more he could hand off to.

Still, Vaddis was able to accumulate over 1,000 yards receiving on a team that also had a pair of thousand-yard rushers. Specifically, he made 55 catches to lead the Lions with 1,054 yards and 11 touchdowns.

But he also contributed significantly on the other side of the ball. Though he “only” logged 46 tackles – at safety with a great group in front of him that didn’t require him to make many stops – he made his minutes count, snatching eight interceptions on the season, third highest individual total in the state. (Adam Meiner of Ridge led New Jersey with ten picks.)

For his efforts, Vaddis has been named the Big Central’s 2022 Two-Way Player of the Year by Central Jersey Sports Radio.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with North Hunterdon WR/S Derek Vaddis:

Honorable Mentions:

Vaddis is probably the only person Alex Uryniak of North Hunterdon wouldn’t mind losing out to. But Uryniak also excelled on both sides of the ball. As part of a two-headed monster – not by design, but by necessity – Uryniak carried for 1,012 yards and 13 touchdowns, filling in quite well when Kente Edwards missed the better part of four games, two of them entirely. At linebacker, he led the Lions with 180 tackles, registering 22 TFLs and seven sacks, along with an interception.

Malcolm Stansbury of Edison may follow his brother to New Hampshire and play defense, or could end up at other places where he has offers, like Maine or Monmouth. The senior WR/DB had 52 catches on offense for 652 yards and four touchdowns, and was a shutdown corner on defense as well, with 59 tackles, 2 TFLs and a pair of interceptions. A four-year starter, Stansbury also is a two-year captain.

Hunter Seubert of Watchung Hills is the coach’s son, so Rich Suebert may have prepped him early on to play on the line. Indeed, he was a rare four-year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines, a rare feat at any level. This year’s Warrior O-line didn’t surrender a single sack, paving the way for 145 rushing yards per game, and 24 scores on the ground. On defense, Suebert had 63 tackles, a pick, three sacks, nine tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

by Mike Pavlichko

Tarig Holman kept things going at Aquinas, earns CJSR “Coach of the Year” honors

It’s easy to pick a Coach of the Year whose team won a championship. Whether they had high expectations and might have been a favorite, had a veteran ballclub, or just found that magic spark during the year.

But to us, it’s always been a matter of something the coach does, whether making an unorthodox change to the lineup, or overcoming a major hurdle during the season.

Tarig Holman faced an instant challenge upon being named the new football coach at St. Thomas Aquinas. He took over for Brian Meeney, who passed away suddenly of a heart attack last March, following his third season at the helm, and the program’s must successful under his tenure.

They had gone 9-1, with shutout wins in their first seven games, tying a playoff-era record held by the 2004 Piscataway Chiefs.

So, Holman already had to deal with that mourning, and the daunting task of – we won’t say replacing – taking the job of a highly popular coach, mentor and confidant.

Beyond that, he also kept the rest of the coaching staff together. And by the time the team hit they field, things picked up right where they left off. There was one out-of-conference loss to Timber Creek, but the Trojans ran the table in the Big Central, finishing with a 9-1 regular season record before falling in the first round on the playoffs, and they will go into 2023 with the longest winning streak in the league against BCC competition, by far, of 17 games.

For those efforts, Tarig Holman is Central Jersey Sports Radio’s 2022 Big Central Conference Coach of the Year.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Holman:

by Mike Pavlichko

Piscataway’s “Speedy” Rivera awarded 2022 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Scholarship

When one thinks back to all the team speed Piscataway has had over the years, most notably under Dan Higgins, with every passing year it becomes more and more difficult to top them.

At the risk of leaving many others out, Elijah Barnwell, Tevin Shaw, Malcolm Jenkins, and Kyle Wilson, are just a few of the names that instantly come to mind.

Add Antonio “Speedy” Rivera to that list.

He will close out his two-year varsity career (with his sophomore season wiped out by COVID) with a program record five career kick returns for touchdowns, some on punts, some on kickoffs.

And he also will close out that career with a $500 scholarship from Bellamy & Son Paving, which sponsored the Player of the Week award on Central Jersey Sports Radio for a second straight season.

Each week during the 2022 regular season, a Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week was chosen from nominations by the league’s coaches. Out of those nine, we chose one to receive a $500 scholarship. And this year, it’s Antonio Rivera.

Piscataway senior Antonio Rivera finishes off a 69-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter of a 38-14 home win over Old Bridge on September 30, 2022. (Photo credit: Terri Thompson)

Rivera won the award for his Week 5 performance in a 38-14 home win over Old Bridge on September 30th. He had a 69-yard punt return for a touchdown, as well as a 71-yard kickoff return for a score. That gave him the school record for career touchdown returns, previously held by Kyle Wilson with three.

Wilson went on to star for Boise State and play with the Jets and Saints in the NFL.

Who every gets Rivera will be one lucky son-of-a-gun indeed.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko surprise Antonio Rivera of Piscataway with the Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Scholarship award:

Here’s the full list of Bellamy & Son Paving Players of the Week for 2022:

  • Week 0: Matt Yascko, Edison
  • Week 1: Antonio Rosato, Woodbridge
  • Week 2: Kyle Hall, Rahway
  • Week 3: Jaeden Jones, Colonia
  • Week 4: Vito Tropeano, Elizabeth
  • Week 5: Antonio Rivera, Piscataway
  • Week 6: Nyekir Eato, Edison
  • Week 7: Matt D’Avino, Montgomery
  • Week 8: A.J. Bosch, Woodbridge
by Mike Pavlichko

Edison’s Matt Yascko did it better and longer than anyone, earns CJSR’s “Longevity Award”

What can be said about Edison’s Matt Yascko that hasn’t already been said?

From taking over at quarterback just a few games into his freshman season after an injury to the Eagles’ starter, to winning Edison’s first sectional title in 31 years with a victory at Lenape in this year’s Central Jersey Group 5 title game, and everything in between, the kid has just about done it all.

And for three of those years had the unique experience of being coached by his father, Matt, a former standout for Edison as well, in the early ’90s, winning that 1991 championship.

Edison’s Matt Yascko as a freshman against South Plainfield on October 18, 2019, his first win as a varsity quarterback. (Photo submitted by coach Matt Yascko)

His credentials are impeccable:

  • Second all-time at Edison in career rushing touchdowns, with 21
  • Fourth all-time in rushing yards, with 1,458
  • Set the Edison single-season passing record this year, with 1,900 even
  • Holds the career passing record, with 5,796 yards
  • Holds the career passing touchdown record, with 45
  • Tied for the single-season TD pass record, with 16
  • Led the team to the playoffs all three years they were held (none in 2020 due to COVID)
  • 3.8 GPA

What else can you say?

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Edison’s Matt Yascko:

Honorable Mentions:

Frankie Garbolino of North Brunswick, who won the “Leadership Award,” owns the top three passing seasons of all-time: 1,855 last season, 1,838 this year, and 1,701 in a short eight-game season in 2020. He broke nearly every record he could have in school history, among them career passing yards (5,410) and career passing touchdowns (53).

Jayden Young of St. Thomas Aquinas also had a fantastic career, racking up 25 wins in 3 seasons, and going 18-3 the last two years, with just one regular season defeat. He’s also won 17 straight against Big Central Conference opponents, a record his team will take into next season., In his career, he threw for 5,013 yards and 54 touchdowns, finishing with a 62-percent career pass completion mark.

Delaware Valley’s Jack Bill has been the MVP of the team the past three years. The quarterback went 19-7 as a starter, amassing 5,163 total yards, and 58 touchdowns, while also contributing as a kicker on special teams, where he converted 85 extra points and eight field goals in his time with the Terriers.

Hunter Seubert of Watchung Hills accomplished the rare feat of being a two-way starter on the offensive and defensive lines for the entirety of his high school career, all four years. “He was the QB of our front,” says his dad, the head coach, a one-time New York Giant and Super Bowl champion. A captain the last two seasons, Seubert also has a 3.8 GPA in the classroom.

by Mike Pavlichko

On and off the field, Frankie Garbolino’s efforts garner him CJSR’s “Leadership Award”

The North Brunswick defense may have garnered the most attention this season, but if one had to choose a name and a face to represent the Raiders’ football program this year – and in 2021 and 2020 – it would be Frankie Garbolino, hands down.

In fact, three years ago, you might have thought he was a senior. After all, he played like that, and acted that way around his teammates.

And that championship-caliber attitude gained even more confidence this season after he and his baseball teammates won the GMC Tournament last spring for the first time in program history.

Marisa Tufaro Foundation founder Greg Tufaro (left) and game organizer Marcus Borden talk with North Brunswick QB and rising senior Frankie Garbolino at halftime of the Marisa Rose Bowl on July 21, 2022.

Garbolino, of course, had a solid senior season, throwing for 1,838 yards and 13 touchdowns, while also rushing 75 times for 447 yards and nine more scores. He also holds just about every school record a quarterback could own: career passing yards (5,410) and passing TD’s (53) among them.

He also led many community service events in the school, and the North Brunswick Township High School Touchdown Club, while maintaining a staggering 4.5 GPA in the classroom.

Click below to listen to Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Justin Sontupe talk with Jordan Bird:

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Honorable Mentions:

Montgomery senior Gavin Guidette “was the heart and soul” of the Cougars this year, “setting the cultural expectations for everyone,” high praise from head coach Zoran Milich, who is the only football coach in Montgomery history and just graduated a stellar kid like Alex Benitez. He helped leady Monty to back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time in program history.

Connor Laverty of Bernards – who’s just a junior, mind you – was able to guide the Mountaineers to their third straight division championship with a very small senior class, but the biggest roster at the Group 2 school in program history. Laverty finished 2022 with 1,272 passing yards and 17 touchdowns, with just three INTs on the season. He’ll be one of the top returning QBs in 2023 in the Big Central.

South Plainfield’s Jason Greer was a fullback and D-lineman in 2022, and carried for a modest 432 yards and three touchdowns, while registering 62 tackles, 7 TFLs and 1 1/2 sacks on defense. But head coach Bill Hamilton says he “played anywhere the team needed him to” for the last two seasons. While the first didn’t yield the results they wanted, with an eight-loss campaign that saw four losses by eight points or less, it all paid dividends in 2022 as the Tigers won their first-ever division title, and went undefeated (8-0) in the regular season.

Ben Solimini of East Brunswick threw for 458 yards and four scores, but ran the ball even more, to the tune of 1,030 yards and 10 touchdowns. But more importantly, was “a leader by example on and off the field,” according to head coach Andy Steinfeld. He’s a “hard worker every day at practice, and an even harder worker in the classroom,” adds Steinfeld, as Solimini kept up a 3.83 GPA.