Tag: Christian Magliacano

by Mike Pavlichko

Trojans’ Christian Magliacano dominated for St. Thomas Aquinas, named Central Jersey Sports Radio Defensive Player of the Year

In three seasons since the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, St. Thomas Aquinas has lost a grand total of four games. Only one has come in the regular season and nobody in the Big Central Conference has beaten them.

The schedule has gotten tougher in successive seasons, with the same results. And one of the key players who helped lead that effort in 2023 was Christian Magliacano, who transferred in from St. Joseph-Metuchen, just hop, skip and a jump away down Plainfield Avenue.

“Mags” registered 162 tackles, 32 for a loss, three forced fumbles, two interceptions – with a pick-six against Cranford – anchoring a defense that pitched five shutouts this season, and only allowed 35 points in eight Big Central games, 20 of them being scored by Summit alone.

Not only that, but only one Big Central player – Carter Shallcross of Summit – logged more than 100 yards rushing in a game against the Aquinas defense all season. And he’s only the second in the BCC to do it that last three years, Nyekir Eato of Edison having done it in 2022.

For his efforts, Magliacano is the Central Jersey Sports Radio Defensive Player of the Year for 2023. Scroll down to see Honorable Mentions.

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko talk with St. Thomas Aquinas senior Christian Magliacano:

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

  • Myles Hamilton, Linden, LB: Set a single-season school record with 155 tackles; recorded 23 TFLs, 10 sacks, 3 forced fumbles. His 341 career tackles is also a school record.
  • David Brothers, Bernards, DE: In his first year of football, set a school single-season record with 13 sacks for 155 yards. Set single-season record with 4 sacks vs. Delaware Valley. led team with 78 tackles, 21 for a loss, 5 QB hurries, 1 forced fumble/recovery
  • Jonathan Lobelo, Hillsborough, LB: His 261 career tackles are tops in Raider history. Finished season with 113 tackles, 60 solo, 19 TFLs, 1 sack, 2 INT, and 7 pass breakups.
  • Cam Robinson, Middlesex, DE: The 2023 Borden’s Baller of the Year had 64 tackles, 9 TFLs, 5 sacks and a forced fumble/recovery for the Blue Jays.