Tag: Derek Andreson

by Mike Pavlichko

Carteret’s Jackson was game changer against South Plainfield, earns Week 2 Bellamy & Son Player of the Week accolades

Antwaun Jackson is the young man most fans don’t know about, until they do.

His impact on a game defensively can’t be measured by stats alone. But they can begin to paint the picture.

Case in point: In a 40-7 Carteret win over South Plainfield, the game would have certainly been a lot closer were it not for Jackson’s 12 tackles (10 solo), seven TFLs, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

For that performance, the senior Rambler defensive end is the Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week for Week 3.

Jackson is putting together a very nice career. And if he hasn’t drawn the attention of local sports fans yet, he will. The coaches already know about him.

“They game plan him every week,” says third-year head coach and Carteret alum Kevin Freeman. In his career so far, the senior has logged 122 tackles, 38 1/2 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, five forced fumbles, three recoveries, and interception and a safety.

Jackson says as far as colleges go, he’s been talking to schools like Temple, Maine and Wagner, among others.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Week Two Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Antwaun Jackson of Carteret:

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 we did last year, we will recognize a few “Honorable Mentions,” and include all other all nominees in our weekly story.

Honorable Mentions:

  • Jackson Jankowicz, Hillsborough: In a 29-21 win over Bridgewater-Raritan in the Battle of Route 206, the junior runningback carried 20 times for 162 yards and had two touchdowns, of 53 and 30 yards. He also played every snap of the game at cornerback. On offense, through three games, he has 420 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns, while averaging 7.5 yards per carry.
  • Salvatore Marchione, Monroe: The senior wideout was instrumental in getting head coach Nick Isola his first win as head coach at his alma mater, with 62 rushing yards and 39 receiving yards – plus a touchdown – on offense, while also throwing a touchdown pass for 47 yards. He also had two pass breakups that would have won the game for the Bears. He also had a 40-yard run that could have been a touchdown, but instead he went to the turf to allow the Falcons to simply run out the clock.
  • Tamir Gladden, North Brunswick: In a revenge win after last season’s wacky playoff game in the Central Jersey Group 5 semifinals, the senior had an all-around game on both sides of the ball in a 23-16 win over Edison. At defensive back, Gladden had five tackles, and a forced fumble and recovery. At runningback, he carried 13 times for 114 yards and two scores.
  • Braden Paulmenn, South Brunswick: The numbers are impressive enough: 20 carries for 154 yards and 3 touchdowns, but Paulmenn also threw 4-for-10 for 119 yards and another score. The three-year starter – who also boasts a 3.6 GPA coming into his senior year – led a 70-yard scoring drive that gave the Vikings the decisive score with just 70 ticks left on the clock.
  • James Curnal, Spotswood: In a lightning-shortened almost 42-minute game Saturday that was called with 6:09 remaining – and ended as a 31-14 win for the Chargers when both schools mutually agreed not to finish – Curnal led the defense with 17 total tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception from his middle linebacker spot, while also grabbing two catches for 29 yards on offense at wide receiver.
  • Carter Shallcross, Summit: The senior runningback is a big reason the Hilltoppers are off to a 2-0 start. In a 46-13 win at Cranford on Friday, Shallcross got the ball 22 times and rushed for 224 yards and three touchdowns of 70, 58 and five yards.

Other Nominations:

(in alphabetical order, by school)

  • Connor Laverty, Bernards: The senior quarterback only had to play 14 minutes in a 42-7 home win over South River, but the captain made the most of it: 4-for-5 passing for 125 yards and four touchdowns.
  • Jaeden Jones, Colonia: The senior again was up to his usual tricks on the ground. He only needed six carries to rush for 193 yards and four scores. Two of them went for nearly the distance: 80 and 72 yards!
  • James Campbell, Governor Livingston: In a rare 2-0 win over North Plainfield at Kean University back on Friday, he helped the Highlanders’ defense pitch a shutout, with 6 tackles – half of them for a loss – plus a sack and a fumble recovery, allowing the Canucks just 145 total yards on offense.
  • Jax Jarvis, Middlesex: In a 34-0 win over Manville Friday night, the junior runningback carried seven times for 82 yards, scoring three times. He also had an interception at free safety on defense.
  • Nicholas Ramaci, North Hunterdon: The sophomore showed out with five catches for 113 yards – that’s 22.6 yards per catch! – in a home loss to Watchung Hills.
  • Jahmeil Brown, Perth Amboy: In a 26-0 win over JP Stevens on Friday, the senior running back carried eight times for 70 yards and a touchdown, while also logging nine tackles, 6 solo, and a pick from his strong safety position.
  • Elijah Abass-Shereef, St. Thomas Aquinas: In a 35-0 win over Scotch Plains-Fanwood in the “Holman Bowl” – between head coach brothers Tarig Holman of the Trojans and Austin of the Raiders – the senior runningback carried seven times for 124 yards and touchdown runs of 25 and ten yards.
  • Renick Dorilas, Union: The junior had a great game on both sides of the ball. At wideout, he had six catches for 71 yards and a touchdown, but also added four carries for 94 yards and a score, and even throw a 35-yard pass. At d-back, he logged a 43-yard interception.
  • Derek Anderson, Woodbridge: The junior quarterback scored the go-ahead touchdown with six minutes remaining in a wild 20-19 win over visiting Linden, finishing 10-of-17 for 111 yards, while also rushing for 48 and two scores.
by Mike Pavlichko

Aleks Sitkowski grabs Week 1 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors

Year in, year out, Westfield is consistently good, especially its defense.

That’s what makes what Watchung Hills senior quarterback Aleks Sitkowski’s performance against the Blue Devils on Sunday that much more impressive.

In a 34-20 road win last Saturday, Sitkowski passed 21-30 for 165 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing 13 times for 100 yards and two more scores.

He’s the first quarterback to pass and rush for over 100 yards each in a game against Westfield since Andrew Sanborn of Union threw for 178 yards and a touchdown, while running for 101 yards and a score on October 5, 2018. Sanborn also threw three picks in the game; Sitkowski threw none.

The victory has 6th-ranked Watchung Hills at 2-0 on the season, heading into a Week 2 matchup at North Hunterdon this Friday night.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Week One Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Aleks Sitkowski of Watchung HIlls:

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 we did last year, we will recognize a few “Honorable Mentions,” and include all other all nominees in our weekly story.

Honorable Mentions:

  • Terrell Mitchell, Somerville: The junior runningback scored three touchdowns in a 33-14 win over Old Bridge last Friday night. He had touchdown catches of 37 and 26 yards, while adding a 21-yard rushing score. Overall he had seven receptions for 98 yards, and seven carries for another 94 yards.
  • Quinn Esser, Spotswood: In a come-from-behind, 9-8 win at Belvidere on Friday night, the senior two-way lineman led the team with six tackles, then went in as the QB in the “heavy” package and capped the game-winning 99-yard touchdown drive with a short, four-yard trip into the end zone. He then helped run the clock out with a game-clinching four-yard gain for first down.
  • Aiden Woomer, Edison: The senior had 155 yards on three punt return opportunities – one of which went back 60 yards for a score – while also logging a one-yard touchdown run in a 57-0 win at JP Stevens last Thursday.
  • Derek Anderson, Woodbridge: The junior QB kept his team in a high-flying game, a 46-36 loss to Summit. He went 19-of-38 passing for 301 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for a score.

Other Nominations:

(in alphabetical order, by school)

  • Logan Ritchie, Bernards: In a come-from-behind win over Hillside, the Mountaineer two-way lineman paved the way. He had six tackles – half of them for a loss – on defense, while keeping his quarterback untouched on offense, registering three big pancake blocks.
  • Tyrece Parrot, Carteret: In a 42-7 win over arch-rival Perth Amboy, the senior QB was 11-for-14 passing for 240 yards and three touchdowns. He also carried six times for 34 yards and another score. (He had another rushing TD called back on a holding penalty.)
  • Jaeden Jones, Colonia: The star senior QB carried 11 times for 174 yards and two touchdowns – one for 58 yards – in a 21-12 win over Scotch Plains-Fanwood. He also threw a 19-yard touchdown. Then, on defense, as a safety, recorded 16 tackles, 12 solo.
  • Fire Anderson, Cranford: In a shutout win over North Hunterdon, 4-10 last Friday night, the senior runningback got the rock 26 times and racked up 190 yards with a long run of 25. His three touchdowns went for 10, 5 and 3 yards.
  • Luke Brogan, Delaware Valley: In a 27-9 victory over Roselle on Friday, he threw for 181 yards and two touchdowns, while running for 49 and two more. In addition to being involved in all four scores, he kicked two extra points in the game.
  • Jack Dally, Governor Livingston: In a 33-21 win Thursday afternoon over Johnson, the junior runningback had 15 carries for 217 yards and three scores – of 61, 60 and 43 yards. The 61-yarded gave the Highlanders the lead back for good, after trailing 21-20. On defense, at outside linebacker, he added seven tackles, five solo.
  • Na’quavere Thomas, Manville: In a 12-7 win at Brearley, the junior fullback carried nine times for 50 yards ad a touchdown, had two catches for 22 yards and a touchdown. On defense, at middle linebacker, he recorded 13 tackles, 9 solo, and had a fumble recovery.
  • Michael Schmelzer, Montgomery: In a 49-6 win against Franklin on Friday, the senior QB was 12-of-19 passing for 188 yards and three touchdowns – often extending many plays into big gains – while rushing twice for 32 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown run.
  • Jack Garbolino, North Brunswick: The Raiders’ season opener was a 38-6 success over South Brunswick in large part to the junior’s four catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns, and five rushes for 12 yards, also including a score. On defense, the linebacker picked up nine tackles and a TFL.
  • Michael Schroeck, North Hunterdon: The senior linebacker recorded 12 tackles in a 41-0 loss to Cranford last Friday.
  • Patrick Smith, South Plainfield: In a 26-7 win at JFK on Friday, the senior carried 20 times for 167 yards and a touchdown.
  • Chase Young, St. Thomas Aquinas: The junior runningback carried 14 times for 158 yards and three touchdowns – the longest of which was 54-yards – in a 41-0 win over New Providence on Friday.
  • Kordal Hinton, Union: In a 27-21 overtime win over Bridgewater-Raritan, the senior linebacker logged 21 tackles, 15 solo, and was big late in the game, ultimately carrying the ball 12 times from his runningback position for 132 yards and two scores.
  • Brandon Kurzeja, Voorhees: The senior runningback rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns, while also playing a monster game at linebacker in a 48-8 win against North Plainfield last Thursday, registering five sacks.