Tag: Josh Oluremi

December 16, 2021December 17, 2021 by Mike Pavlichko

Central Jersey Sports Radio announces “Specialty Awards” for 2021

Last year, we decided our inaugural awards show had too few awards to recognize all the truly great student-athletes in the Big Central Conference, on or off the field. So besides Players and Coach of the Year, we decided to give out “Specialty Awards.”

And we’re back with more for 2021, so get ready for some fantastic stories!

Offensive Line of the Year: Cranford

They literally paved the way for Cranford’s third state championship in eleven seasons. The five guys up front kept quarterback Shane VanDam on his feet, and cleared a path for Colin Murray, who had a career-best 334 yards in the North 2 Group 3 championship game against Sparta.

*Cranford offensive lineman Kevin Shriner holds up the NJSIAA trophy as he and his teammates celebrate a state championship.* *(Photo: Mike Pavlichko)*

Geoff Gretta, Kevin Shriner, Kyle Fay, Ryan Heesters, and Matt Fries – who signed his National Letter of Intent this week to attend the University of Illinois – were all instrumental in Cranford’s success. Four of the five – with the exception being center Kyle Fay – are at least 6-2 and 280 pounds.

“It helps we have a bunch of large humans,” head coach Erik Rosenmeier told us earlier this season.

It also helps they can all flat out play.

Listen below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with all five Cranford offensive linemen:

The “Nobody Scores” Award:

It took eight games for someone to score on St. Thomas Aquinas, and nobody threw a touchdown pass against them all year.

Those were the kind of dominant defensive numbers the Trojans put up on 2021, not an easy task considering they led most of their games pretty big this year, and a bunch of 16- and 17-year-olds could easily have lost their focus.

They didn’t, only allowing nine points the entire regular season, all of them coming in their finale against Delaware Valley, on a mud-soaked field in North Edison.

*Villanova-bound senior Jon Wyatt has been an integral part of the Trojans’ success on both sides of the ball. (Mike Pavlichko)*

Senior Jon Wyatt, who’s going to Villanova, was a lock-down corner. Barely anyone threw toward him – and if they did, they couldn’t complete a single pass. If they did manage to get a ball caught, it was in the hands of Wyatt.

Click below to hear Wyatt talk about how it all worked out for St. Thomas Aquinas:

“Rising Star” Award

Last season, sophomore quarterbacks were making an impact, whether it be Franklie Garbolino, Matt Yasko, or a host of others around the league.

In 2021, sophomore Zaimer Wright of Sayreville is one who had a big impact for his team, leaving a bright future for the Bombers.

*Sayreville sophomore Zaimer Wright helped his team knock off No. 1 North Brunswick on September 17, 2021. (Source: Twitter)*

Wright was a Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week earlier this year, and finished the season with 1,401 yards rushing, 25 touchdowns, and five two-point conversions, scoring 160 total points. He also starts at safety, contributing on defense, and returns punts and kickoffs, as well as runs down on the kick coverage team.

He’s been under the weather recently, so we didn’t get a chance to speak to him, but we think we’ll have plenty of opportunities the next couple of years. Feel better, Zaimer!

“Mr. Versatility“

There’s no doubt this award goes to Alex Benitez, a senior from Montgomery. He has played runningback, moved back to quarterback, then back to runningback while also playing outside linebacker on defense.

*Montgomery senior QB Alex Benitez gets ready to throw a pass in preseason camp on Friday, August 27, 2021 at Cougar Stadium.*

A four-year starter, Benitez didn’t miss a single game, and only fumbled four times in his career – three of them coming in his freshman year!

He also punts, kicks off, kicks PATs, long snaps and return kickoffs. He’d probably drive the team bus if it wasn’t an insurance issue.

Coach Zoran Milich calls him “the best all-around player in New Jersey.”

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with jack-of-all-trades Alex Benitez:

“Mentorship Award”:

With a strong influence in his own family, Jehu Andrews realizes that not every boy in Carteret is as lucky as he is.

So that’s why, in addition to being a leader on his own Carteret Rambler football team, and being a great asset to first-year head coach Kevin Freeman, he’s involved with youth football.

*Jehu Andrews of Carteret (source: Twitter)*

Sure, he helped pave the way up front on offense and defense to a three-win season after not playing at all in 202 because Carteret cancelled fall sports due to COVID

But he laid some of that knowledge on the 14-and-under Bulldogs in town, becoming a father figure to, perhaps, a bunch of future Jehu Andrews.

Click below to hear Andrews talk with Mike Pavlichko talk about his season, community involvement, and influences:

Perseverance Award

Sure, a lot of football players face obstacles in their seasons. Maybe it’s a nagging injury, a tough defeat, or just some bad luck.

How many have a fire destroy everything they own, save only their football jersey, and show up to play that night?

*Matthew Ihemsie of Hillside (Source: Twitter)*

Matthew Ihemsie of Hillside does, and to be honest, there are no words that can do it justice, except for his. So give a listen:

“Mr. Dynamic” (Most Electrifying Player):

He can run, he can throw, but his ability to inspire his teammates to great heights, quickly shift the momentum of a game, make Josh Oluremi of Colonia the obvoious choice for most electrifying player in the Big Central Conference.

Mr. Dynamic, Oluremi rushed for 1,594 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, while throwing for 954 and 6 touchdown passes. He also had 32 tackles and a pair of picks from his cornerback spot on defense.

*Josh Oluremi of Colonia (Source: Twitter)*

He almost single-handedly got Colonia past Edison on September 10th, rushing for four and throwing another touchdown in the game, a 38-7 victory over the Eagles.

For his career, he finishes with 2,000+ rushing yards, and nearly 1,800 passing yards, responsible for a total of 36 overall touchdowns.

Click below to hear Josh Oluremi talk about his season, career, and style of play:

Red-Hot Recruit of the Year:

Picking these awards aren’t always easy. Which means sometimes it is. In this case, it was a no-brainer.

Davison Igbinsoun of Union holds 30-plus Division I scholarship offers, and is still deciding where he’ll attend college, getting a lot of attention in the past week from Rutgers’ Greg Schiano – who arrived in a chopper for the second time this season – and Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin, who took him for a ride in a Porsche.

He originally committed to Rutgers, but withdrew that commitment after his recruiting ranting picked up a fourth star, though the Scarlet Knights remain in contention for him.

*Union’s Davison Igbinosun (Source: Twitter)*

One of the most dominant players in the area in recent memory, his numbers weren’t off the charts in 2021, but that’s because he’s an incredibly unselfish player, and the Farmers had a lot of athletes to go around.

This year, he had 18 total touchdowns, 76 carries for 903 yards and 12 touchdown, 20 catches for 405 yards and four touchdowns. On defense, he recorded 74 tackles, 4 picks, and two tackles for a loss.

He’ll be special wherever he goes.

November 6, 2021November 6, 2021 by Mike Pavlichko

Colonia pulls off a first-round upset with its usual stars, Oluremi and Jones

Right from the jump, it looked like things might go Colonia’s way Friday night.

The 5th-seeded Patriots got by 4th-seed Randolph on the road, 32-21, in the opening round of the North 2, Group 4 playoffs, thanks to its stars: Josh Oluremi and Jaeden Jones.

They accounted for all the first-half scoring, with Jones kicking things off by returning an interception 51-yards for a touchdown on Randolph’s very first offensive play. Oluremi had a long touchdown run, then found Jones through the air for another score.

The win might have Colonia fans partying like it’s 2014, when the Patriots made a surprise run through the playoffs and took Phillipsburg to the brink at Rutgers, coming within a few feet of beating the Stateliners for the North 2, Group 4 title.

In any event, next up is top-seed Irvington (8-2) on the road next Friday night. The Blue Knights got by 8th-seed Linden 11-6 in their opening round game.

Click below to hear Colonia head coach Tom Roarty talk about the Patriots’ victory:

September 11, 2021 by Mike Pavlichko

Oluremi has himself a night to power Colonia in 38-7 upset of No. 8 Edison

Head coach Tom Roarty calls it one of the biggest wins for Colonia in recent memory, and he’s probably right.

The Patriots – now 1-1 – knocked off No. 8 (tie) Edison (1-1) Friday night at home 38-7, thanks in large part to Josh Oluremi. A senior quarterback who has been starting since the middle of his sophomore year, he took charge against the Eagles wioth four rushing touchdowns, while throwing for another.

Then there was the defense, as Jake Ciencin racked up six sacks, and Jaeden Jones had a pick six for a score. Colonia also added a field goal.

Click below to hear Colonia coach Tom Roarty talk about the Patriot’s’ win over the Eagles:

September 11, 2021September 11, 2021 by Mike Pavlichko

Hot takes: Hillsborough wins a big one, North Brunswick wins key matchup, Colonia pulls off an upset

A quick glance at the Friday night top ten scoreboard in the Big Central could make things even murkier in the Week 2 rankings when they come out next week.

To begin with, No. 6 Hillsborough overcame a very early 14-0 deficit to take No. 7 Phillipsburg to overtime, and came out with a 21-14 win, almost singlehandedly thanks to Tommy Amankwaa. He had the score and two-point conversion to tie the game, scored in OT to put the Raiders ahead, then sealed it with a pick on the Stateliners’ possession.

Talk about a game. He turned up big time.

Phillipsburg had won four straight against the Raiders, and even though Hillsborough was the higher-ranked team, it’s a huge win for them over a prominent Garden State program. A statement win that says they will be the team to beat in the division.

They get Franklin next week, which plays No. 5 Ridge this afternoon, and then will go at it in the Battle of Route 206 two Thursdays hence, in the “Big Central Game of the Week” driven by Autoland on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

That should be a fun one.

North Brunswick, meanwhile, the newly-minted No. 1 team in the Central Jersey Sports Radio Top Ten, followed up an explosive second-half performance against South Brunswick – 35 unanswered points to end the game – with a 34-27 win at No. 4 Old Bridge.

This North Brunswick team is loaded, and to be honest, it was a tough pick making Somerville the preseason No. 1 over the Raiders. And though Somerville (2-1) lost a tough one to Northern Highlands last week at Rutgers out of conference, it looks like the Raiders are for real. That’s a good Knights team with Owen Haughney, Lawrence Hunter and company, but North Brunswick got a big road win here.

Now 2-0, the Raiders get Sayreville (0-2) at home next week. Their next biggest test will come in mid-October when Union comes to Steve Libro Field.

And how about Colonia. The Patriots took Woodbridge – which got a first place vote this week in the Media Poll – to the bring in Week One, but are in the win column after a 38-7 upset of No. 8 (tie) Edison (1-1). The Eagles were coming off a 37-0 shutout win over JP Stevens – admittedly, not much of a test – but were thoroughly dominated by the Patriots, who are now 1-1.

The Patriots led 24-0 at halftime, thanks in large part to quarterback Josh Oluremi. All he did was rush for touchdowns on 10, 20 and 24 yards, and throw 32 yards for another to Patrick Miller.

Colonia also had a pick-six in the win, and Jake Ciencin managed six sacks all on his own.

The real test will be in the next four games with three of them on the road. They start at South Plainfield next week, then have Montgomery at home before traveling to Linden and No. 8 (tie) Cranford, which edged out North Hunterdon Friday night 43-37 at home, on a tough week for the Union County town following major storm damage from the remnants of Hurricane Ida.