Being great on offense or defense – or special teams, let’s not forget about those flashy return guys and solid kickers – is one thing in high school football.

One coach told us this year he has a lot of “one-and-a-half-way players,” a quip we liked to describe guys who play both sides of the ball, but one more than the other.

To be the Two-Way Player of the Year, though, requires full-time effort on both sides of the ball. And this year’s winner is Josiah Zayas of St. Thomas Aquinas.

For the Trojans – who are on a 31-game Big Central win streak, the longest in the fledgling league’s five-year history – Zayas was the man, and he’s just a junior.

This season, he had 41 catches for 1,063 yards and scored 17 total touchdowns on offense. On defense, he had seven interceptions, one of the best marks in the state, tied for second with several other players, including Xavier Diaz of Old Bridge. Only three had more, leading the state with eight each.

He already has major Division 1 offers from Boston College and Syracuse, and he still has one more season to raise his stock.

Click below to hear Alec Crouthamel talk with CJSR’s Two-Way Player of the Year, Josiah Zayas of St. Thomas Aquinas:

Honorable Mentions:

• Andrew Avent, Rahway: The junior runningback/linebacker – who was honored with the “OMG He’s Back Another Year” Award – carried 194 times for 1,142 yards and 16 touchdowns this year, while also racking up 102 tackles (52 solo) on defense. Rahway coach Brian Russo says he’s “all-around, the best player on the team the last two years.”
• T.J. Munn, New Providence: The senior threw for 608 yards and four touchdowns from the quarterback position this year, but was impressive on the ground as well, running for 16 touchdowns and nearly 1,200 yards. At defensive back, Munn recorded 41 tackles, three interceptions, a fumble recovery and broke up 15 passes. A big reason why the Pioneers surprised some to reach the North 2, Group 1 finals – though they fell in the title game to Cedar Grove – he helped lay the foundation for 2025, with solid back A.J. Whitehead returning.
• James Bodley, Piscataway: Winner of the “Scores Every Which Way” award, Bodley scored rushing and receiving touchdowns, a couple of two-point conversions, a kickoff return for a touchdown, and a scoop and score. He cracked the “1,000-100 Club” – rushing for over 1,000 yards and recording over 100 tackles on defense.
• Naquavere Thomas, Manville: The senior defensive back/wide receiver led the Mustangs in a slew of offensive categories, and was a big reason they flipped the script this year, from a 3-7 mark in 2023 to 7-3 under second-year head coach Dave Markowitch, earning a playoff berth. Thomas led the team in rushing and receiving, as well as yardage and touchdowns in both categories. And that’s just offense. ON the other side of the ball, he led the team in total tackles, solos, TFLs, sacks, and forced fumbles.