Tag: Player of the Week

by Mike Pavlichko

Elizabeth nets back-to-back Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors, as Qua’Yon Williams scores every which way vs. St. Joe’s

It’s rare that even two different players from the same team will earn a Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honor. After all, with nine weeks of the regular season and 59 teams in the Big Central Conference, we try to spread it around a little bit.

But sometimes, it’s a no-brainer.

And there are many worthy candidates each week, but big numbers aren’t the only factor. The level of the opponent also has to factor in, and that was the case this week as an Elizabeth player takes the honors for the second straight week – and, to be fair, probably for the last time this season!

In Week Two, it was A’rique Fleming of the Minutemen, not only having a big game at quarterback, but helping seal the victory with a late interception in a tight win against Union.

In Week Three, it’s Qua’Yon Williams, Elizabeth’s uber-talented senior wide receiver, cornerback and punt returner, who just so happened to not only score in three different ways, but did it in a mammoth upset win in one of those crazy, anything-can-happen shootout type games against St. Joseph-Metuchen, it what turned out to be a 62-25 home win over the then-No. 2 Falcons.

Williams scored four touchdowns in the game: two receptions of 38 and eleven yards, a 15-yard run, and a 48-yard punt return. He ended up with 212 all-purpose yards, plus had seven tackles and a pass breakup on defense. All the while, helping Elizabeth to 529 yards of total offense, which head coach Eugene Kline says is the highest single-game total since at least the year 2000.

For his efforts, Qua’Yon Williams of Elizabeth is the Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Player of the Week for Week Three.

Logo of Bellamy & Son Paving highlighting the Big Central Player of the Week.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko with Week Three Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Qua’Yon Williams of Elizabeth:

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 always, we will recognize selected “Honorable Mentions,” and recognize all other all nominees in our weekly story.

Honorable Mentions:

  • Shaun Garland, Edison: It’s one thing to do what the senior did Friday night in a 34-24 home win over North Brunswick. It’s another to do it after being sick the entire previous weekend. But the H-back/tight end hybrid finished the game with four touchdowns – on runs of 18, one and seven yards, along with a 33-yard pick six from his defensive end position – giving him 146 yards on 22 carries, including on 13 consecutive plays at one point in the fourth quarter. On defense, he also had a TFL, 2 QB hurries, and two pass breakups.
  • Zach Mutton, Montgomery: In a 28-12 win over Colonia in Skillman on Friday, the senior QB and runningback carried the ball 21 times for 122 yards and four touchdowns. He also made a huge throw to receiver Xavier Harrigan for a fourth-down conversion late, then followed it up with a touchdown run to put his team ahead for good,
  • Dylan Boehm, Somerville: The sophomore quarterback had a big night in a 55-24 win over Watchung Hills on Friday. He threw 18-of-25 for 362 yards and five touchdowns, hitting four different wideouts, three of which went long: for 75, 69 and 46 yards.
  • Charlie Dickerson, South Hunterdon: The Eagles may not have much in terms of numbers, but they’re making it count en route to a 3-1 start, their first since they went 9-2 in 2023. The senior linebacker recorded 14 tackles and anchored the defense in a double overtime win, 20-14, over Bound Brook.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Logan Stack, Governor Livingston: The senior inside linebacker “keyed the defense,” according to head coach Pete Ramiccio, with 13 total tackles and 3 1/2 for loss against JFK in a 49-12 home win Saturday, which got the Highlanders back to the .500 mark.
  • Travis Miles, Hillside: In a 29-7 win at Voorhees on Friday, the senior wide receiver had a 62-yard touchdown catch, and from his defensive back spot, added a 50-yard pick-six, one of two defensive scores in the game for the Comets, who now are 4-0, their best start in three years under head coach Isa Abdul-Quddus, after going 8-11 combined over the past two seasons.
  • Thomas DeMetrio, Monroe: The senior does it all, playing wide receiver, working out of the wildcat, linebacker, and handling kicking duties for the Falcons, and he was a major contributor to the Falcons’ 28-0 home win over East Brunswick on Friday. At linebacker, he had five tackles, two TFLs and a sack. And while he only had seven touches on offense, he scored three touchdowns – on a 23-yard catch and rushes of three and 13 – plus two booming, 50-yard punts, and went four-for-four on extra points.
  • Alex Kruszcynski, North Plainfield: The senior was instrumental on both sides of the ball in a 25-0 shutout of New Brunswick on Thursday. He had 19 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown at runningback, then at linebacker had two solo tackles and a TFL for a unit that produced its second whitewash this season, and has allowed just under 4.3 points per game through its first four games.
  • Chase Rizzo, Old Bridge: The senior runningback went off for 252 yards on 25 carries, for just over ten yards per, including two touchdowns in a 26-24 win over St. Thomas Aquinas. He also added a sack on defense.
  • Shane Moore, Phillipsburg: The senior runningback carried 13 times for 120 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-7 home win over division foe Hillsborough Friday night.
  • Walter Price, Rahway: The senior linebacker had eleven solo tackles, one assist two TFLs, a forced fumble, and a recovery for 17 yards in a 42-14 win over neighboring Linden Friday night. He made the first five tackles of the game for a defense that surrendered just 122 total yards to the Tigers.
  • Sherwin Appiah, Sayreville: The senior halfback rushed 15 times for 144 yards and the Bombers’ first four touchdowns in a 41-6 home win over Franklin Friday night.
  • Vinny Young, Spotswood: The senior runningback eclipsed 100 yards in his third straight game, albeit a 35-7 loss to Perth Amboy at home on Friday. He carried 19 times for 149, and also had five tackles on defense.

by Mike Pavlichko

A four-year starting QB, A’rique Fleming gets it done on defense, too, and earns Week 2 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors

It was August 25, 2023 at Kean University in Union when a fresh-faced ninth-grader named A’rique Fleming took to the field to play quarterback for the Elizabeth football team.

He might be a little raw, then-head coach John Fiore told us, but “You’ve gotta see this kid,” he added.

Sometimes coaches are given to hyperbole, and Fiore is no exception. But he was dead on the money on this one.

Elizabeth didn’t win the game, falling 27-22 to the rival Tigers, but Fleming showed great poise for a freshman in a back-and-forth game where the lead was always changing: 7-of-12 passing, 140 yards, one touchdown, one interception. Fiore was on the Fleming bandwagon, and now we were, too.

Fast forward three years to 2026, and he’s been one of the premier quarterbacks in the Big Central for a while now, and he’s already thrown for 622 yards and seven touchdowns in three games.

His latest performance was 17-of-21 throwing the ball for 220 yards and a touchdown, with a team-high 45 rushing yards (and a touchdown). But more impressive? He also plays defense, and is very good at it.

He was especially good last Friday night in a 19-7 win at Union. Playing linebacker, he had a forced fumble and recovery, a team-high tackles, and two interceptions.

One of them was quite critical in the win, too: a 72-yard pick-six with Union driving deep into Elizabeth territory with under two minutes left in a 13-7 game the Minutemen led.

“He made a great read on the play,” says his head coach, Eugene Kline, breaking “multiple tackles on the play” as Elizabeth hung on and made it a 3-0 start to a season for the first time since 2015.

For his efforts, Xavier Wilson is the Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Player of the Week for Week Two.

Logo of Bellamy & Son Paving highlighting the Big Central Player of the Week.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko with Week Two Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week A’rique Fleming of Elizabeth:

We’ll get to see Fleming at least one more time on Central Jersey Sports Radio when No. 7 Elizabeth hosts No. 2 St. Joseph-Metuchen (2-0) in the Friday night Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Game of the Week. Kickoff is 6 pm at Williams Field, with pregame at 5:40. Alec Crouthamel and Dylan Allen will have the call; click here to listen.

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 always, we will recognize selected “Honorable Mentions,” and recognize all other all nominees in our weekly story.

Honorable Mentions:

  • Nolan Walsh, Bernards: In a 49-29 win over Governor Livingston – the Mountaineers’ first of the season after starting 0-2 – the senior QB rushed for four touchdowns (of 3, 34, 30 and 11 yards) while throwing for 54- and 19-yard scores. He completed 13-of-18 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns. logging 348 yards of total offense and accounting for all five of Bernards’ first-half scores.
  • Zach Mutton, Montgomery: The senior plays five positions for Sean Carty’s Cougars, who got their first win of the season Thursday, 32-14 up at Watchung Hills. At running back, he took the rock 23 times for 104 yards and two touchdowns. He’s also a kicker, and made two field goals of 32 and 41 yards, the latter a new school record. He had a punt, too, that pinned the Warriors back on their own two-yard line early to help establish momentum. At defensive back, he also added two tackles, both of the solo variety.
  • Ja’Quan Robinson, Rahway: The senior quarterback often does a lot of great things on the field, but it was more than that Friday night in a 42-21 win at Woodbridge. He tossed 2-for-6 for 50 yards and two touchdowns, and carried ten times for 129 yards and two more scores of nine and 55 yards. On defense, at linebacker, he also had three solo tackles and a TFL. And he even had three punts for 109 total yards. But his coaches say the captain did his biggest work in the locker room, bringing the group together and spurring them on to outscore Woodbridge 21-7 in the second half. And then, he put his money where his mouth is, scoring a 55-yard touchdown to finish the game.
  • James Hampton, Somerville: In a 54-6 shellacking of North Hunterdon Thursday night, the junior wide receiver had seven catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns of 32 and 15 yards. At cornerback, he also had a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown.
  • Tyler Hicks, South Hunterdon: The senior quarterback for the Eagles – 2-1 in Kyle Hart’s first season as head coach – went 16-of-29 for 210 passing yards and a touchdown in a 21-15 win over Middlesex Thursday night. Facing a 15-13 deficit with under a minute to go, he scrambled on fourth down to evade two tacklers. His pass went incomplete, but drew a pass interference call. Eventually, on third down on the Blue Jay six, he hit Charlie Dickerson for a touchdown to take a 19-15 lead, then hit him again for a two-point conversion for the final score.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Elijah White, Belvidere: IN a 42-2 win at Dunellen Friday, the senior wide receiver had four catches for 2333 yards, with three of those hauls going for touchdowns, including a 96- and a 55-yarder. He Laos had an 80-yarder called back on a penalty.
  • Marcus Smith, Highland Park: In the third straight win for the Owls – a 43-0 win at JP Stevens that gives them their second 3-0 start in three seasons – Smith threw for 74 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 48 and a second score. Highland Park has outscored its first three opponents 99-0, and has three consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1964. (They had six in a row that year.)
  • Jonathon Gosk, Manville: The senior quarterback – in his first year starting – was 9-of-13 passing to 148 yards and touchdown passes of 46 and five yards in a 35-7 home win over arch-rival Manville Friday night, heard here on Central Jersey Sports Radio. He also rushed five times for 18 yards and scoring runs of 21 and two yards.
  • Tommasso Demetrio, Monroe: In a 42-7 win at North Brunswick, the senior wide receiver caught five balls for 60 yards and a touchdown, as well as five rushes for 25 yards and another score. Four of his first five touches were either a touchdown or gave his team a first down. At outside linebacker, Demetrio had three tackles, two TFLs, and a sack. Oh, and he also was 6-for-6 on PATs and booted two 50-yard punts.
  • Charlie Maneely, New Providence: The senior runningback carried 12 times for 87 yards and a score, while also catching four passes for 36 yards and another score in a 27-20 win at Johnson on Thursday. At linebacker, he also had three tackles and two fumble recoveries.
  • Ariel Rosario Sime, Perth Amboy: In a 42-6 win over Roselle
  • Gabriel Manson, Sayreville: The senior H-back carried six times for 104 yards and two scores for the Bombers, while adding a 60-yard catch in a 41-6 home win over Edison. More impressively, he allowed zero catches from his position at cornerback.
  • Vinny Young, Spotswood: Very similar to his last outing, the senior runningback carried eight times for 121 yards and two touchdowns, while also grabbing two passes for 22 yards in a 47-14 home win over Metuchen Thursday night. At outside linebacker, he added four solo tackles, two assists and a TFL.
  • Aiden Morse, St. Thomas Aquinas: The junior running back carried ten times for 73 yards and three touchdowns in a 40-0 win at Franklin on Friday night.

by Mike Pavlichko

Sophomore Xavier Wilson comes up big in big spot for Monroe, earns Week Two Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors

“A sophomore is nothing but a jayvee player, and don’t you ever forget it.”

It was a Monroe coach who said that. Specifically, Milt Theodosatos, who was speaking to a reporter from WCTC radio after a mammoth upset of Spotswood in the fall of 2000, and talking about the mistakes his team would often make because they were so young.

Were he the coach today, instead of Nick Isola, he probably would not have said that about Xavier Wilson.

Wilson is a sophomore, let there be no doubt about that. But he may also be one of the brightest spots this year – and beyond – for a Monroe program that could use some wins, after going just 1-8 last year but seeking their first better-than-.500 season since 2020, when they went 5-1 under Dan Lee.

On Thursday night, in a 28-7 win over Governor Livingston, Wilson carried 16 times for 261 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The first was 85, and opened the scoring. The second came with his team hanging on to a 21-7 lead late after a Highlander touchdown with about four minutes to go.

He dodged two defenders wide to the left on the line of scrimmage, “made a cut to stay in bounds and keep the lock running, and then he was off to the races,” said Isola.

That 80-yard sprint made it 28-7, a score that held to give the Falcons their first win of the season.

For his efforts, Xavier Wilson is the Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Player of the Week for Week Two.

Logo of Bellamy & Son Paving highlighting the Big Central Player of the Week.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko with Week Zero Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Xavier Wilson of Monroe:

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 always, we will recognize selected “Honorable Mentions,” and recognize all other all nominees in our weekly story.

Honorable Mentions:

  • Elijah White, Belvidere: The senior wide receiver had four catches for 77 yards and two touchdowns, including one for 49 yards in a 28-27 win at Roselle Park that might not have happened otherwise. He’s a kicker, too, and was perfect in booting four PATs, while also logging eleven tackles on defense in the secondary, where he made a game-ending interception as Roselle Park was threatening to take the lead on the final play of the game.
  • Al-Naiquan Boseman, Carteret: The senior runningback went for 211 yards on Friday in a 26-20 wi Thursday over arch-rival Perth Amboy. He scored on touchdown runs of 31 and seven yards, including the eventual winning score. The win also got the Ramblers to within three of the Panthers, who lead the all-time series 50-47-2 since it began in 1927. But Carteret now has won five straight, matching their longest win streak in the series, five games from 2003 through 2007.
  • Zaire Young, Piscataway: The senior runningback notched the fifth-best rushing performance in Cheifs’ history Friday in a convincing 28-14 win over visiting Somerville. He carried 37 times for 268 yards and scored three touchdowns – all while wearing two different pairs of sneakers! Seems the sole on his left cleat separated in the second half, and he had to borrow a teammate’s shoes to finish the game.
  • Vinny Young, Spotswood: The senior did it in all three phases for the Chargers, who evened up their record at 1-1 with a 51-13 win at JFK on Friday. In his first game at runningback, he had eight carries for 135 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a 76-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on special teams, and on defense – at outside linebacker, had three solo tackles, a TFL and a pass breakup.
  • Dante Jennings, St. Thomas Aquinas: The senior was instrumental in a 24-20 home win over Westfield Friday night. The linebacker had four tackles, a TFL, and an interception. On offense, the tight end – battling cramps the entire second half – caught a touchdown pass to get them back in the lead with about a minute to go. Cramping up, he came out of the game, and on his first play back in, with about 50 seconds to go, picked off a Westfield pass to seal the deal.
  • Elijah Greene, Union: While Jamir Hall scored two touchdowns in a 15-12 win at Watchung Hills, Greene had three interceptions and blocked two extra points, helping give the Farmers their first 2-0 start since 2019, the final year of the Mid-State Conference, a year they finished 12-1 under Lou Grasso, and won the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 5 title over Clifton.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Chase Kraucheunas, Delaware Valley: In a 34-33 win over Johnson Thursday, the senior QB threw for 194 yards and two scores, while also running for 157 yards on ten carries with another two touchdowns. At linebacker, he was also active, registering 13 tackles.
  • Erick Cespedes, Elizabeth: The senior wide-receiver was key in a 43-20 win at Plainfield Friday. He had six catches for 144 yards and three touchdowns of five, 24 and 53 yards. At cornerback, he had five tackles (two solo) and a pass breakup.
  • Braylon Diaz, JFK: In a 51-13 loss to Spotswood, the senior was responsible for both Mustang touchdowns. The wide receiver had five catches for 51 yards as well as four rushes for 72 yards, including a 28-yard TD. On special teams, he finished the night with 105 kick return yards, including a 77-yard return for a score.
  • Kevin Reilly, New Providence: The senior quarterback threw for 210 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 40 and another score, as the Pioneers opened their season with a 27-7 win over Voorhees on Thursday night. That’s now 15 straight Big Central wins for New Providence, the longest active streak in the league after Bernards had its 32-game streak snapped by Cranford Friday night.
  • Cayle Prince, North Plainfield: In a 20-10 loss to South Plainfield, the junior runningback carried seven times for 25 yards, with a catch for a seven-yard touchdown. Just back from an ankle injury, and nowhere near 100 percent, he had four solo tackles, a TFL and an interception, he aggravated the injury again in the third quarter and sat out the rest of the game.
  • Chase Rizzo, Old Bridge: In a 49-21 win over Montgomery, the senior runningback went for 101 yards and two touchdowns, while also logging 70 yards receiving and another score. He also blocked a punt return for a touchdown.
  • Amauris Peguero, Perth Amboy: In a tough loss to arch-rival Carteret, the senior quarterback helped keep his team in the game with a 10-for-19 effort for 226 yards and three touchdowns, while also running the ball 23 times for another 97 yards.
  • Jyvon Cooper, Rahway: In a huge 21-10 win against Summit on Friday that vaulted the Indians into the Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten for the first time this season, the senior running back carried 17 times for 92 yards and a touchdown. Twelve of those – and his score – came on two second-half possessions that helped ice the game. At outside linebacker, he had four solo tackles, four asissts, a TFL, one half sack, and a QB hurry.
  • Tristan Frank, Ridge: The senior was involved in all three Red Devil scores in a 21-7 win over Sayreville. That included two rushing and one passing touchdown for the quarterback, while at free safety he also had one interception.
  • Jaylen Brundidge, South Brunswick: A wildcat QB for the Vikings, he carried 14 times for 114 yards and two touchdowns while also catching six passes for 62 yards in a 27-19 win at rival North Brunswick. As a defensive back, he also had three tackles and an interception.
  • Kellen Healy, South Hunterdon: The junior runningback had three rushing touchdowns – of 57, 45, and 14 yards – carrying 23 times for 186 yards in a 35-8 win over South River, including two late scores that helped bury the Rams. On defense, he had six tackles and two TFLs.

by Mike Pavlichko

Summit’s Jackson Marx bookends season-opening win with two amazing plays to nab first Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honor in 2026

There’s a proud tradition around the Summit football program, whether it’s one of their championship seasons or not.

Coming off a North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 finals appearance in 2025, this year’s Hilltoppers – who will now be playing in Group 4 thanks to the recent NJSIAA reclassification – are looking to finish the job.

And right off the bat in 2026, things looked good. Friday afternoon, senior Jackson Marx returned the opening kickoff from Colonia 96 yards for a score to put his team up 6-0 before the Patriots even got the ball in their hands.

Things snowballed from there, with Summit taking a 23-0 lead in the second quarter on a 32-yard field goal from Marx, and touchdown runs from Matt McKeever and Gavin Schnall.

And then the pendulum swung. Colonia cut it to 23-7 by halftime. They got a third quarter touchdown to pull within eight. Then, with a few minutes to go in regulation, Colonia looked poised to send the game to OT after a 10-yard touchdown run by Kyle Bell. Going for two to tie, Jackson Marx got in front of a receiver along the right sideline, inside the five, and picked off the pass to preserve the two-point lead.

The only way it could have been dramatic was if it were the last play of the game. It wasn’t, as Summit got the ball back and was forced to punt, but Colonia couldn’t make any headway on the ensuing possession, and the Hilltoppers escaped with a two-point W, 23-21.

For his efforts, Jackson Marx is the first Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Player of the Week, for Week Zero, in 2026.

Logo of Bellamy & Son Paving highlighting the Big Central Player of the Week.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko with Week Zero Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Jackson Marx of Summit:

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 always, we will recognize selected “Honorable Mentions,” and recognize all other all nominees in our weekly story.

Honorable Mentions:

  • Elijah Garcia, Governor Livingston: Though they never trailed in their season opener at home against Dayton, the Highlanders needed all of the junior’s 195 yards (on 30 carries with one touchdown) to keep the Bulldogs at bay in a 40-27 win. Garcia – who ran for 806 yards last year, is almost a quarter of the way there, looking to make a bid to become just the eighth Governor Livingston back to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. (Jack Dally was the most recent, going for 1,195 in 2024
  • Anthony Costello, North Plainfield: Talk about timing, the junior scored the game-winning touchdown – the only score of the game – with 12 seconds left, powering North Plainfield to a 7-0 victory, and back-to-back season-opening wins the last two seasons. Costello, a receiver, had eight catches for 77 yards. He also had an interception on defense, where he plays defensive back, and returned three punts for 46 yards on special teams.
  • Amauris Peguero, Perth Amboy: The senior quarterback was instrumental in a 33-28 win against Monroe Friday night. He carried 22 times for 122 yards, rushing for three touchdowns in the game as well as a two-point conversion, while also passing for 81 yards and another score. It was also the first-ever win as a head coach for new Panthers’ mentor Evan Baubles.
  • Donald Young, Piscataway: The senior two-way lineman played a huge role in the final minute of the game, turning what could have been a disastrous loss – the Chiefs led 26-14 with under four minutes left – into one of the program’s most thrilling wins, a 26-20 win at East Orange. On a Jaguars’ first and goal at the two with 22 seconds left, Young turned aside a block to help stop the ball at the one. After an East Orange time out, their last of the game, he shot through the “A” gap and stopped the runner behind the line of scrimmage, leaving the Jaguars no time to stop the clock with a spike. And the Chiefs survived!
  • Jaylen Eastman, Rahway: The senior came up big in a wild 30-28 win at Willingboro Thursday night. From defensive end, he recovered a fumble in the end zone for the first Indians’ score, then had 49- and 15-yard catch-and-run touchdowns on offense. On D, he finished with five solo tackles, four assists, three TFLs and two QB hurries.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Zach Favreau, Bernards: In a 26-20 loss to Rutherford on Friday, the senior defensive back played nearly every snap of the game. And he was busy, recording 13 tackles, six solo, and two pass breakups. On offense, he caught two passes for 54 yards and had a 37-yard touchdown catch, while also returning three kicks for 102 yards.
  • Nehmiah DeLeon, Brearley: The senior running back set the tone early in a 33-0 win at Wallington on a rainy Thursday evening – one of the few games to be played that day – with a 51-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage. He finished with 22 carries for 101 yards and two touchdowns. A third score from 55-yards out was negated by a penalty. He also had two tackles at DB on defense.
  • Sean Christie, East Brunswick: In a 41-0 win over JFK on Friday – the Bears’ largest margin of victory since Andy Steinfeld’s squad went 8-2 in 2021 – the senior signal threw one touchdown pass and ran for three, of 60, 12 and eight yards. At defensive back, he also recorded five tackles in the Bears’ first meeting with the Mustangs since 1981.
  • Jeff Progin, Hillsborough: The senior had six catches for 86 yards and a touchdown in a 41-25 loss at Manalapan on Friday – after the Raiders took the trip down Thursday, when the game was initially scheduled, only to turn back due to the weather. His TD came early, cutting a 12-0 deficit in half, though Hillsborough would lose the game in the end.
  • Travis Miles, Hillside: The senior scored half of his team’s six touchdowns in a 41-0 victory at Columbia in Maplewood Friday night. He had two on the receiving end on offense – of 29 and 11 yards – while also scoring on a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown.
  • Lamar Grant, JP Stevens: Just a sophomore, the defensive end had nine total tackles, including three for a loss and a sack as the defense pitched a shutout in a 21-6 win over West Windsor-Plainsboro, whose own score came on a pick-six on defense.
  • Aidan Johnson, Manville: The junior carried 11 times for 67 yards and two touchdowns in a 56-18 win at host Keansburg in the “Battle of the Bridge” Saturday morning. BUt he also plays free safety, and his interception in the first quarter killed the Titans’ second drive of the game as they were nearing Manville territory.
  • Sal Fama-Linn, North Brunswick: In a 39-8 home win against Snyder out of Jersey City, the senior helped the Raiders snap a nine-game losing streak (all of last season) with a big night in all three phases. At free safety, he had four tackles and a TFL. As a receiver, he had four catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns, while he also had two rushed for 3 years and a touchdown. And he even had a kick return for 24 yards and a punt for 32 yards.
  • Shane Moore, Phillipsburg: The senior ran for 135 yards and a touchdown in a season-opening 28-21 win over Parkland (PA) at Maloney Stadium. That was the first of three straight Pennsylvania foes on the schedule for the two-time defending NJSIAA sectional champions before they hit the Big Central slate.
  • Dylan Boehm, Somerville: The sophomore – who we’ll see this Friday night when the Pioneers visit Piscataway in a top ten matchup on Central Jersey Sports Radio – was 19-of-33 for 323 yards and touchdown passes for 36 and 87 yards in a 40-21 win over South Plainfield at Brooks Field. He also ran for a five-yard touchdown as their fourth straight season opener, all under head coach Matt Bloom.
  • Robert Lobozzo, Watchung Hills: The junior was critical in handing new Watchung Hills head coach Joe Ascolese his first victory since taking over from Rich Seubert in the off-season. He scored on a five-yard TD catch right after a 32-yard interception return by Bennett Dealaman. He also had 22 yards rushing, and a pick of his own on defense from the secondary.

by Mike Pavlichko

Westfield’s Jordan Walsh comes up big down the stretch, grabs final Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honor in 2025

Jordan Walsh is no stranger to being a go-to guy on his team. After all, he was the Borden’s Baller of the Year last season, representing the Westfield Blue Devils, a proud Union County program with a lot of history.

Well, Saturday at Kehler Stadium, he helped make some of his own, helping his team to a 14-7 win over Ridge, their first since 2017 against the Red Devils.

He didn’t know that before the game, but he knows it now.

Walsh had 153 all-purpose yards fo Westfield Saturday, rushing eight times for 72 yards with a five-yard touchdown, while also grabbing six passes for 81 yards. At safety, he had nine tackles and a pass breakup, but it was what he did on both sides of the ball in closing minutes – in just two plays – that was the difference.

First, with Ridge driving inside the Westfield 30-yard line, he made a big open field tackle to stymie the drive. Then, with the ball on their own five and trying to run out the clock on offense, he musted a 40-yard run to ice the game.

And his last run of the contest put him over 1,000 all-purpose yards for the season.

For his efforts, senior Jordan Walsh of Westfield is the Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week for Week Eight, Cutoff Weekend, the last of the season.

Logo of Bellamy & Son Paving highlighting the Big Central Player of the Week.

Westfield (4-5) earned a six-seed in the North 2, Group 4 playoffs, and will play an opening round game at third-seed Montgomery (6-3) this Friday night at 7:00.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko with Week Eight Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Jordan Walsh of Westfield:

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 always, we will recognize selected “Honorable Mentions,” and recognize all other all nominees in our weekly story.

Honorable Mentions:

  • Logan Stevens, Bernards: The senior carried eight times for 196 yards and three touchdowns – all long, of 81, 53, and 72 yards – in a 22-0 home win over Carteret Friday night. He also had a 35-yard catch, and at cornerback had an interception. In Stevens’ three varsity seasons, the Mountaineers never lost a regular season game, going 27-0 in that span.
  • Arique Fleming, Elizabeth: The junior quarterback was 20-for-24 for 248 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-23 win over Union. He also had all 13 rushing attempts by the Minutement, picking up another 90 yards and a score.
  • Dom Massaro, South Plainfield: A workhorse back, the senior scored four touchdowns and had 243 yards rushing on offense in a 42-14 win over JFK Friday. Then, on defense, he grabbed three interceptions, one for a touchdown, and also had 110 punt return yards, plus a touchdown on one that was called back.
  • Matteo Tramutolo, Voorhees: The top rusher in the Big Central this week, the senior carried 31 times for 208 yards and three touchdowns, helping rally his team from a 7-0 deficit before the half to win the 50th Milk Can Game between the rivals. The win helped clinch the Vikings’ first playoff berth since 2018. He also broke his own single-season school rushing mark, setting a new standard with 1,338 and counting, while also cracking the 3,000 mark for his career.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Rocco Federico, Brearley: The junior defensive end had four sacks, two TFLs and four total tackles in a 10-7 win at Dayton Saturday that got the Bears into the playoffs. Federico was part of a defense that made a goal line stand at the one as time expired to hang on for the W.
  • Evan Canica, Manville: The center and mike linebacker for the Mustangs had a “phenomenal” effort in a 49-7 win over rival Bound Brook for the Freedom Silver Division title. The had a fourth-down TFL that set the tone, ending the Crusaders’ first drive of the night, then had four solo tackles, two more TFLs and two sacks, as well as a fumble recovery and two forced fumbles. Offensively, he and the line paved the way for a 351-yard night, 210 of which came on the ground.
  • Andrew Avent, Rahway: The senior had 23 carries for 312 yards and a touchdown – with a long run of 67 – in a 28-7 home win over No. 3 Montgomery Friday night. At defensive end, he had three solo tackles, two assists, three TFLs, a half sack and three QB hurries against a high-powered offense.
  • Kellen Healy, South Hunterdon: The sophomore – one of the future keys to the program for the Eagles – had 15 carries for 103 yards, with two rushing touchdowns in a 26-0 win at Dunellen last Friday, to pick up South’s first win of the season. He also had a 35-yard interception return for a score in the game.

by Mike Pavlichko

Clean Sweep! Somerville’s Vesuvio-Bush takes Week 7 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week award on dominating performance

When debating who to choose for the Week 7 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the week, I asked by broadcast partner for that game, Justin Sontupe, for his take.

“No doubt in my mind Somerville loses without him. He did everything.”

Surely, it takes a whole team to win. He doesn’t do what he did without the offensive line. Or the defense – which he had to be a part of when a cornerback went down – holding a talented Plainfield team in check. Then again, would anyone else on the roster have had 288 yards and three touchdowns on 40 carries, plus another 76 yards on four catches?

Probably not.

That, and the win over a solid team kept the defending Central Jersey Group 3 Pioneers’ chances alive – although they may need some help – to get a top-seed in the same section again this year.

And add in the fact “AVB” has had a dominant season, becoming just the 12th player in the history of Somerville football – which dates back to 1903 – to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season.

So, for his efforts, senior Adian Vesuvio-Bush of Voorhees – who also was this week’s Higgins Speed Lab “Speedster of the Week” with the top rushing performance in the Big Central – is the Week 7 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week.

Logo of Bellamy & Son Paving highlighting the Big Central Player of the Week.

Somerville (7-1) is back in action this Friday night at Watchung Hills (3-5).

Click below to hear Justin Sontupe’s postgame interview with Week Seven Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Aidan Vesuvio-Bush of Somerville:

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 always, we will recognize selected “Honorable Mentions,” and recognize all other all nominees in our weekly story.

Honorable Mentions:

  • Collin Shimp, Manville: The senior tight end led the aerial attack with just five catches by 127 yards and two toucdowns, including a 70-yard score just before the half to put the Mustangs up 28-7, then another from 45 yards away coming out of halftime to keep the Owls at bay.
  • Caiden Miller, Montgomery: In a 43-15 win at previously-undefeated Sayreville on Friday, the senior runningback scored four touchdowns and ran for 128 yards on 23 carries. Two came in the second quarter, to give his team a 16-15 lead at the break. He then added one each in the final two quarters as the defense shut down the Bombers the rest of the way.
  • Brody Nugent, Old Bridge: In a 45-29 win over Hunterdon Central, the dual-threat quarterback accounted for over 400 yards of offense. That’s 276 yards and two scores passing, while running for 185 and scoring three more times.
  • Amauris Peguero, Perth Amboy: The Panthers picked up their first win of the season, 34-14 over Scotch Plains-Fanwood Friday night, in large part due to the senior quarterback’s play. He completed nine of 15 passes for 224 yards and four touchdowns in the win. In his first year on varsity, the yards and TD passes were career highs, and it was the first 100-plus yard passing game of his career.
  • Andrew Avent, Rahway: OK, so he can’t rush for 300 yards every game! But the senior carried just nine times for 240 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-6 win over New Brunswick that was more impressive for the three school records he set – single season rushing, career total touchdowns, and career total points – along with a person milestone – cracking 4,000 for his career. His rushing total of 1,520 yards this season also is a career high.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Tyce Hanratty, Bernards: The junior middle linebacker had 12 tackles, a sack, a TFL, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in a 35-7 win over Governor Livingston.
  • Ben Culberson, Delaware Valley: The junior linebacker had a solid night on the defensive side of the ball, with 13 tackles, two TFLs and a sack. On the offensive side, the runningback had nine carries for 60 yards and two scores, which came in the fourth quarter to rally the Terriers from an 18-7 deficit to a 21-18 win over Roselle Friday night.
  • Dan Poretti, New Providence: In a 49-3 win over Bound Brook Friday, the senior scored in all three phases of the game. He had two carries for 44 yards and a touchdown, a 30-yard pick-six from the secondary for another, and a 70-yard kickoff return for a touchdown as well.
  • Sam Dech, Phillipsburg: The Stateliners bounced back from a loss at St. Joseph-Metuchen with a 42-0 home win over Union, and got 18 carries, 156 yards and four touchdowns from the senior runningback in the win.
  • Mickeye Simmons, Piscataway: The senior ran nine times for 107 yards (with a long of 60) and two touchdowns Friday in a 21-7 road win at a very good Hillsborough team. A free safety, he also recorded seven tackles.
  • Greg Brown, Ridge: The junior outside linebacker had nine tackles to lead the team, plus two TFLs, a sack, a forced fumble, and a 69-yard interception he brought to the house in a 57-20 home win over North Brunswick Friday night.
  • Justin Scaramuzzo, St. Joseph-Metuchen: In a 41-19 win over St. Thomas Aquinas in North Edison Friday, the senior QB was 12-of-15 for 231 yards and five touchdowns, while also carrying the ball 11 times for 73 yards and another score. Coach Bill Tracy says, “He makes plays when there are no plays there.” Well said.

by Mike Pavlichko

Senior Matteo Tramutola scores game-winning TD for Voorhees, becomes Vikings’ all-time leading rusher, wins Week 6 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Award

We like it when a Player of the Week nominee does more than one thing.

Last Saturday, Matteo Tramutola of Voorhees did four.

He may get most of his attention for what he does when he runs the football, but he also plays defense, and punts. Oh, and he plays baseball, too.

Last Saturday, he carried 26 times for 154 yards and two touchdowns, with the second giving his team a 21-14 lead in the rain at Governor Livingston, a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. He also had seven solo and 3 assisted tackles on defense, and helped the Vikings win the field position battle with his punting, in difficult conditions.

In the process, he became the school’s all-time rushing leader with 2,726 career yards to go along with 36 career TDs. The yardage eclipses the school’s previous benchmark of 2,652, held by Charlie Rodenberger (2013-2016) according to second-year head coach John Hack, who Tramutola also credits with changing the culture in Glen Gardner and turning the program around.

From 2018 through 2022, Voorhees had just one above .500 season, in 2022. After going 3-6 last year, the Vikings are 6-1 and in 12th in the South 2 playoff standings, looking very much the part of a playoff club.

For all his efforts, but especially this week, Matteo Tramutola of Voorhees is the Week 7 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week.

Logo of Bellamy & Son Paving highlighting the Big Central Player of the Week.

The Vikings (6-1) are back in action this Friday night at home against Hillside (1-5).

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko’s interview with Week Six Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Matteo Tramutola of Voorhees:

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 always, we will recognize selected “Honorable Mentions,” and recognize all other all nominees in our weekly story.

Honorable Mentions:

  • Geoffrey Young, Belvidere: In a 16-0 win over South Hunterdon last Friday, the senior carried 17 times for 87 yards and two touchdowns, accounting for 14 of the team’s 16 points. His second TD sealed the game with a one-yard run, then ended it for good with a sack in the end zone for a safety. He also had 12 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble at middle linebacker.
  • Zahmir Moore, Bound Brook: In a 38-28 road win at Middlesex that puts the Crusaders at 5-2 – their best record since finishing the COVID-shortened 2020 season with the same record – the junior wideout caught four passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns of five and 85 yards. He also had ten tackles out of the secondary on defense, with seven solos.
  • Andrew Schwarz, Hillsborough: In a 30-18 win over rival Bridgewater-Raritan at home last Friday, the senior runningback did yoeman’s work. The yards(154) weren’t as important as the carries, of which he had 36, part of the Raiders’ “offense is the best defense” strategy to keep the Panthers offense off the field. He finished the night with four touchdowns, and also a TFL on defense at the linebacker spot.
  • Isaiah Bennett, Manville: The senior only carried three times in a 62-7 win over Dunellen Friday night, but he scored all three times! He went for 93 yards on the night, but then from his outside linebacker position had a 40-yard pick six, along with four tackles – two solo – and a tackle for loss in just one half of game action.
  • Shaun Jackson, Sayreville: The Bomber senior went over 200 yards rushing for the third time this season, setting a new personal best with 338 rushing yards and four touchdowns in a 37-28 win at Franklin on Friday night.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Logan Stevens, Bernards: In a huge, 17-14, come-from-behind win over Summit Saturday, the senior runningback carried 17 times for 176 yards and a touchdown, with four catches for 20 more yards. At corner, he also notched six tackles and a TFL.
  • Ben Ibach, Delaware Valley: The Terrier sophomore wide receiver had six catches for 70 yards and a rush for 13 in a 21-19 loss to A.L. Johnson Friday. In the secondary, he came up with 14 tackles.
  • Grant Lorentzen, JFK: The senior wide receiver had seven catches for 181 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-13 win over North Plainfield. At defensive back, he logged four tackles, 3 assists, and also had 43 return yards on three attempts on special teams.
  • Justus Leitner, Metuchen: In a 53-0 blanking of JP Stevens, the Bulldog senior wide receiver had eight catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns, but what came first was a 43-yard pick six from his cornerback position on defense. His first offensive TD was a 56-yarder, and his second came on a diving catch in the end zone.
  • Julius King, North Plainfield: The senior rushed 13 times for 130 yards and a score, also adding three catches for 70 yards, in a 33-13 home loss to JFK.
  • CJ Griffith, Ridge: In a 28-7 home win over Hunterdon Central, he finished with 121 yards and a touchdown, the final one of the night in a battle of the Red Devils.
  • Andrew Avent, Rahway: In a 49-20 win over Watchung Hills Friday that put the Indians in the thick of the playoff chase, Avent carried 10 times for 201 rushing yards – just over 20 yards per carry – with three touchdowns from 77, eight and 42 yards out. His first TD came on the first play of the game from scrimmage, and he scored on three of his first four carries in the game. Avent also had a sack on defense for -7 yards. He’s also close to several school records and personal bests that he could set in the next week or so.
  • Jamir Hall, Union: The junior runningback carried 12 times for 165 yards and two touchdowns for the Farmers, in a 21-13 win over South Brunswick Friday night, their first victory of the season.

by Mike Pavlichko

Freshman QB goes on the road against unbeaten team, throws early pick-six, then pulls off the win: Somerville QB Dylan Boehm named Week 5 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week

This one wasn’t an easy pick at all, then again it kind of was.

One nomination was for an all-world runningback who went for 362 yards – tops in the Big Central this season – but for a loss. Then there was a quarterback who’s not generally a quarterback, but threw for 350 yards in a rivalry game and won.

Then, there was Dylan Boehm of Somerville.

Impressive enough that the Pioneers knocked off 5-0 Summit Saturday afternoon, but the win also came on the road. And the QB who threw for 349 yards and four touchdown on an efficient 13-of-16 day certainly led his team to victory. But add in that he’s a freshman, and rebounded after throwing an early pick-six when it all could have fell apart, well, now you have the Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week for Week Five in the Big Central Conference.

That effort, and that result, are a big reason why the Pioneers are one of several BCC teams sitting in the enviable spot of a top-seed come playoff time, with the Cutoff just three weeks away.

Logo of Bellamy & Son Paving highlighting the Big Central Player of the Week.

The No. 5 Pioneers (5-1) are back in action this Friday night at North Hunterdon (1-5).

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko’s interview with Week Five Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Dylan Boehm of Somerville:

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 always, we will recognize selected “Honorable Mentions,” and recognize all other all nominees in our weekly story.

Honorable Mentions:

  • Andrew Schwarz, Hillsborough: In a 42-21 come-from-behind win at Westfield Saturday, the senior runningback rushed 17 times for 151 yards and four touchdowns, as the Raiders rallied from a 14-0 deficit just six minutes into the game. More impressive, he only had 15 yards in the first half!
  • Cam Hayes-Durina, Metuchen: The senior QB – who’s new to the position, according to head coach Jordan Leitner, went 20-of-26 passing for 350 yards and three touchdowns – while also rushing for 53 yards – in a 36-13 win at arch-rival Highland Park. He spread the ball around, connecting with five different receivers in the victory.
  • Antonio Sauchelli, North Hunterdon: The Lions picked up their first win of the season against five losses on Friday with a 29-12 victory at Monroe. The wide reveiver had two catches for 45 yards and a touchdown for 40 yards, but also ran the rock 12 times for 113 yards and a 66-yard score.
  • Andrew Avent, Rahway: The senior standout runningback put together the biggest rushing night in the Big Central Conference this season on Saturday night, in a 43-41 loss at Cranford, going off for 262 yards on 35 carries – more then ten yards per carry – and five touchdowns, with a long of 62. Four of his runs were over 30 yards. At defensive end, he also had two TFLs and a quarterback hurry.
  • Shaun Jackson, Sayreville: The Bomber senior had 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns, along with 60 receiving yards and another score, in a 42-24 win at rival Piscataway Friday night.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Justin Simpson, Bernards: Head coach Jon Simoneau says the senior offensive tackle helped the Mountaineer offense rush for five yards per carry and keep freshman QB A.J. MacCracken off his back and sack-free in his first high school start.
  • Al-Naiquan Boseman, Carteret: The junior runningback carried 21 times for 232 yards and four scores in a 45-0 home win over New Brunswick. Hvaing been hurt for the previous two games, head coach Kevin Freeman says he powered through and came ready to play against the Zebras, scoring three times in the opening quarter.
  • Kelton Ibach, Delaware Valley: The senior signal-called threw 9-for-11 for 142 yards and four touchdowns in a 43-13 win at South River on Saturday.
  • Grant Lorentzen, JFK: In a 33-14 win over Scotch Plains-Fanwood, the senior wide receiver had six catches for 101 yards and three touchdowns, a 55-yard punt return on special teams, and logged five tackles in the secondary on defense. All that came in less than three quarters of action.
  • Leban Chankotadze, Manville: The freshman defensive end helped lead a defense that allowed just 70 total yards to JP Stevens Saturday in a 41-12 win. He had four solo tackles, two tackles for loss, a pair of sacks and two broken up passes., not allowing a single first half point.
  • Gavin Pereira, Spotswood: In high school, a really good kicker can make a really big difference. Pereira does it night in and night out, this time in a 36-7 home win over Bound Brook. He kicked a 48-yard field goal – apparently with distance to spare – connected on three extra points, had a 69-yard punt, and sent four kicks into the end zone for touchbacks.
  • Logan Direny, Voorhees: The senior wide receiver had four catches for 52 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-13 win at North Plainfield Friday night, another player battling through injuries. At linebacker, he also recorded six tackles.

by Mike Pavlichko

With a second straight 200-plus yard game, Ian Roberts of St. Thomas Aquinas is Week 4 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week

Two weeks in a row, Ian Roberts had a big night for St. Thomas Aquinas, rushing for over 200 yards. And this is his first season playing a significant offensive role at the high school level.

The senior – who played his first two years at Woodbridge – is having a breakout year for the Trojans, picking up Higgins Speed Lab “Speedster of the Week” honors in Week Three, going for 262 yards and two scores in a wild win at Franklin.

This week, in Week Four, he ran for 202 and two more touchdowns – on just eight carries, mind you – in a 35-21 win over Elizabeth in North Edison. For the math-inclined, that’s 25.3 yards per carry! Of course, it helps when you open the scoring with an 89-yard touchdown run, and he had a 74-yarder later.

Take those two out, and he still rushed for 6.5 yards a carry on the other six, no small potatoes at all!

For his efforts, Ian Roberts of St. Thomas Aquinas is the Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Player of the Week for Week Four.

Logo of Bellamy & Son Paving highlighting the Big Central Player of the Week.

The No. 3 Trojans are back at home this Friday night against North Jersey parochial Paramus Catholic (1-4).

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko’s interview with Week Four Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Ian Roberts of St. Thomas Aquinas:

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 always, we will recognize selected “Honorable Mentions,” and recognize all other all nominees in our weekly story.

Honorable Mentions:

  • Andrew Avent, Rahway: The Week Four “Speedster of the Week,” presented by Higgins Speed Lab, Avent is on a pace to just eke out his 1,412-ard rushing total of a year ago, with 717 yards through five games. Back on Friday night, in a 33-0 win at North Hunterdon, he carried 11 times for 219 yards and two touchdowns, with a long of 71. He also playes defensive end, and the senior had five solo tackles, three sacks, a TFL and four quarterback hurries. Oh, and did we mention he punts? He landed three of four punts inside the 20, with a long of 57.
  • Nate Engdahl, Ridge: The senior defensive lineman logged eight tackles, three sacks and three TFLs in a 33-14 win over then-No. 6 Bridgewater-Raritan at home Friday night. He was a major factor in a defensive unit that held the Panthers scoreless in the second half, and handed them their first loss of the season.
  • Se’mir Tolbert-Brimage, Spotswood: The senior quarterback was just 1-of-4 passing for 85 yards and a touchdown, while rushing 1 times for 75 yards and two scores. At defensive end, he had two TFLs and three total tackles, but also had a 23-yard pick-six in a 34-3 home win over Highland Park on Thursday.
  • Matteo Tramutola, Voorhees: In a 21-12 win over Delaware Valley – the Vikings’ first over the Terriers since 2018 – the senior runningback carried 22 times for 162 yards and two scores, while also registering six solo tackles and three assisted at linebacker in a win that puts Voorhees at 4-1, their best start since going 7-1 in 2017, a season they finished 9-3 with a loss to West Essex at MetLife Stadium in the North 2, Group 3 title game.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Joe Squillaro, Brearley: The senior quarterback was 3-of-5 passing for 26 yards, and rushed five times for 31, but the key was a 20-yard run that effectively ended the game, a 17-7 home win over Roselle Park on Friday night. At safety, Squillaro had six tackles.
  • Marcus Gary, Delaware Valley: The junior linebacker had 11 1/2 tackles, 1 1/2 TFLs and 2 1/2 sacks in a 21-12 loss to Voorhees on Friday.
  • Kahbir Casey, Dunellen: The fullback was a birght spot on defense in a 44-8 home loss to Middlesex Friday, with 12 total tackles, five for a loss and 2 1/2 sacks.
  • Grant Lorentzen, JFK: The senior wide receiver had 32 receiving yards on three catches, all of which went for touchdowns on fourth-and-goal situations. He also had a rush for 18 yards and even completed a 41-yard pass on a fake punt! At defensive back, he had five solo tackles, two assists and a pick.
  • Obinna Obuba, Montgomery: In a 36-7 home win over Watchung Hills, the senior wideout caught four passes for 141 yards and a touchdown, with a long of 84.
  • Jordan Burnett, North Plainfield: The senior went 7-of-8 passing for 102 yards and rushed 14 times for 94 yards and three scores in just three quarters of play in a 35-0 win at New Brunswick. He accounted for almost 200 of the 300 total yards the Canucks gained Friday night.

by Mike Pavlichko

Brody Nugent sets Old Bridge single-game passing record, earns Week 3 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week nod

One of the big names people were talking about in the preseason – in the context of who could have a really big year – was Brody Nugent of Old Bridge.

The senior quarterback had 2,170 passing yards and 1,831 career rushing yards coming into the season, and with a host of talent around him was expected to be the leader of an offense that had a lot of pieces back.

Off to a 3-1 start, all that has come to fruition for the No. 10 Knights, and Nugent has been a big reason why. But Friday night, in a 45-7 win over South Brunswick, he took his passing game to another level.

They might not have needed all of those yards, in the end, but Nugent became the first Old Bridge quarterback (at least since the 1994 merger of Madison Central and Cedar Ridge) to throw for over 300 yards in a game, setting a school record of 302 yards on 15-of-22 passing, with five touchdowns.

Setting any record is an impressive accomplishment, especially for an offense that runs the triple option. But it’s even more impressive when you consider Old Bridge had Art Sitkowski as its varsity quarterback for two seasons. But even his career high was 140 yards passing, which came in a 28-21 come from behind win at Sayreville in 2015, a game that saw the Knights rally from a 21-7 deficit to get the victory.

On the season, Nugent already has thrown for 824 yards and nine touchdowns (with just two picks) while rushing for 322 on 48 carries, including a season high 168 yards against Cedar Creek in a season-opening win at the Battle at the Beach at Rowan University down in Glassboro.

So, for his efforts against South Brunswick, Brody Nugent is the Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Player of the Week for Week Three.

Logo of Bellamy & Son Paving highlighting the Big Central Player of the Week.

The No. 10 Knights are back home Friday night, when they visit East Brunswick (1-3) for a 6 pm kickoff.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko’s interview with Week Three Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Brody Nugent of Old Bridge:

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 always, we will recognize selected “Honorable Mentions,” and recognize all other all nominees in our weekly story.

Honorable Mentions:

  • Matt Resende, Brearley: The senior runningback helped the Bears snap a 14-game losing streak and earl head coach Elliot Platt his first win with Brearley in a 27-26 home win over Highland Park. He carried 24 times for 244 yards and two touchdowns. He also had five tackles from his linebacker position on defense.
  • Shaun Jackson, Sayreville: The senior rushed for 204 yards and four touchdowns Friday in a 28-14 win over Hillsborough, keeping the Bombers undefeated at 4-0.
  • Justin Scaramuzzo, St. Joseph-Metuchen: In a 41-20 home win Saturday over Elizabeth, Scaramuzzo didn’t throw a lot, but he was efficient, and also ran the ball to the tune of 108 yards on eleven carries for four touchdowns. Passing, he was 6-of-9 for 147 yards and a touchdown. On defense, he also logged eight tackles.
  • Joshua Allen, Woodbridge: He just puts up big numbers every week, and the 4-0 Barrons keep winning. Allen rushed a workhorse-like 32 times for 253 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-21 bragging rights win over Colonia Friday night, one of those scores from 89-yards out. At cornerback, he also had four tackles and two pass breakups.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Brayden Duckworth, Belvidere: The two-way lineman was a big part of the County Seaters’ 53-20 win over Dunellen Friday. On the defensive side of the ball, he led a defense that got two touchdowns against the Destroyers, and that’s playing less than two quarters! He also had five tackles, a blocked punt, and returned a tipped pass 20 yards for a touchdown. In the offensive side, he helped pave the way for Belvidere to score four touchdowns on just the 13 offensive plays!
  • Logan Stevens, Bernards: The senior runningback carried 19 times for 208 yards and three touchdowns Friday night in a 31-21 win at Voorhees that clinched the Patriot Gold Division title. He also had five catches for 65 yards, and at cornerback, he logged six tackles.
  • Brayden Piscardo-Leask, Delaware Valley: The junior tight end had a 76-yard touchdown catch, and on defense, at linebacker, he had a tackle and two interceptions, with one for a touchdown.
  • Shaun Garland, Edison: The junior tight end/halfback had seven carries for 76 yards and a touchdown – of 34 yards, to take the lead in the third quarter – along with two catches for nine in a 20-14 win over North Brunswick Friday. At defensive end, he had six tackles, four solo, two TFLs and two sacks.
  • Grant Lorentzen, JFK: The senior wide receiver grabbed six catches for 164 yards and five touchdowns – of 30, 36, 47, 16 and 20 yards – in a 35-0 win over New Brunswick. Three of those scores came in the first quarter, as did an interception from his defensive back position. The five TD catches is a school record.
  • Joe Boyd, Linden: The junior quarterback rushed for 234 yards and passed for 84, including a touchdown pass and two rushing TDs in a 28-21 win against Watchung Hills.
  • Zach Mutton, Montgomery: In a 24-8 win over North Hunterdon Friday, the junior defensive back recorded nine tackles, including four TFLs, a safety and a blocked punt. He also had one rush on offense for 28 yards.
  • Jack Fitzgerald, New Providence: In a 30-0 shutout at Metuchen on Saturday, the senior linebacker was all over the field. He had 13 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks, a tackle for loss, a safety, and a forced fumble, while also scoring a rushing touchdown on offense from the QB position.
  • Dan Fugurski, North Hunterdon: The senior wide receiver had 11 catches for 135 yards in a 24-8 loss to Montgomery.
  • Jordan Walsh, Westfield: The senior quarterback – in a 21-0 win over Union Saturday – rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns, while also throwing for 60 yards. On defense, he had five tackles from out of the secondary and a late-game interceptions.