Tag: Player of the Week

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.

by Mike Pavlichko

Montgomery dual threat QB Jack Kristjanson leads Cougars to Somerville upset, Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors in Week 2

Football is a team game, no doubt about it. On both sides of the ball, it takes everyone doing their part, and even then a W isn’t guaranteed.

But sometimes, in big games, individuals stand out, and do just a little bit more.

That’s what senior quarterback Jack Kristjanson of Montgomery did on the road last Friday night at Brooks Field.

In a big 22-15 upset win over then-No. 2 Somerville, Kristjanson – who’s also an Elite QB trainee with CJSR sponsor Matt Bastardi – threw 14-of-27 for 172 yards and three touchdowns. He also showed he was a dual threat, rushing 22 times for 107 yards, giving him 279 total yards of offense.

The biggest of his scoring tosses came in the fourth quarter against the Pioneers – following a drive where he fumbled – when Kristjanson threw the go-ahead score to Trey McFadden. And for good measure, he also ran in the two-point conversion to put them up by seven.

Monty hung on for a wild win, and the rest, as they say, is history. And Kristjanson is the Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week for Week Two.

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

The Cougars are back home Friday night, when they take on North Hunterdon (0-3).

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko’s interview with Week Two Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Jack Kristjanson of Montgomery:

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:

  • Dominic Labisi, Governor Livingston: In a 36-28 overtime win at JFK Friday, the senior runningback was quite the workhorse. He ran the rock 40 times for 240 yards and five touchdowns – all career bests – and had two two-point conversion runs, the second of which came in OT. It wasn’t planned though; their long snapper and left tackle lost their helmets on the score, and Labisi punched it in for the extra two points.
  • Trevor Metz, Manville: The senior tight end had four catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns on the offensive side, with scoring catches of 34 and 27 yards. On the defensive side, at outside linebacker, he led the defense with seven solo and eleven total tackles, along with a pass breakup and a TFL.
  • Dom Massaro, South Plainfield: The senior runningback carried 12 times for 106 yards and three touchdowns in a 27-7 win over Thanksgiving rival North Plainfield last Friday night. One defense, Massaro had nine tackles and two interceptions in the secondary.
  • Zymere Weaver, St. Thomas Aquinas: The sophomore quarterback put up big numbers in a 50-8 rout of North Brunswick. He was a mind-blowing 12-of-13 for 285 yards and three passing touchdowns. That was a 92 percent completion rate!
  • Joshua Allen, Woodbridge: The senior runningback carried 28 times for 228 yards – an average of 8.1 yards per carry – scoring four touchdowns, from seven, 24, 42 and 14 yards out. Playing every snap of the game in all three phases, he also had a 15-yard kick return, three solo tackles, and a four-yard reception in a 27-18 win at Plainfield Friday night.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Justin Simpson, Bernards: The senior left tackled had a “dominant performance up front,” according to head coach Jon Simoneau. He and the rest of the offensive line paved the way for a 7.2 yards per carry night in a 43-7 home win over Delaware Valley, heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio on the Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Game of the Week. And for the second week in a row, the Mountaineers didn’t allow a single sack!
  • Rynal “R.J.” Wortman, Colonia: The senior wide reciver made every catch count, grabbing eight passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns (72, 42, and 14) in a 35-18 home win over Linden.
  • Noah DeJesus, East Brunswick: The senior TE/DL made his mark on both sides of the ball in a tough 50-19 home loss to Franklin. He had seven catches for 115 yards and a touchdown, while recording a sack, three tackles, a forced fumble, an interception, and a defensive score on the other side of the ball.
  • Grant Lorentzen, JFK: The senior wide receiver had nine catches for a whopping 168 yards, and touchdowns of 54- and 16-yards in a tough overtime loss to Governor Livingston, 36-28. Coach Mike Henderson says he also had multiple third- and fourth-down conversions during the game, all while facing double and triple coverage.
  • Joe Boyd, Linden: The junior quarterback/runningback carried 24 times for 263 yards in a 35-18 loss to Colonia Friday night.
  • Trevor Metz, Manville: The senior came up in in a 31-0 home win over Belvidere. He had four catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns, while also leading the defense at outside linebacker with eleven tackles (seven solo) as well as a tackle for loss, and a pass breakup.
  • Andrew Avent, Rahway: The senior is known for his video game-like rushing numbers, and back on Thursday last week, he carried 11 times for 175 yards and three touchdowns of 54, 9 and 29 yards. He also played his first game at defensive end after three seasons as a linebacker, and recorded six solo tackles, three tackles for loss, three sacks and two QB hurries. The kid can play anywhere!
  • Ryan Foster, Spotswood: Just a sophomore, the future is here now for the Chargers. He scored three times in a 40-7 win over Brearley Friday: a five-yard rushing touchdown, and 49-yard TD catch, and an 85-yard kick return for a score. He finished with six catches for 105 yards, and also had three tackles on defense.
  • Sam Meekings, Voorhees: The senior quarterback was 8-of-11 for 192 yards and five touchdowns – all in the first half – of a 45-8 win at JP Stevens that moved the Vikings to 3-0 for the first time since 2015. (The last time they were 4-0 was 2014.)
  • Dillon Nunes, Watchung Hills: The Week Zero Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week, Nunes had three catches for 106 cards and two touchdowns, while recording four tackles and grabbing two interceptions playing in the secondary.

by Mike Pavlichko

With his arm, and foot, Colonia’s Dylan Chiera takes home Week 1 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors

To be honored as a Player of the Week, Month, or Year, it often requires going above and beyond, sometimes playing – and succeeding, obviously – at more than one position.

Well, for the second week in a row, the Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week is a position player who also played a key role in the kicking game.

In Week Zero, it was Dillon Nunes of Watchung Hills, who put his team ahead of Moorestown a field goal, then sealed the win with a third-down interception on defense with the game on the line.

This week, it’s Dylan Chiera of Colonia.

The senior – also a member of the 2025 GMC Tournament and five-time defending North 2, Group 3 champion basketball team – had quite the game at quarterback, almost enough to win it there. He was 14-of-21 passing for 182 yards and two touchdowns.

But that still only had his team tied in the fourth quarter of last Friday night’s home game with North Hunterdon, 21-21. So, a little past the midway point of the fourth quarter, after a drive stalled, he put a foot on the ball instead of throwing it.

That 28-yard field goal gave Colonia a 24-21 lead they held on to, giving the Patriots their first win of the season.

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

Colonia is back in action Friday night at 6:00 when Linden (0-2) comes to play on the blue turf.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko’s interview with Week One Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Dylan Chiera of Colonia:

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:

  • Jackson Babiarz, Dayton: In a 21-6 win at South Hunterdon, he had a 27-yard touchdown catch, two interceptions, four total tackles in the secondary, and had two kickoffs go for touchbacks. He had two of the Bulldogs’ three takeaways on defense, and sparked a big second quarter in which Dayton scored all 21 of its points.
  • A.J. Whitehead, New Providence: The senior runningback was critical in a 42-7 season-opening win at Governor Livingston Saturday, heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio. He went for 68 yards on 14 carries with two rushing touchdowns, but didn’t stop there. Whitehead also had a 62-yard pick-six and a 55-yard punt return for a fourth touchdown. Oh, and he had another punt return called back!
  • Sam Dech, Phillipsburg: While the senior runningback’s 18 carries, 219 yards and three touchdowns may look like a pedestrian performance by the end of the season, this kid doesn’t do anything without going all the way. And he nearly did that, with a 95-yard touchdown in a 28-0 season-opening win at Westfield, setting two school records: longest rush and longest touchdown run in school history. And there’s a lot of history in Phillipsburg!
  • Aidan Vesuvio-Bush, Somerville: The Pioneer senior “put the team on his back,” Friday night in a 28-12 home win over Cranford, says head coach Matt Bloom. The runningback carried 26 times for 182 yards and three touchdowns – his longest from 42 yards out – and also had three catches for 23 yards, a two-point conversion, and two kick returns, including a 53-yarder.
  • Matteo Tramutola, Voorhees: The senior runningback – crowned the Higgins Speed Lab “Speedster of the Week” for Week One – was tops in the Big Central in Week One on the ground, going for 224 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries in a 43-13 road win at JFK. He also caught two passes for 37 yards, while logging six tackles on defense, including a “devastating” one , according to head coach John Hack, which he says “set the tone” for a dominating second half. Tramutola finished with six tackles, and also had two punts, averaging over 40 yards.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Logan Stevens, Bernards: In a two-day affair that finished Saturday, which Bernards won at Hillside, 24-14, Stevens carried 20 times for 130 yards, and had three catches for 33 yards, scoring twice. He had eight tackles at defensiveback as well, including a touchdown-saving stop at the five-yard line; he then came up with two critical goal-line tackles as well to keep the Comets off the board, and extend the Mountaineers’ state-best 27-game regular season winning streak.
  • Jake Markey, Bound Brook: The senior runningback was instrumental in a 43-28 home win over JP Stevens Friday night. He carried 26 times, a workhorse for 128 yards and a touchdown. And from his linebacker position, Markey had seven total tackles.
  • Ronelle Nimneh, Carteret: The senior linebacker was a monster on defense in a 28-2 win at Perth Amboy Friday, heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio. He had 12 total tackles, 11 solo, and recorded four TFLs and two sacks, and also had a 10-yard rushing touchdown, despite never getting a preseason carry – not in practice, or a scrimmage!
  • Kelton Ibach, Delaware Valley: The senior signal-caller was 14-of-22 passing for 256 yards and two touchdowns, also adding 19 rushing yards on five carries in a 26-0 home win over South Plainfield.
  • Andrew Schwarz, Hillsborough: In a 20-13 win over Union, the senior runningback ran for 190 yards on 23 carries, scoring touchdowns of 39 (on the third play of the game, to set the tone) and 64 yards, which put the Raiders ahead for good in the third quarter. He also had a catch for nine yards, and at linebacker had two tackles.
  • Reggie Osae-Aye, Hunterdon Central: The kid keeps putting up big numbers. In a 41-13 win over Monroe, he rushed for 197 yards and four touchdowns. He’s a big reason why the Red Devils are 2-0 and made their debut this week in the Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten at No. 7.
  • Jordan Burnett, North Plainfield: In a 19-13 home win over Belvidere, he carried 22 times for 167 yards and two touchdowns. With the score tied in the fourth quarter, he led the go-ahead drive with six carries, capping it off with a one-yard TD scamper for the win.
  • Brody Nugent, Old Bridge: The senior quarterback continues to be red hot. This week, in a 28-6 win over Edison, he threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 64 and another score. He also had an interception on defense.
  • Andrew Avent, Rahway: The senior runningback carried 19 times for 171 yards and three touchdowns – of 53, nine and two yards – in a 35-7 win at Scotch Plains-Fanwood on Friday. He also had two punts for 42 yards, and on defense, at linebacker, had five solo tackles, three assists and two TFLs.
  • Anthony Damiano, Roselle Park: In a 45-13 win over Middlesex, the senior QB rushed for a 12-yard touchdown and threw for a 20-yarder, while also picking off a pass from his outside linebacker position that he brought to the house, 53-yards for a third touchdown.
  • Se’mir Tolbert-Brimage, Spotswood: In a 31-8 home win over Roselle on Friday, the senior QB carried 17 times for 123 yard and a touchdown, but also slung it for 83 yards on 6-of-10 passing with another touchdown. At defensive end, he has two tackles, and two pass breakups.
  • Alex Schwark, Summit: The senior quarterback did it mainly with his feet in this one: 14 carries, 201 yards and four touchdowns – his second straight 200-yard game – in a 31-28 win at Montgomery. He was also 2-of-4 passing for 66 yards, including a huge completion on their field goal drive in the third quarter that gave them enough wiggle-room to survive a fourth-quarter Cougar touchdown.