Tag: Player of the Week

by Mike Pavlichko

Go-ahead FG, game-winning pick earn Watchung Hills’ Dillon Nunes Week 0 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors

Sometimes the Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week is a runningback or QB who put up a bunch of yards, or a defensive end who hit the quarterback too many times to count. Sometimes it’s just that one big play in a critical moment that won a game.

Friday night, Dillon Nunes of Watchung Hills came up with two such plays, both of which came in the final minute of the Warriors’ season opener against Moorestown. And for that, Nunes is the Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week for Week Zero.

Up 6-0 in the fourth after a one-yard touchdown run by Christian Warnicke – and having not kicked the PAT, Moorestown took a 7-6 lead late. But Watchung Hills marched down the field and got into field goal range to set up Nunes. He’s also a wide receiver, though, so while he was in the game, he came in to kick cold.

No problem. And with 59 seconds remaining, Hills was up 9-7. But Moorestown would still get a chance.

Well, Nunes squashed that, too, coming up with an interception on a third-down pass play that gave his team the ball back and go into victory formation to close with the win.

Watchung Hills has now won its last four season openers, including two-in-a-row over Moorestown.

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

The Warriors are back at it Friday, hosting Woodbridge, in a battle of 1-0 teams.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko’s interview with Week Zero Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Dillon Nunes of Watchung Hills:

The Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week is chosen from nominees by Big Central coaches. At the end of the season, one player will be chosen to receive a $500 scholarship courtesy of Bellamy & Son Paving. As always, we will recognize selected “Honorable Mentions,” and recognize all other all nominees in our weekly story.

Honorable Mentions:

  • Sean Arcelay, Bernards: In a 27-15 win over Cranford, the junior wideout had three catches – all for touchdowns of 54, 34 and 10 yards, while also taking two carries for 16 yards. His TD receptions fed a scoring barrage that helped the Mountaineers wrest control of the game, the first meeting between the schools since 1941.
  • Arique Fleming, Elizabeth: In a 42-7 win at rival Linden Friday night, the junior signal caller was 12-of-14 passing for 272 yards and four touchdowns, along with 48 rushing yards and a score on the ground. Fleming was versatile, getting off long bombs, and short passes in space for yards after the catch. And all those numbers came in just the first half!
  • Shaun Jackson, Sayreville: The Bombers’ senior runningback rushed for 214 yards and three touchdowns – while catching a fourth for a 90-yard score – in a 26-18 win at Colonia, their second in three seasons against the Patriots.
  • Zymere Weaver, St. Thomas Aquinas: The Trojans – who have a new coach in Shamir Bearfield – haven’t missed a beat, as they trounced Montclair Friday at home, 56-3. And a big reason why was Weaver, the sophomore quarterback who completed six of just seven passes, but for 260 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for another.
  • Sam Meekings, Voorhees: Typically a big rushing offense, senior quarterback Sam Meekings went 15-of-17 for 241 yards and three touchdowns through the air in a 39-16 win at Orange Thursday night. The win was the first in a season opener for Voorhees since 2002.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Matt Resende, Brearley: In a 20-3 loss to Wallington, Resende took eight carries for 58 yards and a touchdown, while also recording 14 tackles from his linebacker spot on defense.
  • James Mongno, Hunterdon Central: In a 36-28, hang-on-for-dear-life win at North Hunterdon, Mongno grabbed 11 catches for 161 yards and four touchdowns.
  • Fiheem Howell, JFK: The senior runningback rushed 17 times for 157 yards and a touchdown, while also recording three tackles and a 37-yard interception return in a 36-0 win over Perth Amboy Thursday night.
  • Evan Canica, Manville: The senior had a big day at middle linebacker for the Mustangs in a 19-6 win over Manville Saturday afternoon. More than just a team-best 14 tackles, he had four TFLs and a sack, and was instrumental in two key fourth-down stops, while his fourth down QB hurry on the Red Raiders’ opening drive quashed their 17-play push at the Manville 21. At center, on offense, he helped pave the way for a 285-yard Mustang ground attack.
  • Obinna Obuba, Montgomery: The senior wide receiver had two catches for 32 yards and a touchdown, but the catch that mattered was a big-one: a 25-yard TD reception in overtime at Hopewell Valley that gave the Cougars the lead, before they sealed the game on defense, winning 35-28.
  • Michai Coffee, New Brunswick: While the Zebras ultimately fell 14-8 at Freehold Boro on Saturday, the senior runningback took five carries and made them count for 142 yards and the lone New Brunswick score.
  • Cole O’Connor, North Hunterdon: Though a late rally fell short in a 36-28 home loss to Hunterdon Central, the senior runningback carried 18 times for 102 yards and three touchdowns (one of nine yards, two each of one) and also had two receptions for 43 yards.
  • Ja’Quan Robinson, Rahway: The junior quarterback was 15-of-23 for 256 yards and four touchdowns (19, 48, 6, 72) on offense, though the Indians fell short, losing 35-33 to visiting Willingboro. On defense, at linebacker, he recorded two solo tackles, a three-yard sack, a TFL and two quarterback hurries.
  • Se’mir Tolbert-Brimage, Spotswood: In a season opening 38-0 win over Middlesex, the senior signal-caller carried 14 times for 118 yards and three touchdowns. Passing, he was 5-of-8 for 53 yards and another score to Ryan Foster.
  • Alex Schwark, Summit: The senior quarterback was solid on the ground, too, for the Hilltoppers in a 14-11 win over Morristown. He rushed 14 times for 260 yards and two scores to rally his team back from an 11-0 third quarter deficit.
  • Josh Allen, Woodbridge: The senior runningback was a workhorse Friday night for the Barrons in a 14-0 home win over Union. Allen carried 26 times for 170 yards and had two catches for 14 yards, plus a 16-yard kick return in the game.

by Mike Pavlichko

Anderson’s efforts in Woodbridge come-from-behind win over St. Joe’s earn him Week 8 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of Week Honors

The game may have been far from perfect for the Woodbridge football team, but the end result was perfection.

Barrons senior quarterback Derek Anderson led his team from 14 points down late in the third quarter to beat St. Joseph-Metuchen back on Friday night, 36-35, capping a perfect 9-0 regular season, the program’s third in the last six years.

Anderson finished with 246 yards passing on 13-of-21 with three touchdowns, while also rushing for 106 yards on seven carries, including a 48-yard touchdown run.

But it was what he did when the game was on the line against an excellent opponent that earned him this week’s accolades.

Down seven late in the fourth, he found Izaiah Toliver for a 13-yard touchdown. The Barrons went for two to win it, and failed, but there were offsetting penalties, and the two-point try was replayed, with Anderson running it in to give Woodbridge a 36-35 lead, and eventually, the win.

And for that, Derek Anderson of Woodbridge is the Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week for Week Eight.

Woodbridge is the third seed in the North 2, Group 4 playoff bracket, and will open up sectional play this Friday night at 6 when they taken on seventh-seed Watchung Hills

Click below to hear from Week Eight Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Derek Anderson of Woodbridge:

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:

  • Na’quavere “Junior” Thomas, Manville: In their rivalry game with Bound Brook, the senior was a beast on both sides of the ball. He ran 19 times for 136 yards and two touchdowns, while racking up 13 tackles on the defensive side of things; eight solo, three TFLs, and a five-yard sack.
  • Aaron Potts, North Plainfield: In their final regular season home game, Potts led the Canucks to just their second win of the season by scoring both touchdowns in a 12-0 win over Metuchen Friday. He finished with 106 yards on 19 carries, along with two catches for 32 yards.
  • James Bodley, Piscataway: The senior rushed for 141 yards on eleven carries with two touchdowns. His 60-yard run in the first quarter set up the Chief’s opening score on a field goal. Defensively, at linebacker, he had eight tackles and a TFL as part of a unit that held Monroe to 15 yards rushing in the game and just 105 total yards.
  • Edward Cooper, South Hunterdon: The senior runningback carried 15 times for 279 yards and a whopping six touchdowns – the longest of which went for 64 yards – in a 38-7 win against Dunellen Friday night. The half-dozen scores set a single-game South Hunterdon record.
  • A.J. Perales, South Plainfield: The senior defensive end had the big play in a 21-14 win at JFK Saturday: a 99-yard defensive touchdown after stripping the ball at the one-yard line. The win helped the Tigers clinch a share of the Big Central Conference United Silver Division at 3-1 in league.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Logan Stevens, Bernards: The junior runningback – who’s also a Cornell lacrosse commit – rushed seven times for 77 yards and three touchdowns, while adding three catches for 52 yards in just one half of work, in a 35-7 road win against Carteret on Friday.
  • Anthony Calantoni, Edison: The senior QB had a “perfect” night passing, going 11-for-11 for 220 yards and two touchdowns in a 46-28 victory over Paterson Eastside that helped the Eagles clinch a spot in the playoffs, winning four of their last five games after a 1-3 start.
  • Jack Dally, Governor Livingston: In a 38-0 win at New Brunswick Friday, the senior runningback carried ten times for 168 yards and four touchdowns. That effort makes him just the third Highlander runningback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since 2010.
  • T.J. Munn, New Providence: The senior quarterback went 4-for-7 passing for 107 yards and a touchdown, while also carrying 13 times for 102 yards and a score. Both those TDs came at key times: the pass allowed the Pioneers to take a 21-14 lead, and his run gave them a much-needed “insurance score” as they hung on to win 28-21.
  • Brody Nugent, Old Bridge: In an epic, three-and-a-half hour, double-overtime game, the junior quarterback threw for 131 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 146 and a TD in a 36-29 win at Colonia on Friday night. The victory helped the Knights earn a first round home playoff game.
  • Ja’Quan Robinson, Rahway: In a 28-3 win at Montgomery, the sophomore quarterback went 11-for-18 for 189 yards and three touchdown passes, of ten, 12 and 59 yards. And of his 11 completions, they went to seven different receivers.
  • Joseph Dachnowicz, Ridge: The senior H-back had 104 yards rushing on 14 carries, while also adding four tackles and a pick from his safety position, in a 28-10 home win over Westfield Friday.
  • Ryan Foster, Spotswood: The freshman wide receiver had four catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns Friday in a 38-6 win at Roselle Park that kept the Chargers in the playoff race. They made it – with some help.
by Mike Pavlichko

Fleming’s “perfect” game propels Elizabeth, earning Week 7 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of Week Award

The Elizabeth football team has had its share of challenges this season.

The Minutemen started out hot, with wins over Linden and at Bayonne. Then, John Fiore was let go as head coach in a residency controversy over his son enrolling at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth went into a tailspin – granted, their schedule also got tougher – and they dropped for in a row.

But two weeks ago, they rebounded with a gutty 26-24 non-conference win at Morristown, then stunned Watchung Hills at home Friday, 43-29, catapulting them to third in the North Group 5 playoff standings.

That big turnaround would not have been possible without sophomore quarterback Arique Fleming. He had a “perfect” day, going 11-for-11 passing for 162 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed 13 times for 107 yards and a seven-yard touchdown run.

All of that was instrumental in a 14-point win over the Warriors that has breathed new life into a difficult season.

And for that, Arique Fleming of Elizabeth is the Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week for Week Seven.

The Minutemen (4-4) close their regular season Friday night at Union (1-7).

Click below to hear from Week Seven Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Arique Fleming 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:

  • Jackson Jankowicz, Hillsborough: The senior came up huge in a big 27-14 road win at Piscataway, rushing 34 times for 217 yards and three touchdowns of 46, one and five yards. It’s the fourth time in the last five games he’s scored at least three touchdowns, but Jackson also excelled on defense, with five tackles and a pass breakup against an explosive Chiefs offense.
  • Chukwuma Odoh, St. Thomas Aquinas: The sophomore had a career afternoon in the Trojans’ 34-20 win at St. Joseph-Metuchen Saturday. He finished with 189 yards on 19 carries, with two touchdown runs of three and ten yards, while also having a 67-yarder called back. Those scores came in the second half, helping his team rally from a 14-6 deficit at the break. He’s now rushed for 1,001 yards this season.
  • Dom Massaro, South Plainfield: The junior was all over the field in a 35-6 win at South River Saturday afternoon. He scored four touchdowns: a 73-yard kickoff return, a 74-yard pick-six, and runs of 15 and eight yards. Overall, he finished with eight carries for 101 yards, and also had a 14-yard reception out of the backfield.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Nolan Walsh, Bernards: In a 34-7 win at Governor Livingston on Saturday, the sophomore QB threw for 195 yards and three touchdowns on 11-of-15 passing in just two quarters of work. Further, he’s the third QB in what now is a long string of eight-win seasons for the Mountaineers, joining standouts Teddy Gouldin and Connor Laverty in that group.
  • Landon Cruz, Edison: The junior wide receiver/defensive back helped the Eagles past South Brunswick, 36-14, Friday night to keep their playoff hopes alive. Cruz scored two touchdowns, one on a 37-yard catch, the other on a 97-yard fumble return. He recorded six tackles on defense, and one TFL.
  • Grant Lorentzen, JFK: In a 36-32 loss to Middlesex Friday night, the Mustangs’ junior wide receiver racked up 132 yards on just eight catches, with two touchdowns. He also threw an 80-yard touchdown pass.
  • Isaiah Bennett, Manville: In a 42-15 win at Highland Park Friday, the junior was part of an overall strong ground game that racked up 331 yards for the Mustangs. Bennett had eleven carries for 117 yards, and his three touchdowns all came on consecutive touches, from three, five and 64 yards out.
  • Aaron Potts, North Plainfield: The senior runningback carried 20 times for 164 yards and a touchdown in a 14-6 win over Johnson Friday night. On defense, he recorded 10 1/2 tackles and one for a loss.
  • Xavier Diaz, Old Bridge: The junior defensive back recorded eight tackles, and not one, not two, but three interceptions in the Knights’ 35-8 home win over Hunterdon Central, to keep Old Bridge in the hunt for a top eight seed and a first round home playoff game.
  • Nick Pfenning, Ridge: The junior linebacker came up big in a 42-14 win at North Brunswick Friday night, recording a team-best eight tackles, a sack, a TFL, and a pick six.
by Mike Pavlichko

Dominant six TD performance earns Phillipsburg’s Felix Matos Week 6 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of Week Award

Just what the rest of the Big Central needs: More offensive weapons at Phillipsburg.

The first touchdown against visiting St. Joseph of Metuchen came late in the first half. It was a one-yard run.

Less than ten game minutes later – after a 92-yard run and a 69-yard scoop and score after a St. Joseph field goal got blocked – Matos already had nearly single-handedly given seventh-ranked Phillipsburg a 21-0 lead over the visiting and undefeated fifth-ranked Falcons.

But Matos’ night wasn’t done. He started the second half with a two-yard run less than two minutes into the second half, then added a seven-yard run later in the period, and finally a fifth rushing touchdown from 27 yards outwith 5:29 to go in the game.

Quarterback Jett Genovese and receiver Matthew Scerbo, Jr., get a lot of ink for their offensive exploits. But this time, in a big game, with a lot of power points on the line against an unbeaten parochial school, it was Matos who was the difference-maker.

The senior had 14 carries for 197 yards and two touchdowns through four games played heading into last Friday’s game against the Falcons. He finished with 12 carries, 168 yards, and five offensive touchdowns – all career highs – en route to a 49-14 win. Click here to read our game story.

And for that, Felix Matos of Phillipsburg is the Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week for Week Six.

The Stateliners (5-1) now travel to Union (1-6) for their first of two road games to close the regular season, besides the usual tussle with Easton on Thanksgiving.

Click below to hear two of Matos’ TDs, followed by Chris Tsakonas’ postgame interview with Week Six Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Felix Matos of Phillipsburg:

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:

  • Brayden Stefan, Belvidere: In a 36-0 win at South Hunterdon on Thursday night, the senior linebacker held South Hunterdon’s top runningback Edward Cooper to just 44 rushing yards, the first time he was held under 100 all season. Stefan had 21 tackles, and a forced fumble, along with multiple tackles for loss. He “called out the offense’s plays pre snap” and was “all over the field,” according to head coach Jordan Schreffler.
  • Jack Dally, Governor Livingston: In one of the wildest games of the year, a 50-46 win at Voorhees Saturday, the senior runningback carried a big load: 26 rushes for 214 yards and three touchdowns with an offense that ran for 479 yards total. On defense, at outside linebacker, Dally had a key pass breakup late in the fourth quarter, along with seven tackles and a TFL.
  • Aidan Steiglitz, Ridge: In a 41-13 win at Hunterdon Central Thursday, the senior scored five touchdowns on just nine rushing attempts, going for 114 total yards on the night.
  • Terrell Mitchell, Somerville: In just the first two quarters of action – that’s all he played – the senior running back scored four touchdowns: an 83-yard kick return, 31-yard pick six, and rushing TDs of 67 and 59 yards. He also had four rushes for 146 yards and a catch for 31, giving him 260 all-purpose yards in a 56-7 win over North Hunterdon.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Thomas Diemar, Bernards: The junior had three sacks, 10 tackles, a QB hurry, a TFL and a forced fumble to go along with ten tackles in a come-from-behind win over Summit, 29-22, as heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio.
  • Ben Cobb, Delaware Valley: The senior linebacker had 19 total tackles to help the Terriers to a 42-34 win over previously-undefeated Johnson. On offense, the wide receiver had five catches for 60 yards and two touchdowns.
  • Jackson Jankowicz, Hillsborough: In the Battle of Route 206, the Raiders’ senior had three rushing touchdowns (of one, four and 54 yards) as well as a 24-yard touchdown catch in a 34-24 win at Bridgewater-Raritan Thursday night. He ended up with three catches for 59 yards on the night, while rushing 26 times for 165 yards.
  • Na’quavere Thomas, Manville: In a 42-14 win at Dunellen Thursday, the senior fullback opened the scoring on the opening play from scrimmage with a 65-yard touchdown scamper. Then, he bookended the half with a 73-yard touchdown run to put the Mustangs up 28-6. He finished with 164 yards on just seven carries. Defensively, coach Dave Markowitch called him a “game-wreecker,” leading the unit with 14 tackles, six solo, and two TFLs.
  • Kyle Johnston, Metuchen: In a 40-6 win Thursday night at JP Stevens, the senior defensive end registered five tackles, and disrupted the Dunellen offense with three TFL and 2 1/2 sacks, while registering two pancake blocks from his left guard position on offense.
  • Trey McFadden, Montgomery: In a 28-7 loss at No. 1 Woodbridge Friday, the junior wide receiver had 11 receptions for 145 yards with a touchdown, and also booted the extra point.
by Mike Pavlichko

Somerville’s Brenden Pacheco needed just 24 minutes to log 5 TDs, earn Week 5 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of Week Award

Five touchdowns by any player in a game is a pretty good number to put yourself in serious running for a player of the week award. But to do it in one half?

That’s what senior quarterback Brenden Pacheco did last week for then-No. 3 Somerville in a 41-0 win over visiting Summit at Brooks Field. He had four passing touchdowns of 44, 65, 18 and 57 yards, in that order, while also scoring on a nine-yard touchdown run.

Overall, he was 7-of-13 passing for 205 yards, while rushing five times for 68, a total of 273 yards from scrimmage.

And all that came as the Pioneers built up a 41-0 lead in the first half – playing more than half of the game with a running clock – and improved their record to 6-0.

All that has earned Brenden Pacheco of Somerville Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors for Week 5.

Somerville hosts North Hunterdon (2-4) this Thursday night back at Brooks Field.

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

  • Na’quavere Thomas, Manville: IN a 41-20 home win over JP Stevens last Friday, the senior fullback led a big night with 396 team yards of total offense. Thomas rushed for 158 yards on 18 carries with touchdown runs of three and six yards. He also had two catches for 36 yards, one of which was a 25-yard touchdown catch. Defensively, at defensive tackle, Thomas recorded five tackles, three solo.
  • Ryan Turner, Ridge: The senior H-back rushed four times for 175 yards and two touchdowns, while also grabbing a 47-yard touchdown pass, in a 49-7 win over Union Friday night. He also had two kickoff returns for 69 yards. It all added up to 275 all-purpose yards on seven touches, with 3 TDs, an average of 39 yards per touch! Turner now has scored nine touchdowns in the last two weeks.
  • Chukwuma Odoh, St. Thomas Aquinas: With Chase Young out after collapsing on the field during the Trojans’ Week Four game at Elizabeth, the sophomore running back helped his team push Paramus Catholic down to the wire in overtime. He ran 28 times for 168 yards and two touchdowns. He “ran hard all night and kept us in the game,” says head coach Tarig Holman. His second TD gave Aquinas a chance to win, coming on fourth-and-goal from the three in overtime. But St. Thomas had a two-point throw broken up toe end the game, a 35-34 OT loss to the Paladins.
  • Landon Pernell, Piscataway: The sophomore quarterback was 13-of-17 for 262 yards and three touchdowns last Friday night in a 42-13 win at Sayreville. He found Zaire Young from 15 yards out, Jahai Johnson on a 25-yard strike, and Sean Love with a 35-yard TD pass, while also running for an 18-yard score – the longest run of his career. Ultimately, he tallied 262 yards of offense, the third best single-game mark in school history. The record holder is Chet Trechock, who accumulated 339 against Franklin in 1982, followed by Jamie Scholz’s 308 against East Brunswick in 1994.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Max Austin, Bernards: The senior defensive back had a big night in a 28-0 Homecoming win over South Plainfield Friday night. He picked off two passes – and now has five INTs on the season – and also had a fumble, a TFL (his third of the season) and two catches on offense. But his defensive efforts have been key for a Mountaineer team that has not allowed a point in the first half of any of their six games all year.
  • Alessandro Spera, Montgomery: The senior wide receiver had four catches for 129 yards and a touchdown – for 80 – that gave the struggling Cougars their first leas of the season. Spera also had ten tackles from his safety position in a 13-10 loss to Linden this past Saturday, a year after the teams played to an epic 42-42 tie a year ago in Week Seven.
  • A.J. Whitehead, New Providence: In a 26-19 win over Middlesex Friday night, the junior runningback was a workhorse, carrying 23 times for 143 yards and three touchdowns, of eight, eight and ten yards. His efforts were big in the second half, with the Pioneers trailing 19-7 in the third quarter: Whitehead had over 100 yards in the second half and scored two unanswered touchdowns for the win.
  • Antonio Sauchelli, North Hunterdon: In a 22-21 win at Monroe last week, the junior wideout grabbed eight catches for 149 yards and three touchdowns.
  • Stephen Henits, Spotswood: In a 28-0 win at Bound Brook, the senior wideout grabbed four passes for 99 yards, with three of them going for touchdowns, and even drew a defensive pass interference on another deep ball.
  • Matteo Tramutola, Voorhees: The junior runningback helped the Vikings get back to the .500 mark with a 47-22 win over North Plainfield last Friday night by tying his own school record with five touchdowns in the game. He carried 23 times for 249 yards and four touchdowns, and made just one catch – a 58-yard TD grab. To add to it, he had a sack and three tackles from his linebacker position.
by Mike Pavlichko

School record 6 TDs at North Brunswick earns Sayreville’s Shaun Jackson the Week 4 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of Week Award

Following in the footsteps of Zaimer Wright is not an easy task, but for at least one game, Sayreville junior running back Shaun Jackson surpassed him.

He didn’t think he had the record when he came off the field. Maybe he tied it?

Nope. He broke it.

Shaun Jackson scored six touchdowns – yes, six – accounting for every one of the Bombers’ scores in a 40-29 win at North Brunswick Friday night.

Doing it in one game is special enough, but doing it against a longtime GMC rival made it even more special.

In five games Jackson now has eight rushing touchdowns. That means he only had two in the first four games, and both of those came against Edison. But Johnson is starting to get on a roll and feel comfortable in the offense.

So comfortable he set a school record with six rushing touchdowns against North Brunswick – beating Wright’s record by one – and earning him Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors for Week 4.

Sayreville (2-3) entertains big rival Piscataway (3-2) Friday night in Week Five action.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko’s interview with Week Four Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Shaun Jackson of Sayreville:

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:

  • Ja’kir Thomas, Carteret: The senior runningback had a big night after a 230-yard performance against undefeated Summit in a losing cause the week before. Last Friday in a 37-7 win at Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Thomas carried 18 times for 255 yards and three touchdowns, inlcuing long runs of 66 and 60 yards. On defense, he accounted for eight tackles and an interception, while also returning a kickoff 90 yards for a score, giving him four total touchdowns.
  • Jackson Jankowicz, Hillsborough: The senior runningback continues to be the go-to for the Raiders. He rushed for three touchdowns and 307 all-purpose yards – something few backs do against Phillipsburg – and had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a 42-35 road loss to the Stateliners Friday.
  • Ryan Turner, Ridge: In a 47-10 win at Bridgewater-Raritan Friday night, the senior H-backrushed just eight times but piled up 115 yards with touchdowns of 64 and 16 yards. He also grabbed four passes for 160 yards and four TDs, three of them going for over 45 yards.
  • Justin Scaramuzzo, St. Joseph-Metuchen: In a 35-16 win at Westfield last Saturday, the junior signal-caller was 13-of-18 passing for 280 yards and five touchdowns. And keep in mind, that game was in the rain! Not exactly friendly to a passing offense!
  • Bryan Anderson, Woodbridge: A big reason, but not the only reason, why the Barrons are 5-0, the senior had returned two interceptions for touchdowns (they had three as a team!) in a 42-14 home win over Linden Friday night. The pick sixes were for 40 and 97 yards, while he also recorded six tackles from his free safety spot. On offense, he had a 16-yard catch, and on special teams he had two fair catches on punt returns and one return on three attempts.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Kyle Bell, Colonia: In a 27-20 win over Perth Amboy, the sophomore came up big with two catches out of the backfield for 95 yards, including a 65 yard TD reception. He also had 13 carries for another 143 yards and a score.
  • Kelton Ibach, Delaware Valley: In a 57-6 win at Voorhees on Friday, the junior quarterback – and coach Ben Ibach’s son – was 8-of-14 passing for 198 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for two of his own.
  • Offensive Line, Edison: We love when linemen get nominated; they never get enough love! The Eagles’ front five paved the way for the Eagles to fly for nearly 400 yards on the ground (395 to be exact) on 55 carries, netting four touchdowns in a 27-13 win over Franklin Friday night.
  • Dylan Driz, JFK: The senior linebacker recorded nine solo tackles, three TFLs, a half a sack and three quarterback hurries that kept the Mustangs in a 20-13 loss to Monroe Friday.
  • Josh D’Ambrosio, Manville: In a 21-14 win over South Hunterdon Friday, the junior captain was all over the field. The quarterback carried 13 times for 156 yards and two touchdowns, for 50 and 26 yards, respectively. On defense, at free safety, he recorded five solo tackles, eight overall, and had the game-clinching interception, stopping the Eagles’ final drive at the Manville three-yard line with just under two minutes to go.
  • T.J. Munn, New Providence: In a 39-6 win over Roselle Friday, the senior quarterback was 4-of-5 passing for 46 yards and a touchdown, then carried seven times for 102 yards and touchdown runs of 43 and 32 yards. In the defensive secondary, he also picked off a pass and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown.
  • Daniel Figurski, North Hunterdon: In a 28-6 loss to Rahway, Figurski recorded ten tackles, a forced fumble, and a recovery.
  • Aaron Potts, North Plainfield: The senior runningback carried 17 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-6 win over New Brunswick Friday. He also had two catches for 20 yards.
  • Riley Wingate, Piscataway: In a 25-0 whitewash of South Brunswick Thursday night, the senior DE had seven tackles, two TFLs, and a pair of sacks, along with a QB hurry and one tipped pass. He helped lead a Chiefs’ defense that held the Vikings to just four yards on 26 carries.
  • Brandon Bradsher, Perth Amboy: The senior receiver had eight catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns, while at cornerback he recorded 10 solo tackles, 16 total, and broke up eight passes in a 27-20 loss at Colonia Friday.
  • Jaylen Eastman, Rahway: The sophomore defensive end was disruptive in a big way Friday in a 28-6 win over North Hunterdon, recording three solo tackles, a TFL, four QB hurries and a pass block, but the big one was a 48-yard pick six as he was rushing the quarterback.
  • Alfirs Garcia, Roselle Park: The senior runningback carried 15 times for 121 yards and two touchdowns, while also hauling in a 17-yard touchdown pass, to help the Panthers beat Brearley 24-6, for their first win against the Bears since 2013.
  • Se’mir Tolbert-Brimage, Spotswood: The junior quarterback did it with his feet and arm Friday in a 23-12 win at Highland Park. He carried 22 times for 89 yards while completing three of just five pass attempts for 113 yards and a touchdown in the victory.
by Mike Pavlichko

Bernards’ Noah Ochab kicks his way to Week 3 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of Week Award

He doesn’t just play football in the fall, but we’ll get to that in a second.

On a Bernards team that graduated a slew of talent from last year, including Jonas Gonzalez, the CJSR Special Teams Player of the Year in 2023, Noah Ochab hasn’t missed a beat.

The Mountaineer players nominated every week are sometimes at a disadvantage against the competition, mainly because Bernards dominates often, and their starters only wind up playing one half of football. If they played the whole 48 minutes, they might have video game numbers.

But kickers kick, and rarely come out for a second-teamer.

So what did Ochab do in a 33-13 home win against Voorhees that clinched the team’s fifth straight division title?

Well, he set a school record for longest field goal, nailing a 48-yarder. He also landed a punt inside the one, and was 2-for-2 on PATs. He also ran in a fake two-point conversion, and had two kickoffs sail into the end zone for touchbacks.

And as if all that wasn’t enough, he won a golf tournament on Saturday. Ochab is one of the top amateur golfers in the state.

Bernards visits JP Stevens (1-2) for a divisional game in North Edison Friday night at 7:00.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko’s interview with Week Three Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Noah Ochab of Bernards:

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 Jankowicz, Hillsborough: In a dominant 35-0 home win over Hillsborough on Friday, the senior runningback scored two rushing touchdowns (one and 27 yards) and had a 19-yard TD grab. He finished with 115 yards on 16 carries, and four catches for 59 yards. Playing in the secondary on defense, he also had one interception.
  • Brody Nugent, Old Bridge: The junior signal-caller threw for 131 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 107 yards and a score in a 21-6 win over South Brunswick Friday night. The Knights will be featured Friday night on the “Big Central Game of the Week” presented by Bellamy & Son Paving, when East Brunswick comes to town for the Battle of Route 18.
  • Aidan Stieglitz, Ridge: The senior fullback had quite the game in a 28-21 home win over then-No. 1 Phillipsburg heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio. He rushed for 220 yards on 25 carries, with three touchdowns, his longest going for 60 yards. A six-yard score in the fourth quarter put the Red Devils ahead for good.
  • Terrell Mitchell, Somerville: The senior runningback accounted for every offensive point scored by the Pioneers in a 32-16 home win over Rahway on Friday. He carried 11 times for 119 yards and touchdowns of 44, 23 and three yards. He also returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown and had four two point conversion runs.
  • Oscar Marx, Summit: In a 33-12 home win over Carteret Saturday afternoon, the senior strong safety had a 35-yard pick-six, and also returned a kickoff 70 yards for a score.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Dylan Tierney, Bridgewater-Raritan: The senior tight end caught two passes for 118 yards, both for touchdowns. He also recorded ten tackles and one sack from his linebacker position, helping the Panthers shut out Hunterdon Central in the second half of a 28-20 road win in Flemington Friday night.
  • Justin Kollmer, Delaware Valley: The senior linebacker recorded 11 tackles, with two for a loss, and an interception in a 17-0 win against JP Stevens Friday.
  • Jack Dally, Governor Livingston: In their annual Friday Night Lights game, a 41-12 home win over North Plainfield, the senior runningback carried 14 times for 150 yards and a touchdown. At linebacker, Dally had four tackles, one for a loss, and two blocked punts, returning one of them 40 yards for six.
  • Fiheem Howel, JFK: The junior runningback was the star of a 40-0 blanking of New Brunswick Friday night. he ran 18 times for 269 yards and four touchdowns. His scoring runs were from 47, 43, 35 and two yards out.
  • Logan Fotiadis, Monroe: In a 34-12 win Friday night at East Brunswick, the senior wide receiver scored three touchdowns, and had a fourth called back. Two were through the air, along with a 62-yarder on the ground. His last TD helped put the game away, while he also recorded nine tackles and a TFL from his outside linebacker position.
  • Mike Petses, New Providence: In a 22-0 win against previously unbeaten Metuchen Thursday night, the junior linebacker had ten tackles, a TFL, a safety and an interception that eventually resulted in a score, leading the defense to a shutout.
  • Tommy Koroma, North Brunswick: The senior safety had a couple of tackles on defense, but came up with a key pass deflection that helped the Raiders beat Edison, 20-13 Friday night. At QB, he was 3-of-6 for 54 yards, and rushed 14 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns. He also kicked two extra points.
  • Cole O’Connor, North Hunterdon: In a 41-7 home win over Montgomery that snapped a 13-game losing streak and got head coach CJ Robinson his first career win, the junior runningback rushed 16 times for 147 yards and three touchdowns. He also had two catches for 52 yards and another TD.
  • Sebastian Saracino, Spotswood: The junior runningback carried eight times for 73 yards and touchdowns of 50 and eight yards in a 35-0 win over South River Saturday afternoon. They were the first and second varsity touchdowns of his career.
  • Offensive Line, Watchung Hills: Yes, we’ve had coaches nominate their O-Lines before, but would you expect much different out of former New York Giant lineman and Super Bowl Champions Rich Seubert? Against Linden Friday in a 24-0 win, the line paved the way for a 206-yard, two touchdown rushing night on 34 carries.
  • Jahmir Beal, Woodbridge: The senior runningback continues his outstanding play, carrying 15 times for 197 yards and two touchdowns (of 80 and 52 yards) in a 42-39 road win at Colonia Saturday that also gave the Barrons their 500th all-time win as a program.

by Mike Pavlichko

Markos Hantsoulis’ passing, 3 rushing TDs, help lead Highland Park to 3rd straight win, and himself to Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors for Week 2

“The streak” is so 2023.

The Highland Park Owls football program is on the upswing. Check that, it’s been on the upswing, they just hadn’t had the wins to show for it.

After snapping what was the longest active losing streak in New Jersey at the time – 51 games – with a win over Point Pleasant Beach in last season’s finale, a late addition between two teams that just wanted to play another game, Highland Park hasn’t lost since.

The Owls are 2-0, and have won three straight dating back to that 46-29 win over the Garnet Gulls on November second.

And Markos Hantsoulis is a big reason why.

Down several key players who were ejected following some tough stuff on the field in the second half of the season opener at Dunllen, Hantsoulis willed his team to victory, and not just on offense.

The team’s quarterback, the senior threw 7-of-11 for 52 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 139 yards on 13 carries, scoring twice in a 32-6 win last Friday night at Dayton.

But that wasn’t all. He also had a two-point conversion, and as a kicker, he sent two kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.

All were instrumental in the victory, earning him Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors for Week Two.

Highland Park hosts Brearley (0-2) Friday night as the Owls look to go 3-0 on the year and win their fourth straight overall.

Click below to see Mike Pavlichko’s interview with Week Two Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Markos Hantsoulis of Highland Park:

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:

  • Ryan Turner, Ridge: The senior halfback lit it up offensively in a huge 34-7 home win over then No. 5 Hillsborough. He carried seven times for 85 yards, with 33 of those on a touchdown run, while also catching four passes for another 93 yards, including a 46-yard TD catch. He also had a diving catch at the one yard line to set up another Red Devils score.
  • Brenden Pacheco, Somerville: The senior quarterback helped his team in a big way as they earned a 42-7 win at Montgomery. He was involved in five total touchdowns, four as a passer, while also rushing for a 30-yard score himself. Overall, he was 12-of-22 passing for 215 yards in the win.
  • Alex Schwark, Summit: The Hilltoppers got 14 rushed for 143 yards and four touchdowns from the junior runningback in a “circle it on the calendar” matchup against Hillside, annually one of their toughest opponents in the United Gold Division.
  • Jahmir Beal, Woodbridge: In the “Big Central Game of the Week” presented by Bellamy & Son Paving on Central Jersey Sports Radio, Beal scored four touchdowns – three in the decisive second half – to lead the No. 3 Barrons to a 41-26 victory over visiting Plainfield. Beal had TD runs of seven, ten, two and three yards, rushing 22 times for 127 yards. He also had a 40-yard catch. On defense, the safety had eight tackles and three pass breakups, never coming off the field on either side of the ball, also playing on return and coverage teams.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Geoffrey Young, Belvidere: In a 21-0 won over Manville Friday, the junior two-way lineman helped pave the way for a 177-yard team rushing night on offense, while being active on defense. He recorded nine tackles, a forced fumble, one sack, and an interception.
  • Terrence Hanratty, Bernards: The senior linebacker recorded 13 tackles and an interception – and also had a fumble recovery – in a 7-0 win at Delaware Valley Friday night for the Mountain valley Trophy, which goes to Bernards for a third straight year. The defense he leads has given up just a single touchdown all year.
  • Fiheen Howell, Jr., JFK: The junior runningback scored some big touchdowns in a narrow 28-27 win at Governor Livingston Saturday. He carried 18 times for 191 yards, scoring on a 50-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. Then, he scored two fourth quarter touchdowns, including an 80-yarded that gave the Mustangs a 28-21 and the insurance they needed to hang on and win by one.
  • Evan Toth, Metuchen: The senior runningback carried 17 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns as the Bulldogs picked up a 35-28 win at Roselle Friday night, giving 3-0 Metuchen its seventh straight win dating back to last year, the second longest active streak in the state behind only Toms River North, which has won eight. From his linebacker spot on defense, he added four tackles, 2 TFLs, a pass breakup, and a pick.
  • Matthew Cudmore, Montgomery: In a tough loss at home to Somerville, the senior outside linebacker stood tall on defense. He recorded 12 tackles, ten solo, had one TFL, and sacked the Pioneers’ quarterback three times.
  • Donea “Kai” Fish, Rahway: The senior two-way lineman had a night in a 28-7 road win at Perth Amboy. In addition to a big pancake block on offense, on the defensive side of things he had five solo tackles – eight total – two TFLs, two sacks for a total of eight yards, and three QB hurries.
  • Dominic Massaro, South Plainfield: The junior runningback carried 15 times for 139 yards Friday in a 35-0 win at rival North Plainfield for the Tigers’ first win of the season.
  • Ryan Foster, Spotswood: In a 24-0 win Friday night at Brearley, the freshman wide receiver had seven catches for 112 yards and a touchdown.
  • Matthew Tramutola, Voorhees: The junior runningback is piling up the accolades. After a Honorable Mention nod last week, he was a workhorse again, rushing for 221 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries in a 33-0 home shutout of JP Stevens back on Friday night.

by Mike Pavlichko

Trio of touchdowns on kick returns earns Piscataway’s Jahai Johnson Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors in Week 1

His team didn’t win the game – and yes, he’s as ticked off about it as anyone – but Piscataway senior Jahai Johnson had himself a day in one of the wildest games you’ve ever seen.

Friday night’s “Big Central Game of the Week” presented by Bellamy & Son Paving included 100 points between the teams – a 52-48 win for Bridgewater-Raritan over the Chiefs – with 15 scoring plays and four kickoff returns for touchdowns, including three by Piscataway’s Jahai Johnson.

Yes, he had three.

The first came late in the first half, an 80-yard return with 1:10 to go in the second quarter, that got Piscataway to within five at 23-18.

When the Panthers got a 90-yard kick return TD from Nick DiEsso to open the scoring after the break, Johnson answered with an 80-yarder of his own to get it back to five and 31-26.

And he would do it again with 3:26 to go in the third. This time, another 90-yarder got Piscataway – thanks to a two-point run by James Bodley – to within 45-40, setting up Bodely’s go-ahead score with 7:28 to go in the fourth.

And while Bridgewater eventually came back and won it in an unbelievable sequence – the Panthers kept the drive alive with a fake punt, got a TD from DiEsso to go ahead, then they recovered an onside kick to keep the ball out of the Chiefs’ hands, allowing them to maintain possession and win the game – Jahai’s monster night earns him Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Honors for Week 1.

While it would be quite the task to find the state record for a single game, just for comparison’s sake, the NFL record is “only” two in one game, a feat accomplished by nearly a dozen players.

However, according to Piscataway assistant coach John Thompson, who keeps track of such things, the three by Johnson is a single-season school record. Antonio “Speedy” Rivera – the Bellamy & Son Player of the Week scholarship winner in 2022 – set the mark for punt returns for a TD that year with three, a school record.

Johnson has four in his career, as he returned a kickoff 93 yards for a score last season against Hunterdon Central.

As Piscataway PA announcer Kevin Donahue is fond of saying, “Please recognize his efforts!”

Piscataway travels to Old Bridge Friday night in a battle of 1-1 teams.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko’s interview with Week One Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Jahai Johnson of Piscataway:

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:

  • Matteo Tramutola, Voorhees: The junior runningback/linebacker had himself a night in a 39-27 home win over JFK, rushing 37 times for 301 yards and four touchdowns. He also had a 36 yard TD reception to give him five total scores on offense, while also recording 12 tackles at linebacker in head coach John Hack’s first win in Glen Gardner.
  • Dason Boateng, South Brunswick: The Vikings are off to a 2-0 start under new head coach Ibrahim Halsey, and Boateng is a big reason why. With the Vikings down 21-7 at arch rival North Brunswick, he returned a strip fumble 93 yards to the Raider three, a turning point in South’s rally. He also had 2 1/2 sacks, three TFLs, two forced fumbles and two recoveries; his other was for a 48-yard TD.
  • Max Austin, Bernards: The senior defensive back had two interceptions, including a 26-yard pick-six, his third of the year in just five quarters of football over the first two games. That it came against a big rival in Hillside – the last Big Central team the Mounties lost to, in September 2022 – was even bigger. He also had two catches at his wide receiver spot.
  • Josh Rodriguez, Somerville: In a 32-14 win at Cranford on Friday night, the senior wide receiver lit it up. He ran for touchdowns of 77 and four yards, while catching a 44-yard TD pass. Overall, he had 240 all purpose yards: 116 through the air on three catches, and 103 on the ground on just a half dozen attempts.
  • Josiah Zayas, St. Thomas Aquinas: In a 53-28 win over Lincoln (NY) up at Paterson’s Hinchliffe Stadium

Other Notable Performances:

  • Declan Kurdyla, Bridgewater-Raritan: The junior quarterback was efficient, completing 11 of 14 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 66 yards and a score in a 52-48 win at No. 6 Piscataway Friday night.
  • Se’mir Tolbert-Brimage, Spotswood: The senior transfer quarterback from North Brunswick ran it 20 times for 114 yards and had three rushing touchdowns in a 26-20 win at Roselle. He put the game away on fourth-and-two on his own 33 yard line, gaining three yards to clinch the game. He also added a sack and fumble recovery on defense.
  • Brody Nugent, Old Bridge: The junior QB threw for 189 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-13 win over Old Bridge at home Saturday afternoon. He also rushed for 101 yards and a score in the Knights’ first win of 2023.
  • Ja’kir Thomas, Carteret: The senior runningback was big in a 27-7 win over Perth Amboy Friday. He rushed 21 times for 257 yards and four scores, from 55, 35, 43 and four yards out. At d-back, he also recorded six tackles, a TFL and a sack.
  • Shane Walsh, Summit: In a 46-7 win Saturday against Montgomery, the senior runningback had a 30-yard receiving touchdown, a four-yard rushing touchdown, and a 60-yard kickoff return for a score, all coming in the first half. From his free safety position, he also recorded four tackles.
  • Evan Candica, Manville: The junior – who plays center – was instrumental in paving the way for the Mustangs to roll of 376 yards of total offense in a 33-0 win over Hopatcong Friday. His efforts included four pancake blocks. And then, defensively, as the “Mike” linebacker, he helped limit the Chiefs to just 89 yards rushing on the night, and a whitewash on the scoreboard. He added six tackles, three solo, and a fumble recovery.
  • Edward Cooper, South Hunterdon: In a 30-0 win over Dayton on Friday, the senior runningback carried 23 times for 172 yards and three touchdowns.
  • Quadir Johnson, JP Stevens: In a 22-21 overtime win over Bound Brook that snapped the Hawks’ 42-game losing streak, Johnson scored the go-ahead two-point conversion in OT to give his team the victory. He finished the night with five carries for 51 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown run. He also recorded nine tackles on defense from his linebacker spot.
  • Sean Christie, East Brunswick: The sophomore QB helped the Bears beat Hamilton 34-14, going 12 for 19 passing for 170 yards with three touchdown passes. He also ran it a dozen times for 68 yards and another score.
  • Ashton Irving, St. Joseph-Metuchen: The senior caught eight passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-34 home win Saturday over visiting Ridge. At free safety, he also recorded four tackles, and had an interception and a pass breakup.
  • Eric Klemmer, Delaware Valley: In a 21-0 win at South Plainfield Friday night, the senior receiver caught four passes for 174 yards and a touchdown, while adding one carry for 13 yards. He also had 13 total tackles playing in the defensive secondary, adding an interception.
  • Arique Fleming, Elizabeth: The sophomore quarterback – in his second full year as a starter – threw it 18 times, completing 15 passes for 190 yards and four touchdowns in a 26-6 win over Bayonne Friday.
  • Andrew Avent, Rahway: The junior runningback finished one carry shy of 20 on the night for 125 yards and three short touchdown jaunts. At linebacker, he made ten tackles, four solo, and had two TFLs and a forced fumble. On special teams, he booted two punts for an average of 33 yards.
  • Christian Lewis, Franklin: The senior defensive back forced a fumble with 2:30 remaining to get the back back in the hands of the Warriors’ offense, allowing them to score the winning touchdown in a 33-29 victory over Passaic on Friday night.

by Mike Pavlichko

Chiera’s overtime TD run earns Colonia junior the first Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors of the 2024 season

Colonia’s Jaeden Jones finished up his football career with a playoff berth earned on Cutoff Weekend, and the final Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors in 2023. Then, he handed he reins to junior Dylan Chiera.

And while Cutoff Weekend is still quite far down the road, Chiera has literally taken the baton and run with it. Not only is he the Patriots’ quarterback this season – taking over as a junior like Jones did two years ago – but he’s also going to have a Bellamy & Son football with his name on it, picking up the honor for Week Zero here in 2024.

Chiera scored on a 12-yard touchdown run in overtime to tie their season-opening battle at 20, then senior Anthony Garofalo put the exclamation point on it with the PAT, giving the Patriots a “walkoff” win in Bomber Country.

Chiera is a different type of quarterback that Jones, who – like Josh Oluremi before him, was always looking to run. Not so with Chiera, but it gives Colonia a different dimension than they’ve had the last several seasons.

Colonia is back in action Friday night at North Hunterdon.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko’s interview with Week Zero 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:

  • Nyekir Eato, Edison: The senior excelled in all three phases of a 27-0 shutout of East Brunswick. Eato carried 19 times for 137 yards on offense, scoring three times. He also had a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on special teams, and picked off three passes on defense.
  • Na’quavere Thomas, Manville: They call him “Junior,” but there’s nothing small about this senior’s game. In a 28-7 home win over Keyport Friday, he ran for 122 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries, as well as a 39-yard catch early that set the Mustangs up at the goal line. At defensive tackle, he racked up ten tackles, five solo, and three for loss, including a six-yard sack. He also forced two fumbles.
  • Jahai Johnson, Piscataway: The senior wide receiver – guarded by double- and triple-teams all night, had only two catches for 24 yard,s but contributed in other ways. Out of the wildcat formation, he carried twice, scoring both times, including a 55-yard TD score with 2:19 to go in the game that clinched the victory.
  • Josiah Zayas, St. Thomas Aquinas: Down 29-0 at the half to Mount St. Joseph of Maryland down at the Mid-Atlantic Pigskin Classic in Wilmington, the junior helped lead a second half rally that just fell short in what turned out to be a 36-26 loss. Zayas finished with six catches for 111 yards, including an 18-yard TD catch, as well as two interceptions on the defensive side of the field.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Logan Stevens, Bernards: The junior runningback carried four times for 65 yards and two scores, while adding two catches for another 71 and a touchdown out of the backfield, en route to a 35-6 win over Monmouth Regional on Thursday. He scored three times on just six touches!
  • Andrew Avent, Rahway: The junior was a busy young man in a 41-14 win over Voorhees on Thursday. At runningback, he had 16 carries for 145 yards and two touchdowns, as well as a two-point conversion run. He also had one punt for 40 yards, and on defense, recorded seven solo tackles, 2 TFLs, and and an 18-yard scoop-and-score for a touchdown.
  • Dubem Kawah, Franklin: The junior runningback scored two touchdowns and ran for 101 yards on just seven carries, averaging 14.4 yards per trip in a 26-20 win over Trenton on Friday.
  • Arique Fleming, Elizabeth: The sophomore – now in his second year as starting QB for the Minutemen – looked the part in a 35-18 win over Linden. He threw 14-for-19 for 190 yards and a touchdown, but also ran the ball effectively. He carried ten times for 95 yards and another score.
  • Brayden Kelly, Watchung Hills: The senior wide receiver and defensive back was busy on both sides of the ball. On offense, he had five catches for 120 yards, one of them going 56 yards for a score. Then, he had five tackles, two for a loss, while also picking off a pass.
  • Brandon Bradsher, Perth Amboy: In a 27-9 win at JFK Thursday evening, the senior had three catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns (of 75 and 82 yards), while also logging an interception on defense.
  • Gio Veliz, Hunterdon Central: The junior runningback was a workhorse for the Red Devils in a 42-14 win at North Hunterdon Saturday. He carried 21 times for 156 yards and three touchdowns in the win.
  • Terrell Mitchell, Somerville: The Pioneers got 15 carries for 66 yards out of Mitchell, a senior runningback who’ll be headed to Wake Forest next year. He had an 11-yard touchdown run and an 11-yard touchdown catch, both in the first half of a 21-20 home win over Hillsborough. He had seven catchers overall for 57 yards.
  • Kamari Toney, South Brunswick: The sophomore running back looked like anything but a sophomore making his first-ever varsity start Friday in a 30-13 win at Robbinsville, which earned new head coach Ibrahim Halsey his first win with the Vikings. He carried 12 times for 138 yards and a touchdown in the victory.
  • Derek Anderson, Woodbridge: The senior quarterback was 10-of-19 passing for 183 yards and three touchdowns – one of which went for 60 yards – along with a 12 yard score on the ground in his first game playing a new-look offense under new head coach Joe Goerge. The results was a good one for the Barrons: a 36-34 win at Old Bridge.
  • Jayden Richards, Scotch Plains-Fanwood: The junior carried 20 times for 122 yards and a touchdown in a hard-fought 31-30 home loss to Monroe on Thursday night.