2017 Jersey Mike’s Shore Sports Network All-Shore Football Teams
Shore Sports Network is proud to unveil its 2017 All-Shore teams and season-ending award winners featuring the top performers from the 2017 Shore Conference football season.
Scroll down for bios, pictures and video clips of the first-team All-Shore selections and click the link for write-ups on the second- and third-team selections.
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB — Ashante Worthy, Sr., Freehold
The Shore Sports Network’s inaugural MVP, Worthy had the greatest statistical season in Shore Conference and state history to lead the Colonials to an 8-4 record and a trip to the Central Jersey Group IV championship game. Worthy ran for a state single-season record 2,860 yards with 41 touchdowns and added 2,106 yards passing and 20 touchdowns. HIs 61 combined touchdowns between rushing and passing set a state single-season record, and he became the first player in state history to rush and throw for 2,000 yards in a single season. Read more about Worthy’s unbelievable year here.
RB — Naim Mayfield, Sr., Manalapan
The Shore Sports Network Offensive Player of the Year, Mayfield has the greatest statistical season ever by a Shore Conference running back and one of the best in state history to help the Braves win the Class A North division title, finish 11-1 and reach the Central Jersey Group V championship game. Mayfield ran for 2,681 yards on an average of 13.2 yards per carry and set Shore Conference and state records by scoring 48 touchdowns (46 rushing) and 282 points. Read more about Mayfield’s historic season here.
RB — Peter Lucas, Sr., Rumson-Fair Haven
In his first and only year as Rumson’s starting running back, Lucas set the school record for rushing yards and touchdowns by rushing for 2,196 yards and 31 touchdowns (33 total) on an average of 9.9 yards per carry to help Rumson go 10-2 and reach a fifth straight sectional championship game. Lucas, who was selected as the Class A Central Offensive Player of the Year, ran for over 200 yards in six of 11 games, including a career-high 299 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Monmouth Regional. Also a standout lacrosse player, Lucas is committed to High Point University for lacrosse.
RB — Zack Bair, Sr., Red Bank Catholic
An ankle injury limited Bair’s season to seven games, but for six-plus weeks he was one of the most electric players in the Shore for an RBC offense that averaged 39.8 points per game to rank No. 3 in the conference. Bair ran for 1,087 yards and 15 touchdowns on a conference-best 13.8 yards per carry and added a receiving touchdown, a punt return touchdown and a kickoff return for a touchdown. Bair ran for over 100 yards in five of seven games with one of the other two being when he was injured against St. John Vianney and the other being a three-carry, 97-yard performance in a win over Colonia. Bair ran for a career-high 244 yards in a win over Long Branch and ran for 232 yards and three touchdowns on eight carries in a win over Wall. His play helped RBC go 8-2 and win the Class B North division title. A Class B North all-division pick by the coaches, Bair is committed to Dartmouth University.
WR — Naseim Brantley, Sr., Howell
Among the most dynamic players in the Shore, Brantley excelled on offense, defense and special teams with 20 total touchdowns to help the Rebels go 9-2 and reach the South Jersey Group V semifinals. Brantley caught 48 passes for 785 yards and tied for the conference lead with 13 touchdown catches. He also ran for two touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass. At defensive back, Brantley made 29 tackles with three interceptions, two forced fumbles and an interception return for a touchdown. As a kick returner, Brantley had two kickoff returns for touchdowns and a punt return for a score. He had four 100-yard games, including a 10-catch, 135-yard, two-touchdown game against Lenape in the state playoffs and making eight receptions for 101 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Middletown North. A Class A North all-division selection by the coaches, Brantley holds offers from Navy, Monmouth, Bucknell, Sacred Heart and Bryant.
WR — Jyheir Jones, Sr., Lakewood
Jones had a fantastic season for the Piners by leading the Shore Conference in receptions, tying for the lead in touchdown catches and finishing second in yards to help Lakewood reach the South Jersey Group III semifinals after a 1-3 start. Jones caught 66 passes for 954 yards and 13 touchdowns while also hauling in five 2-point conversion passes. He also excelled on defense with 83 tackles and three interceptions, including one interception return for a touchdown. Jones as a Class B South all-division selection by the coaches.
WR — T.J. Fosque, Sr., Long Branch
Fosque emerged as one of the Shore Conference’s top wideouts to help lead the Green Wave to the Central Jersey Group IV championship and a 9-3 record. Fosque caught 37 passes for 704 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 19 yards per reception. He opened his season with a bang by catching six passes for 178 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Manasquan. A Class B Central all-division selection by the coaches, Fosque is committed to Monmouth University.
TE — Sean Morris, Jr., Barnegat
Morris had a breakout season on both sides of the ball to emerge as one of the top juniors in the Shore Conference. Morris caught 38 passes for 671 yards and eight touchdowns for an average of 17.7 yards per reception. He had two 100-yard games, including a season-high 155 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Manchester. He also had five catches for 106 yards and a touchdown against Lacey. Morris was also an impact player at defensive end where he recorded 41 tackles, 15 of which came for a loss, along with 3.5 sacks, 14 hurries, two interceptions including one pick-six, three forced fumbles and two safeties. A Class B South all-division selection by the coaches, Morris has generated interest from FBS and FCS programs and currently holds an offer from Bucknell.
OL — Trevor Radosevich, Sr., Manalapan
An anchor up front for the No. 2 offense in the Shore, Radosevich helped the Braves go 11-1, win the Class A North division title and reach the Central Jersey Group V championship game. Manalapan’s offense averaged 42.4 points and 410 yards per game, including senior running back Naim Mayfield rushing for 2,681 yards and 46 touchdowns. Mayfield’s rushing total is the second highest in Shore Conference history and his 48 total touchdowns and 282 points this season set state records. Radosevich was selected to the Class A North all-division team by the coaches. He currently has a scholarship offer from Colgate.
OL — Justin Johnson, Sr., Rumson-Fair Haven
Johnson was the top lineman for a Bulldogs team that was No. 6 in the Shore at 35.7 points per game. Rumson had the Shore’s third-leading rusher, Peter Lucas, who set a school record with 2,196 yards and 33 total touchdowns. Rumson rushed for 3,167 yards and 49 touchdowns on an average of 8.7 yards per carry. A Class A Central all-division selection by the coaches, Johnson is verbally committed to Wesleyan University.
OL — Michael Griggs, Sr., Red Bank Catholic
The top lineman for a Caseys offense that averaged 39.8 points per game, Griggs helped the Caseys go 8-2 and win the Class B North division title. His blocking paved the way for RBC to rush for 2,450 yards and 35 touchdowns on an average of 10.5 yards per carry, and for junior quarterback Steve Lubischer to throw for 1,810 yards and 18 touchdowns. An all-Class B North pick by the coaches, Griggs is committed to Colgate University.
OL — Paul Liseno, Jr., St. John Vianney
Liseno (No. 55 above) transferred from Keansburg to St. John Vianney prior to the season and emerged as the Lancers’ top lineman on a standout unit that paved the way for the No. 1 offense in the Shore. Liseno, who was a Class A Central all-division selection, helped the Lancers average 43.7 points and 411 yards per game. St. John Vianney rushed for 3,354 yards as a team with an average of 8.3 yards per rush. Liseno also played along the defensive line and recorded 27 tackles with four hits for a loss, two sacks and a forced fumble.
OL — Joe Hurle, Sr., Jackson Memorial
A standout since his earning the starting job as a sophomore, Hurle’s (No. 60 above) play up front helped the Jaguars reach the Central Jersey Group IV semifinals despite having several new starters on offense. Hurle was also an impact player on defense with 61 tackles, six sacks and five tackles for a loss for a unit that was No. 6 in the Shore allowing 14.3 points per game. A Class A South all-division selection, Hurle has received FCS and FBS interest with.
UT — Eddie Morales, Sr., Howell
A great leader who helped the Rebels to their best season in nearly a decade, Morales led the Shore Conference in passing with 2,156 yards and 24 touchdowns with a 70 percent completion rate. He also ran for a team-high 725 yards and 10 touchdowns to power Howell to a 9-2 record and a trip to the South Jersey Group V semifinals. Morales also had 20 tackles and two interceptions on defense and caught a touchdown pass. He threw for a season-high 330 yards with three touchdowns, ran for 160 yards and caught a touchdown against Manalapan, and had 314 yards and two touchdowns plus two rushing touchdowns against Lenape in the state playoffs. A Class A North all-division selection by the coaches, Morales holds an offer from Bryant University.
UT — James Fara, Sr., Point Boro
As the leader of Point Boro’s triple-option offense, Fara had a great season to lead the Panthers to an 11-1 record, a third straight Class B South division title and a trip to a sectional final for the first time since 2007. Fara was fourth in the Shore in rushing with 1,628 yards and 24 touchdowns on an average of 7.8 yards per carry and also threw for 611 yards and seven touchdowns with a 60 percent completion rate. Point Boro had the No. 7 offense in the Shore averaging 32.5 points per game. The Class B South Offensive Player of the Year, Fara has received interest from several FCS programs.
K — Devon Johnson, Sr., Monmouth
Johnson was a key member of a Falcons squad that turned in one of the best seasons in program history to rebound from a 2-8 season to go 7-4 and reach the playoffs for the third time. Johnson converted on 28 of 28 extra points and also went 4-for-7 on field goals with a long of 41 yards. As Monmouth’s punter Johnson averaged 35 yards per punt with 12 punts inside the 20-yard line and six punts inside the 10-yard line. He was also the Falcons’ leading receiver with 18 catches for 485 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 26.9 yards per reception. Johnson was a Class A Central all-division selection at wide receiver.
DEFENSE
DL — Jake Krellin, Sr, Middletown South
A two-time first-team All-Shore selection, Krellin (No. 8 in blue above) was a terror off the edge for the Eagles with 84 tackles, including 26 tackles for a loss, plus 11 sacks, 18 hurries, four pass deflections, an interception, four forced fumbles and one blocked punt. It was a down year for the Eagles, who went 5-5 and lost in the first round of the Central Jersey Group IV playoffs, but their defense, led by Krellin, was a top-11 unit and kept them in many games. Krellin was selected as the Class B North Defensive Player of the Year.
DL — Josh Lezin, Sr., Lakewood
Lezin was once again a nearly-unstoppable force along the Piners defensive line to help them reach the playoffs for the sixth straight season and advance to the South Jersey Group III semifinals. Lezin basically lived in the opponents’ backfield with 86 tackles, including an astounding 44 tackles for a loss, and 11 sacks. He was a nightmare for opposing special teams units, as well, with three blocked extra points, three blocked punts and one blocked field goal. He also occasionally lined up tight end and had one touchdown catch and two 2-point conversion catches. The Class B South Defensive Player of the Year, Lezin has generated interest from FBS and FCS programs.
DL — Nick Densieski, Sr., St. John Vianney
The most productive pass-rusher in the Shore Conference over the last two seasons, Densieski (No. 32 above) recorded 12 sacks for a St. John Vianney team that finished 10-1, won the Class A Central division title for the fourth year in a row, extended its Shore Conference winning streak to 38 games and reached the Non-Public Group III semifinals. He also had 48 tackles (32 solo) with nine hits behind the line of scrimmage, a fumble return for a touchdown and a forced fumble. He had a season-high three sacks in a 35-17 win over Red Bank Catholic and had two sacks each in wins over Raritan, Red Bank and Monmouth, and two sacks against DePaul in the state semifinals. Densieski was also selected to the Class A Central all-division team.
DL — Kaymar Mimes, Sr., Long Branch
Mimes (No. 89 above) was a major part of a defense that helped Long Branch go 9-3 and win the Central Jersey Group IV sectional title. Mimes made 87 tackles and recorded 10 sacks for a unit that allowed 18 points per game and recorded two shutouts. Mimes had a career-high 16 tackles in a regular-season game versus Freehold and had 10 tackles and 2.5 sacks in a 28-3 win over Jackson Memorial in the CJ-IV semifinals. Mimes also had multiple sacks in wins over Middletown South and Ocean. As Long Branch’s starting tight end Mimes caught 17 passes for 175 yards and four touchdowns. A Class B North all-division pick by the coaches, Mimes, who is the younger brother of former Michigan State star and current Oakland Raiders defensive lineman Shilique Calhoun, holds offers from Rutgers, Boston College, Temple and Wake Forest.
LB — Johnny Buchanan, Sr., St. John Vianney
The Shore Sports Network Defensive Player of the Year, Buchanan was the Lancers’ leader on both sides of the ball to help the team go 10-1, win a fourth straight Class A Central division title and reach the Non-Public Group III state semifinals. Buchanan made 121 tackles with three sacks and an interception. Also SJV’s starting running back, Buchanan ran for 1,393 yards and 17 touchdowns on an average of 9.2 yards per carry. Read more about Buchanan’s great season here.
LB — Tommy Pearce, Jr., Manalapan
A tackling machine who has started since the middle of his freshman year, Pearce (No. 49 above) had a phenomenal junior campaign to lead the Braves’ No. 1 ranked defense. Pearce was second in the Shore Conference with 143 tackles, 89 of which were solo stops, along with nine tackles for a loss to spearhead a unit that yielded just 11.5 points per game and recorded four shutouts. Pearce also had three sacks and seven hurries, four interceptions, four pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He had double-digit tackles in eight of 12 games, including a season-high 19 tackles in a win over Southern. He had 18 tackles against Old Bridge, 16 against Colts Neck and 14 each against Howell, Freehold and in the CJ-V final against South Brunswick. Pearce was also selected as the Class A North Defensive Player of the Year by the coaches.
LB — Keegan Woods, Jr., Rumson-Fair Haven
Woods led a Rumson defense that was No. 5 in the Shore (13.8 ppg) by making a school-record 155 tackles with four sacks an interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery to help the Bulldogs go 10-2 and reach their fifth straight sectional final. Woods had double-digit tackles in 11 of 12 games, including a season-high 18 in a win over Holmdel. He had 15 tackles against St. John Vianney, made 17 stops in a playoff win over Lawrence and had 16 tackles against Wall in the sectional semifinals. A Class A Central all-division selection by the coaches, Woods leads a strong cast of returners for the Bulldogs next season.
LB — Sal Tardogno, Sr., Manalapan
Tardogno teamed with Pearce in the interior of Manalapan’s linebacking corps to form the top unit in the Shore for a defense that was the No. 1 unit in the Shore at 11.5 points per game. Tardogno made 114 tackles, recorded three sacks and broke up five passes to help the Braves go 11-1, win the Class A North division title and reach the Central Jersey Group V championship game. He made a season-high 20 tackles in a win over Southern and had 16 stops in a win over Old Bridge. He recorded 13 tackles with two hits for a loss against South Brunswick in the sectional final. Tardogno was a Class A North all-division selection by the coaches.
DB — Symir Blacknall, Sr., Manalapan
Tasked with covering the opponent’s best receiver, Blacknall played a big role for a Manalapan defense that was No. 1 in the Shore allowing 11.5 points per game. His play helped the Braves go 11-1, win the Class A North division title and reach the Central Jersey Group V championship game. Blacknall had 31 tackles and 21 passes defended along with one interception and a forced fumble. He was also Manalapan’s leading receiver with 23 receptions for 511 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 22.5 yards per catch. Blacknall also ran for 111 yards and four touchdowns on an average of 9.3 yards per carry. A Class A North all-division selection, Blacknall has a scholarship offer from New Hampshire.
DB — Zyheir Jones, Sr., Lakewood
An injury in the preseason originally looked like it would end Jones’ senior season before it even began, but the dynamic playmaker for the Piners returned after missing just two games to have a marvelous season on both sides of the ball and lead Lakewood to the South Jersey Group III semifinals. Jones led the Shore with nine interceptions while making 66 tackles, recording four sacks and returning two interceptions for touchdowns. As Lakewood’s quarterback Jones passed and rushed for 1,000 yards each while accounting for 30 total touchdowns. Jones threw for 1,208 yards and 18 touchdowns and ran for 1,244 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also had seven 2-point conversion passes and six 2-point conversion runs. Jones was also a Class B South all-division selection by the coaches.
DB — Matt Ansell, Sr., Red Bank Catholic
Playing like a heat-seeking missile from the back end of RBC’s defense, Ansell (making the tackle above) made 104 tackles and recorded five interceptions to help the Caseys go 8-2 and win the Class B North division title. Ansell was also a Class B North all-division selection by the coaches.
DB — Kevin Porch, Sr., Long Branch
The hard-hitting leader of Long Branch’s secondary, Porch helped the Green Wave go 9-3 and win the Central Jersey Group IV championship by making 59 tackles with two interceptions and one fumble recovery. He was at his best in the state final with a season-high 10 tackles in Long Branch’s 43-42 overtime win over Freehold. A Class B North all-division selection by the coaches.
UT — Cole Groschel, Jr., Brick
Groschel embodied the true definition of a utility player by making an impact at several different positions and carrying the Dragons through a stretch where they dealt with injuries to many starters on both sides of the ball. At defensive back, Groschel made 55 tackles and was tied for second in the Shore with five interceptions. He played quarterback, running back and wide receiver and accounted for 14 total touchdowns to help Brick reach the Central Jersey Group IV semifinals. Groschel ran for 746 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 34 passes for 451 yards and five touchdowns. He was also 8 of 16 passing for 106 yards and a touchdown. Additionally, Groschel was a Class A South all-division selection.
UT — Austin Dewise, Sr., Middletown North
Armed with the ability to wreck an opposing offense’s gameplan, Dewise (No. 11 above) was a disruptive force for the Lions despite facing constant double-teams. He made 60 tackles with nine tackles for a loss, five sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two pass deflections and one blocked punt. He had a season-high 10 tackles in a game against Manasquan. Dewise was also Middletown North’s tight end and caught 20 passes for 425 yards and a touchdown, averaging 21.3 yards per catch. As the Lions’ punter Dewise averaged 34.5 yards per punt with two inside the 20-yard line. A Class B North all-division selection by the coaches.
P — David Gelb, Sr., Manalapan
Gelb averaged 35.8 yards per punt with two punts inside the 20-yard line and a long of 51 yards. He had few opportunities for punts or field goals thanks to a Manalapan offense that was No. 2 in the Shore averaging 42.4 points per game. Gelb did not attempt a field goal all season but was 67 for 69 on extra points. He also boomed 33 touchbacks out of 78 kickoffs. A Class A North all-division selection, Gelb holds an offer from Saint Anselm College.
Follow Shore Sports Network on Twitter @ShoreSportsNet and on Instagram. Like Shore Sports Network on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest video highlights.
More From Shore Sports Network
