Football – SSN Divisional Players of the Week, Week 4
In addition to the reader-selected Orthopaedic Institute of Central Jersey Football Player of the Week, we will also be selecting Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for each of the Shore Conference’s six divisions. We’ll also choose an overall Shore Conference Special Teams Player of the Week to highlight any standout kicking performances or players that got it done in the return game.
Below we’ll focus on the best performances from Week 4.
SSN SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mack Byrne, Jr., WR/DB, Holmdel
This award typically goes to a kicker or a kick/punt returner, but this week Byrne gets the honor for his 49-yard touchdown run on a fake punt in Holmdel’s 21-0 win over Red Bank. Byrne took a direct snap as the up-man and weaved his way through the Bucs defense for a touchdown that gave the Hornets a 14-0 halftime lead.
SSN DIVISIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
CLASS A NORTH
Offense
Naim Mayfield, Sr., RB, Manalapan
Mayfield had another great performance with 264 yards rushing and four touchdowns, including a 94-yard touchdown run, to lead the Braves to a 55-21 Class A North win over Freehold. Mayfield has rushed for 920 yards and 15 touchdowns on an incredible average of 14.6 yards per carry in four games this season.
Defense
Dale Sieczkowski, Jr., LB, Manalapan
Manalapan mostly held Freehold quarterback Ashante Worthy in check during a 55-21 victory, and Sieczkowski was a constant presence with 13 tackles, a fumble recovery, a pass breakup and a whopping 13 quarterback hurries. He also had a touchdown catch at tight end.
CLASS A CENTRAL
Offense
Peter Lucas, Sr., RB, Rumson-Fair Haven
Lucas was at it again in a 35-0 Bulldogs victory over Middletown South with 130 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 12 carries, including a sensational 63-yard touchdown run. Lucas has rushed for 666 yards and 11 touchdowns in three games this season.
Defense
Johnny Buchanan, Sr., LB, St. John Vianney
It was an eventful evening for Buchanan, who recorded nine tackles with two sacks in the Lancers’ 42-0 win over Brick. Buchanan also had 97 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 10 carries and announced his commitment to the University of Delaware during the game. Buchanan has 39 tackles in four games, plus 360 yards rushing and seven touchdowns on an average of 12 yards per carry.
CLASS A SOUTH
Offense
Tony Thorpe, Sr., RB, Brick Memorial
Thorpe carried the load for the Mustangs in their heart-stopping 22-21 double overtime victory over Sayreville by rushing for 172 yards and two touchdowns on 38 attempts. His 23-yard run set up his 1-yard touchdown run that made it 21-20, leading to the game-winning two-point conversion. Thorpe has 548 yards rushing and six touchdowns in four games this season.
Defense
Collin McCarthy, So., DE, Jackson Memorial
McCarthy was a force at the line of scrimmage for the Jaguars in their 28-7 victory over Toms River South, recording seven tackles, including three for loss, to help stymie the Indians’ triple-option rushing attack.
CLASS B NORTH
Offense
Zack Bair, Sr., RB, Red Bank Catholic
Bair had an incredible game in a 49-12 win over Colonia, scoring four touchdowns and piling up 246 all-purpose yards on just five touches. He had 97 yards rushing and two touchdowns on just three carries, caught a 50-yard touchdown pass and returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown.
Defense
Evan Hilla, Sr., DE, Manasquan
The Warriors improved to 2-2 with a 27-0 shutout over Barnegat, thanks in large part to a defensive front that controlled the line of scrimmage from start to finish. Hilla was active all game with 10 tackles and a fumble recovery.
CLASS B CENTRAL
Offense
Quadir Lawson, Sr., RB, Asbury Park
Lawson ran for a career-high 202 yards with one touchdown on 22 carries as the Blue Bishops rolled up 420 yards on the ground in a 40-12 victory over Metuchen.
Defense
(tie) Joe Osterbye, Sr., LB, Keansburg and Vin DiMaio, Jr., DT, Shore
Osterbye made a team-high 14 tackles in Keansburg’s 14-13 win over Pinelands, which is the Titans’ first win over a Shore Conference team since 2012. DiMaio made nine tackles and had two sacks for a Shore defense that allowed a paltry 17 total yards in a 21-7 victory over Bishop Ahr.
CLASS B SOUTH
Offense
Tanner Miick, Sr., WR, Lacey
The Lions fell to Jackson Liberty, 14-13, in a game that came down to a 2-point conversion attempt with three seconds left, but Miick turned in a career game with nine receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown. His 23-yard touchdown catch pulled Lacey to within 14-13 with three seconds left.
Jimmy Celentano, So., DB, Jackson Liberty
With a win hanging in the balance, Celentano broke up a pass in the end zone to deny Lacey a 2-point conversion with three seconds left in the game, clinching a 14-13 victory for Jackson Liberty for its first win of the season.
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