Football – SSN Divisional Players of the Week, Week 6
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 6.
SSN SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Will Forman, Sr., K, St. John Vianney
Forman made a pair of pressure-packed kicks in St. John Vianney’s tremendous 31-28 overtime victory over Rumson-Fair Haven, kicking the game-tying extra point with 22 seconds left in regulation and converting the go-ahead 22-yard field goal in overtime.
SSN DIVISIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
CLASS A NORTH
Offense
Naim Mayfield, Sr., RB, Manalapan and Eddie Morales III, Sr., QB, Howell
Mayfield and Morales will share the A North Player of the Week honors after both were tremendous when their teams squared off. Mayfield ran for a career-high 275 yards and five touchdowns to lead Manalapan to a 49-28 victory. Morales was sensational in defeat with 312 yards passing and three touchdowns, 119 yards rushing and a 22-yard touchdown catch.
Defense
Tommy Pearce, Jr., LB, Manalapan and Antonio Deieso, Sr., DE, Manalapan
Pearce made a team-high 14 tackles and had an interception, which he returned for 50 yards to set up a touchdown, in Manalapan 49-28 victory over Howell. Deieso planted his flag in the Howell backfield with nine tackles (eight solo), three sacks and an additional tackle for loss.
CLASS A CENTRAL
Offense
Ian Fitzgerald, Sr., UT, Monmouth Regional
Fitzgerald does a little bit of everything for the Falcons as a quarterback, running back and wide receiver and those skills were on display in a 28-27 overtime victory over Red Bank. Fitzgerald scored the game-tying 90-yard touchdown on a hook-and-ladder with less than three minutes left in regulation, and had the go-ahead touchdown on a 23-yard reception in overtime, making the catch after the ball caromed off two Red Bank defenders.
Defense
Johnny Buchanan, Sr., LB, St. John Vianney
Buchanan tied for the team lead with 10 tackles, seven of which were solo, but it was his sack on third down in overtime that forced a fourth-and-long and allowed St. John Vianney to claim a wild 31-28 overtime victory over Rumson in a classic game at Rutgers University.
CLASS A SOUTH
Offense
Tony Thorpe, Sr., RB, Brick Memorial
Thorpe ran for 191 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-13 win over Toms River East, and in the process became the Mustangs’ all-time leading scorer with his 40th career touchdown.
Defense
Chance Benjamin, Jr., LB, Jackson Memorial
The Jaguars shut out Toms River North, 28-0, and Benjamin led the way on defense with a game-high 14 tackles, including five tackles for loss. The Jaguars are 4-2 and are allowing just 7.7 points per game this season.
CLASS B NORTH
Offense
Connor Welsh, Sr., RB, Middletown North
Welsh ran for a career-high 218 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Lions’ offense in a 34-14 victory over Wall. After missing significant time with an injury last season, Welsh is having a very good senior season with 640 yards and nine total touchdowns in six games.
Defense
James Mele, Jr., LB, Manasquan
The Warriors shut out Ocean, 27-0, and Mele led the way on defense with six tackles, including two for a loss.
CLASS B CENTRAL
Offense
Luke Frauenheim, Sr., QB, Point Beach and Josh Yates, Sr., WR, Point Beach
Frauenheim supplied nearly all the offense for Point Beach in its 28-22 loss to Spotswood by throwing for 110 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 160 yards on 24 carries. Yates caught all three of the touchdown passes and finished with 95 yards.
Defense
Joe Osterbye, Sr., LB, Keansburg
Keansburg beat Sussex Tech, 19-0, to improve to 4-3 and record their first shutout since 2009. Osterbye led the way for the Titans with 11 tackles.
CLASS B SOUTH
Jason Giresi, Sr., RB, Lacey
Giresi ran for a career-high 243 yards and two touchdowns to help the Lions earn a pivotal 31-24 division win over Barnegat.
Defense
Brian Ewan, Jr., LB., Barnegat
Although the Bengals fell to Lacey, 31-24, Ewan was all over the field for Barnegat’s defense with 17 tackles, including four hits for a loss, plus a sack.
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Managing editor Bob Badders can be reached at bob.badders@townsquaremedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bob_Badders. Like Shore Sports Network on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest video highlights.