Shore Sports Network Football Players of the Week, 11/26/13

Week 11

*All selections are made by managing editor Scott Stump except for Fans’ choice, which is from the voting in the weekly poll.

Fans’ choice: 1. Rumson-Fair Haven RB Charlie Volker – 46% of the vote

2. Brick QB Carmen Sclafani - 36%

3. Point Beach RB Joe Wegrzyniak - 6%

Volker continued the best season ever by a Rumson-Fair Haven running back when he erupted for a single-game school record 314 yards rushing and four touchdowns in a 28-21 win over Rahway in the Central Jersey Group II semifinals. Volker ran for touchdowns of 8, 55, 71 and 80 yards. The 80-yarder came with only six seconds left in the game and put the Bulldogs into their third state final in the last four seasons, where they will face Weequahic. Volker has run for a school-record 1,967 yards and 23 touchdowns. His rushing total leads the Shore and is among the top five in the state.

Shore Sports Network Players of the Week

Offense

Charlie Volker, Jr., RB, Rumson-Fair Haven (see above)

Defense

(Tie) Chris Noesges, Sr., LB, Manalapan

Noesges continued to bolster his case in the race for Shore Conference Defensive Player of the Year with 14 tackles, including two for a loss, in a 34-7 win over Sayreville in the Central Jersey Group V semifinals that ended the Bombers' run of three straight sectional titles. Sayreville was averaging more than 350 yards rushing per game and was held to 75 yards by the Braves, led by Noesges. Manalapan's all-time leader in tackles, Noesges now has 104 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, and three sacks this season.

Ray Fattaruso, Jr., LB, Brick

Fattaruso had a sensational all-around game in a 45-24 win over Burlington Township in the Central Jersey Group IV semifinals that put the Green Dragons into their first state final since 1994. He helped Brick slow down an explosive offense that had put up 52 points in the first round with 15 tackles and 2 sacks, and he also ran for 203 yards and a touchdown in the win.

Special teams

Anthony Starego, Sr., K, Brick 

Starego, who has autism, continued his inspiring story by going 6-for-6 on extra points and hitting a 20-yard field goal in a 45-24 win over Burlington Township that put the Green Dragons into the Central Jersey Group IV final.

Honorable mention

Jake Monteiro, Jr., K, Shore 

Monteiro hit a 25-yard field goal to give Shore an early lead in an eventual 15-6 win over Asbury Park in the Central Jersey Group I semifinals.

Cole Mehr, Sr., KR, Ocean

Mehr had an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a 30-14 loss to Hopewell Valley in the Central Jersey Group III semifinals.

Divisional Players of the Week

Class A North

Offense

Anthony Gargiulo, Sr., RB, Colts Neck; Tyler Leonetti, Sr., RB, Manalapan

Another week, another big performance for Gargiulo, as he had 160 yards rushing and all four of his team's touchdowns in a 28-19 win over Nottingham in the Central Jersey Group IV semifinals that put the Cougars into their first state final in program history.

Leonetti put up 138 yards rushing and a pair of scores in a 34-7 win over Sayreville in the Central Jersey Group V semifinals that sent the Braves to their third straight state final.

Defense

Nick Douglas, Sr., DE, Manalapan; Colts Neck's secondary

Douglas was part of a dominant defensive effort by the Braves with 7 tackles, one tackle for a loss and a sack in a 34-7 win over Sayreville in the Central Jersey Group V semifinals.

Junior Dan Calabro and seniors Dylan Campbell and John Miller each had interceptions in Colts Neck's 28-19 win over Nottingham in the Central Jersey Group IV semifinals.

Class A Central

Offense

The Rumson offensive line

Charlie Volker didn't get those 314 yards and four touchdowns by himself, as the Bulldogs' offensive line played an outstanding game when the team needed it the most in the Central Jersey Group II semifinals.

Defense

Thomas Martello, Sr., DB, Rumson-FH; Mike Cordova, Jr., DB, Red Bank Catholic

Martello started the year as a linebacker but has moved to strong safety because of an injury to starter Chris Hubler. He had 18 tackles in Rumson's 28-21 win over Rahway in the Central Jersey Group II semifinals and has 103 tackles for the season.

The Caseys may have suffered their first loss at the hands of defending champion St. Joseph-Montvale in the Non-Public Group III semifinals, but Cordova was outstanding in the defeat. He had 16 tackles and an interception at safety in the 28-7 loss. He now has five interceptions for the season.

Class A South

Offense

Carmen Sclafani, Jr., QB, Brick

Sclafani rolled up 197 yards rushing and four touchdowns to help power a 45-24 win over Burlington Township in the Central Jersey Group IV semifinals.

Defense

Ja'Quez Johnson, Jr., DB, Brick

Johnson had three pass break-ups and two interceptions, one of which he returned 25 yards for a big fourth-quarter touchdown in a 45-24 win over Burlington Township.

Class B North

Offense

Cole Mehr, Sr., WR/RB, Ocean

Mehr had 79 yards and a touchdown on six carries in a 30-14 loss to Hopewell Valley in the Central Jersey Group III semifinals.

Defense

Royal Moore, Jr., DB, Ocean

Moore had a 47-yard interception return in the Spartans' 30-14 loss to Hopewell Valley.

Class B Central

Offense

Joe Wegrzyniak, Jr., RB, Point Beach; Brian Miller, Sr., RB, Shore

Wegrzyniak had 167 yards rushing and three touchdowns in a 41-22 win over Burlington City that put Point Beach into its first state final since 1982. He now has 1,423 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns for the season.

Miller had 82 yards rushing and a touchdown and also had 46 yards receiving and a big go-ahead touchdown catch in the fourth quarter of a 15-6 win over Asbury Park in the Central Jersey Group I semifinals.

Defense

Noah Yates, Sr., DB, Point Beach; Mitchell Canditto, Jr., LB, Shore

Yates grabbed his Shore Conference-leading ninth interception and returned it for a touchdown, and he also had a touchdown catch at wide receiver in a 41-22 win over Burlington City in the Central Jersey Group I semifinals.

Canditto had three sacks as Shore did not allow an offensive touchdown in its 15-6 win over Asbury Park.

Class B South

Offense

Cinjun Erskine, Jr., QB, Barnegat

Erskine ran for 123 yards and a touchdown and also threw for 99 yards and a touchdown to help power a 28-25 win over Northern Burlington in South Jersey Group III that put the Bengals into their first state final in school history.

Defense

Kevin Hoffman, Jr., LB, Barnegat

Hoffman had 6 tackles, 2 for a loss, and a sack while also running for what proved to be the game-winning 35-yard touchdown in the Bengals' 28-25 win over Northern Burlington.