2020 Shore Sports Network All-Shore Football Teams
Shore Sports Network is proud to unveil its 2020 All-Shore teams and season-ending award winners featuring the top performers from the 2020 Shore Conference football season.
Scroll down for bios and pictures of the First Team All-Shore selections and write-ups on the second- and third-team selections.
FIRST TEAM
Offense
QB – Jake Kazanowsky, Sr., Toms River North
A two-time first-team All-Shore selection, Kazanowsky led the Shore Conference in passing for the second consecutive season by throwing for 1,652 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 69 percent of his passes. He also ran for 372 yards and four touchdowns on an average of 8.9 yards per carry for a Mariners offense that averaged 22.6 points per game. His signature game came in Toms River North’s 42-40 win over Jackson Memorial when he completed 16 of 22 passes for 266 yards and a career-high five touchdowns and ran for a career-high 156 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
QB – Sha’Kim Shuler, Sr., Freehold
One of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in New Jersey, Shuler had a tremendous season by passing and rushing for over 1,100 yards each in just eight games to lead Freehold to a 6-2 record and the No. 7 ranking in the Shore. Shuler completed 57 percent of his passes for 1,155 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions and ran for 1,206 yards and 15 touchdowns on an average of 7.4 yards per carry. He also had a kickoff return for a touchdown and on defense recorded 21 tackles with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He ran for over 200 yards three times, including rushing for 267 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries in a 40-37 win over Middletown North. Shuler was also selected as the Offensive Player of the Year in his division by the coaches.
RB – Jahdir Loftland, Sr., Donovan Catholic
The 2020 Shore Sports Network Offensive Player of the Year, Loftland ran for 1,369 and 17 touchdowns on an average of 8.8 yards per carry for the No. 1 scoring offense in the Shore to help the Griffins go 7-1, finish No. 2 in the SSN Top 10 and finish No. 9 in New Jersey. Loftland ran for over 100 yards in all eight of Donovan’s games, including 200-yard games against Southern and Brick and 127 yards against a Wall defense that had not allowed a 100-yard rusher in two years. Loftland performed great in Donovan’s most important games with a career-high 224 yards rushing in a win over Southern, 160 yards rushing in a win over Red Bank Catholic and 127 yards vs. Wall in the Shore Conference championship game. He also ran for 146 yards and three touchdowns on just five carries in a win over Toms River South. Loftland was selected as the co-Offensive Player of the Year in his division by the coaches.
RB – Will Towns, Sr., Jackson Memorial
The 2020 Shore Conference rushing champion, Towns led the Shore with 1,379 yards and 13 touchdowns on an average of 7.3 yards per carry to earn first-team All-Shore honors for the second straight year. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound standout ran for over 100 yards in six of eight games, including one 200-yard game and two 300-yard games. He added two receiving touchdowns. In a 42-40 loss to Toms River North, Towns ran for 300 yards and five touchdowns on 29 carries and also returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown. He followed that performance with 232 yards and a touchdowns on 24 carries in a win over Brick. His sensational three-game stretch concluded with a career-high 303 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 26 carries in a win over Jackson Liberty. Over his three years, Towns totaled 3,243 yards rushing and 33 touchdowns. Towns will continue his career at Wake Forest University.
RB – John Volker, Sr., Rumson-Fair Haven
After battling injuries throughout his junior year, Volker stayed healthy and put it all together as a senior to earn a spot on the All-Shore first team. Volker ran for 1,184 yards and 16 touchdowns on an average of 7.7 yards per carry for a Rumson offense that averaged 29.3 points per game. The Bulldogs went 6-2, finished No. 5 in the SSN Top 10 and won their four-team pod with victories over Colts Neck and Freehold. Volker ran for over 100 yards in all eight of Rumson’s games, including a season-high 206 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-6 win over Middletown South. Incredibly, Volker scored on Rumson’s first offensive play in each of the first three games of the season, breaking a 65-yard touchdown run against Middletown North, a 56-yard touchdown run against Long Branch and a 56-yard touchdown run against Red Bank Catholic. He was selected as the Offensive Player of the Year in his division by the coaches. Volker will continue his career in the Ivy League at Princeton University.
TE – Alex Bauman, Jr., Red Bank Catholic
After showing flashes of his potential as a sophomore, Bauman emerged as a great two-way player for a Caseys team that finished No. 3 in the SSN Top 10. As a tight end he caught 14 passes for 232 yards and as a defensive end he led the way with 53 tackles, four sacks and one safety. In a 10-3 win over No. 4 Mater Dei to open the season, Bauman had 12 tackles and one sack and in a 21-14 win over No. 4 Rumson-Fair Haven he made 10 tackles. His play helped the Caseys go 4-2 and qualify for the Shore Conference Championship Pod. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder has begun to garner considerable FBS interest and owns scholarship offers from Notre Dame, Rutgers, Wake Forest and Coastal Carolina.
WR – Jayon Farrar, Sr., Donovan Catholic
A two-time first-team All-Shore selection, Farrar has his best season yet in his first and only season at Donovan Catholic after transferring from Long Branch. Farrar led the Shore in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns with 47 catches for 614 yards and nine touchdowns. He was also a weapon on jet sweeps with 144 yards rushing on an average of 6.5 yards per carry. On defense he added 22 tackles and three interceptions. Farrar’s top games came against Toms River East with eight catches for 154 yards and a touchdown and in a win over Red Bank Catholic with 10 catches for 100 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-14 victory. His played helped the Griffins go 7-1, finish No. 2 in the SSN Top 10 and finish No. 9 in the New Jersey.
WR – Zac Browne, Sr., Toms River North
An All-Shore selection for the second consecutive season, Browne was second in the Shore in receptions and yards with 42 catches for 606 yards and one touchdown for a Toms River North offense that averaged 22.6 points per game. His high-water mark was a 12-catch, 149-yard performance against No. 2 Donovan Catholic.
WR – Naran Buntin, Sr., Mater Dei Prep
A game-breaking wideout who will play at the FBS level, Buntin caught 27 passes for 470 yards and three touchdowns for a Mater Dei Prep team that went 5-2, finished No. 4 in the SSN Top 10 and qualified for the Shore Conference Championship Pod. Buntin’s best games came in wins over Long Branch, Rumson-Fair Haven and Manalapan. He caught four passes for 72 yards and a touchdown in a 34-20 victory over Long Branch and had four catches for 88 yards and a touchdown, which included a game-winning hook-and-lateral touchdown, in a 26-19 win over Rumson. He was unstoppable in a 27-10 win over Manalapan with nine receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown. Buntin is verbally committed to Kent State University.
OL – Grant Puharic, Sr., Wall
A two-way standout and one of Wall’s senior leaders, Puharic’s play up front was one of the major reasons Wall went 7-0, won the Shore Conference Championship Pod and finished No. 1 both in the SSN Top 10 and the final New Jersey state rankings. At left tackle, Puharic blocked for an offense thar rushed for 1,678 yards and 26 touchdowns and averaged 33.3 points per game. Along the defensive line, Puharic made 14 tackles with one sack, two passes defensed and one fumble recovery for a unit that allowed just 5.4 points per game and recorded four shutouts. Puharic hopes to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point.
OL – Cam McNair, Sr., Donovan Catholic
A 6-foot-5, 325-pound behemoth, McNair was the top lineman for a powerful Donovan Catholic offense to earn first-team All-Shore honors for the second year in a row. McNair’s blocking paved the way for Offensive Player of the Year Jahdir Loftland to rush for 1,369 yards and 17 touchdowns and the Griffins to total 2,107 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns on an average of 263 yards per game. Donovan also had the No. 1 scoring offense in the Shore at 33.8 points per game. McNair even scored a rushing touchdown and chipped in on defense with 19 tackles and one sack. His play helped Donovan go 7-1, finish No. 2 in the SSN Top 10 and finish No. 9 in New Jersey. He holds multiple FBS scholarship offers, including Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Liberty and Buffalo.
OL – Rakim Cooper, Sr., Mater Dei Prep
The 6-foot-4, 285-pound Cooper was a two-way standout up front for a Mater Dei team that went 5-2, finished No. 4 in the SSN Top 10 and qualified for the Shore Conference Championship Pod. His blocking helped the Seraphs rush for 1,105 yards on an average of 5.7 yards per carry and pass for 957 yards and eight touchdowns. He also contributed on defense with 24 tackles, 2 sacks and 3 tackles for loss. An FBS recruit, Cooper recently de-committed from Temple and has reopened his recruitment. He also holds FBS offers from Buffalo, Central Michigan, Coastal Carolina, West Virginia, Navy and several FCS offers, including Monmouth University.
OL – James Smith, Sr., Rumson-Fair Haven
A two-time first-team All-Shore selection, Smith was the top lineman for a Rumson offense that averaged 29.3 points per game, ran for 1,652 yards and 23 touchdowns on an average of six yards per carry and totaled 309 yards of offense per game. His play in the trenches helped the Bulldogs go 6-2, finish No. 5 in the SSN Top 10 and win their postseason pod with victories over Colts Neck and Freehold. Smith is verbally committed to Merrimack College, which plays at the FCS level in the Northeast Conference.
OL – Dan Volpe, Jr., Colts Neck
A 6-foot-6, 305-pound mountain in the trenches for the Cougars, Volpe helped pave the way for Colts Neck to rush for 1,844 yards and 25 touchdowns on an average of seven yards per carry, pass for 720 yards and five touchdowns and average 26.6 points per game. He also chipped on defense with 26 tackles and one sack for a unit that allowed 13.5 points per game. His play helped the Cougars go 7-1 and finish No. 6 in the SSN Top 10.
OL – Joey Mancino, Sr., Holmdel
Holmdel’s veer offense was among the best in the Shore with an average of 27.4 points per game and Mancino’s blocking was a major reason why. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound road grader helped pave the way for Holmdel to rush for 2,472 yards and 26 touchdowns on an average of 8.6 yards per carry in just seven games. Holmdel had a 1,000-yard rusher, a 700-yard rusher and a 500-yard rusher and averaged 353 yards rushing per game. The Hornets went 6-1 and finished No. 9 in the SSN Top 10. Mancino has multiple scholarship offers along with preferred walk-on opportunities at Nebraska and Texas Tech.
UT – Luke O’Hea, Sr., Raritan
O’Hea fits the definition of a utility player perfectly as he made contributions as a rusher, pass-catcher and defensive back to lead the Rockets to a 6-1 season. As a slot back in Raritan’s option-based offense, O’Hea ran for 378 yards and eight touchdowns on an average of 9.95 yards per carry and caught 15 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns. On defense, O’Hea made a team-leading 60 tackles, intercepted a pass and scored a touchdown. His play helped Raritan close the season on a six-game winning streak and finish No. 10 in the SSN Top 10.
UT – Jaiden Brown, Jr., Southern
In his third year as a starting running back and second at Southern, Brown had another 1,000-yard campaign to enter the Rams’ record book and earn a first-team All-Shore designation. A powerful tailback, Brown rushed for 1,091 yards and 14 touchdowns on an average of 7.2 yards per carry for a Southern team that averaged 27.6 points per game. In the process, he became Southern’s all-time leading rusher and the Rams’ all-time leading scorer. Brown ran for 200 yards twice, including a career-high 240 yards and three touchdowns on just 12 carries in a 48-14 win over Toms River North and 222 yards and four touchdowns in a 28-13 win over Brick Memorial. He was also a standout linebacker and made a team-high 68 tackles and two interceptions. Brown was the co-Offensive Player of the Year in his division as selected by the coaches.
K – Mason Shenk, Jr., St. John Vianney
Shenk was the Shore Conference’s leading scorer among kickers with 42 points, including going a perfect 24-for-24 on extra points and connecting on a conference-high six field goals with a conference-long of 44 yards. Shenk was also a standout defender at outside linebacker with 46 tackles, 5 sacks, 9 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery to help the Lancers go 5-4.
Defense
DL – Dom Giudice, Sr., Mater Dei Prep
A University of Michigan recruit, Giudice is a two-time first-team All-Shore selection and closed out his career by making 59 tackles with 6 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble and 42 quarterback pressures. His play helped the Seraphs go 5-2, finish No. 4 in the SSN Top 10 and qualify for the Shore Conference Championship Pod. He was the co-Defensive Player of the Year in his division as selected by the coaches.
DL – Von Factor, Sr., Rumson-Fair Haven
Factor was a standout along the defensive line for one of the best defenses in the Shore Conference to earn a first-team All-Shore designation. The disruptive defensive tackle was second on the team with 71 tackles and also second on the team with six sacks for a unit that allowed just 10.8 points per game. He had double-digit tackles in four of eight games and recorded a sack six of eight games. He was at his best in the postseason with 22 tackles, 2 sacks and 2 fumble recovery in victories over Colts Neck and Freehold. He also had two rushing touchdowns as a fullback. His play helped Rumson go 6-2, finish No. 5 in the SSN Top 10 and win their postseason pod. Factor is a two-time All-Shore selection after earning second-team honors as a junior.
DL – Jake Louro, Sr., Red Bank Catholic
A two-time first-team All-Shore selection, Louro is a game-wrecker from his defensive tackle spot and was a player that had to be accounted for by opposing offensive coordinators. His 32 tackles, four sacks, 12 tackles for loss and one safety only tell part of the story as his ability to get pressure up the middle resulted in double-team blocks being sent his way for much of the season. His play helped RBC go 4-2, finish No. 3 in the SSN Top 10 and qualify for the Shore Conference Championship Pod.
DL – Blake Rezk, Jr., Wall
An impact player along the defensive line and also one of the Shore’s best tight ends, Rezk’s play helped Wall go 7-0, win the Shore Conference Championship Pod, finish No. 1 in the SSN Top 10 for the second year in a row and earn the No. 1 ranking in New Jersey. As a defensive end, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Rezk made 41 tackles with 4 sacks, 6 tackles for loss and 1 fumble recovery on a defense that allowed just 5.4 points per game and recorded four shutouts. On offense he had a touchdown catch in a 42-0 postseason win over Mater Dei and was a standout blocker for an offense that rushed for 1,678 yards and 26 touchdowns and averaged 33.3 points per game. Rezk will be one of eight returning defensive starters for Wall next season.
LB – Charlie Sasso, Jr., Wall
The 2020 Shore Sports Network Defensive Player of the Year, Sasso had an outstanding season playing in the middle of the Shore Conference’s best defense and helped lead the Crimson Knights to a 7-0 record, the Shore Conference Championship Pod title, the No. 1 ranking in the SSN Top 10 for the second year in a row and the No. 1 ranking in the state. From his spot at inside linebacker where he was a three-year starter, Sasso was a sideline-to-sideline force with 97 tackles in just seven games along with 3 sacks, 6 tackles for loss, 1 interception and 2 fumble recoveries for a defense that allowed just 5.4 points per game and recorded four shutouts. He had double-digit tackles in all seven games, including 17 in Wall’s 18-15 win over Donovan Catholic in the Shore Conference championship game, 16 each in wins over Manasquan and Mater Dei and 15 in a win over Middletown South. Sasso leads the way among Wall’s eight returning defensive starters for next season.
LB – Dominick Nocero, Sr., Donovan Catholic
A four-year starter and a leader on Donovan Catholic’s stout defense, Nocero is a first-team All-Shore selection after earning third-team honors as a junior. A standout inside linebacker, Nocero tied for the team lead with 89 tackles and added three tackles for loss, three sacks and one forced fumble for a Griffins’ defense that was second in the Shore in scoring average at 8.1 points per game and posted two shutouts. He had 16 tackles in a 21-14 win over Southern and had eight tackles and three sacks in a 35-0 win over Toms River North. Nocero finished his career with 323 tackles, 9 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries. He was also selected as the co-Defensive Player of the Year in his division by the coaches.
LB – Quamire Green, Sr., Donovan Catholic
A two-time first-team All-Shore selection, Green was a four-year starter at inside linebacker for a Donovan Catholic program that ascended to the ranks of the elite in the Shore Conference. He tied for the team lead with 89 tackles this season to go along with four sacks, two tackles for loss and one fumble recovery for a defense that allowed just 8.1 points per game and recorded two shutouts. Green had double-digit tackles in five of eight games, including 15 against Brick and Wall and 12 against Southern and Brick Memorial. All four of his sacks came in the Griffins’ 35-0 win over Toms River North. He concluded his career with 364 tackles, nine sacks and one interception.
LB – Colin Riley, Jr., Wall
Another member of Wall’s outstanding defense, Riley was a versatile linebacker who could play on or off the ball and impact the game wherever he was lined up. He recorded 72 tackles with a team-leading 7 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, 11 hurries and a forced fumble for a Crimson Knights’ defense that allowed just 5.4 points per game and recorded four shutouts. Riley had double-digit tackles in four of seven games and recorded a sack in six of seven games. He had 14 tackles and two sacks in a 31-10 win over Middletown South, made 11 tackles with two sacks in a 44-0 win over Neptune and posted 13 tackles with one tackle for loss in a 42-0 win over Mater Dei. His play helped Wall go 7-0, win the Shore Conference Championship Pod, finish No. 1 in the SSN Top 10 for the second year in a row and claim the No. 1 ranking in New Jersey. He is one of eight returning starters for Wall on defense next season.
LB – John Lista, Jr., Rumson-Fair Haven
The latest standout linebacker for Rumson, Lista had a great junior season for a defense that was fourth in the Shore in scoring average at 10.8 points per game. In eight games, Lista recorded a team-high 75 tackles along with 4 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries as the Bulldogs went 6-2, finished No. 5 in the SSN Top 10 and won their postseason pod with wins over Colts Neck and Freehold. He had at least eight tackles in every game, including posting 12 tackles with two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in a 28-0 win over Long Branch.
LB – Thomas Sardo, Jr., Holmdel
The leading tackler for a Holmdel defense that was among the Shore’s best, Sardo helped the Hornets go 6-1 to give the program four straight winning seasons for the first time in school history. Holmdel finished No. 9 in the SSN Top 10. Sardo posted 73 tackles with 5.5 sacks, 8 tackles for loss and 1 forced fumble for a Hornets defense that allowed just 11.3 points per game. Sardo was also selected as the Defensive Player of the Year by the coaches in his division.
DB – Casey Larkin, Sr., Wall
The 2020 Shore Sports Network Most Valuable Player, Larkin was a do-it-all player for Wall throughout his career and saved his best for last in helping deliver Wall an undefeated championship season. As a versatile defensive back, Larkin was both a shutdown cornerback and a playmaking strong safety, finishing with 32 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 5 passes defensed and 1 fumble recovery for a defense that allowed just 5.4 points per game and recorded four shutouts. As one of the Shore Conference’s best running backs, Larkin ran for 870 yards and 13 touchdowns on an average of nine yards per carry and also led Wall in receiving yards with four catches for 132 yards and a touchdown. Larkin concluded his career with 2,691 yards rushing and 30 touchdowns, 47 catches for 824 yards and six touchdowns, 119 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 6 interceptions and 16 pass breakups. He will continue his career at the FBS level when he heads to West Point to play for the Army Black Knights.
DB – Logan Peters, Sr., Wall
A great two-way player and leader, Peters was instrumental in Wall authoring a perfect 7-0 season that included the Shore Conference Championship Pod title, the No. 1 ranking in the SSN Top 10 for the second year in a row and the No. 1 ranking in New Jersey. As a safety, Peters made 47 tackles with 2 interceptions, 5 passes defensed and 1 tackle for loss on an all-time defense that allowed just 5.4 points per game and recorded four shutouts. As Wall’s quarterback, Peters threw for 433 yards and five touchdowns and ran for 402 yards and six touchdowns to guide an offense that averaged 33.3 points per game. In addition to his football talents, Peters is also a standout basketball player and one of the best lacrosse players in New Jersey. He is committed to continuing his lacrosse career at Rutgers University.
DB – YahSin Calhoun, Jr., Freehold
A fantastic two-way player, Calhoun made a huge impact on defense and on offense to help the Colonials go 6-2 and finish No. 7 in the SSN Top 10. The junior safety had the rare distinction of leading the Shore Conference in both tackles and interceptions by making a whopping 113 stops and pulling down six interceptions in eight games. He also forced two fumbles. Offensively, Calhoun was a dynamic playmaker who totaled 970 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns to help the Colonials average 30.8 points per game. He caught 29 passes for 564 yards and three touchdowns to finish third in the Shore in receiving yards and added 406 yards rushing and six touchdowns. He was selected as the co-Defensive Player of the Year in his division by the coaches.
DB – Ryan Ruane, Sr., Rumson-Fair Haven
Selected as the co-Defensive Player of the Year in his division by the coaches, Ruane had another outstanding year to earn first-team All-Shore status for the second straight season. A versatile safety, Ruane recorded 54 tackles, intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble for one of the best defenses in the Shore. Rumson was fourth in scoring average allowing just 10.8 points per game and posting one shutout. His play helped the Bulldogs go 6-2, finish No. 5 in the SSN Top 10 and win their postseason pod with victories over Colts Neck and Freehold. Ruane will continue his career at Holy Cross.
UT – Anthony Borriello, Sr., Red Bank Catholic
Borriello was both a standout cornerback and a dual-threat quarterback for a Caseys team that went 4-2, finished No. 3 in the SSN Top 10 and qualified for the Shore Conference Championship Pod. Borriello threw for 704 yards and six touchdowns and ran for 205 yards and a touchdown. On defense, Borriello had 27 tackles, three interceptions, a forced fumble and three passes defensed.
UT – Scott Stevens, Jr., Lacey
A knee injury cut Stevens’ season short and limited him to just six of Lacey’s nine games, but before that he was having a great two-way season as the Lions’ forged a four-game winning streak early in the season. The 6-foot, 230-pound Stevens finished with 51 tackles for an average of 8.5 tackles per game along with six tackles for loss and one forced fumble. Stevens was also a punishing blocker and a bruising short-yardage running back for an offense that rushed for 1,996 yards and 24 touchdowns. Had had 154 yards rushing and five touchdowns on 31 attempts. Stevens was also selected as the Defensive Player of the Year by the coaches in his division.
P – Vincenzo Rea, Sr., Manalapan
One of the top all-around kickers in New Jersey, Rea didn’t have the same field goal opportunities as last season when he was the first-team All-Shore placekicker, but he was still an important weapon for the Braves despite their 2-4 season. Rea converted 16 of 18 extra points and kicked a 20-yard field goal. His only other attempt was from over 50 yards. He averaged 36.4 yards per punt with a long of 72 and two punts downed inside the 20-yard line. On kickoffs, 15 of his 26 kicks went for touchbacks. Rea will continue his career at Monmouth University.
SECOND TEAM
Offense
QB – Savon Myers, Jr., Manchester
In his first year as a starting quarterback, Myers completed 58 percent of his passes for 1,400 yards with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions and added six rushing touchdowns to help Manchester go 5-3.
QB – Tommy Fallon, Jr., Colts Neck
Fallon served as a steady and experienced presence under center for the No. 6 Cougars, completing 67 percent of his passes for 720 yards and five touchdowns and rushing for 475 yards and two touchdowns on an average of 8.3 yards per carry to help the team go 7-1. Fallon was also Colts Neck’s punter and averaged 34.5 yards per punt with six punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
RB – Joe Barsky, Sr., Colts Neck
Barsky was fifth in the Shore in rushing yards and first in scoring with 1,129 yards and 20 touchdowns on an average of 7.0 yards per carry. He had six 100-yard games, including a career-high 244 yards and three touchdowns in an overtime win over Manalapan. His play helped Colts Neck go 7-1 and finish No. 6 in the SSN Top 10.
RB – Jaden Gallo, Jr., Holmdel
Gallo was one of eight Shore Conference running backs to crack the 1,000-yard plateau as he rushed for 1,010 yards and 14 touchdowns on an average of 8.5 yards per carry. Holmdel went 6-1 and finished No. 9 in the SSN Top 10.
RB – Shane McLaughlin, Sr., Shore
McLaughlin ran for 540 yards and nine touchdowns on an average of 8.2 yards per carry in six games. Shore went 4-2 and was third in the Shore in scoring offense at 31.2 points per game. McLaughlin will continue his career at Harvard University.
TE – Ethan Capone, Sr., Donovan Catholic
Capone caught eight passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns and was a stout blocker for an offense that rushed for 2,107 yards and led the Shore with a 33.8 points per game scoring average. Capone also played defensive end for the Griffins and had 31 tackles, 2 sacks and 3 tackles for loss. His play helped Donovan go 7-1, reach the Shore Conference Championship Pod final and finish No. 2 in the SSN Top 10.
WR – Patrick Jamin, Sr., Rumson-Fair Haven
Jamin caught 19 passes for 312 yards and four touchdowns and also returned a kickoff for a touchdown on a Bulldogs offense that was fifth in the Shore averaging 29.3 points per game. His play helped Rumson go 6-2 and finish No. 5 in the SSN Top 10. Jamin will play both college football and lacrosse at Middlebury College.
WR – Xavier Hendricks, Sr., Southern
Hendrick’s presence at wide receiver helped Southern’s offense achieve balance and he was also a standout in the secondary. He was third in the Shore with 40 receptions and fourth in yards with 563 while scoring four touchdowns through the air. He also had an interception return for a touchdown and a kickoff return for a touchdown, plus 33 tackles and two interceptions on defense.
WR – Chris Carasia, Sr., Ocean
A Division 1 recruit, Carasia caught 21 passes for 437 yards and four touchdowns for a Spartans offense that averaged 20 points per game. He will continue his career at Lafayette College.
OL – Shane Watkins, Sr., Toms River South
A member of Toms River South’s large and impactful senior class, the 6-foot-2, 260-pound Watkins was a standout up front for an Indians offense than ran for 1,509 yards, threw for 1,013 yards, scored 23 touchdowns and averaged 22.3 points per game. He added 18 tackles, four hurries, a pass deflection and a blocked kick on defense. His play helped Toms River South go 6-2 for its first winning season since 2013 and finish No. 8 in the SSN Top 10.
OL – Brian Byrne, Jr., Wall
A third-year starter for the No. 1 Crimson Knights, Byrne was rock-solid as the team’s center for an offense that was second in the Shore averaging 33.3 points per game. Wall ran for 1,678 yards and 26 touchdowns on an average of 6.7 yards per carry. Byrne played sparingly on defense but did record one sack and two tackles for loss for a defense that was tops in the Shore allowing a paltry 5.4 points per game along with four shutouts. His play helped Wall go 7-0 for its first undefeated season since 1983, finish No. 1 in the SSN Top 10 for the second year in a row, claim the Shore Conference championship and finish ranked No. 1 in New Jersey. He is one of seven returning offensive starters for the Crimson Knights next season.
OL – Taz McNair, Jr., Donovan Catholic
The younger and only slightly smaller McNair brother, Caron’s blocking helped the Griffins rush for 2,107 yards and 26 touchdowns, average 410 yards of offense per game and score a Shore Conference-leading 33.8 points per game. He added 17 tackles and two sacks on defense. Donovan finished 7-1 and No. 2 in the SSN Top 10. McNair holds scholarship offers from UMass, Delaware State and Old Dominion.
OL – Luke Guidetti, Sr., Red Bank Catholic
Guidetti was the Caseys’ top lineman and helped them go 4-2 and finish No. 3 in the SSN Top 10. He also played on defense and made 27 tackles.
OL – Paul DeFalco, Sr., Raritan
DeFalco was the top lineman for a Rockets team that ran for 1,274 yards and 17 touchdowns, threw for 867 yards and 10 touchdowns and averaged 305 yards and averaged 28.4 points per game. He also played on defense and recorded 27 tackles and a forced fumble. He helped Raritan go 6-1, which included a six-game winning streak to end the season, and finish No. 10 in the SSN Top 10.
UT – Kamore Gill, Jr., Freehold
Gill was a dynamic playmaker for an explosive Freehold offense that averaged 30.8 points per game and 420 yards per game and scored 31 touchdowns. Gill ran for 429 yards and two touchdowns, caught 18 passes for 390 yards and three touchdowns and scored a 2-point conversion. On defense, he had 20 tackles and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. His contributions helped Freehold go 6-2 and finish No. 7 in the SSN Top 10.
UT – Owen Laughlin, Sr., Red Bank
A Division 1 recruit, Laughlin was the engine of Red Bank’s offense as a dual-threat quarterback. He threw for 772 yards and nine touchdowns and ran for 713 yards and three touchdowns on an average of 6.0 yards per carry. On defense, Laughlin made 36 tackles with a sack, six tackles for loss and a forced fumble. He will continue his career at the University of Richmond.
K – Kayden Hutchinson, Jr., Freehold
Freehold’s offense found the end zone more often than not, but if the Colonials came up short they could rely on Hutchinson to put points on the board. He connected on 27 of 34 points and 4 of 5 field-goal attempts with a long of 37 yards. He had had a game-winning 37-yard field goal in a 40-37 win over Middletown North and a go-ahead 34-yard field goal in a 38-35 comeback win over Southern. Freehold went 6-2 and finished No. 7 in the SSN Top 10.
Defense
DL – Aiden Moriarty, Jr., Rumson-Fair Haven
One of the top pass-rushers in the Shore, Moriarty had 60 tackles, a team-high seven sacks and an interception for a defense that was fourth in the Shore allowing just 10.8 points per game. His play up front helped Rumson go 6-2 and finish No. 5 in the SSN Top 10.
DL – Delano Marcelus, Sr., Colts Neck
Marcelus recorded 76 tackles, 5 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, 23 hurries, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery for a Colts Neck team that went 7-1 and finished No. 6 in the SSN Top 10. He was selected as the co-Defensive Player of the Year by the coaches in his division.
DL – Tyler Ochojski, Jr., Freehold
A disruptive edge rusher, Ochojski had 57 tackles and a fumble recovery and tied for the Shore Conference lead with 10 sacks. He also caught 15 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns as Freehold’s tight end, helping the Colonials go 6-2 and finish No. 7 in the SSN Top 10.
DL – Brendan Bigos, Sr., Middletown South
Bigos fought his way back from an injury to have a very good senior season with 40 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 4 hurries, 2 quarterback hits and a forced fumble.
LB – Devin Raevis, Jr., Toms River South
Raevis was the leading tackler for a Toms River South defense that allowed 18.6 points per game, making 83 stops. His play helped the Indians go 6-2 for their first winning season since 2013 and finish No. 8 in the SSN Top 10.
LB – Lou Pilla, Jr., Wall
It’s easy to be overlooked among all of Wall’s standouts on defense, but a closer inspection reveals Pilla had a very good season for an all-time defensive unit. He recorded 38 tackles with a team-high 8 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 5 hurries and a forced fumble for a Wall defense that allowed just 5.4 points per game and recorded four shutouts. Pilla’s contributions helped Wall go 7-0 for its first undefeated season since 1983, finish No. 1 in the SSN Top 10 for the second year in a row, claim the Shore Conference championship and finish ranked No. 1 in New Jersey. He is one of eight returning defensive starters for the Crimson Knights next season.
LB – Tyron Blackwell, Sr., Jackson Memorial
Blackwell totaled 70 tackles, 7 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery for a Jaguars defense that allowed under 80 yards rushing per game and held two teams to negative rushing yards.
LB – Julian Young, Sr., St. John Vianney
St. John Vianney had the No. 6 scoring defense in the Shore allowing just 11.7 points per game and Young led the way with 84 tackles, 4 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, 14 hurries, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and a defensive touchdown.
LB – Imeer Johnson, Sr., Central
A Division 1 recruit, Johnson was a fixture behind the line of scrimmage with 5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and 44 total tackles. He is a two-time All-Shore selection and will continue his career at Long Island University.
DB – Matt Dollive, Jr., Wall
Dollive had 21 tackles with eight passes defensed and a tackle for loss as a cornerback for a defense that was fabulous. Wall had one of the best defenses in Shore Conference history allowing just 5.4 points per game and recording shutouts in four of seven games. As a wide receiver, Dollive had two touchdowns and averaged 14.2 yards per touch. He had a clutch 31-yard catch on third down during Wall’s 18-15 win over Donovan Catholic in the Shore Conference Championship Pod final. His play helped Wall go 7-0 for its first undefeated season since 1983, finish No. 1 in the SSN Top 10 for the second year in a row, claim the Shore Conference championship and finish ranked No. 1 in New Jersey. He is one of eight returning defensive starters and seven returning offensive starters for the Crimson Knights next season. Also a standout lacrosse player, Dollive recently gave a verbal commitment to continue his lacrosse career at Army.
DB – Najih Rahman, So., Red Bank Catholic
An outstanding sophomore, Rahman was dynamic in both the secondary and at wide receiver. He had a key interception return for a touchdown in a win over Rumson-Fair Haven and on offense caught 19 passes for 270 yards and five touchdowns. His play helped the Caseys go 4-2 and finish No. 3 in the SSN Top 10.
DB – Andrew Vernieri, Sr., Barnegat
Vernieri was second in the Shore Conference with five interceptions and added 10 passes defensed and 22 total tackles. He also contributed two touchdowns as a wide receiver to help the Bengals go 5-3.
DB – Anthony Matrone, Sr., Manalapan
Matrone was a two-way playmaker for the Braves and led the team in rushing, receiving, scoring and defensive turnovers. On defense, he had 45 tackles, 3 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery and offensively he rushed for 346 yards and three touchdowns and caught 12 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns.
UT – TJ McArthur, Sr., Brick Memorial
McArthur led Brick Memorial as the Mustangs quarterback and middle linebacker. On defense, he made a team-high 86 tackles with 3 sacks, 7 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. As the quarterback in the Mustangs’ option-based offense, he ran for 713 yards and five touchdowns and threw for 432 yards and two touchdowns.
UT – Gerry Ferrigno, Sr., Toms River South
Ferrigno did a little bit of everything to help Toms River South forge its best season in nearly a decade. As a running back in the Indians’ option-based offense, Ferrigno ran for a team-high 478 yards and six touchdowns on an average of 7.6 yards per carry and also caught 16 passes for a team-leading 392 yards and one touchdown. As a linebacker, Ferrigno recorded 64 tackles with five tackles for loss. He was instrumental in Toms River South going 6-2 for its first winning season since 2013 and finishing No. 8 in the SSN Top 10.
THIRD TEAM
QB – Evyn Menta, Sr., Donovan Catholic
Menta had big shoes to fill in taking the reins of Donovan’s offense after four-year starter and first-team All-Shore quarterback Ryan Clark graduated, but he acclimated himself quite well by completing 75 percent of his passes for 1,170 yards with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions. He made some clutch throws in the postseason, completing 15 of 18 passes for 133 yards and four touchdowns in a 28-14 win over Red Bank Catholic and completing 13 of 15 passes for 119 yards against Wall. Donovan went 7-1, finished No. 2 in the SSN Top 10 and had the conference’s top scoring offense at 33.8 points per game.
QB – Alex Brown, Jr., Mater Dei Prep
Brown completed 64 percent of his passes for 957 yards and eight touchdowns with just two interceptions and also ran for 239 yards, helping the Seraphs go 5-2 and finish No. 4 in the SSN Top 10.
QB - Ben Hutchins, Jr., Raritan - FINAL VOTE WINNER
Hutchins threw for 867 yards with 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions in his first year as the Rockets starting quarterback, helping Raritan win its final six games of the season to finish 6-1 and end the season ranked No. 10 in the SSN Top 10 and No. 9 in the Coaches Top 20.
RB – Keontae Wiggins, Sr., Monmouth
Wiggins was one of eight players to rush for 1,000 yards this season and finished with 1,094 yards and 10 touchdowns on an average of 8.3 yards per carry. He also contributed on defense with 27 tackles, one interception, one sack, a fumble recovery, three passes defensed and a defensive touchdown.
RB – Josh Glenn, Sr., Manchester
A dual-threat standout for the Hawks, Glenn ran for 625 yards and six touchdowns on an average of 6.3 yards per carry and caught 24 passes for 533 yards and five touchdowns to help Manchester go 5-3.
RB – Akhi Barksdale, Sr., Brick Memorial
Barksdale was a threat to score every time he touched the ball, rushing for 372 yards and seven touchdowns on an average of 6.4 yards per carry and catching 22 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown. He also had a kickoff return for a touchdown. He is a two-time All-Shore selection.
RB - Kieran Falzon, So., Raritan - FINAL VOTE WINNER
Falzon was a major component of a balanced Raritan offense that was No. 7 in the Shore scoring 28.4 points per game. Falzon ran for 625 yards and 10 touchdowns on an average of 4.8 yards per carry to help Raritan win its final six games of the season to finish 6-1. The Rockets ended the year ranked No. 10 in the SSN Top 10 and No. 9 in the Coaches Top 20
TE – Joe Stanzione, Sr., Middletown South
Stanzione was a strong blocker and also had a touchdown catch, and on defense he recorded 31 tackles with 4 tackles for loss, 2 hurries, 2 batted passes and a fumble recovery.
WR – Quentin Soler, Sr., Middletown North
Soler caught 27 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns and on defense made 19 tackles, one interception and five pass breakups.
WR – Jack Collins, Sr., Manasquan
Collins and his 6-foot-6 frame were a major weapon for a Manasquan team that went 5-3 and averaged 22.9 points per game. He caught 17 passes for 336 yards and five touchdowns to average 19.8 yards per reception.
WR – Mikai Brown-Jones, Sr., Asbury Park
A dangerous playmaker, Brown-Jones caught 25 passes for 500 yards and seven touchdowns, returned a punt for a touchdown, made 27 tackles, forced a fumble and recorded a sack to help the Blue Bishops go 4-2.
WR - Tyler Madeo, Sr., Toms River South - FINAL VOTE WINNER
Toms River South put together its best season since 2013 by going 6-2, finishing No. 8 in the SSN Top 10 and finishing No. 10 in the Coaches Top 20. Madeo's skills at receiver helped the Indians be one of the most balanced offenses in the Shore as he caught 20 passes for 351 yards and two touchdowns.
OL – Nick Hall, Sr., Freehold
Hall blocked for one of the best offenses in the Shore Conference as Freehold averaged 30.8 points per game and 420 yards per game. The Colonials ran for 2,116 yards and 23 touchdowns and passed for 1,251 yards and eight touchdowns in a season that saw them go 6-2 and finish No. 7 in the SSN Top 10.
OL – Matt Milone, Sr., Jackson Memorial
Milone’s blocks helped Will Towns lead the Shore Conference in rushing with 1,379 yards and Jackson rush for a total of 1,804 yards and 19 touchdowns on an average of 6.3 yards per carry. He also started on defense and had three sacks and seven tackles for loss.
OL – Eddie Van Woudenberg, Sr., Wall
Van Woudenberg was a steady and reliable veteran along Wall’s offensive line and helped the Crimson Knights rush for 1,678 yards and 26 touchdowns on an average of 6.7 yards per carry and average 33.3 points per game, which was No. 2 in the Shore. His play helped Wall go 7-0 for its first undefeated season since 1983, finish No. 1 in the SSN Top 10 for the second year in a row, claim the Shore Conference championship and finish ranked No. 1 in New Jersey.
OL – Pat Fulginiti, Sr., Southern
Fulginiti was the top lineman for a Southern offense that averaged 27.6 points a game and produced a 1,000-yard rusher (Jaiden Brown) and a 1,000-yard passer (Taylor Munt). He also rotated in on defense and made 11 tackles.
OL – Aaron Crooms, Jr., Donovan Catholic
A mauling pulling guard for the Griffins, Crooms helped the Donovan rush for 2,107 yards and 26 touchdowns on an average of 8.9 yards per carry and 263 yards per game. His play up front helped the DC offense average a conference-high 33.8 points per game as the Griffins went 7-1 and finished No. 2 in the SSN Top 10.
OL - Brian Navitsky, Sr., Red Bank - FINAL VOTE WINNER
Navitsky was the top lineman for a Red Bank team that averaged 21 points per game and 313.8 yards per game. He also contributed defensively with two sacks and three tackles for loss as a defensive lineman.
UT – Matt Scully, Sr., Colts Neck
An important two-way player for the No. 6 Cougars, Scully caught 28 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns and made 69 tackles with 2 interceptions, 10 passes defensed and 1 tackle for loss. His play helped Colts Neck go 7-1.
UT – Christian Donnelly, Sr., Holmdel
As the quarterback of Holmdel’s split-back veer offense that averaged 353 yards rushing and 27.4 points per game, Donnelly ran 781 yards and four touchdowns on an incredible average of 12.3 yards per carry. On defense in the secondary, Donnelly made 31 tackles with 2 interceptions, 3 pass breakups, 1 tackle for loss and a defensive touchdown. His play helped the Hornets go 6-1 and finish No. 9 in the SSN Top 10.
UT – Zach Goodale, Sr., Toms River North
A two-time All-Shore selection and a Division 1 recruit, Goodale caught 13 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns and started in the secondary. He will continue his career at Rutgers University.
K – Evan Weiner, So., Manchester
One of the top scoring kickers in the Shore this season, Weiner converted 20 of 23 extra points and kicked three field goals with a long of 37 yards.
Defense
DL – Eric Ibe, Jr., Jackson Memorial
Ibe had a breakout year for the Jaguars, tying for the Shore Conference lead with 10 sacks and recording 55 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Jackson had one of the best run defenses in the Shore allowing under 80 yards per game and holding two opponents to negative rushing yards.
DL – Gavin Claro, Sr., Manalapan
Claro recorded a team-high 61 tackles, 9 sacks and 10 tackles for loss along with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for a Manalapan defense that was tied for seventh in the Shore in points allowed at 13.5 per game.
DL – Nate Committee, Jr., Southern
Committee made 62 tackles and a team-high six sacks and a safety for a defense that allowed 17 points per game. He was also a fullback for an offense that averaged 27.6 points per game and had a 1,000-yard rusher (Jaiden Brown) and a 1,000-yard passer (Taylor Munt). In addition to his blocking, Committee ran for 196 yards, caught eight passes for 107 yards and totaled five touchdowns.
DL – Joe Teresi, Sr., Ocean
A three-year starter for the Spartans, Teresi led Ocean with four sacks and nine tackles for loss.
DL - Jared Cadavero, Sr., Jackson Memorial - FINAL VOTE WINNER
Jackson's final record (4-4) and defensive numbers (18.4) weren't among the best in the Shore, but the Jaguars did have a tenacious run defense that helped them post two shutouts and hold two teams to negative rushing yards. Cadavero was a big reason why. In his first and only season as a starter, he posted 41 total tackles along with five sacks and a whopping 25 tackles for loss.
LB – Jamie Mazzacco, Jr., Shore
Mazzacco made 56 tackles with six tackles for loss, an interception, 2 fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and a blocked field goal for a defense that allowed just 10.5 points per game. He also ran for 164 yards and four touchdowns on an average of 6.6 yards per carry.
LB – Khalil Elamin, Sr., Mater Dei
Elamin had 39 tackles and a forced fumble for a Seraphs team that went 5-2 and finished No. 4 in the SSN Top 10.
LB – Alex Dekis, Jr., Raritan
Dekis recorded 48 tackles, 2 sacks and 4 tackles for loss for a Rockets defense that allowed 17 points per game. He helped Raritan go 6-1, which included a six-game winning streak to end the season, and finish No. 10 in the SSN Top 10.
LB – Patrick Beltran, Sr., Keansburg
Beltran posted a team-high 42 tackles, 3 sacks and 4 tackles for loss along with a fumble recovery. He was also Keansburg’s top running back and rushed for 606 yards and six touchdowns and caught eight passes for 134 yards and a touchdown.
LB – Shayne Leddy, Sr., Manasquan
Leddy had eight tackles for loss, one sack, three quarterback hits and a forced fumble for a Manasquan defense that was 10th in the Shore allowing 15.5 points per game.
LB – Anthony Bonanno, Jr., Colts Neck
Bonanno was the leading tackler for a Colts Neck team that allowed just 13.5 points per game and recorded two shutouts. Bonanno made 84 tackles with 3 tackles for loss and 6 hurries and added a touchdown run to help the Cougars go 7-1 and finish No. 6 in the SSN Top 10.
LB - Connor Farrell, Jr., Donovan Catholic - FINAL VOTE WINNER
The Griffins fielded an outstanding defense in 2020 and Farrell was among the unit's several standouts. He recorded 61 total tackles along with 2 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, 3 fumble recoveries and 1 fumble recovery as Donovan Catholic allowed just 8.1 points per game and recorded two shutouts. His play helped the Griffins go 7-1, reach the Shore Conference championship pod final and finish No. 2 in both the SSN Top 10 and the Coaches Top 20.
DB – Trevor Pruitt, Sr., Donovan Catholic
Pruitt was the captain of Donovan’s secondary and recorded 49 tackles with 2 interceptions, 2 tackles for loss, 9 passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for a defense that was second in the Shore allowing just 8.1 points per game. His play helped the Griffins go 7-1 and finish No. 2 in the SSN Top 10.
DB – Nick Ferrogine, Sr., Red Bank
A three-time All-Shore selection, Ferrogine made 56 tackles, which included 43 solo stops, 9 tackles for loss and 2 pass deflections. As a wide receiver, he caught 21 passes for 368 yards and three touchdowns. He was also Red Bank’s punter and averaged 37.9 yards per punt with a long of 70 and five punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
DB – Elijah Johnston, Sr., Mater Dei Prep
Johnston had 17 tackles, an interception, 3 pass breakups, 2 tackles for loss and 2 hurries to help Mater Dei go 5-2 and finish No. 4 in the SSN Top 10.
DB – Wally Doman, Sr., Jackson Memorial
A repeat All-Shore selection, Doman was a two-way standout for the Jaguars. He made 58 tackles with 3 tackles for loss, 2 fumble recoveries, an interception return for a touchdown and a forced fumble. As a wide receiver, Doman had a team-high 12 catches for 310 yards and five touchdowns.
DB - Mike Madera, Sr., Toms River East - FINAL VOTE WINNER
One of the top ballhawks in the Shore, Madera tied for third in the conference with four interceptions and added 21 tackles, three tackles for loss and one pick-6.
UT – Mikal Braithwaite, Jr., Keansburg
Braithwaite was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year by the coaches in his division and was also a dual-threat quarterback for the Titans. He threw for 897 yards and 11 touchdowns with five interceptions and ran for 363 yards and five touchdowns. On defense, he made 38 tackles with one interception, one fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown.
UT – Nick Totten, Sr., Toms River East
Totten led the way for the Raiders as their quarterback and in the secondary. He ran for 551 yards and seven touchdowns, threw for 441 yards and five touchdowns and made 40 tackles with two interceptions, a forced fumble and one tackle for loss.
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.
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