Ace Outdoor Power Equipment Player of the Week: Derek Ernst

Every week this season, Shore Conference football fans will get their chance to vote for the Ace Outdoor Power Equipment Football Player of the Week on our website, with more than 380,000 votes cast so far this season.

The latest recipient of the fans’ voting is Raritan junior tailback Derek Ernst, who erupted for 260 yards rushing and four touchdowns in a 35-13 win over Holmdel on Thanksgiving to cap a tremendous season. Ernst finished with more than 1,500 yards rushing and scored 24 touchdowns after taking over as the starting running back in the second game of the season following a season-ending injury to senior Richie Salerno. He helped the Rockets (5-5) reach the playoffs for the first time since 2009 and register their most wins since 2010.

The Raritan fans overwhelmingly voted Ernst the winner, as he received  75.9 percent of the vote to top Wall junior quarterback/defensive back Matt Cluley, who had 338 total yards and three touchdowns between rushing and passing and also had the game-sealing interception on defense in a 21-14 win over Manasquan on Thanksgiving.

Week 11 Player of the Week: Red Bank Catholic's offensive line

Week 10 Player of the Week: Red Bank Catholic’s Mike DeMonte

Week Nine Player of the Week: Jackson Memorial’s Mike Gawlik

Week Eight Player of the Week: Red Bank’s Jack Navitsky

Week Seven Player of the Week: Point Beach’s Mike Frauenheim

Week Six Player of the Week: Southern’s Brandon Barnetti

Week Five Player of the Week: Middletown North’s Troy Thompson

Week Four Player of the Week: Central’s Mike Bickford

Week Three Player of the Week: Toms River North’s Asante Moorer

Week Two Player of the Week: Freehold Boro’s Jake Curry

Week One Player of the Week: Brick’s Carmen Sclafani

Week Zero Player of the Week: Donovan Catholic kicker GianCarlo Stigliano