While the high school football season is not officially over (Wall & Mater Dei Prep have championship games this weekend at Rutgers) our Shore Sports Network has handed out our major awards for the 2019 season.

We did so last night as part of the season-ending Asylum Sports Center Coaches Corner during a live broadcast at the athletic training facility in Wall.

Ocean’s Trebor Pena claimed the coveted Shore Sports Network Most Valuable Player award and if ever a player fit what an MVP truly is then it’s the Syracuse-bound senior who was the major reason why the Spartans won the Patriot Division title and finished 8-1.

Pena led the shore in rushing with 1,550 yards, averaging an eye-opening 11.4 yards per carry and he also led the shore with 6 interceptions while shining as a defensive back. A standout punt and kick returner he finished with 23 touchdowns and did so in just 9 games. Next stop, the Carrier Dome.

In a season that featured standout performances by many it was Toms River North junior quarterback Jake Kazanowsky who earned the Offensive Player of the Year award. He led the Shore Conference in completions (116), yardage (2,144) and touchdowns (23) as the Mariners emerged champions of the ultra-competitive American Division. The best news for TR North is that the 6’2 Kazanowsky will return next year and plans on working hard to improve his game.

Jackson Memorial defensive end Collin McCarthy was at times a one-man wrecking crew and opposing teams often tried to run away from him. It didn’t work too well.

He is our Defensive Player of the Year after leading the shore with 18 sacks and an incredible 46 tackles for loss. The 6’7, 240 pound McCarthy has committed to the UConn where his father Mike was a standout player in the early 90’s. He plans to sign with them on December 18th but admitted new Rutgers coach Greg Schiano has reached out to him.

Our Coach of the Year is Tony Grandinetti who has led Wall to the Colonial and Central Jersey Group 3 championships as part of a 12-0 season. In his third season he has helped build a marquee program that should be a force for years to come.

Wall has one more game to play and if they beat Woodrow Wilson of Camden Sunday at Rutgers would be the first shore team to win 13 games in a season. So it’s no surprise that they are our Team of the Year, an award that was accepted last night by co-captains Ian Ackerman and Logan Peters.

You can watch the awards show on shoresportsnetwork.com

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