Football: Red Bank's Will DalPra Honored with Unsung Hero Award

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Red Bank Regional senior Will DalPra has been selected for the 2020 Jay Patrick Unsung Hero Award by the Monmouth County Rotary Club.

The award is named after the late long-time Rotarian Jay Patrick, who was also one of the founders of the Vince Lombardi Awards, and is “presented to a Monmouth County high school football player who has persevered and made real contributions to his team while not expecting anything in return”.

Photo by Pat Zachman.

DalPra was a linebacker for the Bucs and this past fall and recorded 88 tackles, 4 sacks and 12 tackles for loss to lead the team in all three categories. He was a First Team All-Liberty Division selection by the coaches and the Bucs’ co-Defensive Player of the Year along with Owen Laughlin. Red Bank went 7-4 and its defense allowed 15.8 points per game to rank 12^th in the Shore.

DalPra was set to receive the Jay Patrick Unsung Hero Award at the Lombard Awards banquet, which was originally scheduled for last week but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’ve been coaching for 17 years and it is the first time that I had a tough, gritty, smart leader of the team who was also the ultimate team player,” said Red Bank head coach David Schuman, who nominated DalPra for the award. “Will was also one that truly takes the time to make sure every single member of the team feels a part of the team. He cares for every one of his teammates and was willing to help the team in any way he could.”

DalPra currently holds a 3.9 GPA and will attend Florida State University in the fall where he will major in business.

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.