Football – SSN Divisional Players of the Week, Week 7
In addition to the reader-selected Orthopaedic Institute of Central Jersey Football Player of the Week, we will also be selecting Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for each of the Shore Conference’s six divisions. We’ll also choose an overall Shore Conference Special Teams Player of the Week to highlight any standout kicking performances or players that got it done in the return game.
Below we’ll focus on the best performances from Week 7.
SSN SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ja Billingsley, Jr., Brick Memorial
Billingsley returned a blocked punt 20 yards for a touchdown during Brick Memorial’s 55-28 win over Southern for the team’s sixth straight win.
SSN DIVISIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
CLASS A NORTH
Offense
Naim Mayfield, Sr., RB, Manalapan and Ashante Worthy, Sr., QB, Freehold
We couldn’t pick one over the other after both had monster games in Week 7. Mayfield ran for a career-high 313 yards and five touchdowns on just nine carries in a 56-20 victory over Neptune. Worthy accounted for 473 total yards and seven touchdowns in a 62-28 win over Marlboro, going 14-for-14 for 206 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 267 yards and four touchdowns.
Defense
Matt Mazauskas, Sr., DL, Howell
Mazauskas made 10 tackles and recorded two sacks as the Rebels’ defense allowed just 139 total yards in a 37-10 win over Freehold Township.
CLASS A CENTRAL
Offense
St. John Vianney offensive line (C.J. Hanson, Dominick Spano, Paul Liseno, Donovan Reiser, Alec Larsen, Andrew McGimpsey)
The Lancers men in the trenches got it done in a huge way to fuel a 35-17 win over Red Bank Catholic for SJV’s 36th straight Shore Conference win. Hanson, Spano, Liseno, Reiser, Larson and McGimpsey paved the way for 371 yards rushing and five touchdowns on an average of 8.1 yards per carry against the Caseys. Johnny Buchanan ran for 242 yards and two touchdowns and Zyaire Sterling added 102 yards and two touchdowns.
Defense
Johnny Buchanan, Sr., LB and Nick Densieski, Sr., DE, St. John Vianney
In addition to having a huge game at running back (see above), Buchanan made 14 tackles and came through with a clutch interception late in the game during a 35-17 win over Red Bank Catholic. Densieski was a force off the edge with three sacks.
CLASS A SOUTH
Offense
Tyler Sindel, Jr., QB, Brick Memorial
Sindel had a career day in a 55-28 win over Southern by going 4-for-5 for 137 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 126 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries as the Mustangs won their sixth straight game.
Defense
Colin McCarthy, So., DE and John Ghigna, Jr., DB, Jackson Memorial
Jackson’s defense continues to smother opponents and McCarthy and Ghigna were once again key contributors in a 42-14 win over Toms River East. McCarthy made nine tackles, including two for a loss, while also recording two sacks. Ghigna made 12 tackles, intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble.
CLASS B NORTH
Offense
Ben Kinsella, Sr., QB, Middletown South and Connor Morgan, Sr., RB, Manasquan
Kinsella had the best game of his career by going 12-for-16 for 218 yards and four touchdowns in a 27-0 win over Toms River North. Morgan rumbled for a game-high 185 yards and a touchdown in a 23-14 victory over Middletown North.
Defense
Matt Tardy, Jr., LB, Middletown South
Tardy was all over the field in a 27-0 win over Toms River North with 12 tackles, including five for a loss, and two sacks.
CLASS B CENTRAL
Offense
Donte Abrams, Sr., WR, Asbury Park
In a 47-8 win over Dunellen, Abrams was tremendous with 110 yards rushing and two touchdowns on just three carries and four catches for 77 yards and two touchdowns.
Defense
John Nista, Sr., LB, Point Beach
Point Beach shut out Shore, 11-0, to snap a three-game losing streak and improve to 4-3, and Nista had a great game with 4.5 sacks and four more tackles. He also supplied the Garnet Gulls’ offense with 59 yards rushing and a touchdown, plus a two-point conversion run.
CLASS B SOUTH
Brennan Richardson, Sr., RB, Pinelands
Richardson ran for 171 yards and a touchdown on just nine carries, averaging 19 yards per attempt, in a 42-34 win over Manchester.
Defense
Zyheir Jones, Sr., QB, Lakewood
Jones has ignited Lakewood since returning from an injury and was spectacular yet again in a 27-7 win over Brick with nine tackles and two interceptions. He also had a great game at quarterback with 274 total yards and four touchdowns.
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