Shore Sports Network 2020 Preseason All-Shore Football Team
Shore Sports Network is proud to present its fourth annual Shore Conference Preseason All-Shore Football team, featuring our compilation of the top returning players in the Shore Conference.
OFFENSE
QB – Jake Kazanowsky, Sr., Toms River North
The 2019 Shore Sports Network Offensive Player of the Year, Kazanowsky threw for 2,144 yards and 23 touchdowns to lead the Shore in both categories. He piloted a Toms River North offense that averaged 32.5 points per game and 350 yards per game as the Mariners went 9-2, won the American Division championship, reached the semifinals of the Central Jersey Group 5 state playoffs and finished No. 2 in the SSN Top 10. He was also selected as the American Division Offensive Player of the Year. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019.
RB – Will Towns, Sr., Jackson Memorial
After sharing the backfield as a sophomore Towns took over as the Jaguars starting running back last season and literally ran with it, rushing for 1,372 yards and 12 touchdowns to finish third in the Shore Conference in rushing. He had six 100-yard games, including a career-high 242 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Brick and 232 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Freehold. Towns’ play helped Jackson go 8-3, reach the Central Jersey Group 4 state sectional final and finish No. 4 in the SSN Top 10. His recruiting ramped up as the season progressed and during the offseason, he committed to Wake Forest. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019
RB – Casey Larkin, Sr., Wall
Larkin was an indispensable player for Wall and did a little bit of everything to lead the way in a historic season. Larkin ran for 1,038 yards and 12 touchdowns on an average of 6.5 yards per carry and posted a team-leading 19 receptions for 388 yards and three touchdowns. As a defensive back, Larkin made 41 tackles with three interceptions and pick-6. He was sorely missed in a Group 3 Regional Championship loss to Woodrow Wilson after suffering a concussion against Manasquan on Thanksgiving. Larkin’s play was a major reason why Wall set a school record with 12 wins and only one defeat, won the Colonial Division championship, captured the Central Jersey Group 3 state sectional title and finished No. 1 in the SSN Top 10. Larkin was also selected as the Colonial Division co-Offensive Player of the Year with teammate Logan Peters. He recently committed to the United States Military Academy at West Point (Army). He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019.
RB – Jaiden Brown, Jr., Southern
A battering ram in the backfield, Brown ran for 1,242 yards and 14 touchdowns with seven 100-yard games to jolt Southern’s offense as the Rams went 7-3 and captured the Constitution Division title. He also had three interceptions on defense as a linebacker. He was a second-team All-Shore selection last year.
WR – Jayon Farrar, Sr., Donovan Catholic
Playing at Long Branch last season, Farrar led the Shore Conference in receptions with 52 and totaled 601 yards and three touchdowns to cap a superb junior season. His signature game came in a win over Middletown South where he caught seven passes for 146 yards. He had four catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns against Toms River North and had 11 catches in a game against Middletown North. Farrar also threw a touchdown pass, had two interceptions on defense and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019
WR – Zach Goodale, Sr., Toms River North
A big-play machine who recently committed to Rutgers, Goodale averaged 28 yards per receptions with 21 catches for 587 yards and seven touchdowns, which tied for the most in the Shore, for an offense that averaged 32.5 points per game and 350 yards per game. His played helped Toms River North go 9-2, win the American Division title, reach the Central Jersey Group 5 semifinals and finish No. 2 in the SSN Top 10. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019
WR – Zach Browne, Sr., Toms River North
Part of a deep group of receivers for the Mariners, Browne caught 34 passes for 542 yards and five touchdowns for an offense that averaged 32.5 points per game and 350 yards per game. His play helped the Mariners go 9-2, win the American Division championship, reach the Central Jersey Group 5 semifinals and finish No. 2 in the SSN Top 10. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019
TE – Tyler Ochojski, Jr., Freehold
A dynamic two-way player for the Colonials, Ochojski caught 23 passes for 324 yards and 4 touchdowns and also had a great year on defense with 67 tackles, 11.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. He was a second-team All-Shore selection last year.
OL – Grant Puharic, Sr., Wall
The top lineman for the No. 1 team in the Shore in 2019, Puharic led a stout unit in the trenches as Wall ran for 2,363 yards and 30 touchdowns and threw for 1,311 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Crimson Knights were eighth in the Shore in scoring, averaging 26.6 points per game. Puharic was also a starter for a stingy Wall defense and recorded 45 tackles, 2 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries. His play helped Wall set a school record with a 12-1 record as the Knights won the Colonial Division title and the Central Jersey Group 3 state sectional championship. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019
OL – Cam McNair, Sr., Donovan Catholic
McNair is an imposing figure up front with his 6-foot-5, 325-pound frame and his skills paved the way for Donovan Catholic’s explosive offense to lead the Shore Conference at 36.2 points per game in 2019. McNair’s blocking was a major reason the Griffins ran for 2,908 yards and 44 touchdowns, averaging 7.8 yards per attempt and 264 yards per game. The Griffins also averaged 356 yards per game. Donovan had one of the best seasons in program history with a 9-2 record, the Liberty Division championship, a trip to the Non-Public Group 3 state semifinals and the No. 8 ranking in the final SSN Top 10. McNair holds FBS scholarship offers from Buffalo, West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Rutgers. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019
OL – James Smith, Sr., Rumson-Fair Haven
The latest standout offensive lineman for Rumson, Smith led the way up front for a Bulldogs team that reached the Central Jersey Group 3 final for the seventh straight season. His blocking led a line comprised of five first-year starters as Rumson ran for 1,222 yards and 14 touchdowns and threw for 1,191 yard and 11 touchdowns against a grueling schedule. Rumson finished No. 5 in the SSN Top 10. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019
OL – Rakim Cooper, Sr., OL, Mater Dei Prep
A two-way standout in the trenches for the Seraphs, the 6-foot-4, 280-pound Cooper helped pave the way for an offense that averaged 28.7 points per game and had a potent rushing offense in 2019. His blocking paved the way for the Seraphs to rush for 2,757 yards and 31 touchdowns on an average of 8.5 yards per carry and 230 yards per game. His play helped the Seraphs reach a fourth straight state final and finish No. 3 in the SSN Top 10. Cooper became the latest FBS recruit for Mater Dei when he committed to Temple in June.
OL – Brian Byrne, Jr., OL, Wall
Byrne has been starting since his freshman year and last season helped anchor the Crimson Knights’ offensive line as the team’s center. His play helped the Shore’s top-ranked team rush for 2,363 yards and 30 touchdowns and pass for 1,311 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Crimson Knights were eighth in the Shore in scoring, averaging 26.6 points per game. The play of the offensive line was a major reason Wall set a school record with a 12-1 record as the Knights won the Colonial Division title and the Central Jersey Group 3 state sectional championship.
UT – Logan Peters, Sr., Wall
A great two-way player for the No. 1 Crimson Knights, Peters was one of the top quarterbacks in the Shore Conference and also a standout defensive back. He threw for 1,301 yards on 62 percent passing with 15 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He also ran for 630 yards and 10 touchdowns. As a safety, Peters made 43 tackles with a team-leading four interceptions, including a memorable game-clinching interception when Wall took down Mater Dei Prep, 14-7, to take over the top spot in the Shore. Peters was an integral contributor to a Wall team that set a school record for wins (12-1), claimed the Colonial Division title and won the Central Jersey Group 3 state sectional title. Peters was also the Colonial Division co-Offensive Player of the Year with teammate Casey Larkin. Also a lacrosse star, Peters is committed to Rutgers University for lacrosse. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019
UT – Naran Buntin, Sr., Mater Dei Prep
A home run threat on a Seraphs team loaded with playmakers, Buntin caught 19 passes for 320 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 209 yards and 3 touchdowns on just 7 carries to average 30 yards per carry. His played helped Mater Dei reach its fourth straight state final and finish No. 3 in the SSN Top 10. Buntin is committed to Kent State University.
K – Vincenzo Rea, Sr., Manalapan
Rea tied for the Shore Conference lead with six field goals and also tied for the longest kick with a 43-yard field goal. He also converted 22 of 24 extra points and was 6-for-8 on field goals. He added 13 touchbacks on kickoffs and as a punter dropped seven punts inside the 20-yard line. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019
DEFENSE
DL – Jake Louro, Sr., Red Bank Catholic
Louro had a breakout season to help Red Bank Catholic remain one of the best defensive teams in the Shore Conference, posting four sacks and 24 tackles for loss with 57 total stops from his defensive tackle position. RBC allowed just 12.9 points per game with one shutout and held five of its nine opponents to 10 points or less. Louro’s play helped the Caseys finish No. 7 in the SSN Top 10. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019.
DL – Dominick Giudice, Sr., Mater Dei Prep
After a solid sophomore season, Giudice had a breakout year to blossom into a dominating edge rusher. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound University of Michigan recruit racked up 19 sacks, the most in the Shore Conference, to go along with 14 tackles for loss, 44 total tackles and 26 quarterback pressures for a Mater Dei defense that was fifth in the Shore allowing just 11.3 points per game while recording four shutouts. One of his best games of the season came in the Non-Public Group 3 state final when he recorded three sacks in a loss to DePaul. His play helped the Seraphs reach their fourth straight state final and finish No. 3 in the SSN Top 10. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019.
DL – Von Factor, Sr., Rumson-Fair Haven
A disruptive player along Rumson’s defensive line, Factor made 79 tackles with 3 sacks and 9 tackles for loss to help the Bulldogs reach their seventh straight state sectional championship game and finish No. 5 in the SSN Top 10. He was a second-team All-Shore selection last year.
DL – I’meer Johnson, Sr., Central
Johnson was a defensive force for the Golden Eagles with 49 tackles, 8 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 forced fumbles, 1 safety and 3 defensive touchdowns. He was a third-team All-Shore selection last year.
DL – Aiden Moriarty, Jr., Rumson-Fair Haven
The sophomore defensive end was one of the top sack artists in the Shore with 13.5 sacks to go along with 70 tackles as the Bulldogs reached their seventh consecutive sectional final and finished No. 5 in the SSN Top 10. He was a third-team All-Shore selection last year.
LB – Charlie Sasso, Jr., Wall
Sasso had the rare distinction of starting as a freshman and there was certainly no sophomore slump for the standout inside linebacker. Sasso was a complete all-around linebacker who could play the run and pass and also rush the quarterback. He was fifth in the Shore with 127 tackles, 73 of which were solo stops, along with 3 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble. Wall’s defense was second in the Shore allowing just 9.5 points per game with one shutout and his play helped the Crimson Knights go 12-1 with a school record for wins, claim the Colonial Division title, win the Central Jersey Group 3 state sectional title and finish No. 1 in the SSN Top 10. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019.
LB – Quamire Green, Sr., Donovan Catholic
The leader of the No. 1 scoring defense in the Shore in 2019, Green’s third year as a starting inside linebacker saw him make a team-high 102 tackles along with 4 sacks, 8 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. Donovan allowed a conference-low 96 points in 11 games, an average of just 8.7 per game, with six shutouts. Green’s play helped the Griffins go 9-2, win the Liberty Division title, reach the Non-Public Group 3 state semifinals and finish No. 8 in the SSN Top 10. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019.
LB – Colin Riley, Jr., Wall
After seeing time as a freshman, Riley flourished in his first full year as a starter as one of the best edge rushers in the Shore. He was seventh in the Shore with 11 sacks to go along with 69 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery and 1 forced fumble. Wall was second in the Shore in scoring defense at 9.5 points per game with one shutout in a special season where it went 12-1, won the Colonial Division title, claimed the Central Jersey Group 3 state sectional title and finished No. 1 in the SSN Top 10. He was a second-team All-Shore selection last year.
LB – Yusuf Ahmed, Sr., Toms River East
Ahmed recorded a team-high 90 tackles with eight tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble and also ran for 510 yards and six touchdowns to help the Raiders to their best season in a decade. Toms River East went 9-2, won the Freedom Division championship and reached the Central Jersey Group 4 semifinals. Ahmed, who is committed to FCS program Davidson College, was a second-team All-Shore selection last year.
LB – Dominick Nocero, Sr., Donovan Catholic
A standout linebacker for the No. 1 scoring defense in the Shore (8.7 ppg), Nocero made 78 tackles with 11 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery. He also had a punt return for a touchdown. His play helped the Griffins go 9-2, win the Liberty Division title, reach the Non-Public Group 3 semifinals and finish No. 8 in the SSN Top 10. He was a third-team All-Shore selection last year.
DB – Ryan Ruane, Sr., Rumson-Fair Haven
A rangy safety who played well against both the run and pass, Ruane totaled 93 tackles and intercepted four passes for a Rumson defense that was 11th in the Shore allowing 15.6 points per game. He had 13 tackles and an interception against Middletown South and posted seven tackles, one interception and one sack against Toms River North. His play helped Rumson reach a seventh consecutive state sectional final and finish No. 5 in the SSN Top 10. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019.
DB – Nick Ferrogine, Sr., Red Bank
Ferrogine made 68 tackles with 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery and 1 blocked punt for the Bucs. He also caught 16 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns. He was a second-team All-Shore selection last year.
DB – Wally Doman, Sr., Jackson Memorial
Doman recorded 103 tackles with 5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 10 pass breakups, 3 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble to help the Jaguars to 8-3 and reach the Central Jersey Group 4 championship game. He was a first-team All-Division selection in the Colonial Division and a third-team All-Shore selection last year.
DB – Mikai Brown-Jones, Sr., Asbury Park
Brown-Jones was second in the Shore in receiving with 29 catches for 624 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 21.5 yards per catch. He also had one touchdown run. On defense, Brown-Jones had two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He was a second-team All-Shore selection last year.
UT – Anthony Borriello, Sr., Red Bank Catholic
Borriello pulled down a team-high four interceptions and added 51 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 1 forced fumble. He also split time at quarterback, rushing for 241 yards and 2 touchdowns and throwing for 151 yards and 1 touchdown. He was a third-team All-Shore selection last year.
UT – Akhi Barksdale, Sr., Brick Memorial
Barksdale had a great all-around season as the Mustangs’ top offensive weapon with 542 yards rushing and 8 touchdowns on an incredible 13.4 yards per carry, plus 28 receptions for 342 yards and one touchdown. He added three pass breakups, an interception, a sack and a defensive touchdown. He was a second-team All-Shore selection last year.
P – Cade Torres, Sr., Shore
Torres converted 22 of 27 extra points and connected on four field goals with a long for 40 yards. He also averaged 35 yards per punt with a long of 50 and two punts downed inside the 20-yard line. Torres was the All-Division kicker in the Patriot Division and a third-team All-Shore selection last year.
Honorable mention (listed in alphabetical order)
Gary Alaimo, Sr., OL, Holmdel
Troy Alvarez, Sr., DB, Keyport
Patrick Beltran, Sr., DB, Keansburg
James Bivens, Jr., WR, Donovan Catholic
Tyron Blackwell, Sr., LB, Jackson Memorial
Gabriel Braithwaite, Sr., OL, Keansburg
Mikal Braithwaite, Jr., QB, Keansburg
Alex Brown, Jr., QB, Mater Dei Prep
Noah Brunatti, Sr., QB, Lacey
Nino Bua, Sr., QB, Neptune
Jalin Butler, Jr., QB/DB, Donovan Catholic
Yah’sin Calhoun, Jr., RB/LB, Freehold
Ethan Capone, Sr., TE, Donovan Catholic
Chris Carasia, Sr., WR, Ocean
Nick Cerulli, Sr., LB, Howell
Jared Chathaunt, Sr., OL, Asbury Park
Gavin Claro, Sr., DL, Manalapan
Josh East, Sr., DB, St. John Vianney
Tommy Fallon, Jr., QB, Colts Neck
Gerry Ferrigno, Sr., LB, Toms River South
Patrick Frawley, Sr., DL, Point Boro
Nick Glende, Sr., OL, Matawan
Josh Glenn, Sr., RB, Manchester
Jordan Grey, Sr., RB, Toms River North
Chris Grille, Sr., LB, Manchester
Connor Harris, Sr., LB, Pinelands
Junior Haughton, Sr., RB, Neptune
Jack Huber, Sr., QB, Toms River South
Patrick Jamin, Sr., WR, Rumson-Fair Haven
Jack Kelly, Sr., DL, Rumson-Fair Haven
John Lista, Jr., LB, Rumson-Fair Haven
Jahdir Loftland, Sr., RB, Donovan Catholic
Delano Marcelus, Sr., DL, Colts Neck
Tyler Madeo, Sr., DB, Toms River South
Najier Massey, Sr., RB, Asbury Park
Jamie Mazzacco, Jr., LB, Shore
T.J. McArthur, Sr., RB/LB, Brick Memorial
Shane McLaughlin, Sr., RB/DB, Shore
Brandon McCormack, Sr., DL, Matawan
Caron McNair, Jr., OL, Donovan Catholic
Dante Moore, Sr., OL, Asbury Park
Yassin Moore, Sr., DB, Monmouth
Kingborn Morris, Jr., DL, Manchester
Robert Pendergist, Jr., DB, Manasquan
Nick Povia, Sr., OL, Lacey
Josh Ramos, Sr., OL, Point Beach
Blake Rezk, Jr., TE/DL, Wall
Matt Rua, Sr., OL, Central
John Schlendorf, Sr., DB, Donovan Catholic
Matt Scully, Sr., DB, Colts Neck
Sha’Kim Shuler, Sr., QB, Freehold
Quentin Soler, Sr., DB, Middletown North
Travis Squire, Sr., LB, Toms River South
Scott Stevens, Jr., FB/LB, Lacey
Nick Sura, Sr., DB, Central
Anthony Swearine, Sr., DL, Asbury Park
Joe Teresi, Sr., DL, Ocean
DJ Thomson, Jr., WR, Keyport
Nick Totten, Sr., DB, Toms River East
Nick Tuzzolino, Sr., DB, Point Boro
Levi Wilkins, Jr., DL, Donovan Catholic
Eddie Van Woudenberg, Sr., OL, Wall
John Volker, Sr., RB, Rumson-Fair Haven
Julian Young, Sr., LB, St. John Vianney
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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.