Shore Sports Network Week 0 Divisional Football Players of the Week
In addition to our conference-wide Player of the Week selections, Shore Sports Network will be recognizing the offensive, defensive, and special teams Players of the Week in each of the Shore Conference's seven divisions.
Week 0 Shore Conference Divisional Players of the Week
AMERICAN DIVISION
Offense
Michael Thomas III, Jr., WR, Donovan Catholic
Thomas caught five passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns in the No. 4 Grifins' 21-6 victory over St. Augustine.
Defense
Colin Gallagher, Sr., LB, Middletown South
The No. 3 Eagles fell to No. 5 Rumson, 24-6, but Gallagher looked every bit like the reigning SSN Defensive Player of the Year that he is with 20 tackles, one sack, and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Special Teams
Ryan Child, Sr., Rumson-Fair Haven
Child kicked a 26-yard field goal and went 3-for-3 on extra points in the No. 5 Bulldogs' 24-6 win over No. 3 Middletown South.
COLONIAL DIVISION
Offense
Earnest Reevey, Sr., QB, Long Branch
Reevey ran for 210 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries and also threw for 55 yards to lead the No. 9 Green Wave to a 23-21 victory over Piscataway.
Defense
Aidan Wilmot, Sr., LB, Manalapan
Wilmot recorded a team-high 10 tackles with one tackle for loss during the No. 14 Braves' 35-13 victory over No. 13 Wall.
Special Teams
Jake Clayton, Fr., Point Boro
Clayton had a memorable high school debut with a pair of touchdowns, including a 77-yard kickoff return touchdown to begin the second half that broke a 14-14 tie and ignited a 21-point third quarter that sent No. 6 Point Boro to a 42-20 win over No. 11 Colts Neck.
CONSTITUTION DIVISION
Offense
Frank Furfaro, Sr., QB, Manasquan
Furfaro tossed a pair of touchdown passes in Manasquan's dramatic 14-7 win over Shore Regional, including the go-ahead 21-yard touchdown pass to Will Burns with 34 seconds left in the game.
Defense
Jackson Whitacre, Sr., DE, Shore
Whitacre, a University of Delaware commit, recorded 10 total tackles with one sack and one tackle for loss in the Blue Devils' 14-7 loss to Manasquan.
Special Teams
Joey Dettlinger, So., Manasquan
Dettlinger connected on both of his extra-point attempts in Manasquan's last-minute 14-7 victory over Shore Regional.
FREEDOM DIVISION
Offense
Neno Morgan-Acker, Sr., RB, Middletown North
Morgan-Acker ran for 114 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries and also caught a 15-yard touchdown from quarterback Luke Sheehan as the Lions scored 24 unanswered points in the second half en route to a 45-21 victory over Freehold Township.
Defense
Justin Soto, Sr., LB, Middletown North
Soto made eight tackles with one sack, three tackles for loss, and a forced fumble during the Lions' 45-21 victory over Freehold Township.
Special Teams
Cole Cramer, Jr., Southern
Cramer finished with 231 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns in Southern's 35-13 win over West Windsor-Plainsboro United, headlined by his 86-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the third quarter. He also had an 80-yard touchdown run and a 65-yard touchdown reception.
INDEPENDENCE DIVISION
Offense
Connor Dietz, Sr., QB, Brick Memorial
Dietz picked up in his senior season right where he left off after his great junior year, accounting for 398 yards of offense and six touchdowns in the No. 15 Mustangs' 51-25 nonconference victory over Allentown. Dietz ran for 225 yards and five touchdowns and completed 8 of 11 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown, connecting with senior wideout Jasaan Whittaker for the touchdown.
Defense
Cole Toddings, Jr., LB, Barnegat
Toddings was tremendous in Barnegat's tough 7-6 loss to Monmouth Regional with a 70-yard fumble return touchdown highlighting a game in which he recorded 16 total tackles, three sacks, eight tackles for loss, three quarterback pressures, and a forced fumble.
Special Teams
Kurt Weiboldt, Sr., Brick
Weiboldt connected on field goals of 22 and 26 yards during Brick's 19-0 win over Toms River East.
LIBERTY DIVISION
Offense
Nick Ruggiero, Jr., RB, Central
Ruggiero ran for 108 yards and three touchdowns, scoring on runs of 5, 45, and 1 yards, to help lead the Golden Eagles to a 36-12 victory over Hamilton West.
Defense
Dan Kikta, Sr., DE, Monmouth
Kikta had nine total tackles with three sacks, three tackles for loss, and one pass breakup in the Falcons' 7-6 win over Barnegat.
Special Teams
Evan Booth, Sr., Monmouth Regional
Booth did a little bit of everything for the Falcons in their 7-6 win over Barnegat with two interceptions and six tackles on defense, but his special teams play truly made the difference in the one-point victory. Not only did he kick the extra point that provided the winning margin, but he also blocked Barnegat's extra-point attempt after the Bengals had scored on a fumble return early in the fourth quarter. Additionally, Booth dropped three punts inside the 20-yard line to help win the field position battle.
PATRIOT DIVISION
Offense
Nazir Treadwell, Sr., RB/QB, Keyport
Treadwell ran for 161 yards and three touchdowns on just six carries and completed 4 of 4 passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns to power the Red Raiders to a dominant 41-6 victory over Manville.
Defense
Manny Swain, Sr., DL, Manchester
Swain broke through for two sacks and recovered three fumbles during Manchester's 34-6 season-opening victory over North Plainfield.
Special Teams
No candidates, check back next week!