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High school football has returned, and so has the Shore Sports Network Football Player of the Week award. We are excited to have Surf Taco as the sponsor of the 2020 poll with the winner each week to receive a $25 Surf Taco gift card.

There were some great individual performances in the air, on the ground, on defense and on special teams in Week 1 and now it’s time to get your vote in for who had the top performance in the Shore this weekend to choose the Surf Taco/Shore Sports Network Player of the Week. The winner will be announced on Thursday afternoon right here on ShoreSportsNetwork.com. Voting will end at noon on Thursday.

Scroll down to see the candidates and make your selection. If you'd like to vote more than once, just wait one hour and come back.

Surf Taco Player of the Week nominees for Week 1 (listed in alphabetical order)

Joe Barsky, Sr., RB, Colts Neck

Barsky ran for a career-high 177 yards and three touchdowns on an average of 10.4 yards per carry to power Colts Neck’s offense in a 28-0 victory over Marlboro.

 

Alex Bauman, Jr., DE, Red Bank Catholic

Bauman was a force along the defensive line all game in RBC’s 10-3 victory over Mater Dei Prep, highlighted by a stop for no gain on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line with five minutes left in the game. The 6-foot-5 bookend finished with 12 total tackles (nine solo), one sacks, three tackles for loss and two hurries.

 

Patrick Beltran, Sr., RB/LB, Keansburg

Beltran had a great opening night on both sides of the ball to lead the Titans to a 40-21 win over Point Beach. The senior ran for 138 yards and two touchdowns, added 55 receiving yards and recorded a team-high 11 tackles on defense.

 

Jaiden Brown, Jr., RB, Southern

Brown picked up right where he finished last season by rushing for 119 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries as the Rams defeated Brick, 36-20.

 

Matt Cardone, Sr., WR/CB, Freehold Township

Cardone spearheaded Freehold Township’s comeback victory over rival Howell with both of the Patriots’ touchdowns plus a key interception in a 15-14 win. With Freehold Township trailing Howell 8-0 in the fourth quarter, Cardone scored from 14 yards out on a hook-and-lateral, catching the flip from Antonio Willis after a 10-yard pass from senior quarterback Lorenzo Chirichella. After Howell took a 14-8 lead midway through the fourth quarter, Cardone returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown to tie the score and set up Shawn Corchado for the go-ahead extra point.

 

Vinnie Dallicardillo, Sr., LB, Central

Dallicardillo recorded 13 tackles and forced a fumble to lead Central’s defense in the Golden Eagles’ 35-14 victory over Lakewood that gave head coach Jarrett Pidgeon his first career win.

 

Christian Donnelly, Sr., QB, Holmdel

Donnelly ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries to lead the Hornets to a 26-14 win over Raritan as Holmdel retained the “Battle of the Border” trophy.

 

BaSean Fraser, Sr., WR, Long Branch

Fraser’s 15-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter stood up as the winning score as Long Branch rallied from a 10-0 deficit to defeat Middletown South, 14-10. He also had a 46-yard catch that set up Long Branch’s first touchdown with 2:03 left in the first half. Fraser finished with seven receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown.

 

Josh Glenn, Sr., RB/DB, Manchester

Glenn ran for 127 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, had a 28-yard catch and made three tackles and one pass breakup on defense as the Hawks defeated Lacey, 12-3, for their first win over the Lions in program history. Glenn’s 35-yard touchdown run in the second quarter put Manchester up for good.

 

Jack Huber, Sr., QB, Toms River South

Huber led Toms River South���s rally from a 15-point halftime deficit by completing 21 of 30 passes for 236 yards and one touchdown, rushing for another score and tossing a 2-point conversion as the Indians shocked second-ranked Toms River North, 28-21, with 22 unanswered points in the second half.

 

Patrick Jamin, Sr., WR, Rumson-Fair Haven

Jamin caught five passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ 41-9 victory over Middletown North. The senior wideout hauled in touchdowns of 45 and 21 yards from senior quarterback Josh Harmon.

 

Casey Larkin, Sr., RB/CB, Wall

Larkin ran for 155 yards and three touchdowns on just nine carries, averaging 17.2 yards per attempt, to help the top-ranked Crimson Knights open the season with an emphatic 55-13 victory over Point Boro. Larkin also recovered a fumble on defense.

 

Gian Libassi, Sr., RB/LB

Libassi was great on both sides of the ball in Liberty’s 16-14 win over Toms River East, making 12 tackles (10 solo) with two sacks and three tackles for loss on defense and rushing for 70 yards and a touchdown and adding a 15-yard reception on offense.

 

Jhadir Loftland, Sr., RB, Donovan Catholic

Loftland torched Brick Memorial for 171 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 12 carries as the Griffins secured a 42-6 victory to open the season.

 

Shane McLaughlin, Sr., RB, Shore

McLaughlin ran for 114 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries in the Blue Devils’ 34-6 victory over Monmouth Regional.

 

Brett Patten, So., QB, Manasquan

Patten showcased his dual-threat abilities in the Warriors’ 38-15 win over Asbury Park by completing 9 of 11 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 27 yards and a touchdown.

 

Antonio Rosato, So., QB, St. John Vianney

Rosato completed 8 of 15 passes for 151 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 73 yards on just eight carries in the Lancers’ impressive 30-8 victory over Red Bank.

 

Sha’Kim Shuler, Sr., QB/DB, Freehold

Shuler ran for 215 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries and threw for 110 yards to lead the Colonials’ to a 14-12 upset of district rival Manalapan. His 4-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter gave Freehold a 14-6 lead.

 

Will Towns, Sr., RB, Jackson Memorial

Towns ran for 113 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries in Jackson’s 35-0 win over Neptune.

 

Matt Xiques, Sr., QB, Barnegat

Senior quarterback Matt Xiques had a great debut in his first varsity start, completing 11 of 15 passes for 189 yards and four touchdowns to power the Bengals to a 42-7 victory over Pinelands.

 

 

 

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