Week 0 Divisional Football Players of the Week

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 seven divisions. We’ll also choose Shore Conference Special Teams Players of the Week to highlight any standout kicking performances or players who got it done in the return game.

Below we’ll focus on the best performances from Week 0.

SSN SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Logan Halloran, Jr., TE/DE/K

Halloran booted a 38-yard field goal during the Lions' 23-10 loss to Wall.

Justin Burkert, Sr., K, Toms River North

Burkert connected on a 35-yard field goal in No. 5 Toms River North’s 45-13 win over Cherry Hill West.

Ryan McCombs, Sr., TE/DE/K, Brick Memorial 

McCombs kicked a 32-yard field goal that gave the Mustangs a one-point lead before they eventually fell to No. 8 Jackson Memorial, 24-17. 

Willie Gross, Sr., WR/DB, Neptune 

Gross returned a kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown during the Scarlet Fliers’ 25-13 loss to No. 3 Long Branch. 

SSN DIVISIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK 

AMERICAN DIVISION

Offense

John Volker, Jr., RB, Rumson-Fair Haven

Volker ran for 150 yards and a touchdown and also caught a 21-yard touchdown pass when No. 2 Rumson defeated then-No. 1 Red Bank Catholic, 20-14.

Defense

Ryan Ruane, Jr., FS, Rumson-Fair Haven

Ruane made six tackles and returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown, which stood up as the winning score, as No.  2Rumson defeated then-No. 1 Red Bank Catholic, 20-14.

COLONIAL DIVISION 

Offense  

Malik Ingram, Sr., RB, Mater Dei Prep

Ingram ran for a pair of touchdowns and caught another in No. 1 Mater Dei’s 40-13 victory over Brick.

Defense

Brian Zapata, Sr., LB, Jackson Memorial 

Jackson Memorial camped out in the Brick Memorial backfield during a 24-17 victory with a total of 17 tackles for loss, including 13 sacks. Zapata was one of many standouts for the eighth-ranked Jaguars with 10 total tackles, three sacks and four tackles for loss.

CONSTITUTION DIVISION

Offense

Anthony Albanese, Sr., QB, Brick Memorial

The Mustangs fall to No. 8 Jackson Memorial, 24-17, but Albanese had a strong game at quarterback in Brick Memorial’s new-look offense by completing 10 of 16 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns.

Defense

Colby Saxton, Sr., DT, Southern

Saxton recorded three sacks and three tackles for loss along the defensive line as Southern blanked Nottingham, 21-0, to start 1-0 for the first time since 2014.

FREEDOM DIVISION

Offense 

Mike Goodall, Sr., QB, Toms River East  

Goodall led the Raiders to a 21-19 comeback win over Howell by rushing for 187 yards and two touchdowns (75 and 57) on 15 carries. 

Defense 

Delano Marcelus, Jr., DE, Colts Neck 

The Cougars opened the season with a 24-0 shutout of district rival Freehold Township and Marcelus was right in the middle of the defensive effort with an interception, four tackles, one tackle for loss, three quarterback pressures and one pass defense.

LIBERTY DIVISION 

Offense 

Jack Chamberlain, Sr., QB, Red Bank

Chamberlain completed 11 of 13 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown and also ran for 42 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Bucs to an emphatic 50-7 victory over Freehold.

Defense 

Chris Aldrich, Sr., DE, Donovan Catholic 

Aldrich recorded three sacks and one tackle for loss to lead a Donovan Catholic defense that blanked Linden, 35-0.

PATRIOT DIVISION (Besides Overall Player of the Week, Point Boro’s Sam Young) 

Offense 

Shane McLaughlin, Jr., RB, Shore Regional 

McLaughlin ran for 174 yards and five touchdowns on 22 carries in the Blue Devils’ 35-6 win over Asbury Park. He also had three receptions for 40 yards.

Defense

Terry Carlstrom, Sr., DB, Shore Regional

Carlstrom had two interceptions and one forced fumble in the Blue Devils’ 35-6 win over Asbury Park. He added 53 yards receiving on three receptions. 

NATIONAL DIVISION 

Offense 

Liam Buday, Sr., RB/LB, Point Beach  

In a 28-7 win over Manville, Buday ran for 101 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries and also made eight tackles with three tackles for loss and one sack as the Garnet Gulls snapped a 10-game losing streak and gave first-year head coach Joe Zaccone his first career victory. 

Defense

Devon Meza, Sr., DL, Keyport 

Meza made a team-high nine tackles in a 20-12 loss to Metuchen.

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.