2025 Shore Sports Insider All-Shore Football Teams

Shore Sports Insider is proud to unveil its 2025 All-Shore football teams and season-ending award winners featuring the top performers from the 2025 Shore Conference football season.

Scroll down for bios and pictures of the First Team All-Shore selections and follow the links below for write-ups on the second and third-team picks, award winners and more.

*Second Team*

*Third Team*

*Final standings*

*Final Top 12 Rankings*

*Coaches All-Division Teams*

*MVP*

*Offensive Player of the Year*

*Defensive Player of the Year*

*Coach of the Year*

2025 Shore Sports Insider All-Shore Football Teams

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

QB – Jack Cannon, Sr., Holmdel

Cannon, who was selected as this year’s Shore Sports Insider Most Valuable Player as the top player in the Shore, polished off one of the greatest careers of any quarterback in Shore Conference history with a record-setting season. His 2,747 yards passing and 30 touchdown passes led the Shore and set school records. He also ran for 1,673 yards and 33 touchdowns. His 63 total touchdowns are a state record, passing the mark of 61 set by former Freehold great Ashante Worthy in 2017. He averaged 368.3 yards of total offense per game for a team that led the Shore Conference in scoring at 43.1 points per game. The Hornets won their first state sectional title in school history by capturing the Central Jersey Group 3 title behind Cannon. A two-time, first-team All-Shore selection, he finished his career with 5,870 yards passing and 60 touchdown passes along with 3,299 yards rushing and 58 touchdowns. His 118 combined touchdowns are second in Shore Conference history among quarterbacks behind the 120 by Worthy. Cannon will continue his career at Dartmouth. 

QB – Jason Lajara, Sr., Brick Memorial 

The greatest quarterback in Brick Memorial history, Lajara was named the Shore Sports Insider Offensive Player of the Year after a record-setting season. He finished with a school-record 2,331 yards passing and a record 27 touchdown passes against only four interceptions. He also did it despite missing two games with illness. The engineer of an offense that averaged 33.2 points per game, he had three games with more than 300 yards passing, including a school-record 411 yards and four touchdowns in a 55-41 win over Central Jersey Group 3 champion Holmdel. He helped Brick Memorial win its first state sectional title since 2008 while also running for 720 yards and 14 touchdowns to give him 3,051 total yards and 41 touchdowns in 11 games. He finished as the school’s all-time leader in passing yards (4,606) and touchdown passes (47) while also finishing with 1,617 yards rushing and 32 touchdowns in his career. He is a two-time, first-team All-Shore selection and was named the Class A South Offensive Player of the Year by the coaches after helping the Mustangs win a share of the division title. 

QB – Rahmir Rivera, Fr., Red Bank Catholic 

Rivera more than delivered on the buzz as one of the top young quarterbacks in the state by having the greatest statistical season by a freshman quarterback in Shore Conference history with 2,183 yards passing and 24 touchdowns with only three interceptions for the Shore’s No. 1 team. Rivera, who also ran for three touchdowns, was an All-Class A North first-team selection by the coaches. He is the first freshman quarterback to ever make first-team All-Shore and boasts multiple FBS offers. 

RB – Gabe Kemp, Fr., Red Bank Catholic 

Kemp burst onto the Shore Conference scene with 1,847 yards rushing, which is the most by any freshman in Shore history. He also had 17 touchdowns for the Class A North champions and the top-ranked team in the SSI Top 12. Kemp ran for over 100 yards in 12 of the Caseys’ 13 games, with a high of 282 yards rushing in a win over St. John Vianney. He was a first-team All-Class A North pick by the coaches.

RB – Cole Torres, Jr., Shore

On pace to become Shore’s all-time leading rusher, Torres took it up a notch as a junior with a single-season school-record 1,651 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns on an average of 7.8 yards per carry to help the Blue Devils navigate a tougher schedule and reach their second straight Central Jersey Group 1 final. He also had 10 catches for 137 yards and a score and also had a fumble return for a touchdown on defense. Torres was a second-team All-Shore selection as a sophomore and has 2,463 yards rushing and 25 rushing touchdowns in his career. 

RB – A’miere Massie, Sr., Asbury Park

The small school dynamo was named the Class D North Offensive Player of the Year by the coaches after finishing with 1,710 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns on an eye-opening average of 12.9 yards per carry in only nine games. Massie had seven 100-yard rushing games and four games of 250 or more yards with a high of 285 against Ocean.

RB – Ace Etienne, Sr., Manasquan 

Etienne made a remarkable recovery from a broken leg suffered at the end of last season and battled through injuries this year to run for 1,075 yards and 17 touchdowns on an average of 7.4 yards per carry in nine games for the Class C North co-champs. He was named the Class C North Offensive Player of the Year by the coaches. Etienne had five 100-yard rushing games, with a high of 268 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Central Jersey Group 1 finalist Shore Regional. A second-team All-Shore selection as a junior, Etienne finished his career with 2,335 yards rushing and 36 touchdowns.

WR – Nyzier Matthews, Sr., Brick Memorial 

The greatest wide receiver in Mustangs’ history, Matthews broke several records previously belonging to Garrett Graham, an All-Big Ten tight end at Wisconsin who played for the Houston Texans. Matthews finished this season with 50 catches for 886 yards and a school-record 13 touchdowns. The All-Class A South selection had three 100-yard receiving games for the Class A South co-champions and Central Jersey Group 4 champs, including 10 catches for 157 yards and a touchdown against Central Jersey Group 3 champion Holmdel and nine catches for 169 yards and three touchdowns against sectional semifinalist Toms River North. Matthews also played in the secondary on defense, where he had 44 tackles and three interceptions. He is Brick Memorial’s all-time leading receiver with 2,056 yards and 23 touchdown catches and finished as a two-time, first-team All-Shore selection by SSI. 

WR – James Murphy, Sr., Holmdel

Murphy made the leap from a complementary piece to a star as a senior with a school-record 918 yards receiving to finish second in the Shore Conference. He finished with 41 catches and a team-high 12 touchdowns as one of Jack Cannon’s primary targets on an offense that averaged a Shore-best 43.1 points per game. He had three 100-yard receiving games, with a high of 201 in a win over Marlboro and 130 and a touchdown in a win over Seneca that gave Holmdel its first state sectional title in school history. He also had 64 tackles and an interception on defense in the secondary. 

WR – Cayson Williams, So., Matawan 

Williams blossomed into a star as a sophomore for a Huskies team that reached the Central Jersey Group 3 semifinals. The 6-foot-5 target finished with 37 catches for 742 yards (20 ypc) and 10 touchdowns as Matawan jumped from 2-7 to 6-5 behind its stellar sophomore core. He had a pair of 100-yard receiving games, including seven catches for 142 yards and a score in a loss to Seneca in the state playoffs and 165 and three touchdowns in a win over Class C North co-champion Manasquan. He has attracted FBS interest.

WR – Jake Schultzel, Jr., Freehold Twp. 

The All-Class A North selection had a huge season with a Shore Conference-leading 1,090 yards receiving and 14 touchdown catches on 59 receptions for the Patriots. He had six 100-yard receiving games in Freehold Township’s Air Raid offense, with a high of 168 in a win over Class D North champion Neptune. He enters his senior season with 1,546 career receiving yards and 20 touchdowns and has attracted FCS interest.

TE – Jack Gyimesi, Sr., Rumson-Fair Haven

The Colgate recruit fought through an injury that caused him to miss three games to finish with 22 catches for 248 yards and 3 touchdowns in addition to his blocking ability in the Rumson run game. He finished his career with 39 catches for 472 yards and 6 touchdowns.

OL  – Kai Pritchard, Sr., Donovan Catholic 

The No. 1 recruit in the Shore Conference Class of 2026, the Illinois commit was a dominant force on both sides of the ball for a Griffins team that won a share of the Class A South title and finished 8-4. Pritchard is a two-time, first-team All-Shore selection. He also was outstanding on the defensive line as a senior with 85 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss and five sacks. He will graduate as one of the best players in Donovan Catholic history.

OL – Jordan Key, Jr., Red Bank Catholic 

A two-way engine for the top-ranked Caseys, Key was a force up front on an offense that averaged 31.7 points and 357.8 yards per game for the Class A North champions. The FCS prospect also started on the defensive line, where he finished with 58 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss and two sacks. He was an All-Class A North pick by the coaches.

OL – Jack Tiller, Sr., Holmdel 

A standout lineman for a Hornets team that led the Shore in scoring at 43.1 points per game, Tiller (#77 above) helped lead the way for a record-setting season by senior quarterback Jack Cannon. He was an All-Class A North selection by the coaches for a team that averaged a Shore Conference-best 433.3 yards per game. Holmdel also won the Central Jersey Group 3 crown for its first state sectional title in program history.

OL – Jaxon Ellis, Jr., Brick Memorial 

An All-Class A South first-team selection by the coaches, Ellis was the top offensive lineman for a team that averaged 33.2 points and 379.6 yards per game. He helped pave the way for a 1,000-yard rusher and a 2,300-yard passer for a team that won a share of the Class A South title and captured the Central Jersey Group 4 championship.

OL – Aidan Lane, Jr., Rumson-Fair Haven  

The top offensive lineman for the Bulldogs, Lane (#76 above) was an All-Class A North pick by the coaches who helped them average 25.9 points per game against a tough schedule. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound junior is an FCS prospect with interest from Ivy League, Patriot League and CAA schools. 

UT – Na’Zeer Whittaker, Sr., Brick Memorial 

One of the most versatile weapons in the Shore for the Central Jersey Group 4 champions, Whittaker was a threat as a runner, receiver and on special teams. He finished with 1,049 yards rushing and 9 touchdowns on an average of 7.6 yards per carry and also was second on the team with 38 catches for 371 yards and 4 touchdowns. In the Central Jersey Group 4 final, he had an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to help the Mustangs win their first state championship in 17 years. He was an All-Class A South pick by the coaches for a team that tied for the division title. He finished his career with 1,730 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns and 55 catches for 599 yards and five scores. He has received interest from Army and FCS and Division II programs.

UT – Anthony Serini, So., Holmdel 

Serini went from seeing time as a freshman to a starring role as a sophomore with a team-high 44 catches to go with 783 yards receiving and 9 touchdowns for a Hornets team that won its first state sectional title in school history and led the Shore in scoring. He also ran for 139 yards and a touchdown to give him 922 total yards and 10 touchdowns for the season. The All-Class A North pick by the coaches also was a standout defensive back with 63 tackles, two fumble recoveries and an interception.

K – Simon Picinich, Fr., Red Bank Catholic 

Picinich was yet another star freshman for the Caseys who has the potential for a record-setting career. He has one of the strongest legs in the state and finished with a Shore Conference-leading 10 field goals with a long of 41 yards. He also went 42-for-43 on extra points and boomed touchbacks on more than 85% of his kickoffs. Picinich, who is also the team’s punter, attempted field goals from as far as 59 yards and had the distance. The Shore Conference record, which is also the state record, is 58 yards set in 1984 by Shore Regional’s Kevin Mills.

 

Defense

DL – Justin Davis, Sr., Wall 

Davis (#11 above) was a force to be reckoned with from his edge position where he recorded 96 tackles, a Shore Conference-high 15 sacks, 17 tackles for a loss, and three forced fumbles. Also a weapon of offense, he had 17 receptions for 299 yards and five touchdowns from his tight end position. He was named the Player of the Year in Class B North by the coaches after helping lead the Crimson Knights to a division title and an appearance in the Central Jersey Group 2 final. Davis is committed to Colgate University. He finished his career with 193 tackles and 23 sacks. 

DL – Lorenzo Tartamella, Jr., Red Bank Catholic 

Tartamella earned All-Shore honors for a second consecutive season after posting 65 tackles, six sacks, and 15 tackles for a loss as a member of the top-ranked team in the Shore Conference. He was named a first-team All-Class A North selection by the coaches and helped lead the Caseys to the division title. Tartamella currently holds a variety of offers including Kent State, Southern Mississippi, and San Diego State. He was a third-team All-Shore pick as a sophomore. 

DL – Koen Johnson, Sr., Neptune

Johnson developed into a game-wrecker in the trenches for the Scarlet Fliers as he put up 72 total tackles, 11 sacks, and a Shore Conference-leading 32 tackles for a loss in his final season. He was named the Defensive Player of the Year in Class D North by the coaches after helping lead the Scarlet Fliers to their first overall division title since 1998. They also won their first state playoff game in 11 years. 

DL – Ben Gredell, Jr., Rumson-Fair Haven 

The Bulldogs’ interior lineman finished with 63 tackles, 14 for a loss, 4 sacks, a blocked kick, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery to earn All-Class A North honors from the coaches. Gredell was also a second-team All-Shore selection as a sophomore. He has offers from the University of Pennsylvania and Southern Mississippi. 

DL – Finn Boland, Fr., Toms River North 

Yet another star freshman in the Shore Conference, Boland (#15 in white, above) looks poised to become the cornerstone of the Mariners’ defense for the next three years after a rookie season in which he registered 118 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and 23 tackles for a loss. He was named a first-team All-Class A South selection by the coaches. He also played well against top opponents, with 9 tackles and a sack against No. 1 RBC, 8 tackles, 2 TFL and a sack against No. 4 Donovan Catholic, two sacks against No. 2 Brick Memorial, 13 tackles against No. 5 Southern, 11 tackles, 2 sacks and 2.5 TFL against No. 7 Rumson-Fair Haven, 11 tackles and 2 TFL against No. 9 Point Boro and 22 tackles, 2 sacks and 4 TFL combined in two state playoff games. 

LB – Trey Tallmadge, Sr., Brick Memorial 

Tallmadge, the Shore Sports Insider Defensive Player of the Year, battled through injuries early in the season on his way to accumulating 66 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, and two interceptions as the heart and soul of the Central Jersey Group 4 champion Mustangs’ defense. He was at his best in the biggest moments posting 12 tackles including four for a loss in a 28-0 sectional final victory over Middletown North along with registering 13 tackles, including four for a loss, in a 14-12 loss to Winslow Township, the top-ranked public school in the state according to NJ Advance Media. Tallmadge was named the Defensive Player of the Year in Class A South by the coaches after leading the Mustangs to a share of the division title and the school’s first sectional title since 2008. He is committed to Sacred Heart University.

LB – Dylan Cohen, Sr., Wall 

Cohen was a two-way standout for the Crimson Knights, putting up 94 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, eight tackles for a loss, and two interceptions at linebacker as well as rushing for 1,219 yards and 15 touchdowns as the featured back on offense. He was named the Defensive Player of the Year in Class B North by the coaches after leading the Crimson Knights to a division title and an appearance in the Central Jersey Group 2 final.

LB – Niko Iliescu, So., Southern 

Iliescu stood out as the top defender on a Rams’ defense that allowed the fewest amount of points in the Shore Conference (92). He compiled 51 total tackles, four sacks, and nine tackles for a loss. He also rushed for 382 yards and seven touchdowns on offense lining up at running back. Iliescu was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Year in Class B South by the coaches after helping the Rams win the division title in a nine-win season.

LB – Jack Baker, Jr., Toms River North 

A two-time, first-team All-Shore selection, Baker finished with 106 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss and two sacks as the leader of the Mariners’ defense. He was an All-Class A South selection by the coaches. Baker has received FCS and FBS interest and enters his senior year with 212 career tackles and 40 tackles for a loss. 

LB – Jah’Mir Lane-Bailey, Sr., Red Bank 

Lane-Bailey was the first player circled on opposing coaches’ scouting reports as a long, athletic edge on a strong Bucs’ defense. He totaled 91 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 20 tackles for a loss, five forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries on defense in addition to 12 receptions for 195 yards and four touchdowns on offense. Lane-Bailey was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Year in Class C North by the coaches after helping the Bucs win a share of the division title for their first division crown in 10 years.

DB – Dan Zabora, Sr., Red Bank Catholic 

A two-way weapon, Zabora was a magnet in the secondary for the Shore Conference’s top-ranked team, coming away with four interceptions in addition to 74 total tackles. On offense, he came down with 41 receptions for 735 yards and 10 touchdowns. Zabora was named the Defensive Player of the Year in Class A North by the coaches, as the Caseys won the division title and finished with the No. 1 ranking in the Shore. 

DB – Michael Todisco, Jr., Holmdel 

A jack-of-all-trades, Todisco was a strong contributor against both the run and pass on the Hornets’ first sectional championship team. He accumulated 78 tackles, five interceptions, and returned a fumble for a touchdown. On offense, he had 35 receptions for 530 yards and four touchdowns in addition to 197 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Todisco was named a first-team All-Class A North selection by the coaches as he helped lead the Hornets to the Central Jersey Group 3 title, the first in program history.

DB – Colin Johnson, Sr., Donovan Catholic

Johnson was an All-Class A South selection by the coaches from one of the Shore’s top defenses. He finished with 57 tackles in the secondary, 15 tackles for a loss, and 1.5 sacks and 7 pass break-ups for the Class A South co-champions. 

DB – Jason Berecsky, So., Red Bank Catholic 

Berecsky was one of the top young two-way players in the Shore as a receiving threat and a standout defensive back. He finished with 42 catches for 557 yards and 5 touchdowns, including 109 yards and a touchdown on seven catches against Central Jersey Group 3 champion Holmdel. Defensively, he had 42 tackles, four interceptions and a pair of pick-sixes for a Caseys unit that allowed 11.8 points per game. He was an All-Class A North first-team selection by the coaches. He has offers from Duke, Wofford and West Virginia and interest from multiple FBS and FCS programs.

UT – Heath Reinhardt, Sr., Wall 

The definition of a utility player, Reinhardt is a two-time first-team All-Shore selection after making it as a punter last season. He was the leading receiver for the Class B North champions and Central Jersey Group 2 finalists with 51 catches for 549 yards and 3 touchdowns, and made 33 tackles, 3 for a loss, in the secondary. He also was the team’s kicker and punter. He hit two field goals with a long of 32 yards and went 33-for-34 on extra points.

UT – Cole Garrison, Jr., Toms River North 

One of the few returning starters from the Mariners’ 2024 Group 5 championship team, Garrison was a versatile threat with a team-high 693 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns along with 16 catches for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also is a standout safety who had 67 tackles, 3 interceptions and three fumble recoveries. Garrison, who was a second-team All-Shore selection as a sophomore, was named first-team All-Class A South by the coaches.

P – Seamus Montague, Sr., Middletown North 

Montague was a special teams star for the Central Jersey Group 4 finalists, averaging 40 yards per punt with a long of 54, and dropping four punts inside opponents’ 20-yard line. He also hit a single-season school-record eight field goals with a long of 41 yards and went 21-for-22 on extra points. Montague will continue his career at the FCS level after signing with Marist. 

Scott Stump is the football editor and a reporter for Shore Sports Insider. He first started covering Shore Conference football in 1999 and has covered basketball, baseball and seemingly every other Shore Conference sport at some point. 

Email: scottstump25@gmail.com