2024 Sea Breeze Ford Football Defensive Player of the Year: Toms River North’s Blaise Boland

Early in the third quarter during the NJSIAA Group 5 state championship game at MetLife Stadium, Toms River North faced a critical juncture when Union City put itself in position to make it a one-score game after trailing by 20 at halftime. A touchdown could have changed the entire complexion of the game.

Not on Blaise Boland’s watch.

Boland came screaming off the edge and delivered a blindside hit to Union City quarterback Xavien Rodriguez, jarring the ball loose for Mariners defensive lineman Jaelyne Matthews to pounce on it at the Union City 20-yard line. Four plays later, Toms River North was in the end zone to stretch its lead to 28-7 en route to a 41-14 win that sealed the Mariners’ third consecutive state championship and a perfect 14-0 season.

“We were in control, but there was a slight momentum shift until Blaise changed it with one of his patented moves,” Mariners head coach Dave Oizerowitz said. “That was pretty much the nail in the coffin. He did that a number of times during the course of his career in big spots, and you can’t get a bigger spot that that.”

Plays like that are why Boland will go down as one of the most prolific pass rushers in Toms River North history. After a breakout junior season, he turned in a fantastic senior campaign to be selected as the 2024 Shore Sports Insider Defensive Player Of the Year. He led the Shore with 9.5 sacks, was first with 28.5 tackles for loss, finished ninth in total tackles with 115, and forced five fumbles for a Mariners’ defense that was No. 1 in the Shore allowing just 7.9 points per game with five shutouts.

The production was excellent, but it was when the big plays occurred that made Boland so great. He recorded 13 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 5 tackles for loss in a Week 3 win over Brick Memorial. In a 42-27 win over Rancocas Valley in the South Jersey Group 5 sectional final Boland had 11 tackles, 2 sacks and 3 tackles for loss. In the state final he posted 10 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and the key strip-sack. He totaled 44 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles in five playoff games.

None of this came as a surprise to Toms River North. Boland entered high school as a polished prospect but played sparingly as a sophomore because the Mariners’ defense was loaded with senior talent. He got his chance to start as a junior and turned in an All-Shore season with 100 tackles, 10 sacks and 29 tackles for loss to help lead the Mariners to their second straight Group 5 championship. He did it again this year to help the Mariner become a dynasty with a 40-2 record and three state titles in three years.

“He puts the work in,” Oizerowitz said. “His father Tom and him train nonstop year round on the technical aspects, so you have to give a lot of credit to them. He came in as a guy who was well-prepared to play high school football and be an impact performer from the moment he stepped on the field for an undefeated freshman team. I think the best players rise to the level of their opponent and the magnitude of the game, and he’s a perfect example of that. He knows he’s talented but he’s more than just talent, he’s overly prepared.”

Boland was also more than just a pure edge rusher. The Mariners were an incredibly tough team to run against and showcased that in the state final when they held Union City’s high-powered Delaware Wing-T offense to its lowest output of the season. The Soaring Eagles entered the state final with two 1,000-yard rushers both averaging over 10 yards per carry, 3,641 yards rushing, and 61 touchdowns. Toms River North held them to 145 total yards, including only 86 yards rushing, 37 of which came after the score was 41-14 in the fourth quarter.

“That position setting the edge over the tight end in our scheme is huge,” Oizerowitz said. “To be gap conscious playing that position and knowing how to force the ball back inside is crucial.”

Boland was a complete player who even chipped in on offense with two touchdown catches. But it was his ability to produce game-changing plays as a pass rusher that made him one of Toms River North’s all-time greats. Boland concluded his career as a two-time First Team All-Shore selection with 232 tackles, 20 sacks, 60.5 tackles for loss and seven forced fumbles as a leader on back-to-back Group 5 state championship teams.

“He’s an elite pass rusher,” Oizerowitz said. “He studies the tackles he plays and he sets them up. He’s very cerebral with how he attacks. We gave him more freedom than probably any other edge rusher we’ve had because we trusted him. He’s as good a kid as we’ve ever had on defense.”