SSI Football Midseason Awards

It’s time to take a quick breath and evaluate the Shore Conference football season before we get knee deep in division titles, state playoff berths and the chase for a state championship. 

The next few weeks will determine whether teams will fulfill all that preseason optimism or come up short of their preseason goals. 

Here’s a look at what players have looked the best in the Shore so far this season, the coaches whose teams are exceeding expectations and the new faces who have made an impact across the conference so far. 

Offensive Player of the Year

Candidates: 

Gabe Kemp, So., RB, Red Bank Catholic 

Brady Williams, Jr., QB, Rumson-Fair Haven 

Anthony Serini, Jr., WR, Holmdel 

Kahden Davis, Sr., QB, Donovan Catholic

Colin Schoellkopf, Sr., RB, Brick Memorial

Carson Abbato, Sr., QB, Southern

Rahmir Rivera, So., QB, Red Bank Catholic 

Matt Belenko, Sr., RB, Middletown North 

Dakota Lasater, Sr., QB, Freehold Twp. 

Justin Rosato, Sr., RB, Middletown South 

Winner: I lean Gabe Kemp, but it’s close with Rumson’s Brady Williams. 

No one has stopped Kemp all season. He has 738 yards rushing, and that’s with him missing last week’s win over Holmdel with a minor injury. He has seven touchdowns in four games and is averaging 7.1 yards per carry. 

No team has held him under 149 yards rushing, and that came in a lop-sided win over St. John Vianney in which he didn’t play the whole game. He also has a 207-yard rushing game against defending Non-Public B champion DePaul and is already at 2,585 yards rushing for his career halfway through his sophomore year. The bottom line is that when RBC needs to move the ball in pressure situations, they feed it to Kemp. 

Williams is right on his tail with 1,098 yards passing and 10 touchdowns against only one interception for the undefeated Bulldogs. He also has run for 371 yards and eight touchdowns. He has looked like the most improved player in the Shore Conference and a burgeoning FBS prospect in his second season on varsity. 

Kemp and Williams will go head to head in the annual rivalry game between the Caseys and Bulldogs on Oct. 9 at Count Basie Field, so get the new scoreboard bulbs ready. That’s also a chance for RBC sophomore Rahmir Rivera to remind everyone that the Caseys have a star quarterback as well. 

 

Defensive Player of the Year

Candidates: 

Ben Gredell, Sr., DL, Rumson-Fair Haven

Jason Madden, Sr., DE, Donovan Catholic 

Luke Scaturro, Sr., LB, Red Bank Catholic 

Montrell Carter, Jr., LB, Pinelands

Kade Little, Sr., LB, Middletown North 

Niko Iliescu and Lukas Iliescu, Jr., LB, Southern 

Ethan Fogelstrom, Sr., DE, Manalapan 

Finn Boland, So., LB, Toms River North 

 

Winner: This is a stacked category. I would give Donovan Catholic’s Jason Madden the edge so far. 

The UConn commit has been a wrecking machine at defensive end for one of the best defenses in the Shore Conference and the backbone of the undefeated Griffins. He has 35 tackles, 8 tackles for a loss, 5 sacks and an interception. No team has scored more than seven points on Donovan’s starting defense all season. The Griffins are allowing 6.6 points per game overall. 

He also has played his best when the Griffins needed it the most. He had 11 tackles, a sack, two TFLs, an interception and a forced fumble in their closest game of the season, a 14-7 win over Brick Memorial. Madden and the Donovan Catholic defense against Rumson-Fair Haven quarterback Brady Williams and the Bulldogs’ offense looks to be one of the Shore’s juiciest matchups of the season on Friday. 

Boland has been stout for a Toms River North team battling injuries to its stars, while Scaturro has put up strong numbers for the Shore’s No. 1 team and could come surging into the picture over the next few weeks. 

The most interesting candidate is Carter, who is the leader of a Pinelands unit that has registered a school-record four straight shutouts. He has seized the spotlight this year and is tied for the Shore lead with six sacks. 

Most Valuable Player

Candidates

Colin Schoellkopf, Sr., RB/LB, Brick Memorial

Justin Rosato, Sr., RB/S, Middletown South

Nick Palmieri, Sr., RB/LB, Manalapan 

Xavier Fowlkes, So., OL/DL, Donovan Catholic

Jason Berecsky, Jr., WR/DB, Red Bank Catholic 

Cole Garrison, Sr., QB/S, Toms River North 

Ryder Izzo, Sr., RB/LB, Rumson-Fair Haven 

Anthony Serini, Sr., WR/DB, Holmdel 

Winner: Oof, this one is hard. I look at this award as for the all-around, two-way talents, although sometimes it goes to players who were just unreal like Holmdel quarterback Jack Cannon last season. 

I will give it to Ryder Izzo at this point, as the Yale commit has 543 yards rushing and five touchdowns on an average of 7 yards per carry and also has 24 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 2 TFLs this season. 

Berecsky has really been coming on strong and could make his case over the next few weeks. Palmieri has the numbers, so if Manalapan can get some big wins in the coming weeks and do damage in the postseason, he could surge into the conversation. 

An underrated choice is Schoellkopf, who is putting together a brilliant season with 585 yards rushing and six touchdowns to go with 39 tackles, 4 for a loss, at linebacker. Also, keep an eye on Fowlkes, a major Power 4 recruit on the offensive line who is also playing on the defensive line this year and has 31 tackles, six for a loss, and two sacks. 

Coach of the Year

Candidates: 

James Mahoney, Brick Memorial 

John Tierney, Pinelands

Jason Dagato, Marlboro

Chris Damian, Raritan 

The winner: Since this award really isn’t decided until teams win division and state titles, this is more about recognition for coaches whose teams are off to their best starts in years or have exceeded expectations.

Coaches of top teams in the A divisions like Mahoney, Donovan Catholic’s Dan Curcione, Red Bank Catholic’s Mike Lange, Rumson-Fair Haven’s Jeremy Schulte, Southern’s Matt Abbato and Toms River North’s Dave Oizerowitz will all be judged on what’s ahead, not what’s happened so far. Plus coaches like Monmouth’s Dan Wendel, Point Beach’s Joe Zaccone and Barnegat’s Paul Covine have their bigger games ahead. 

I will give this to John Tierney, whose Wildcats will be 6-0 for the first time in program history if they can beat winless Lakewood this weekend. They have dominated to the tune of four straight shutouts, which is a school record for consecutive shutouts and overall shutouts in a season. They are alone in first place in Class B South and have a strong shot at winning their first division title since 1987 and just their second in program history, as well as making it back to the state playoffs for the first time in 22 years. 

 

Best Newcomer 

Candidates: 

Ethan Kennedy, Jr., WR, Red Bank Catholic 

Tyler Pierce, Sr., QB, Brick Memorial

Tommy Fletcher, So., QB, Holmdel 

Shaqur Richardson, Sr., RB, Marlboro 

Torrence Turner, So., WR/DB, Donovan Catholic 

Levi Foote, Sr., RB/DE, Southern

Brayden Ramos, So., RB/LB, Jackson 

Owen Hart, So., RB/DB, Pt. Boro 

Zyion Weaver, Fr., DB, Brick Memorial 

Hunter Beattie, Sr., DB, Rumson-FH 

Anthony Christiani, Jr., WR/DB, Middletown North 

Conall Hicks, Fr., RB, Monmouth 

Winner: This is another tough one. I will go with RBC’s Ethan Kennedy, who missed all of last season with an injury. The FBS prospect is second on the team behind All-Shore wideout Jason Berecsky with 16 catches for 276 yards and 3 touchdowns and has become the Caseys’ big-play guy in the passing game. Plus you have to factor in that with Gabe Kemp in the backfield and Berecsky and other targets at wideout, touches can be hard to come by with so many quality players. 

If you want to split it by public/non-public I would put Tyler Pierce right there with him, as he has done a strong job in filling the shoes of Jason Lajara with 979 total yards, 5 touchdown passes and three touchdown runs in five games. 

Torrence Turner also has been a playmaker with two sacks and 3 TFL for the unbeaten Griffins. I also like what I’ve seen from Zyion Weaver, who has three interceptions for the Mustangs as a freshman.

Nominating Foote is kind of cheating because he played his sophomore year, focused on wrestling as a junior and now is back as a senior, but he has made an impact for the Rams. 

Biggest Storylines

Brady Williams Makes the Leap for Rumson

The Bulldogs junior has gone from a sophomore splitting time at quarterback and primarily serving as a running threat to the most explosive dual threat quarterback in the Shore. He has 1,098 yards passing and 10 touchdowns against only one interception and has run for 371 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s already surpassing his passing yards from all of last season. A Division I baseball prospect on the mound, he may soon be fielding offers from that level as a quarterback. 

Now comes the ultimate proving ground: Donovan Catholic, Red Bank Catholic and Brick Memorial in back-to-back-to-back games. 

Pierce, Fletcher Keep Brick Memorial and Holmdel In the Spotlight

Brick Memorial senior Tyler Pierce and Holmdel sophomore Tommy Fletcher came into the season each having to replace the greatest quarterback in their school’s history. Pierce has thrown for 641 yards and 5 touchdowns and run for 338 yards and three touchdowns in replacing Jason Lajara. The Mustangs have remained a top-five team in the Shore despite graduating a host of stars. 

Fletcher looks like a future star for the Hornets with 779 yards and 10 touchdowns passing while facing a difficult Class A North schedule. Holmdel also remains in the top 10 rankings despite graduating superstar Jack Cannon. 

Pinelands Starts 5-0 for First Time in 24 Years

The Wildcats are halfway to a dream season with a 5-0 start that has included a school-record four shutouts. Junior linebacker Montrell Carter has become a breakout star for a team that is on track to win its first division title since 1987 and end a 20-year drought of state playoff appearances. 

Ocean’s Aidan Zacharczyk Hits a 51-Yard Field Goal 

The academy soccer player who also kicks for the football team etched his name in the school record books with a 51-yard field goal with 10 seconds left to beat Neptune 30-28 in Class C North. He also nailed a 46-yard field goal earlier in the season. 

Zacharczyk is one of the rare kickers in Shore Conference history to hit one of 50-plus yards, and is believed to be the first one to do it since 2007. 

He is also one of several star kickers in the Shore this year. Red Bank Catholic’s returning All-State sophomore Simon Picinich has hit a 48-yard field goal, and Donovan Catholic senior Sal Reynoso has connected from 47 yards so far this season. 

St. John Vianney’s Noah Fitzpatrick Starts With a Flourish

The Lancers’ junior wide receiver had one of the most memorable days of the Shore Conference season when he caught three touchdown passes in an overtime win over Cedar Creek in the season opener. Hours later, he picked up offers from Penn State and UConn. 

Wall Christens Its New Field in Style 

The Crimson Knights opened their gleaming new artificial turf field with a 15-12 comeback thriller over Manalapan in Class A North. Junior running back Mike Boulard scored on a 2-yard run with 30 seconds left to win it. 

The Post-Chuck Donohue Sr. Era Begins at Southern 

The Rams are off to a 4-1 start in their first season under head coach Matt Abbato, the longtime defensive coordinator who ascended to the top spot after the retirement of legendary head coach Chuck Donohue Sr. Abbato is Southern’s first new head coach since the late 1990s, and he has the Rams in contention in the Class A South race. 

Shore Regional Makes a Slice of Shore Conference History

The Blue Devils scored one for the little guys when they knocked off Freehold Township 27-7 in Class B North last week. They are the first Group 1 program to topple a Group 5 school in Shore Conference history. The Group 5 designation was created by the NJSIAA in 2012. All-Shore running back Cole Torres erupted for a career-high 271 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 40 carries in the win. 

 

Biggest Games Ahead

Oct. 2: Rumson-Fair Haven at Donovan Catholic, 6:30 p.m.

Two unbeaten teams throw down in a nondivisional game in which we’ll find out if any other team can crack that top two of Red Bank Catholic and Donovan Catholic. A host of All-Shore talents will be on the field in Toms River. 

Oct. 9: Rumson-Fair Haven at Red Bank Catholic, 7 p.m. 

If Rumson beats Donovan Catholic, this annual rivalry game becomes even bigger. Even if the Bulldogs lose, this will still most likely decide the Class A North title. RBC leads the all-time rivalry 39-23-6. 

Oct. 9: Toms River North at Southern, 7 p.m. 

This is a separation game in Class A South and also one the winner has to have in order to have a chance at the title if Donovan Catholic slips up at all in its final divisional games. Plus, this is a huge power-point game for playoff seeding between the Group 5 programs. 

Oct. 9: Pinelands at Central, 6:30 p.m.

Pinelands can clinch no worse than a tie for its first division title since 1987 and just the second one in school history when it faces the rival Golden Eagles. 

Oct. 9: Keansburg at Point Beach, 6 p.m.

The slate of Oct. 9 games looks like championship week. Both teams are currently unbeaten in Class C South, and if that situation remains, this would be for no worse than a tie for the division title. Point Beach is trying to win consecutive division titles for the first time in program history, while Keansburg has not won a division title since 2007. 

Oct. 9: Monmouth at Barnegat, 6 p.m. 

Over in Class D North, this is the showdown of division unbeatens that has been looming all season as far as the division title is concerned. Barnegat’s last title came in 2014, excluding a public title in 2018, while Monmouth’s most recent title was in 2021. 

Oct. 9: Marlboro at Howell, 6:30 p.m.

Marlboro can lock down no worse than a tie for its third division title in school history and second in the last four seasons by beating its Freehold Regional District rival. 

Oct. 16: Red Bank Catholic at Donovan Catholic, 6:30 p.m.

This game has been circled on the calendar since the preseason as the potential Shore Conference Game of the Year. If Donovan Catholic and RBC both beat Rumson-Fair Haven, this will almost certainly be for the final No. 1 ranking in the Shore, unless they have a rematch in the state playoffs. 

Oct. 16: Brick Memorial at Rumson-Fair Haven, 7 p.m.

These two teams look like the front-runners for the title of the best public school program in the Shore Conference, and this could decide it on the field. It also will be huge for power points and playoff seeding. 

Oct. 23: Toms River North at Donovan Catholic, 6:30 p.m.

The Griffins could potentially clinch the outright Class A South title with a win over the Mariners in one of the Shore’s fiercest rivalries. Toms River North will be looking to put a wrench in that scenario. 

Oct. 30: St. Peter’s Prep at Red Bank Catholic, 7 p.m.

In a warmup for the state tournament, the Caseys will take on Non-Public A power St. Peter’s Prep in a game that could end up being between two top-five teams in the state. 

This is also the first day of the public state playoffs. 

Nov. 13: Public sectional finals 

Teams want to be playing on this day because it means a chance at a ring and an opportunity to to play in the Group semifinals with a trip to MetLife Stadium on the line. 

Nov. 26: Middletown North at Middletown South, 10:45 a.m.

If both teams make it through the remainder of their divisional slates unscathed, this annual Thanksgiving rivalry game will not only be for bragging rights, it will be for the Class B North title. 

Scott Stump is the football editor and a reporter for Shore Sports Insider. He first started covering Shore Conference football in 1999. 

Email: scottstump25@gmail.com