Week 1 Shore Conference Football Divisional Players of the Week
In addition to our weekly polls where readers can cast their votes for the Shore Conference Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, Shore Sports Insider will recognize players of the week in all three phases for each of the Shore Conference’s seven divisions.
Week 1 Shore Conference Division Players of the Week
CLASS A NORTH
Offense
Aulander Daniels, Sr., WR, Long Branch
Daniels had another huge game at receiver with seven receptions for 131 yards and three touchdowns in Long Branch’s down-to-the-wire 37-34 loss to No. 8 Jackson Memorial. He has 14 catches for 240 yards and five touchdowns in two games this season.
Defense
Jacob Tobias, Sr., LB, Rumson-Fair Haven
Tobias recorded eight tackles with four tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery when the No. 3 Bulldogs held off No. 5 Point Boro, 41-28, in a marquee nondivisional game between top-five teams.
Special Teams
Andrew Sonta Sr., K, Middletown South
Sonta went 4-for-4 on extra points, including the game-tying extra point in the third quarter when the Eagles rallied for a 28-21 overtime victory over Manalapan.
CLASS A SOUTH
Offense
Vince Meehan, Sr., QB, Howell
Meehan ran for 187 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 90 yards and two touchdowns as the Rebels upended No. 9 Freehold Township, 42-33, in an early-season matchup between district rivals.
Defense
Trey Tallmadge, Jr., LB, Brick Memorial
Tallmadge recorded a team-high 12 tackles that included nine solo stops, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble when the No. 6 Mustangs topped Brick, 37-6. He also had a career-long 75-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Special Teams
Joe Muzzillo, Sr., K & Ishmal Thompson, Sr., Jackson Memorial
Thompson and Muzzillo each delivered clutch plays to help lead the No. 8 Jaguars to a dramatic 37-34 victory over Long Branch. After the Green Wave scored to tie the game at 34 with one minute left in the fourth quarter, Thompson blocked the extra point to keep the game tied. Jackson then moved down the field where Muzzillo connected on a 19-yard field goal to give the Jaguars the walk-off win.
CLASS B NORTH
Offense
Owen Robson, Jr., QB, Middletown North
Making his first career start, Robson completed 16 of 19 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 26 yards and a touchdown to lead the Lions to a 37-7 win over Lacey.
Defense
Dean Goldberg, Sr., DL, Red Bank
Goldberg had two sacks and four tackles for loss to lead the Bucs’ defense in their 33-0 shutout of Jackson Liberty.
Special Teams
Jack Viola, Jr., K, Middletown North
Viola connected on a 29-yard field goal during the Lions’ 37-7 win over Lacey. He also had a team-high six catches for 80 yards.
CLASS B SOUTH
Offense
Jake Henehan, Sr., RB, Toms River South
Henehan rushed for a career-high 284 yards and three touchdowns on just 12 carries to power the Indians to a 28-7 win over Raritan.
Defense
Justin Silva, Sr., Southern
Silva had a great all-around game for the Rams in their 26-0 shutout of Manchester, including a team-high 14 tackles (9 solo) to spearhead Southern’s second straight shutout to open the season. He also returned a punt for a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass.
Special Teams
Keegan Foote, Sr., K, Southern
Foote kicked a 31-yard field goal and was 3-for-3 on extra points in Southern’s 26-0 shutout victory over Manchester.
CLASS C NORTH
Offense
Ace Etienne, Jr., RB, Manasquan
Etienne erupted for 230 yards rushing and a program single-game record six touchdowns on 14 carries – all in the first half – to lead the Warriors to a 48-14 win over Monmouth Regional. He also had two tackles for loss on defense.
Defense
Frankie Serini, Sr., DB, Holmdel
Serini stripped an Ocean ballcarrier clean and returned the fumble 60 yards for a touchdown during the No. 7 Hornets’ 42-10 win over Ocean. Serini also had an impact game at wide receiver with six catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns.
Special Teams
Nick Palmieri, So., Manalapan
Palmieri returned the game’s opening kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown and also made a game-high 13 tackles (11 solo) in the Braves’ 28-21 overtime loss to Middletown South.
CLASS C SOUTH
Offense (tie)
Rahmel Anderson, Sr., QB, Lakewood
After a monster game in Week 0, Andreson raised the bar by unleashing a record-breaking performance of 353 yards rushing and six touchdowns to power the Piners to a 52-40 victory over Asbury Park. Both are school single-game records for Lakewood, which is 2-0 for the first time since 2016.
Johnnel Johnson, Sr., RB, Barnegat
After being moved from wide receiver back to running back to fill in for injured starter Myquan Rush-Esdaile, Johnson tied a program single-game record with six touchdowns while rushing for 178 yards on 20 carries in the Bengals’ 47-23 win over Freehold. He also had a big game on defense with six tackles, one tackle for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Defense
Cole Toddings, Sr., LB, Barnegat
A mainstay in the Player of the Week poll, Toddings recorded 13 tackles with three tackles for loss and a fumble recovery in Barnegat’s 47-23 win over Freehold. He is now the Bengals’ all-time leader in tackles.
Special Teams
Anthony Dringus, So., K, Barnegat
Dringus converted 5 of 6 extra points in the Bengals’ 47-23 win over Freehold.
CLASS D NORTH
Offense
Cam Stukes, Sr., RB, Neptune
Stukes ran for 169 yards and two touchdowns on an average of 21.1 yards per carry to help lead the Scarlet Fliers to a 42-14 victory over Keyport.
Defense
Tommy Schroeder, Sr., LB, Shore
Schroeder recorded a game-high 16 tackles and recovered a fumble in Shore’s 28-7 win over Pinelands.
Special Teams
Tommy Merlucci, Sr., K, New Egypt
A former soccer player making his gridiron debut, Merlucci connected on a 30-yard field goal and was 3-for-3 on extra points in the Warriors’ 27-7 win over Keansburg in the program’s first game as a member of the Shore Conference.
