75 Players to Watch in NJ High School Football Finals

The New Jersey state high school football championships will be played this weekend. Starting tonight and into tomorrow, twenty games will be played. Many young athletes will realize a dream of winning a state championship.

The Games

The biggest matchup is obviously tonight at 8pm at the New Meadowlands Stadium when Don Bosco Prep defends its state title against Bergen Catholic. Don Bosco Prep was not only state champions last year, they were also named the #1 team in the country. Here are all the matchups…

Non-Public Group 4:  Don Bosco Prep vs Bergen Catholic

Non-Public Group 3:  St. Joseph’s (Montvale) vs Holy Spirit

Non-Public Group 1/2:  St. Mary’s (Rutherford) vs St. Joseph’s (Hamm.)

Group 4

North Jersey Section 1:  Randolph vs Montclair

North Jersey Section 2:  Hunterdon Central vs Piscataway

Central Jersey:  Sayreville vs Brick Memorial

South Jersey:  Oakcrest vs Cherokee

Group 3

North Jersey Section 1:  Wayne Hills vs Old Tappan

North Jersey Section 2:  Morristown vs Nutley

Central Jersey:  Middletown South vs Freehold Borough

South Jersey:  Delsea vs Lacey

Group 2

North Jersey Section 1:  Ramsey vs Lakeland

North Jersey Section 2:  Caldwell vs Madison

Central Jersey:  Rumson vs Matawan

South Jersey:  Haddonfield vs West Deptford

Group 1

North Jersey Section 1:  Mountain Lakes vs Wallington

North Jersey Section 2:  New Providence vs Lincoln

Central Jersey:  Dunellen vs Shore Regional

South Jersey:  Paulsboro vs Glassboro

Players to Watch:

While I can not sit and list every big player in the state of New Jersey, here is a list of 75 players to watch this weekend. Each player impacts a game for their respective teams. The players are in no particular order.

LB Anthony Sarao (Holy Spirit) – Sarao has committed to play at Stanford next season. He has 71 tackles this season and six sacks while also forcing two fumbles.

QB Tanner McEvoy (Bergen Catholic) – McEvoy is 120-for-210 and 1,987 yards through the air. He has thrown 29 TD passes this season and 9 interceptions. McEvoy has also rushed for 1,074 yards and 13 touchdowns. The four star athlete is being recruited by Boston College, Rutgers, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Miami, and Pittsburgh.

QB Gary Nova (Don Bosco Prep) – The Pittsburgh committ has thrown for 1,579 yards and 18 touchdowns while completing 83-of-140 passes. He has thrown just two interceptions this season. Nova was rated as a three star quarterback by Scout.com.

LB Shutang Mungwa (Bergen Catholic) – Mungwa is back after missing six games due to injury. The three star linebacker has committed to Stanford.

OL/DL Daryl Stephenson (Sayreville) – The two star lineman who has committed to play at Rutgers next season has seven sacks.

LB A.J. Garcia (Randolph) – The linebacker has 103 tackles this season to go along with nine sacks and two interceptions.

QB Khalif Herbin (Montclair) – The dual threat quarterback has thrown for 659 yards and eight touchdowns on 39-of-67 passing. He also carried the ball 149 times for 1,314 yards and 15 touchdowns.

RB Donta Pollock (Holy Spirit) – Pollock leads a potent rushing attack with 1,764 yards and 28 touchdowns.

RB/DB Aaron Tilden (Paulsboro) – Tilden does a bit of everything. He has put together 875 rushing yards, 106 receiving yards and scored 18 touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, Tilden converted 61 tackles, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries.

TB/DB/P Brian Dowling (Wayne Hills) – Dowling is being recruited by Massachusetts, Towson,and Monmouth. He has rushed for 1,604 yards on 203 carries and scored 21 touchdowns. He has also caught 28 passes for 428 yards and eight touchdowns. Dowling averages 34.7 yards per punt.

RB Vaughn Scott (West Deptford) – The Maryland recruit has rushed for 1,710 yards and scored an incredible 35 total touchdowns.

LB Mike Staneart (Madison) – Staneart has 10 sacks to go along with his 102 total tackles.

QB Ronald Butler (Lincoln) – Butler leads an explosive offense. He has passed to a 73% completion percentage this season and thrown for 1,060 yards and 15 touchdowns. Butler has also rushed for 908 yards and 11 touchdowns.

RB Dejan Adair (Ramsey) – One of the Ramsey running backs. Has rushed for 800 yards and nine touchdowns in a shared backfield.

LB Andre Hodge (Matawan) – Hodge has been a defensive force, recording 70 tackles and six sacks. He is being recruited by Rutgers, Stanford, Tennessee, and Virginia.

RB Matt DelMauro (Nutley) – The tailback has rushed for 1,243 yards on 233 carries while scoring 24 touchdowns.

K Connor Winter (Mountain Lakes) – It’s not often when a kicker gets recognized. Winter has made 37-of-39 extra points. He has shown off his big leg by drilling 18 touchbacks on 45 kickoffs.

RB/DB Rontik Sadler (Dunellen) – If you like speed, watch this kid run. The state track star has 1,019 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns. He also has 150 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Sadler has scored three special teams touchdowns this year as well.

LB Brandon Santana (Wallington) – Santana has recorded 94 tackles this season and three interceptions.

TB Mark Coleman (Shore Regional) – While splitting carries, Coleman has rushed for 988 yards on 132 carries. He has scored touchdowns.

QB Chris Lawshe (Caldwell) – Lawshe has thrown for 1,232 yards and 13 touchdowns this season while also rushing for 351 yards on 70 carries. The quarterback has three rushing touchdowns.

LB Dan Falkenstern (Old Tappan) – Falkenstern leads a solid defensive group with 105 tackles on the year.

TB Brandon Stout (Piscataway) – One of two backs with over 1,000 yards. Stout carried the ball 133 times for 1,026 yards and 12 touchdowns.

NG Wil Wowkanyn (Brick Memorial) – The nose guard anchors the defensive line. He has 68 tackles and 14 sacks this season.

RB Gordon Hill (St. Joe’s Hamm.) – Hill has rushed for 979 yards and 17 touchdowns this year.

DE Michael Amaro (St. Mary’s Ruth.) – Amaro leads the defensive with 12 sacks.

QB Christopher Ibrahim (Hunterdon Central) – Ibrahim is 111-of-202 passing for 1,701 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 511 yards and eight TD’s.

RB Paul Canevari (Don Bosco Prep) –Canevari is the force in the running game for DBP. He has carried the ball 180 times for 1,493 yards and 27 touchdowns.

QB Michael Villapiano (Rumson) – This kid has a big time arm and has thrown for 1,526 yards on 121-of-241 passing. 15 of his passes have gone for touchdowns. Villapiano has ran for 455 yards and eight scores as well.

LB Russ Piekarsky (Wayne Hills) – 80 tackles this season and four forced fumbles.

QB Jared Allison (Matawan) – 39-of-85 passing for 793 yards and 10 touchdowns. Has thrown just four interceptions. 831 rushing yards and ten touchdowns.

FB/LB Eric McMullen (Paulsboro) – 475 rushing yards, 92 tackles defensively and two sacks.

QB Jack Cole (New Providence) – 73-of-130 for 1,249 yards. 56% completion percentage. 11 passing touchdowns. Has rushed for 274 yards and six touchdowns on 54 carries.

LB Billy Fursin (Oakcrest) – 71 tackles. 14 tackles for loss.

RB/DB Delon Stephenson (Sayreville) – 1,009 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Also has 379 yards and eight touchdowns receiving. Defensively has five interceptions. Has returned three punts for touchdowns. The Junior is being recruited by Boston College, Rutgers, Connecticut, Purdue, and Temple.

QB Chris Andrews (St. Joe’s Montvale) –  89-of-173 for 1,249 yards and 11 touchdowns. 306 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

WR/LB Jeremy Thomas (St. Mary’s Ruth.) – Thomas does a little of everything. 21 carries for 406 yards and seven touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, Thomas has 104 tackles and three interceptions.

TB Tevin Shaw (Piscataway) – Second half of dynamic duo. 1,158 yards on 94 carries. 17 total touchdowns. Has grabbed five interceptions from his defensive back position.

WR Leonte Carroo (Don Bosco Prep) – Junior three star wide out is being recruited by big name schools like Oklahoma, Rutgers, Oregon, Michigan State, Miami, Boston College, Ohio State, and more. This season, Carroo has 39 receptions for 926 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has a total of 17 touchdowns this year.

LB Edwin Celestin (Lincoln) – 67 tackles, eight sacks, four fumble recoveries and one interception.

QB/DB Steve Wilken (Lakeland) – 115-of-199 for 1,931 yards and 25 touchdown passes. Also has 658 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Made 74 tackles and two interceptions.

RB Colin McLinden (Madison) – 1,104 yards and ten touchdowns on 122 carries. 20 receptions for 311 yards and six touchdowns.

RB Kevin Gaskins (Morristown) –1,500 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.

LB Darren Dungee (Morristown) – Has made an impressive 110 tackles this season.

QB Kevin Davis (Haddonfield) – 874 yards passing and 14 touchdowns. Has ran for 470 yards and scored ten touchdowns on the ground.

RB/DB Corey Clement (Glassboro) – Averaged 7.8 yards per carry for a total of 1,185 yards and 14 touchdowns. Defensively has made 39 tackles, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries.

DE/OL Tyler Soto (Wallington) – 7.5 sacks

QB Andrew Martin (Cherokee) – 1,346 yards and 17 touchdowns on 96-of-152 passing. 292 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

QB Craig Cicardo (Lacey) – 66-of-100 for 1,168 yards and 16 touchdowns. 511 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.

TB Quadree Hubbard (St. Mary’s Ruth.) – Work horse back carried the ball 218 times for 1,573 yards and 19 touchdowns.

LB Dan Mastromateo (Holy Spirit) – 84 tackles, 8.5 sacks

RB/DB Tyler Coulbourn (Delsea) – 819 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing. 92 receiving yards. Made 42 tackles on defense and five interceptions.

FB/LB Robby Rohan (Mountain Lakes) –  151 carries for 786 yards and 12 touchdowns. 53 tackles on defense.

LB Vinnie Grausso (Dunellen) – 81 tackles

QB Matt McHale (Madison) – 1,243 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. 557 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.

QB Sterry Coddington (Freehold Borough) – Another quarterback that has rushed and passed for over 1,00 yards this season. A true dual threat.

FB Andrew Suarez (Middletown South) – 775 yards on 118 carries. 13 touchdowns.

DE Pete Diabes (Wayne Hills) – 78 tackles, 13 sacks. Diabes is being recruited by Connecticut, Rutgers, and Maryland.

TB Pat Maggio (Shore Regional) – 950 yards on 119 carries. 12 touchdowns.

RB/DB Criss Sullivan (Wallington) – 166 carries for 1,116 yards and 19 touchdowns. 26 receptions for 549 yards and eight touchdowns. Made 73 tackles on defense.

TB Brandon Brocklehurst (Hunterdon Central) – 1,225 yards on 223 carries. 13 touchdowns.

RB Presley Beauvais (St. Joe’s Montvale) – 959 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. 9 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown.

DE Kaiwan Lewis (St. Joe’s Hamm.) – 72 tackles, six sacks, one interceptions.

RB/DB Vinny Fuschetto (New Providence) – 145 carries for 1,011 yards and 17 touchdowns. 21 receptions for 400 yards and three touchdowns. On defense, Fuschetto had four interceptions. He has scored a total of 26 touchdowns.

RB P.J. James (Glassboro) – 1,054 yards rushing with 11 touchdowns. Averaged 10.1 yards per carry.

LB Joe Fusaro (Nutley) – 81 tackles. Nine tackles for loss.

LB Tyler Condit (Caldwell) – Averaged 12 tackles per game this season.

DL John Faccas (Matawan) – 70 tackles and 14 sacks.

QB/DB Devin Fuller (Old Tappan) – 88-of-129 for 1,716 yards and 19 touchdown passes. 167 carries for 2,200 yards and 31 touchdowns. Extremely explosive player. 56 tackles on defense and three interceptions.

DE R.J. Falls (West Deptford) – 61 tackles, eight sacks.

OL/DT Nick Curl (Paulsboro) – 6’3, 315 pound lineman made 82 tackles and five sacks.

DE Matt Porter (Haddonfield) – 76 tackles, nine sacks

WR/DB Cody Geyer (Lakeland) – 66 receptions for 1,194 yards and 11 touchdowns. Defensively made 66 tackles.

TB/LB Tyron Stevens (Lincoln) – 1,384 yards rushing for 22 touchdowns. Stevens has 3,534 career rushing yards for Lincoln High.

QB Charlie Vellis (Wallington) – 2,187 yards on 160-of-286 passing. Threw 22 touchdown passes.