Season Standouts: Edison HS

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2022 Edison Eagles accomplished something that had not been done in their hometown for nearly 30 years: win a sectional championship. Led by an outstanding senior class - many of whom received significant varsity playing time as freshmen - the 11th-seeded Eagles' embarked on a Cinderella-esque playoff run, which included: Upsetting defending state champion Hillsborough, 10-7, Snapping a 6-game losing streak to division rival North Brunswick, 33-31, where they scored 16 points and recovered not one, but <em>two,</em> onside kicks with 2:53 left in the game and the senior class avenging a freshman year playoff loss to #2 seed Lenape, 28-14.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most impressive, all of these improbable victories were on the road. Unfortunately their storybook season ended at the hands of eventual Group V State Champion, Toms River North. Let's take a time-out to see how this strong senior class led Edison to previously unattained heights. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["181904"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"A 4-year starter, [player_tooltip player_id='181904' first='Mathew' last='Yascko'] has rewritten the Edison record books. He concludes his prep career as Edison's leader in: career- and single-season passing yards, career- and single-season touchdown passes, 5th in career rushing yards, 5th in single-season rushing touchdowns, and 2nd in career rushing touchdowns. These stats would be even gaudier had he not missed two games his senior year and had he started before the fifth game of the season as a freshman. This dual-threat QB plays with uncanny moxie and pocket presence/mobility. He often looks for the downfield home run play, but has the presence of mind to tuck-it-and-run when the big play is not there. This translates to two things: big plays (12.5 YPC) and ball security (4:1 TD-to-Int ratio).rnrnThe younger Yascko continues a family legacy, as his father Matt Sr., is an EHS alumn who was a star WR from their last state championship team. Dad also a former state championship winning head coach at Carteret and currently serves as Edison's offensive coordinator.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63c0f475c4268"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["181934"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Much of the Yascko's success can be mutually tied to his longtime favorite target, [player_tooltip player_id='181934' first='Malcolm' last='Stansbury']. Much like his signal caller, Stansbury is a 4-year starter for the program and owns school records, including single-season and career receptions, career touchdown receptions, and third in single-season touchdown receptions. Despite missing one game, this season he paced the Eagles with 652 yards on 51 receptions for 4 touchdowns. In a 2-high defense where he has played both safety and CB, Stansbury was strong in run support, finishing 5th on the team with 59 tackles. He also was credited with 4 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, and 1 TFL.rnrnStansbury is a shifty threat who can go both vertical and across the middle. He is comfortable lining up both in the slot and out on the perimeter. Where he shines, however, is with his release from the line. He looks as if he is at top speed with his get off. Although his routes are rounded at times, he demonstrates his savviness with strong body fakes/control to get open. Defensively as a safety he plays downhill and does not let anyone get behind him. He will throw his entire body into a tackle. His pursuit angles could improve, but he makes up for it with his closing speed. As a corner he has demonstrated a good job suffocating his assignment into the boundary, eliminating space.rnrnSimilar to his quarterback, Stanbury continues a family legacy at Edison. His brother, Noah, is an EHS alumn and currently on scholarship at Univ. of New Hampshire.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["146680"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Adekunle (Ad-uh-koon-lay) Shittu is yet u003cemu003eanother u003c/emu003e4-year starter for the Eagles. Different from Yascko and Stansbury, Shittu anchored the defensive side of the ball during that time. In this spill defense, he finished second on the team with 86 combined tackles, 5 sacks, and 19 TFL (236, 17, and 44, respectively, for his career). This specimen finished his career with two All-Division and 1st Team All-County nods each.rnrnShittu does a great job squeezing when unblocked. Frontside, he meets the ballcarrier in the backfield, often times before the kick-man gets to him; whereas backside he has shown the ability to chase plays down from behind. Outcomes like that effectively take away plays where guards pull. I would like to see him improve his physicality in the run game, but he makes up for it with his instincts and hustle.rnrnWhen rushing the passer, Shittu's signature move seems to be a two-handed swipe. This gets the offensive linemen's hands off of him and forces his hips around to clear the offensive player. Activating his hips a bit more consistently and working in secondary/tertiary moves would lead to more QB pressures and sacks. He is propelled by great reaction/anticipation of the snap count.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Israel Rodriguez","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Edison","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Anchoring the offensive line is Israel Rodriquez, who also saw varsity playing time as early as his freshman year. Rodriguez is a coaches dream: a selfless player who prioritizes team need over personal preferences. As a senior, Rodriguez started the season at LT, but then moved to FB in Edison's heavy package later in the season. He also was a defensive contributor, finishing with 55 tackles, 2 sacks, and 12 TFL as a senior.rnrnRodriguez's athleticism is probably his best asset as a lineman. He is a smooth puller who gets to the point-of-attack in a hurry. Aside from power run plays, he easily gets to the perimeter on rocket/bubble screens as well. For a lineman, he is comfortable in space and can play in it. He is astute enough to get his body on a defender each play. His athleticism also serves him well on zone scheme plays, where he runs his track and seals his gap easily.rnrnAnother thing he does well is use defender's leverage against them. They want to pick a side and not fight pressure? No problem. Israel will allow you to take yourself out of the play and embarrass you for it. This does make him inclined to give up penetration when a defender gets off the ball too quickly, but he will work to seal their penetration off with his body positioning. I would like to see him meet defenders in the hole, stopping their momentum in the process, and then initiate a drive block.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Selbin Sabio","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Edison","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"This 4-year starter broke onto the scene as a kicker, eventually making it difficult for coaches to keep him off the field elsewhere. Before we get into his monster season at MLB, let's discuss his acclaim as a kicker (which was equally as accomplished in its own right).rnrnThroughout his career, Sabio was 87/98 in PATs (90%), while going 11/16 in FGs (70%). These numbers do not tell the entire story though, as during his season season alone he has 2 game winning FGs to his credit. His 38-yard FG as time expired in the first half proved to be the difference in a 10-7 playoff road win vs. defending champion Hillsborough. The following week, again a playoff road game, vs. North Brunswick Sabio successfully executed u003cemu003etwo u003c/emu003eonside kicks - the second of which set up his 30-yard game winning field goal with :08 left in the game. He also aided his defensive unit all season long when he changed field positioning. On 52 kickoffs (21 for touchbacks), he amassed 2501 yards for an average of 48.1 yards on kickoffs.rnrnBut wait, there's more! This kicking machine was also a tackling machine. In 13 games, Sabio paced the Eagles defense with 148 total tackles, including 31 for a loss and 5 sacks. He accomplished this by seeing his keys clearly, making countless plays on failed screens, RB check downs, and QB scrambles. When he tackles you, you feel it too. He is a true throwback, shoulder tackling MLB, as he puts his body force behind every tackle. Although he does not play down hill all that much and avoids getting in the muck, he makes a ton of tackles by playing at one speed: full speed, at all times, while running sideline-to-sideline.rnrnThis breakout campaign in two-of-three phases in the game earned him All-State, All-Division, 1st Team All-Conference, 1st Team All-County, and Central Jersey Sports Radio Special Teams Player of the Year honors.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63c0f475c44f2"} /-->