Five Need-to-Know Quarterbacks from the Shore Conference
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Signal callers. Under center. QB1. Field general. All these terms are synonymous for, arguably, football’s most important position on the field: the quarterback. When your team has a good one, things come easy and your entire offense opens up. When…
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Continue ReadingSignal callers. Under center. QB1. Field general. All these terms are synonymous for, arguably, football’s most important position on the field: the quarterback.
When your team has a good one, things come easy and your entire offense opens up. When your team lacks one, well, you might be in for a long season. This list features some of the top players at the position within the Shore Conference. Read below to see the breakdown of what they do well at the position that leads to their success.
Akin to teammate Ja’elyne Matthews Ja’elyne Matthews 6’6″ | 300 lbs | OL Toms River North | 2025 State NJ , you cannot talk about QBs in the state of New Jersey without bringing up Micah Ford Micah Ford 6’1″ | 205 lbs | ATH Tom Rivers North | 2024 State NJ of Toms River North. At 6’1″ 210lbs, the Mariner won the 2022 Gatorade and Maxpreps State Player of the Year awards. He did so by completing 57 of 89 passes for 1203 yards with 17 TDs and 2 Int. However, he made his impact running the ball, gaining 2360 yards and 33 TDs on 236 carries, averaging 10 YPC. Ford was also a key contributor on defense with 77 tackles, 9 TFL, 1 FF, 4 Ints, and scoring 1 TD on defense. Finally, Ford also converted five, two-point conversions.
Ford appears to be the fastest player on the field at any given time. Lightning can strike at any moment and at any point on the field with the ball in his hands. Ford has smooth hips when he runs the rock. This makes for seamless change of direction and an elusive ball carrier. Combine this with his vision, cutbacks become second nature to him. Because he is such a threat to run, when he rolls out pass attempts are easy since defenders are sucked up. Additionally, he faces a lot of man coverages due to him being a threat on the ground. Ford places the ball in only a place where his man can make a play on it. Ford keeps his feet churning through contact to the point that he breaks through piles and scampers for scores. Defensively, he makes elite breaks and jumps on the ball. He also times his hits very well so he can dislodge the ball from the defender without drawing a penalty. Should Ford want to play QB in college, it would be to his benefit to include more clips of him dropping back to pass.
With many pieces around him returning, Ford and the Mariners are in prime position to repeat as Group IV State Champions. Will they replicate their undefeated, dream season? They certainly have a good shot to do so.
The Brick Memorial Mustang’s offense was levied by one athlete who played like a stallion all season long in 2022. At 6’1″ 170lbs, QB Connor Dietz Connor Dietz 6’1″ | 180 lbs | QB Brick Memorial | 2024 State NJ put the team on his back and galloped into the end zone countless times. Dietz finished the season going 130/210 for 2083 yards with a 13:5 TDs-Int ratio. He ran like an all-conference back too, slashing 195/1858/23 on the ground. He even impacted the game on defense with 35 tackles and 1 Int.
Dietz capitalizes off of play action and PRO reads quite a bit. This freezes defenders just a step for his receivers to win and allows Dietz to deliver a nicely placed ball in double-coverage, tight windows, or when he is moving the pocket. Dietz is also a tough runner and appears difficult to bring down. He has some balance to boot, as he stumbles and bumbles, staying upright through the first bit of contact and fighting for extra yards. Mustard might be Dietz favorite condiment, as he can sling it into a tight window at times. Mobile enough to avoid the rush, he has the presence of mind to keep his eyes down field once he breaks the pocket, undoubtedly looking for a big play. More big plays will become available to Dietz and the Mustangs as he stays disciplined to carry out his fakes with fidelity.
Dietz looks like a natural when he plays the QB position. In a tough South Group V playoff bracket, expect Dietz to rise to the occasion and lead Brick Memorial into a deep playoff run.
Highlights
Rumson-Fair Haven is loaded with impactful talent that are returning for at least one more season. QB Owen O’Toole Owen O’Toole 6’1″ | 190 lbs | QB Rumson Fair Haven | 2024 NJ , who stands at 6’1″ and 190lbs, joins the ranks of Jack Mauthe Jack Mauthe 6’0″ | 210 lbs | OL Rumson-Fair Haven | 2025 NJ and Jack Harris Jack Harris 6’3″ | 295 lbs | OL Rumson Fair-Haven | 2026 State NJ (with more to come) as they look to settle unfinished business in pursuit of the Group II State Championship. More of a pocket QB, O’Toole was 163/304 for 2161 yards with 25 TDs and 7 Int last year, while also scoring once on the ground.
I started by saying O’Toole is more of a pocket QB. This is because he keeps his eyes down field at all times, even if the rush is in his face. He also is unabashed, happily absorbing hits in the pocket when necessary to deliver a strike. Should he break the pocket, O’Toole has the presence of mind to give himself up and slide rather than fight for more yardage, which is not necessarily a strength of his. O’Toole has faith in his receivers to go up and make a play on the ball when necessary, while also putting just enough touch on the deep pass where only his man can get it. One grow for O’Toole would be to speed up his release. Tight windows will not be so tight if he does.
With a seasoned veteran QB reclaiming the ranks and a stout o-line in front of him, I fully expect the Bulldogs to be a team that dominates the Group II title conversation.
Middletown North features a lion that is raging and roaring, ready to rev up the regular season competition. At 6’3″ 190lbs, QB Luke Sheehan Luke Sheehan 6’3″ | 190 lbs | QB Middletown North | 2024 State NJ completed 90 of 148 passes for 1181 yards, while throwing 8 TDs and 5 Ints.
Sheehan can throw the ball at least 45 yards through the air on a dime. He can also escape, contort his body awkwardly, and yet make accurate throws. Sheehan’s nature is to stay in the pocket and only appears to break it when necessary. He finds a safe location for his receivers to catch the ball and will only scramble if his reads are not there. Sheehan would benefit from some more clips of him straight dropping back to improve his college prospects.
Having an QB entrenched and returning to your starting lineup is, perhaps, the biggest building block a team can possess. With Sheehan at the helm, the Lions are in great position to ascend in the standings this season.
The Matawan Huskies were led on offense this season by sophomore QB Am’ir Martinez de Scott Am’ir Martinez de Scott 5’8″ | 160 lbs | QB Matawan | 2025 State NJ . The 5’8″ 160lb dual-threat QB passed for 867 yards, 7 TD, and 4 Ints on 59/98 attempts; while also rushing 122 times for 706 yards and scoring 10 times. He also punted 8 times for 233 yards with a long punt of 50 yards. Three of his eight punts were downed within the 20-yard line.
Martinez de Scott is an athlete playing QB. He does a great job anticipating the pass rush, avoiding it, and repositioning himself to get off throws. Similarly, Martinez de Scott is shifty as he weaves in, out, and around danger. He appears to make the correct reads when running read-option. Martinez de Scott demonstrates discipline as well, pressing the hole and following his blockers when his number is called. Moving to the right is a strength of his, as well as taking what the defense gives him and not forcing things. Because of how dynamic he is, Martinez de Scott and the Huskies offense will open up a bit more as he carries out his fakes with the same vigor as he does his plays.
Starting last year as just a sophomore, Martinez de Scott is a high upside player that will look compete for the mantle of “top QB” in the Shore Conference for the next few seasons.