Garden State Gamers: Week 3’s Top Offensive Performers
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With another week of action in the books, this weekend we were treated to a full slate of games spanning 3 days across the great Garden State. Here are just a handful of some of the weekend’s top offensive performances…
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Continue ReadingWith another week of action in the books, this weekend we were treated to a full slate of games spanning 3 days across the great Garden State. Here are just a handful of some of the weekend’s top offensive performances across New Jersey during week 3’s contests.
Week 3’s Top Passing Performances
Starting off this weekend’s top quarterback play was a freshman. Parker, who was also highlighted last week with a strong, efficient performance against Delsea, replicated, built upon, and expanded his success this week against St. Joseph’s of Hammonton. Although the young gunslinger was just 12 for 20 passing for 274 yards and threw 2 picks, he led the state this week with a total of 6 passing touchdowns. Winslow looks to go to 4-1 this week on the road at Shawnee.
Since transferring out of Piscataway and in to Watchung Hills, Sitkowski has seemed to fit in nicely and not miss a beat. The 4-0 Warriors were tested with their tightest game of the season thus far, a 31-24 win at Morris Knolls, where Sitkowski was asked to come up big. The senior was 21 for 31 for 293 yards. This yardage total represented his most prolific output on the season. Additionally, he threw for 3 TDs and 2 Ints while also rushing 10 times for 35 yards. Watching Hills looks to go to 5-0 this week home against Bridgewater-Raritan.
After starting week 0 and then only attempting two passes in week 2, Grande, Kinnelon’s quarterback, was back in the saddle for the Colts in week 3. In defeat against Sussex Tech by a score of 43-26, Grande did his best to keep his squad in the game. Grande was 18 for 29 for 305 yards with 3 scoring strikes to 1 interception; he rushed for one score as well. Only a junior, the upside for Kinnelon is bright as they head to North Warren this week.
There are close games and then there are 1-point games. Santiago, the quarterback for Paul VI, was cooler than the other side of the pillow in the Eagles’ 28-27 win on the road at Seneca. Santiago was 22 of 39 for 276 and threw 3 scores while not turning the ball over. He added an extra element to game plan for too, as he ran 7 times for 57 yards and 1 score. Off to an impressive start, the 3-1 Eagles head to Moorestown this week.
Week 3’s Top Rushing Performances
Ogbuewu is a player we have identified since last spring when he broke out during his junior year for Dunellen. Off to a torrid start to the season, Ogbuewu rushed 12 times for 274 and 4 TDs in the Destroyer’s opening week 50-44 victory over Highland Park. Was he able to follow up that performance with a similar one against Belvidere? Unequivocally the answer was yes. In the 44-25 win Ogbuewu ran 20 times for 214 yards and another 4 scores and has now gone back-to-back games as one of the state’s top rushers.
Woodbury is off to a 3-0 start and much of that could be attributed to Reagan’s play. A tailback, he has not rushed for less than 170 yards in each contest and scored a minimum of twice in each game. Most recently at Paulsboro, the senior totaled 275 yards and an impressive 5 scores on just 19 carries. This averages to just under 14.5 yards per carry. Reagan and the rest of the Thundering Herd will look to continue their success against Haddonfield this week.
An elusive and shifty player that I first got a look at in person during the NY Jets’ 7on competition, Marshall has all the moves to make you miss in a phone booth. Building off of a 169/1805/23 campaign on the ground, he looks to be set to surpass last year’s junior season totals as he has gone for 41/615/11 on the ground through three games. Most recently against Snyder it appears that Marshall had an early day scoring 5 times on 252 yards and just 11 carries. Highlighting his explosive nature, Marshall averaged a jaw-dropping 22.9 yards per carry.
Cherry Hill East was able to notch their first win of the season last week on the road at Holy Cross Prep, a 56-25 victory. A big part of what worked and went right for Cherry Hill East was the play of Lee, their junior tailback. Lee ran for 236 yards and for his first 4 TDs of the season on just 14 totes, averaging an impressive 16.8 yards per carry. Lee and the rest of the Cougars will look to double-up this coming week against an upstart-and-surprising West Windsor-Plainsboro team.
Highlights
Week 3’s Top Receiving Performances
Although Somerville came up short against Montgomery in a battle of undefeated teams last week (27-21), Carran did his best to keep the Pioneers in the game with big play after big play. Despite not finding the endzone Carran was a game breaker waiting to happen. Catching just 4 balls, he went for 195 yards – or an average of 48.75 yards per catch. Carran will look to continue this freaky, field stretching abilities this week at Union.
You would not believe it if you did not see it. Appearing in what I believe to be his his first game of the season, Torres had an even more explosive game that Carran! Passaic came up with a big 35-8 win against Dickinson at home last week, but Torres was the one to completely bust the game open. Torres scored twice on his only two catches of the game; however, these two touchdown catches went for a total of 162 yards (81 yards per catch). With the victory Passaic leveled their record to 2-2 as they travel to Paterson Eastside this week.
Aiding in teammate Jalen Parker Jalen Parker 5’9″ | 160 lbs | QB Winslow Township | 2027 State NJ ‘s big game was his Helton, his favorite target. Akin to Torres, Winslow’s junior wide receiver caught 3 balls – all of which went for scores – but busted the game open with big plays, amassing 129 yards on those 3 grabs (43 yards per catch). This was a statement win for Winslow over St. Joseph’s of Hammonton, 63-14.
In a week chock-full of big-play receivers, Naperkowski bucked the trend and piled it on in more of a possession receiver-type of game. In a tough, 41-19 loss at Allentown, Naperkowski gained 137 yards and scored once on 11 catches. Those 11 catches were good for the top total this week in all of the state. Robbinsville will look to even their record this week home against Notre Dame.
Week 3’s Top Kicking Performances
In a game where you score 9 touchdowns, you may take for granted each extra point opportunity. Cisse, the junior kicker for Weequahic, takes his role seriously and does not take for granted any opportunity. By going 9 for 9 on PATs against Snyder last week, he is now 20 for 21 on PAT attempts this season and 1 for 1 on field goal attempts.
I love when kickers get in the mix at other positions on the field too. This was the case for Coffey, the junior wide receiver and kicker for Butler. He was a perfect 8 for 8 in PAT attempts this weekend at St. Mary’s in Rutherford, making him 16 for 17 on the season. This game also saw him haul in 3 receptions for 100 yards and a TD score, making him accountable for 14 total points scored in the 56-23 road win.
Also a junior kicker-receiver type, Armbruster was a perfect 7 for 7 on PAT attempts in Blair’s convincing 51-6 win against KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy. Blair, who plays a prep schedule, is slated to host Germantown Academy out of Pennsylvania this week.