Defensive Playoff Performers: Regional Championship Round

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After this weekend, the state playoff field is now down to just 14 teams. With two teams remaining per section, plus two remaining in the Non-Public A and B groups each, here were the big-time ballers who showed out in the biggest game of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Pass Rushing Performances</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["854635"],"_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":"After going on the road and upsetting Millville last week, Mainland turned around and did it again. This week their victim was Winslow, a 41-7 win. Watson, the Holy Cross commit tied a season high with 10 total tackles and 5 tackles for loss. However, Watson was able to set a new season high with 3 sacks in the victory.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655b8c916c6a6"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1031717"],"_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 name that I have mentioned a few times in recent memory, [player_tooltip player_id='1031717' first='Alex' last='Grippo'] has been coming on strong recently and emerging as a key contributor to Delsea's playoff run and entrenching himself as a necessary cog for next years team. In a 28-12 victory against Camden, Grippo was able to get home to the quarterback 3 times in the victory while also forcing a fumble.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655b8c916c713"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1002362"],"_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":"Joining Mainland teammate [player_tooltip player_id='877036' first='Hunter' last='Watson'] in the backfield early and often was fellow defender [player_tooltip player_id='1002362' first='Rocco' last='DeBiaso']. DeBiaso, just a junior, looks to ride his wave of season-waning success into the state championship game at Rutgers. In the victory against Winslow, DeBiaso made 11 tackles, 3 of which went for a loss - all sacks - constantly putting Winslow behind the chains.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655b8c916c76a"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Pass Defending Performances</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["871109"],"_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":"Not to ride Mainland too hard this week, but these boys were absolutely ballin' out. As Watson and DeBiaso brought the pressure from the front-seven, Jamie Tyson locked things up on the back-seven Tyson made 3 tackles in this game; however, he also managed to pick off 2 passes in this one - one of which went for a pick-six. Moreover, Tyson scored twice on offense, slashing 3/69/2 as a receiver in the 41-7 victory at Winslow.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655b8c916c7bd"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1085722"],"_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":"Drago has been en fuego for about five weeks now. Perhaps one of the state's hottest players right now, his tremendous play dates back to early October. Most recently in a Regional Final thriller, Drago led West Essex to a 21-20 victory over West Morris. Drago made 8 tackles in this one, but also picked off 2 passes. For the playoffs, Drago now has 5 interceptions in three games.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655b8c916c80d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["447441"],"_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":"It would not seem right if we did not mention a Toms River North Mariner on our list of top defenders, especially given their convincing 33-6 victory at Cherokee. Pruitt made 8 tackles in this contest, including 2 tackles for loss. However, Pruitt was a terror in the secondary as he returned - not one - but two passes the other way for defensive scores. He also added 3 catches for 29 yards on offense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655b8c916c858"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Run Stuffing Performances</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["220060"],"_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":"In a game I very much so wanted to go see in person but could not because I got sick this weekend, [player_tooltip player_id='220060' first='Trashon' last='Dye'] churned-and-burned on both sides of the ball in a gritty 14-0 victory over Union City. Dye led the Bulldogs in tackles with 14 (10 solos) and 1 tackle for loss. On the ground, Dye maintained a steady pace and ripped off big gainers late in the game - including a 50-yard run - to finish with 24/148/1 on the ground. With the PCTI victory, we have a Group V final rematch from last year.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655b8c916c8a8"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["172521"],"_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":"McClain, a senior who I have enjoyed following and watching, left it all out on the field in what is likely his final prep game of his career. In the defeat to Delbarton, 38-23, McClain made an impressive 16 tackles, getting much of that work done on his own, with 12 solo stops.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655b8c916c8f6"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1092353"],"_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":"Although Ramapo often dominates on offense, giving few teams a change to stay in the game, they needed a hero on defense to edge out Mount Olive as they did this weekend, earning a 24-19 victory. The defensive hero who stepped up for them was [player_tooltip player_id='1092353' first='Zak' last='Darwish']. A junior, Darwish led the state in tackles this week with 23 stops (5 solo).","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655b8c916c943"} /-->