Defensive Playoff Performers: Sectional Championship Round
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The field draws closer and closer as we work to one state champion per group, Sectional Championships were earned this weekend. Here are a few top performers who aided in their team’s pursuit. Top Pass Rushing Performances Dan McGarry NJ…
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Continue ReadingThe field draws closer and closer as we work to one state champion per group, Sectional Championships were earned this weekend. Here are a few top performers who aided in their team’s pursuit.
Top Pass Rushing Performances
In a thriller, Mount Olive went on the road and stunned Roxbury 27-26. In this one, McGarry was a standout defender for Mount Olive. A persistent disrupter for the Marauders, McGarry made 8 tackles in this one. Moreover, McGarry made 2 tackles behind the line and had 1.5 sacks in this one. He also recovered a key fumble.
For the second week in a row Ward has shown up and shown out, earning weekly recognition from Prep Redzone. In the 20-7 loss at Westwood, Ward made 10 tackles from his defensive line spot. Perhaps more impressive, Ward made 2 tackles in the game and also intercepted a pass.
Highlights
A steady, consistent, and – perhaps – unsung force in the trenches for PCTI has been Wescott. In Sectional Championship-clinching game against Montclair Wescott played a pivotal role along the offensive line, but also had an outstanding performance on defense. Wescott made 4 tackles – 3 of which were solos, but also recovered a fumble and sacked the quarterback twice.
Highlights
Slocum appears to be a defensive lineman that can get it done in numerous ways. Las tweek against Hammonton he made 12 tackles. This week, a convincing 41-7 victory over Long Branch, the senior was only credited with 4 tackles. Three of those tackles, however, went for a loss – specifically 3 sacks of the opposing quarterback.
Top Pass Defending Performances
Loyd picked an opportune time to break through for the Camden Panthers. In their 47-14 victory against Cedar Creek, Loyd was credited with his first statistical entry of the season. Accumulating no other data in any other game, Loyd picked off not one pass, not two passes, but three passes en route to a Sectional Championship. One of those interceptions was returned the other way for a defensive score.
Rose has been a big-time, two-way standout for Union City for seemingly three years now. As the adage goes, big time players make big plays. This is exactly what Rose did in the Soaring Eagles’ 24-17 victory on the road at Phillipsburg. From his defensive back spot on the field, Rose was extremely involved as he made 5 tackles and 1 tackle for loss. However, what may have been the biggest play he made on defense, Rose intercepted a pass, taking a possession away from the Stateliners in a one-possession game. Rose also rushed 11 times for 49 yards.
Falling to Westwood 20-7 is certainly not how you wish to conclude your career; however, Scheibe went above and beyond to ensure that he did everything in his power to play just one more game. Scheibe, Butlers’ defensive standout, made 18 tackles in this game to go with 2 tackles for loss and 1 interception.
In a big-time upset victory on the road against Old Tappan, West Morris won a close game 21-17. Crisp’s game was crispy all evening long as he led a defensive unit as he came up with big play after big play. Crips had a season-high in tackles (11) as well as a season-high in solo tackles (5). With the contest being a four-point game, Crisp’s biggest play might have been the interception he made, stealing a possession from Old Tappan.
Top Run Stuffing Performances
Magliacano was one of the most active linebackers all season long. In St. Thomas Aquinas’ 13-10 home loss to DePaul he was a little more active than usual. Magliacano made 15 tackles in this game – 11 of which were solo stops; however, he mixed it up a bit more on offense. Magliacano scored the Trojans’ only touchdown of the game when he went for a long 58-yard screen play.
Seton Hall Prep was able to avenge a 30-21 loss earlier in the season against St. Joe’s of Montvale. With both games being at home, 35-28 road playoff victory last weekend was just that much sweeter. Turning our attention to a standout, Black had an outstanding game in this one, as he made 12 tackles in the contest. Beyond stuffing the run, Black also had a sack and an interception for this squad.
Stevenson was very active in St. Thomas Aquinas’ 13-10 loss to DePaul. Stevenson came down early and often to fill the alley from his spot in the defensive secondary en route to a career high 15 tackles. Of those 15 tackles, 12 were solo stops.
As North Jersey’s most famous fictional character Tony Soprano once said, “revenge is like serving cold cuts.” That is exactly what Seton Hall doled out in their 35-28 road victory at St. Joe’s Montvale. Earlier in the year Joe’s got the best of the Pirates; however, McClain and company would not be denied the second go-round. In this one McClain was all over the place as he amassed 17 tackles. In a tight, one-possession game McClain also stole a possession from Joe’s as he recovered a key fumble.