Group V Title Game Standouts: Toms River North vs. Passaic Tech
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On Monday, November 28 at Rutgers, Toms River North and Passaic County Tech met in Piscataway to battle at Rutgers for the right to be named the NJSIAA Group V State Champion. This was a rematch of last year’s Group…
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Continue ReadingOn Monday, November 28 at Rutgers, Toms River North and Passaic County Tech met in Piscataway to battle at Rutgers for the right to be named the NJSIAA Group V State Champion. This was a rematch of last year’s Group V title game that Toms River North Won. This year, Toms River North found themselves victorious by a score of 23-13, becoming the first repeat State Champion in NJSIAA history.
In this game there were standouts on both sides of the ball. Below are a few who laid it out and left it all on the field for their respective teams.
Toms River North
The reigning New Jersey Gatorade State Player of the Year reminded everyone just exactly who he is. In the victory, Ford was a tri-threat with his arms, his legs, and on defense. Standing out as a rusher, Ford rushed 41 times for 199 yards and 1 score; as a passer Ford was 6 of 11 for 72 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions; and as a defender he made 5 tackles with 1 tackle for loss.
Pruitt impacted this game on both sides of the ball in all three phases of the game. As Ford’s favorite target, Pruitt hauled in 4 passes for 64 yards and 1 score. Pruit also made 2 tackles on defense as well as collecting an interception. Lastly, Pruitt returned a punt for 8 yards.
During the Mariners’ playoff run Blaise Boland Blaise Boland 6’0″ | 205 lbs | LB Toms River North | 2025 NJ has been ballin’, setting a blaze to the competition. In the title game Boland collected 4 tackles 3 solos) and recorded 2 sacks. Boland collected better than 1.5 sacks in each playoff game with a total of 6.5 sacks across four playoff games – which was good for more than half his season’s total of 12 sacks.
Like fellow junior teammate Blaise Boland Blaise Boland 6’0″ | 205 lbs | LB Toms River North | 2025 NJ , Eddie Slosky Eddie Slosky 6’1″ | 200 lbs | LB Toms River North | 2025 NJ has been coming on as of late, collecting 3.5 sacks in his final two games of the season. Against PCTI, however, Slosky made 4 stops in this one, 2 of which were for a loss, and 2 others were for a sack.
Rodriguez was a name that broke out in a big way as a junior for Toms River North. Throughout this season, his senior year, Rodriguez was a steady, calming, stabilizing force all season long. In his final game, he made just 2 stops; however, Rodriguez intercepted a pass that he returned all the way for 6 points.
Highlights
Passaic County Tech
An incredible career comes to an end for Trashon Dye Trashon Dye 6’0″ | 195 lbs | RB Passaic | 2024 State NJ , a Syracuse commit. In his final game, Dye rushed for 118 yards on 13 attempts while scoring twice. Dye broke a big gainer, scoring on a 76-yard scamper. Defensively Dye led the Bulldogs in tackles with 14 (9 solos). For the year Dye slashed 277/2115/24 as a rusher and made 141 tackles, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 8 tackles for loss. For his career, Dye rushed for 4665 yards on 740 attempts and scored 45 times with 301 tackles, 5 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss, 6 forced fumbles, and 4 fumble recoveries.
Whatever tackles Dye did not make on defense, Jones was sure to make. Jones was credited with 11 tackles (7 solos) with 1 tackle for loss. This game put Jones over 100 tackles for the season – 108 to be exact – for the second straight year. Jones intercepted 7 passes this season.
Rex, a monster all season long in the trenches. In his final game of his illustrious career at PCTI, Rex made 6 tackles – 4 solos – with 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. These totals added up to 10 sacks and 98 tackles on the year.
Alston, also a senior, went out with a big game. Despite not the outcome he was hoping for, Alston did a great job being active and filling the stat sheet. Alston made 8 tackles (4 solos), 0.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, and intercepted a pass.