Offensive 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 Passing Performances Malachi Lewis HEIGHT 6'3"ā¦
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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 Passing Performances
In a much closer game than the 34-27 final would indicate, Montclair achieved a few upsets along the way to earn the right face Passaic County Tech. Unfortunately their Cinderella season would come to a halt at the hands of the Northās #1 seed. In this one, Lewis placed absolutely lights out to conclude his junior season. Lewis was an efficient 23 of 30 for 326 yards. Lewis also threw for 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. In a bit of trickery, he also hauled in a pass for 5 yards.
Making only his fourth start of the season, many were not sure what to expect from the Brunson, the signal caller for Camden. The results? An efficient, explosive, and clean performance en route to a sectional championship. Home against Cedar Creek, Brunson led the Panthers to a 47-14 victory as he was 13 of 19 for 263 yards and 4 touchdowns.
The stateās #1 ranked teamed, Bergen Catholic, won in convincing fashion against Paul VI by a final score of 35-0. Campanile looked to prove that he is the stateās #1 quarterback on the stateās #1 team. In the victory, Campanile was 17 of 23 for 265 yards and 5 touchdowns. His 265 yards and 17 completions tied season highs and his 5 touchdown passes set a new season high.
No doubt that Mountain Lakes has a heavy-run first offense; however, when Miniter was called upon to drop back and pass he produced to the maximum. In what is unquestionably his post explosive game ā and perhaps the most explosive game by a quarterback in New Jersey this year ā Miniter completed 4 of his 6 passes. Very pedestrian, yes, but of those 4 completions 3 went for touchdowns. Moreover, consider that in 4 completions, Miniter threw for 205 yards. To put that into perspective, Miniter had just a tick above a 50 YPC average. Miniter did throw 1 interception in this game.
Top Rushing Performances
In a game that I actually attended, I did not realize that James had amassed as many yards as he did. In DePaulās 13-10 road win at St. Thomas Aquinas, James rushed for 218 yards and 1 score on 26 attempts. In a defensive struggle, James churned and burned all game long ā even as many runs were called back due to holds.
The Trashon Dye Trashon Dye 6’0″ | 195 lbs | RB Passaic | 2024 State NJ show carries on. In a 34-27 victory against Montclair, PCTIās lead back reminded people that he is the real deal. Dye slashed 28/220/3 in route to the Bulldogs second-consecutive sectional title. This was Dyeās second consecutive game with over 220 yards and third game with over 200 yards on the season. This game had him set a new career high in season rushing yardage (1849) with 7 less carries. He has also nearly doubled his touchdown output from last year. Not just a one-way player, Dye also totaled 10 tackles with 1 tackle for loss.
In perhaps the weekendās biggest upset, Mainland went on the road to defeat Millville by a score of 35-14. A big part of Mainlandās offensive attack was Ordilleās play. Pacing the ground game and keeping Millvilleās explosive offense off of the field, Ordille ran for a career high 33 carries. The run-first oriented game plan proved fruitful as Ordille gained 250 yards while scoring 4 times.
The reigning Gatorade State Player of the Year appears to be back to prime form. In a ālet me remind you,ā 49-14 victory over Washington Township, Ford led Toms River North to the Sectional Championship victory. He did so by carrying the rock 24 times as he amassed 250 yards on the ground. He did drop back and sling the rock too, going 3 of 6 passing for 58 yards and 2 touchdowns. Lastly, Ford intercepted a pass on defense which was returned for a touchdown.
Top Receiving Performances
For my money, the best receiver in the state had his best game of the season against in-state competition. In the non-public group A bracket, Porter lit up Paul VIās secondary in the 35-0 victory. In this one, Porter slashed 7/146/3 as the Crusadersā primary target. This was Porterās fourth game with better than 100 yards receiving and third game with 3 touchdowns or more. He also set a season high in receptions.
In a game that was tight for much of it Klein was a consistent chain-mover for Westwood, as this team defeated Rutherford 20-7. Klein saved his best game for his most recent one as he slashed 9/127/2 against the Bulldogs. Aside from tying a career high in touchdown catches, Klein set career highs in receptions and receiving yardage.
Thom-Rogers certainly showed out in what, unfortunately, turned out to be his final high school game. In a tough 34-27 loss to PCTI, Thom-Rogers set a career high in both receptions (8) and receiving yards (159). Thom-Rogers also found the endzone once in this one. Something tells me that Thom-Rogersā best ball is still ahead of him.
Highlights
Top Kicking Performances
In a one-score game, every point matters. Chaviano, the Soaring Eagles place kicker, certainly understood that point in a 24-17 victory at Phillipsburg. Having a perfect game on the day, Chaviano was 3 for 3 on PATs and made his only field goal attempt ā the first of his career ā from 25-yards out.
Papanikolas was the beneficiary of Toms River Northās offense returning to its high-octane self this week in a 49-13 victory over Washington Township. Papanikolas somewhat redeemed himself after missing his first two PATs of the season last week. Papanikolas made all 7 of his PAT attempts in this game.
In a game where every point mattered Hoey, the Statelinersā placekicker, did his best to contribute to a potential victory in what ended up being a 24-17 loss for Phillipsburg to Union City. Hoey was perfect in both his PAT attemtps and also contributed by making his first career field goal that was true from 32 yards out.
Highlights
For the second week in a row we find Catchpole being a game-changer in the kicking game for Seton Hall. Aside from making all three of his PAT attempts ā which seems automatic at this point ā Catchpole was trusted to add points to the board to conclude three different drives. Although he missed one field goal, he absolutely nailed the other two ā especially when he drilled the 38-yarder in the revenge-game victory over rival St Joeās Montvale, 35-28.