Way Too Early Favorites: 2024 Group 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The series continues with a host of athletes from Group 2 that have the potential to catapult their team to a state championship in 2024. Westwood won it all this past year with a perfect season, but may have difficulty in 2024 with the amount of talent that will be moving onto the next level. On top of that, others within Group 2 are reloading with experienced underclassmen that are ready to play a bigger role on the field. The top 5 favorites to make a push next season are:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Rumson-Fair Haven</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Westwood</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Bernards</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hanover Park</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Lakeland</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And these are the players helping to make that push. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["545577"],"_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 making an extremely impressive playoff push, Rumson-Fair Haven fell to Westwood in one of the best games of the year in the state championship. Rumson-Fair Haven was a surprise after they entered the playoffs with 4 losses, but it will be no surprise in 2024 once they're back in the same position.rnrnLeading the charge is their returning quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='545577' first='Owen' last='O'Toole']. Throwing for over 2000 yards and 18 touchdowns, Owen commanded his offense extremely efficiently all season long. What sets Owen apart is not only his arm strength but accuracy as well. He not only can toss it deep down field to an open man, but can squeeze the ball into tight windows. Rumson-Fair Haven will need to reload at the wide receiver position, but luckily for them Owen will be the one throwing it their direction.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65708bd81242d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16327446/656a150c9a913b0b002ad50d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65708bd812498"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1088333"],"_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":"Helping out [player_tooltip player_id='545577' first='Owen' last='O'Toole'] will be the lead running back in [player_tooltip player_id='1088333' first='Kellen' last='Murray']. Only a sophomore this season, Kellen ran for 654 yards and 7 touchdowns. Kellen and Owen have the ability to be that one-two punch that allows Rumson-Fair Haven to fire on all cylinders and prevent defenses from overcommitting to the pass game. Rumson-Fair is a very early favorite to take it all the way next season, and [player_tooltip player_id='1088333' first='Kellen' last='Murray'] is one of the reasons why.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a0be"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["739692"],"_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":"This list can't be complete without mentioning the defending champions in Westwood. Finishing the season undefeated, it would be disrespectful to not expect similar results in 2024. While the team is losing a lot of talent from the senior class, a few underclassmen got plenty of repetitions this past season and are ready to step it up in a big way. [player_tooltip player_id='739692' first='Dario' last='Mathurin'] is one of those players. A 2025 defensive force, Dario made a name for himself by finding his way to the QB 7.5 times last season. All in, he racked up 38.5 tackles and forced a fumble as well. With that type of success in only his sophomore year, expect Dario to continue on this trajectory and to dominate backfields in 2024.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a169"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1087580"],"_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":"Bernards was a team that was consistently dominating teams in 2023. Finishing the regular season undefeated, Bernards eventually fell to the future state champions in Westwood. Another sophomore defensive player, [player_tooltip player_id='1087580' first='Thomas' last='Diemar'] impressed all season as he accumulated 10 sacks and 46 tackles. A menace off of the edge, Thomas not only was strong enough to drive blockers backwards, but was quick enough to close in on runners and quarterbacks faster than they expected. Bernards is another team that is losing a lot of their skill position players, so they will have to rely on players like Thomas to continue the success.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a1de"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17535239/655b6f2932dc430abcf0b321' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65462a825c148"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1021111"],"_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":"Hanover Park's [player_tooltip player_id='1021111' first='Hector' last='Lopez'] was an early favorite this past offseason to make a huge impact on the field, and he lived up to that hype. The speedy, junior linebacker flew all over the field as he made 88 tackles on the season. Hector has a nose for the ball and is truly one of the best tacklers in the state. He was able to make an impression on the game wherever he was on the field, as he sacked the QB 4 times, forced a fumble, and picked the ball off twice this past season. Hanover Park went 7-3 in 2023, but are returning a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. Look for Hector to help lead his team to a deep playoff run next season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a24e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16032367/654ac5222ab16704241c6a5e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a26c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1021614"],"_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":"The final player on this list is Lakeland's junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1021614' first='Collin' last='Sabric']. Leading the team to an 8-4 record, Lakeland fell to Bernards in the sectional finals. A QB with size for the next level, Collin is equipped with a very strong arm that can out toss the coverage when his receivers get behind it. With 1597 yards and 10 touchdowns, Collin has the ability to pick defenses apart this next season. He has a quick drop back and can deliver a pass with a lot of power behind. Lakeland is another team that should be on everybody's radar, as [player_tooltip player_id='1021614' first='Collin' last='Sabric'] should be as well.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65411b575a2cb"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16604110/655bab2b4bb2390b90aa6798' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656741a275c00"} /-->