NJSYFL 8th Grade All-Star Game: South Team Defensive Standouts

The North Jersey Suburban Youth Football League has long been one of the top multi-County youth football conferences in North Jersey. With over 20 teams from four different Counties in the “A Division”, it really does serve as a glimpse into the future of North Jersey High School Football. In the annual NJSFYL 8th Grade All-Star Game this past weekend, some of the biggest and brightest stars from the league came out to play. Below is a look at some of the standout defensive players from the South Team.    Kelly couldn't be everywhere on the field at all times in the South Team's losing effort, but the eventual Defensive MVP did everything he could in the NJSFYL 8th Grade All-Star Game. Despite the North Team scoring a touchdown on their nine-play opening drive, Kelly Set the tone early with three tackles on the opening drive alone--it would have been four tackles hadn't been for a North Team holding penalty negating the play. The big, tough starter at Middle Linebacker is no stranger to the headlines of PRZ Next, as he was featured just a day before the game in this <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/11/a-look-at-five-big-hitting-new-jersey-2029-linebackers/">article</a> about physical Linebackers in New Jersey. Kelly was clearly the most dominant player on the field for the South Team defense, finishing with (unofficially) 14 tackles and a forced fumble in the contest.     While Cranford's [player_tooltip player_id='1563951' first='Will' last='Kelly'] quickly established himself as the Big Dawg on the defense for the South Team, [player_tooltip player_id='1567270' first='Lucas' last='Mascenik'] of Perth Amboy, the team's other Middle Linebacker in the 4-4 front, was also a player that stood out. Not nearly the thick, traditional MLB that Kelly is, the Middlesex County product is a more athletic, rangy kid who may be looking at playing another position depending on how he grows as he progresses through the higher levels of football. With that said, specifically early in the game, Mascenik matched Kelly nearly tackle for tackle (he had five in the first quarter) as the duo tried to shut down the high-powered North Team offense. He would go on to unofficially finish the game with 11 tackles.     By simply looking at the box score of the NJSFYL 8th Grade All-Star Game and seeing that the South Team lost 22-14, in addition to the North Team's starting QB being named the Offensive MVP--one wouldn't anticipate seeing a Defensive Back as a standout defensive player. Yet, Westfield's [player_tooltip player_id='1570601' first='Jameson' last='Studer'] is absolutely deserving of recognition. While the film doesn't lie that he gave up a few completions, I loved the way he came down hill quickly and limited the amount of yards the WRs tacked on after the reception. In on half a dozen tackles in the tilt, another thing I noticed on film was that Studer made at least half of his tackles "making up" for one of his teammates getting beat--showing dependability.     Despite being the starter at Right Offensive Tackle (where he did a good job), Schoening came alive when he moved to his more natural, and projected, position of Defensive End. On his very first defensive play, which just so happened to be the first play of the second quarter, operating out of a stand up position, Schoening played the Jet Sweep like a player beyond his years and came up with a huge stop for the South. The Offensive Tackle had an impossible reach block to make based on Schoening's alignment and the Cranford native beat him at the point of attack and defeated the block for no gain. That play would become the launching pad for one of the top 2029s in all of Union County, as on the first play of the second quarter, the big man would be credited with a Sack on a bad snap, resulting in an 18-yard loss. With no official stats kept I could be off, but I unofficially had Schoening with a share of three sacks in the game.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Additional Players of Note</h2>   Julian DeLuca | New Providence | Defensive End - The starter at Defensive End recorded an impressive sack in the closing minutes of the opening quarter, fighting through two blocks and bringing down the North Team QB. He went on to unofficially record three tackles in the game as well.   Graeden Lackett | Westfield | Defensive Tackle - Lacket started at Left Tackle on the offensive side of the ball, but looked better on the defensive side. Built more like a Defensive End than anything else, he played on the interior D-Line and gave the O-Line some issues with his athleticism. He did a good job of fighting across the face of the O-Line and moved particularly well laterally. I unofficially had him in on three tackles and a sack.

The North Jersey Suburban Youth Football League has long been one of the top multi-County youth football conferences in North Jersey. With over 20 teams from four different Counties in the “A Division”, it really does serve as a glimpse into the future of North Jersey High School Football. In the annual NJSFYL 8th Grade All-Star Game this past weekend, some of the biggest and brightest stars from the league came out to play. Below is a look at some of the standout defensive players from the South Team.