NJSYFL 8th Grade All-Star Game: South Team Offensive 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 offensive players from the South Team.    Just about when it looked like the South team was going to be laughed off the field trailing 14-0, [player_tooltip player_id='1567189' first='Joey' last='Riccio'] recorded his first big play of the night. Riccio flawlessly took an apparent RPO mesh hand off up the middle before making a quick cut and jetting untouched up the far sidelines for a 40-yard touchdown run. It may have been his first touch of the night, but it wouldn't be his last, as the Cranford prospect would eventually go on to stand up for the Cougar faithful and all of Union County, as with the Offensive MVP of the NJSFYL 8th Grade All-Star Game. As the game marched forward, Riccio showed that he was much more than a one-trick pony with his ability to be dangerous in the passing game, as well. On the South Team's second possession of the final quarter Riccio, Riccio caught three passes on the drive--with the last reception resulting in a touchdown to cut the North lead down to 22-14.     In the case of [player_tooltip player_id='1567241' first='Tyler' last='Shea'], his stats in the NJSFYL 8th Grade All-Star Game were what they were--there's no way around it. However, I'll take the ability and potential I saw in Shea as a prospect any day of the week. The good-looking Southpaw tossed the pill all over Foley Field in the game. Despite wind gusts of 25-30 mph and cold temperatures during the contest, he showed off his strong arm and was targeting his weapons downfield throughout the night. Also a talented baseball player, the 5-foot-11, 150-pounder out of Middlesex County cemented his name as one of the top QBs in the state and as a must-know name in the class of 2029.     The South Team's offense struggled to get going in the first half of the NJSFYL 8th Grade All-Star Game. Aside from an exciting [player_tooltip player_id='1567189' first='Joey' last='Riccio'] TD run in the second quarter, there weren't many plays that went for positive yardage against the aggressive North Team defense. However, one of the clear bright spots on the team was the play of [player_tooltip player_id='1567235' first='Lucas' last='Funk']. Funk did a little bit of everything in the contest; From taking handoffs out of the backfield, to attempting a HB pass, to making a highlight reel, full extension 20+ yard reception in the closing minutes of the opening half. His versatility was needed, as South Team navigated tough playing conditions and an ever tougher defense. He certainly got his chances and was an obvious go-to player for the South, something personified on the team's second drive of the third quarter. Funk took a handoff on 1st down and then proceeded to be targeted on deep shots on the next two consecutive plays--unfortunately, like most of the game, it just didn't click.     Unless I'm mistaken, which is totally possible given the All-Star Game format, Cranford's [player_tooltip player_id='1570628' first='Luke' last='Sawicki'] didn't get his turn at Quarterback until the fourth quarter--but he made the most of his time. Despite starting at Safety for the South Team, the Union County prospect came out guns blazing at Quarterback and connected on 3-of-8 passes and a TD pass in the forth quarter. Of the five passes that weren't completed, two of which should have been caught. On top of his passing ability, he also used his legs on a couple plays and drew a roughing the pass penalty on a 4th down play. Sawicki connected with [player_tooltip player_id='1567189' first='Joey' last='Riccio'] on the very next play, recording the only TD pass in the NJSFYL 8th Grade All-Star Game for the South Team.     While he made more of an impression on me as a Defensive End prospect starting in the second quarter when he got his defensive reps, Schoening also did a tremendous job as the South Team's starting Right Tackle on the Offensive Line. He used an obvious size and strength advantage to put the North Team's Defensive Linemen on skates throughout the contest. He exploded out of his stance and showed off the flat back, chest up and violent hands that coaches around the country want their O-Line to play with.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Additional Players of Note</h2>   Hudson Factor | Tight End | Westfield - Despite having a rough go offensively throughout the night, the South Team did have some big plays that were exciting. While I don't think he recorded an official stat in the game, I liked the play of Hudson Factor at Tight End. He looked the part physically and did a nice job of blocking through the whistle. With most of the South Team's offensive punch coming on quick passes, a Tight End that can quickly get a hat on a hat is a must. Factor did this well.   [player_tooltip player_id='1570592' first='Danny' last='Kassoff'] | Running Back | Old Bridge & Jake Rotkel | Running Back | Berkley Heights - No real big stats to speak of in the game other than a few yards here and there when they got their chances. With that said, I liked the way they both ran the ball in the game. Kassoff very much looked the part of a prospect with a good future at the position, sporting a well-balanced running style with some added power. Rotkel was the smaller of these two RBs, but ran hard and attacked the line of scrimmage with purpose. They were part of a talented group of skill players, but offensively they couldn't help get it going.

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 offensive players from the South Team.