Defensive Game Balls for Playoffs, Round 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that the dust has settled, we are on to football's second season - the state playoffs. With consolation games sprinkled in, here were the top performers from the second week of the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Redzone's Winter Showcase is back for 2025 with more locations than ever. Looking to attend? Register&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/all-events/?type=Showcase">here</a>. Save a few dollars off the cost of registration by using my special promo code,&nbsp;<strong>MankariousWinterPRZ</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Be sure to follow me on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BrendanScoutsNJ">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for the latest New Jersey high school football prospect news and not miss a beat!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Run Stuffing</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1921827' first='Gage' last='Boyle'], 2028, Point Pleasant Beach: 22 tackles (6 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 1 FF, 2 carries, 4 yards in 30-6 defeat at Shore Regional</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1922147' first='Jalen' last='Kreiger'], 2029, Point Pleasant Beach: 17 tackles (7 solo), 1 for loss in 30-6 defeat at Shore Regional</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1969743' first='Tommy' last='Kasoff'], 2026, Old Bridge: 17 tackles (6 solo) in 28-27 victory at Sayreville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1467565' first='Julien' last='Jones'], 2026, Colonia: 16 tackles (10 solo) in 35-7 defeat at Phillipsburg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pass Rushing</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1523180' first='Gemaus' last='Sackie'], 2026, Burlington Township: 3 sacks in 15-13 defeat vs. Mainland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='736705' first='Luke' last='Wafle'], 2026, Hun: 11 tackles (4 solo), 4 for loss, 3 sacks in 50-21 victory vs. St. Thomas More (CT)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='402196' first='Brandon' last='Simmons'], 2026, Glassboro: 8 tackles (5 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery in 35-0 victory vs. Salem</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1551259' first='Peter' last='Berardi'], 2026, Holmdel: 11.5 tackles (3 solo), 1 for loss, 2.5 sacks in 65-42 victory vs. Neptune</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pass Defending</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mason Bryan, 2026, Kingsway: 2 tackles (2 solo), 3 interceptions (1 TD) in 28-7 victory at Southern Regional</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>James Farrell, 2028, Haddonfield: 8 tackles, 2 interceptions in 28-13 victory vs. Lower Cape May</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='910889' first='Kellen' last='Nelson'], 2027, Blair: 5 tackles (3 solo), 2 interceptions in 42-18 victory vs. Peddie</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jose Trinidad, 2026, Passaic County Tech: 4 tackles (1 solo), 2 Interceptions (1 TD) in 35-0 victory vs. East Orange</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->