The high school football playoffs begin this weekend and here are five players to watch in the first round games.
Dayshawn Reynolds, Atlantic City.
The Vikings play at Pennsauken on Saturday at 1 p.m. in a S.J. Group IV quarterfinal. Reynolds returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown against Hammonton two weeks ago and caught a 62-yard touchdown pass against Millville last week.
Mike Gesicki, Southern Regional
The 6-foot-5 sophomore wide receiver has the ability to leap into the air and come down with the football. That makes him especially dangerous around the goal line. Southern hosts Triton in a S.J. Group IV semifinal at 7 p.m. Friday.
Christian Mortellite, Hammonton
The quarterback with his ability to accurately throw the ball down the field gives the Blue Devils a dimension they haven't had in years. He has completed 55-of-78 passes for 826 yards and nine touchdowns. Hammonton faces Kingsway at 7 p.m. Friday in a S.J. Group III quarterfinal.
Alquann Jones, Millville
The running back is a Player of the Year candidate with 1,536 yards and 18 touchdowns. Anybody who saw him zig-zag between Atlantic City defenders for a 66-yard touchdown last Friday knows how dangerous Jones is. Millville hosts Rancocas Valley in a S.J. Group IV quarterfinal 7 p.m. Friday.
Pat Moran, Barnegat
The junior wide receiver and defensive back does a bit of everything for the Bengals, who host Pt. Pleasant Boro in a S.J. Group II quarterfinal 7 p.m. Friday. He's caught 32 passes for 536 yards and two touchdowns. He's booted four field goals and averages 31.3 yards per punt. Moran also returns punts and kickoffs.
On defense, the defensive back has 52 tackles, four interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
