Player of the Year
Damon Mitchell
Cedar Creek, Sr.
QB 6-3 204
Mitchell led the Pirates to a 10-2 record and the South Jersey Group II final. Mitchell threw for 22 touchdowns and ran for 21 scores. He threw for 2,025 yards and ran for 1,027 yards. He has verbally committed to attend Georgia Tech University.
Offense
Wesley Hills
Wildwood, Sr.
RB 6-3 220
Hills led the Warriors to their first ever football playoff berth. He carried 205 times for 2,077 yards and scored 35 touchdowns. Rutgers and Temple have expressed interest.
Calvin Cass
St. Augustine Prep, Sr.
RB 5-11 195
Cass rushed 257 times for 2,001 yards. He scored 37 touchdowns. Cass carried 53 times for 261 yards as the Hermits clinched the Cape-Atlantic League National Conference with a 41-40 win over Cedar Creek on Thanksgiving. Army is recruiting Cass.
Rob Ennis
Millville, So.
RB 5-10 158
Ennis rushed 203 times for 1,492 yards and scored 18 touchdowns. He set the Millville single-game rushing record when he gained 302 yards against Oakcrest.
Dayshawn Reynolds
Atlantic City,Sr.
WR 6-1 181
Reynolds caught 50 passes for 905 yards and 10 touchdowns to lead the Vikings (8-3) to the South Jersey Group V semifinals.
Mike Gesicki
Southern Regional, Jr.
WR 6-5 195
Gesicki caught 50 passes for 954 yards and nine touchdowns. A college prospect, Rutgers University has already offered Gesicki a scholarship.
Anthony Speziale
Southern Regional, Sr.
TE 6-4 260
Speziale caught seven passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. But more importantly, he is a stellar blocker and the Rams often ran behind him.
Ryan Boyle
Southern Regional, Sr.
OL 5-10 210
Boyle helped block for a Rams offense that averaged 174.9 rushing yards per game and scored 25 touchdowns. He also played on the defensive line, making 54 tackles.
Mike McGrath
St. Augustine Prep, Jr.
OL 6-5 279
With his blocking, McGrath sparked a Hermits offense that averaged 212.3 rushing yards per game. McGrath could be one of the region's most highly recruited players next season.
Colin Lynch
Absegami, Jr.
OL 6-2 265
Lynch blocked for one of the region's most productive offenses. Braves running backs Tyler Bing and David Hood often ran behind Lynch for big gains.
Roy Lucas
St. Joseph, Sr.
OL 5-10 245
Lucas is one of the top players for a St. Joe team that won the Cape-Atlantic League American Conference and state Non-Public I title. Lucas blocked for a Wildcats offense that averaged 236.8 yards rushing per game. He also excelled on the defensive line with 49 tackles and four sacks. Plans to wrestle in college.
Bobby Frederico
Hammonton, Jr.
OL 6-0 260
A standout lineman for a Blue Devils team that qualified for the South Jersey Group IV playoffs and handed St. Joseph its only loss of the season.
Jarren McBryde
Atlantic City, Sr.
All-purpose 6-0 192
A standout at quarterback and defensive back. McBryde led the Vikings to an 8-3 record and the South Jersey Group V semifinals. He completed 113-of-182 passes for 1,982 yards and 20 touchdowns. McBryde also rushed for key first downs and touchdowns. On defense, he was a hard hitter and always around the ball.
Bill Belford
Lacey Township, Sr.
KR/PR 5-9 150
The wide receiver was one of the region's top punt and kickoff returners. He averaged 13.36 yards per punt return and 35.86 yards per kickoff return. He returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown against Toms River North. Belford also caught 33 passes for 569 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Tim Mason
Egg Harbor Township, Sr.
K 6-2 181
Mason kicked six field goals with a long of 40 yards. His 40-yard field goal with 4.2 seconds left gave the Eagles a 31-28 win over Hammonton.
David Hood
Absegami, Jr.
Utility 6-0 190
The speedy running back is one off the region's most exciting players. He rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and scored 12 touchdowns, including a kickoff return for a score.
Defense
Gabe Hemighaus
Cumberland Regional, Sr.
DL 6-3 240
Hemighaus led the Colts with 66 tackles and 71/2 sacks. He also played tight end, catching 38 passes for 418 yards and two touchdowns. Monmouth has offered a scholarship.
Antoine White
Millville, Jr.
DL 6-3 255
White made 80 tackles and had six sacks. Rutgers University has offered him a scholarship.
Charles Cade
St. Joseph, Sr.
DL 6-1 225
Cade sparked the Wildcats with 55 tackles and 10 sacks.
Kevin Goldsmith
St. Joseph, Sr.
DL 6-1 195
Goldsmith led St. Joe with 84 tackles. He also had six sacks and an interception.
Eric Wiafe
Egg Harbor Township, Sr.
DL 6-5 260
Wiafe made 44 tackles. He also had 21/2 sacks. He has verbally committed to Rutgers University.
Jeff Steeb
Holy Spirit, Jr.
LB 6-3 220
Steeb made more than 100 tackles for the state Non-Public II champions. He also intercepted three passes, returning one for a touchdown. He has been invited to attend the U.S. Army All-American Bowl scouting combine in January.
Brandon Bell
Oakcrest, Sr.
LB 6-2 225
Bell played in eight games and led the Falcons with 111 tackles. He made 121/2 tackles for losses. Bell has verbally committed to attend Penn State.
Zack Vogelei
Middle Township, Sr.
LB 6-1 226
Vogelei led the Panthers to the South Jersey Group II playoffs with 103 tackles. He also had three sacks, an interception and three fumble recoveries. Vogelei also rushed for 693 yards and 10 touchdowns at fullback.
Frank Zeigler
Lower Cape May Regional, Sr.
LB 5-11 207
Zeigler made 61 tackles. He played quarterback on offense, rushing for 1,243 yards.
Ed Shockley
Millville, Jr.
LB 5-11 207
The linebacker made 113 tackles and also contributed four sacks.
Anthony Giagunto
St. Joseph, Sr.
DB 5-9 170
Giagunto excelled at quarterback and defensive back for the state Non-Public I champions. He made 37 tackles, intercepted three passes, caused and recovered one fumble and blocked two field goals. Giagunto also completed 71-of-126 passes for 983 yards and 13 touchdowns. He ran 68 times for 241 yards and seven touchdowns.
Miles Pease
St. Joseph, Sr.
DB 5-8 165
Pease excelled at defensive back and running back for the Wildcats. He made 32 tackles and intercepted four passes. Pease also rushed for 782 yards and five touchdowns and caught 23 passes for 381 yards and five touchdowns.
A.J. Dawson
Holy Spirit, Jr.
DB 5-9 172
A speedy defender, Dawson intercepted three passes, returning two of them for touchdowns. He is also a standout running back for the Spartans.
Gary Melton
Cedar Creek, Sr.
DB 5-11 182
Melton excelled on defense and offense for the Pirates. A speedy defender, he led a Cedar Creek defense that allowed just 12.6 points and just two passing touchdowns all season. On offense, Melton scored 26 touchdowns. He rushed for 917 yards and had 903 receiving yards.
Chris Tutela
Lacey Township, Jr.
DB 5-11 180
Tutela led the Lions to a 10-1 record with 57 tackles. He returned an interception for a touchdown. On offense, Tutela played wide receiver and running back, catching 26 passes for 598 yards and eight touchdowns. He rushed for three touchdowns and even threw two touchdown passes.
Jim Cooper
Mainland Regional, Sr.
P/K 6-1 202
Cooper is one of the state's best kickers. He kicked seven field goals this season to give a state record 31 career field goals. Cooper has verbally committed to attend Temple University.
