2022 Shore Sports Network Preseason All-Shore Football Team
Shore Sports Network is proud to present its sixth annual Shore Conference Preseason All-Shore Football team, featuring our compilation of the top returning players in the Shore Conference. The main criteria for the team are returning All-Shore and all-division status.
OFFENSE
QB — Brett Patten, Sr., Manasquan
Patten threw for 1,592 yards and 25 touchdowns against just six interceptions for a Warriors’ offense that tied for fifth in the Shore in scoring at 27.7 points per game. He was also a threat on the ground in Manasquan’s up-tempo, spread offense and rushed for eight touchdowns.
QB — Micah Ford, Jr., Toms River North
Ford moved from running back to quarterback and had an electric sophomore season by rushing for 1,451 yards and 17 touchdowns on an average of 6.7 yards per carry and throwing for 944 yards and eight touchdowns. He also started in the secondary on defense and made 82 tackles with 2 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 3 forced fumbles, and 7 pass breakups.
RB — Chase Gumbrecht, Sr., Central
Gumbrecht had a breakout junior season and was the Shore Conference rushing champion with 1,825 yards and 25 touchdowns on an average of 8 yards per carry. He also had a receiving touchdown to finish second in the Shore with 156 total points. Gumbrecht was selected as the Liberty Division Offensive Player of the Year by the coaches.
RB — Kieran Falzon, Sr., Raritan
Falzon was third in the Shore with 1,512 yards rushing and 23 touchdowns on an average of 6.4 yards per carry to help the Rockets reach the Central Jersey Group 2 sectional final.
RB — Jake Croce, Jr., Point Boro
Croce ran for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns on an average of 6.9 yards per carry to help the Panthers go 10-2, win the Patriot Division title and the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 2 sectional championship. He also caught nine passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns and totaled 29 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 2 tackles for loss on defense.
WR — Najih Rahman, Sr., Red Bank Catholic
Rahman caught 32 passes for 520 yards and four touchdowns for a Caseys’ offense that was No. 2 in the Shore in scoring at 32.7 points per game. He had a touchdown catch in RBC’s 13-8 win over DePaul in the Non-Public B state championship game. He is committed to Brown University.
WR — Kevin Maloney, Jr., Howell
Maloney had a great debut season at the varsity level by catching 34 passes for 573 yards and seven touchdowns. Howell had the No. 11 scoring offense in the Shore at 24 points per game.
WR — Kyle Verriest, Sr., St. John Vianney
Verriest built off a solid sophomore season by catching 28 passes for 426 yards and four touchdowns as a junior.
OL — Cole Skinner, Sr., Point Boro
The 6-foot-6, 305-pound junior anchored a Point Boro offensive line that paved the way for the conference’s No. 1 scoring offense in 2021. The Panthers and their triple-option attack averaged 35.5 points per game and rushed for a conference-best 3,682 yards and 52 touchdowns on an average of 7.2 yards per carry. Skinner is verbally committed to Temple University
OL — Ja’elyne Matthews, So., Toms River North
The 6-foot-6, 300-pound Matthews started as a freshman for a Mariners team that reached the South Jersey Group 5 final. He has FBS scholarship offers from the likes of Georgia, Ohio State, Penn State, and Texas A&M.
OL — Lorenzo Portella, Jr., Red Bank Catholic
Now entering his third year as a starter, Portella was a standout along the offensive line in 2021 for an RBC offense that was second in the Shore in points per game (32.7), averaged 210 yards rushing per game on an average of 6.6 yards per carry,
UT — Connor Dietz, Jr., Brick Memorial
The Mustangs quarterback had a record-breaking varsity debut by rushing for 1,368 yards and 18 touchdowns on an average of 8 yards per carry and passing for 1,010 yards and five touchdowns. He also had two touchdown catches to set a Brick Memorial single-season scoring record with 130 points.
UT — Tyler Douglas, Sr., Ocean
Douglas was the Spartans’ top all-around player with 881 yards passing and 9 touchdowns, 815 yards rushing and 8 touchdowns, 64 tackles, and 3 interceptions. He is verbally committed to Temple University
K — Michael Calton, Sr., Manalapan
Calton kicked 21 extra points and five field goals with a long of 38 yards. He was also Manalapan’s punter and averaged 43 yards per punt. Additionally, he had 15 touchbacks on kickoffs.
DEFENSE
DL — Jack Lopez, Sr., Middletown North
Lopez was voted the co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Independence Division. He recorded 63 total tackles with 21 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 20 hurries to help the Lions claim a share of the Independence Division title.
DL — Jackson Whitacre, Jr., Shore Regional
Whitacre posted 60 tackles with a team-high 10 sacks, a team-leading 16 tackles for loss, 2 fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble for a Blue Devils’ defense that was No. 7 in the Shore allowing 13.9 points per game.
DL — De’ondre Banks, Sr., Neptune
Banks totaled 65 tackles, 8 sacks, and 15 tackles for loss to lead the way for the Scarlet Fliers’ defense.
DL — Connor Reynolds, Sr., Point Boro
Reynolds made 61 tackles with 7 sacks and 5 tackles for loss to help the Panthers go 10-2, win the Patriot Division title and the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 2 sectional title, and finish No. 8 in the SSN Top 10.
LB — Dante Vernieri, Sr., Donovan Catholic
Vernieri had an exceptional junior season with 132 tackles, two sacks, and five interceptions to tie for the Shore Conference lead. He returned four of those interceptions for touchdowns to also lead the Shore in that category.
LB — Davin Brewton, Jr., Red Bank Catholic
Brewton won a starting job in the middle of RBC’s defense as a sophomore and turned in a great season with a team-high 119 tackles, 2 sacks, and 10 tackles for loss to help the Caseys go 11-1 and win the NJSIAA Non-Public B state title.
LB — Colin Gallagher, Jr., Middletown South
Gallagher announced his presence with a wonderful sophomore season that saw him lead the Shore Conference with 12 sacks. He added 83 total tackles with 19 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and a pass breakup for an Eagles’ defense that allowed just 10.1 points per game to finish No. 2 in the Shore in scoring defense
LB — Ty Kazanowsky, Sr., Toms River North
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound outside linebacker recorded 84 tackles, 5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 1 interception, and 32 hurries to help Toms River North go 7-4 and reach the South Jersey Group 5 sectional final.
DB — Sabino Portella, Sr., Red Bank Catholic
As a safety, Portella recorded 68 tackles, two interceptions, three tackles for loss, and two pass breakups. He was also the Caseys’ leading rusher with 845 yards and nine touchdowns on an average of 6.1 yards per carry.
DB — Shamar Williams, Sr., Long Branch
Williams was a big-time playmaker in the secondary for the Green Wave with five interceptions, which tied for the conference high. He returned three of those interceptions for touchdowns and added 45 tackles, 1 sack, 13 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, and two blocked kicks. He also played wide receiver and caught 15 passes for 198 yards.
DB — Beau Kemler, Sr., Rumson-Fair Haven
Kemler totaled 56 tackles, 3 interceptions, 3 tackles for loss, 2 fumble recoveries, and 1 forced fumble for Rumson’s top-ranked defense that allowed just 6.8 points per game.
DB — Jake Czwakiel, Jr., Middletown South
Czwakiel tied for the Shore Conference lead with five interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, and finished with 45 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 5 pass breakups for a unit that was No. 2 in the Shore allowing just 10.1 points per game. Czwakiel was also one of the Shore’s best kickers who converted 25 of 27 extra points and kicked five field goals with a long of 31 yards.
Honorable Mention
AJ Schwartz, Sr., QB, Marlboro
Matt Oliphant, Jr., QB, Point Boro
Mark Augello, Jr., Freehold Township
Julian Jones, Sr., RB, Monmouth
Jhamier Howard, Sr., RB, Manasquan
Jashawn Carter, Jr., RB, Asbury Park
JoJo Bivins, Sr., RB, Barnegat
Shawn Corchado, Jr., WR, Freehold Township
Emanuel Ross, Jr., WR, Red Bank Catholic
Michael Thomas III, So., WR, Donovan Catholic
Tareq Council, Jr., WR, Toms River North
Josh Kaye, Sr., OL, Toms River North
Tyler Burnham, Jr., OL, Red Bank Catholic
Shane Garrett, Sr., DL, Ocean
Tyler Gordon, LB, Point Boro
Christian Buchanan, Sr., LB, St. John Vianney
Connor Cilento, RB/DB, Point Boro
Jeremiah Pruitt, Jr., DB, Toms River North
Matt Cassidy, Jr., DB, Marlboro
Cody Wohlrab, Jr., K, Freehold Township
