VOTE for the Week 9 Ocean County Sports Medicine Shore Conference Football Player of the Week
There were some great individual performances in the air, on the ground, on defense, and on special teams in Week 9, and now it’s time to get your vote in for who had the top performance in the Shore this weekend to choose the Ocean County Sports Medicine/Shore Sports Network Player of the Week. The winner will be announced on Thursday right here on ShoreSportsNetwork.com. Voting will end Wednesday at midnight.
The winner will receive a $25 gift card to Burger 25 in Toms River.
Scroll down to see the candidates and make your selection.
Ocean County Sports Medicine Player of the Week nominees for Week 9 (listed in alphabetical order)
Jake Croce, Jr., RB, Point Boro
Croce ran for 195 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries as the Panthers won 62-27 versus Overbrook to remain undefeated and advance to the Central Jersey Group 2 semifinals.
Connor Dietz, Jr., QB, Brick Memorial
Dietz ran for 228 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries and threw for 140 yards and a touchdown to lead the Mustangs to a 37-21 win over Toms River East in the South Group 4 Regional Invitational Tournament. Dietz has set numerous program records this season, including points scored (176), rushing touchdowns (20), passing yards (1,733), and career points scored (276).
Patrick Donohue, Sr., TE, Wall
Donohue had touchdown receptions of 41 and 22 yards in the first half as Wall opened a big lead en route to a 42-21 win over Allentown in the South Group 3 Regional Invitational Tournament.
Kieran Falzon, Sr., RB, Raritan
Falzon has consistently put up yards and touchdowns and did so again in Week 9 with 172 yards rushing and three touchdowns as the top-seeded Rockets won 34-14 over Middle Township in the South Jersey Group 2 playoffs.
Mike Frawley, Jr., WR, Pinelands
Frawley caught six passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns with scoring receptions of 6, 23, and 38 yards in the Wildcats' 35-33 win over Triton in the South Group 3 Regional Invitational Tournament.
Akeel Gaines, Sr., DB, Long Branch
Gaines had two interceptions, recovered a fumble, and made a tackle for loss in overtime among his six total tackles as the Green Wave traveled west and stunned previously-undefeated and state-ranked Pennsauken, 13-6 in overtime, in the first round of the Central Jersey Group 4 playoffs.
Colin Gallagher, Jr., LB, Middletown South
Gallagher recorded 13 tackles with 8 solo stops, 2.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble in Middletown South's 42-0 shutout victory over Cherry Hill West in the first round of the Central Jersey Group 4 playoffs.
Roman Grauso, Sr., RB/LB, Point Beach
Grauso ran for 207 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries and recorded 10 tackles with one tackle for loss in the Garnet Gulls' 48-26 win over Holy Cross in a consolation game.
Lamar Hicks, Sr., WR, Red Bank
Hicks caught three passes for 36 yards and a touchdown and ran for 53 yards and a touchdown on three carries in Red Bank's 42-7 win over Princeton in the South Group 4 Regional Invitational Tournament.
Ethan Kalinauskas, Jr., LB, Jackson Memorial
Kalinauskas returned an interception 77 yards for a touchdown late in the first half and also recorded a sack to help lead the Jaguars to a 10-7 win over Manalapan in the first round of the South Jersey Group 4 playoffs.
Ryan Mendes, Sr., WR/LB, Marlboro
Marlboro rallied for a thrilling 21-17 win over Washington Township and Mendes played an integral role with the go-ahead 52-yard touchdown reception from wide receiver Alex Frank on a trick play, a blocked field goal, and two tackles for loss among his 11 total tackles.
Ryan Kalman, Sr., DB, Rumson-Fair Haven
Kalman had a hand in three turnovers forced with two interceptions and a fumble recovery to help the Bulldogs' defense record a shutout in Rumson's 37-0 win over Monmouth in the South Jersey Group 2 playoffs.
Jeremiah Pruitt, Jr., WR/RB/DB, Toms River North
Pruitt ran for 95 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, caught one pass for 17 yards, and on defense had an interception and seven tackles to help lead the Mariners to a 49-7 win over Old Bridge in the first round of the South Jersey Group 5 playoffs.
Myquan Rush, So., DB, Barnegat
Rush recorded 10 tackles, intercepted two passes, and forced a fumble to lead Barnegat to a 13-0 shutout victory over Pemberton in the South Group 3 Regional Invitational Tournament.
Ralee Stephens, Jr., RB/WR, Asbury Park
Stephens had a 44-yard touchdown catch, a 42-yard touchdown run, and a 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown as the Blue Bishops blew out Pitman, 54-21, to advance to the South Jersey Group 1 semifinals.
Dajuan Weems, So., RB, Keansburg
Weems ran for 131 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries as the Titans won 33-18 over South River in an NJSIAA consolation game.
Frankie Williams, So., QB, Red Bank Catholic
Williams completed 7 of 14 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 57 yards and two touchdowns as the top-ranked Caseys closed out their regular season with a 57-36 victory over Curtis High School (Staten Island, NY).
Jackson Whitacre, Jr., DE/TE, Shore
Whitacre had seven tackles with two tackles for loss, blocked a punt, and had two catches for 50 yards in Shore's 23-16 win over Manville in the South Jersey Group 1 playoffs.