Manalapan High School's Saeed Blacknall and Johnny Appice Among Those Honored by MSG Varsity
Last night, MSG Varsity and The National Football Foundation announced the third annual MSG Varsity All Metro Team, comprised of 26 standout high school football players from the tri-state area. Selected by the network’s panel of football experts from hundreds of tri-state area high schools, the honorees were revealed live on MSG Varsity’s “A Quick :60,” Optimum TV Channel 14 at 8:00 p.m. The broadcast also recognized both the coach of the year, the player of the year and the Second team. Honorable mentions are available on www.msgvarsity.com.
For the first time, Bergen Catholic High School had the most players recognized in the tri-state. Three players from Bergen Catholic of Oradell, NJ—ranked number four in MSG Varsity’s Tri-State Top 25—received first team honors, including senior wide receiver J.J. Kulcsar; junior defensive lineman Kurt Holuba and senior quarterback Jon Germano who received offensive athlete recognition.
“The football players who make up the MSG Varsity All Metro Team are among the best in the tri-state area,” said Michael Lardner, Senior Vice President and Executive Producer, MSG Varsity. “We are thrilled to partner with The National Football Foundation to honor these student athletes and their coaches who demonstrate on a regular basis the passion, athleticism and sportsmanship it takes to succeed both on and off the field.”
“This year MSG Varsity covered 185 high school football games, giving viewers the opportunity to watch these players excel throughout the fall season,” said MSG Varsity’s Mike Quick. “Each year I’m honored to recognize these talented athletes on my show for what they’ve already accomplished on the field.”
The following players have officially been named to MSG Varsity’s All Metro Team:
Offense:
QB, PJ Walker from Elizabeth, NJ
RB, Jabrill Peppers from Paramus Catholic, NJ
RB, Jahad Thomas from Elizabeth, NJ
RB, Curtis Samuel from Erasmus Hall, NYC
OL, Joe Tustin from St. Anthony’s, LI
OL, Shawn Flaherty from St. Joseph (Montvale), NJ
OL, Dorian Miller from Metuchen, NJ
OL, Marcell Lazard from Bloomfield, NJ
OL, Quenton Nelson from Red Bank Catholic, NJ
WR, J.J. Kulcsar from Bergen Catholic, NJ
WR, James Frusciante from Staples, CT
Ath, Jon Germano from Bergen Catholic, NJ
Defense:
DL, Ebenezer Ogundeko from Jefferson, NYC
DL, Jay Hayes from Poly Prep, NYC
DL, Alquadin Muhammad from Don Bosco Prep,NJ
DL, Razohnn Gross from Don Bosco Prep, NJ
DL, Kurt Holuba from Bergen Catholic, NJ
LB, Mark Fossati from St. Joseph (Montvale), NJ
LB, Steven Casali from Sachem East, LI
LB, Joe Clarke from New Rochelle, NY
DB, Nadir Barnwell from Piscataway, NJ
DB, Isaiah Cureton from Sayreville, NJ
DB, Eddie Robinson from Lawrence, LI
Ath, John Haggart from Sayville, LI
WR, Saeed Blacknall from Manalapan, NJ
K, Zane Wasp from Chaminade, LI
The following players have officially been named to MSG Varsity’s All Metro Second Team:
Offense:
QB, A.J. Otranto from William Floyd, LI
RB, Billy Andrle from East Meadow, LI
RB, Justin Goodwin from Madison, NJ
RB, William Stanback from Uniondale, LI
OL, Sam Zeff from Montclair, NJ
OL, Joel Campo from St. Joseph (Montvale), NJ
OL, Devlin Brennan from Our Lady of Lourdes, NY
OL, Kyle Vaughn from Staples, CT
OL, O’Shane Morris from Iona Prep, NY
WR, John Maddaluna from Bernards, NJ
WR, Thomas Zenker from Chaminade, LI
ATH, Noel Thomas from St. Luke’s, CT
Defense:
DL, Anthony Denunzio from MacArthur, LI
DL, Johnny Appice from Manalapan, NJ
DL, Khilyni Kennedy from Paramus Catholic, NJ
DL, Rashaad Coward from Sheepshead Bay, NYC
DL, Tashawn Bower from Immaculata, NJ
DL, Troy Kay from St. Joseph (Montvale), NJ
LB, Al-Rasheed Benton from Shabazz, NJ
LB, Marquise Watson from Paramus Catholic, NJ
LB, Shane Huber from St. Peter’s Prep, NJ
DB, Kyle Queiro from Bergen Catholic, NJ
DB, Tre Bell from St. Peter’s Prep, NJ
ATH, Matt Oplinger from Delbarton, NJ
WR, Kason Campbell from Elizabeth, NJ
K/P, David Bonagura from Ramapo, NJ
Paramus Catholic High School (NJ) junior running back Jabrill Peppers was named Player of the Year. The junior standout was named to the All Metro Team in 2010 and 2011 when he played for Don Bosco Prep. With the addition of Peppers to the Paramus Catholic roster, the team ranked 3rd in the MSG Varsity Tri-State Top 25, two spots above last year’s number one team, Don Bosco Prep.
Chaminade High School (Long Island) head football coach Stephen Boyd, who led the Flyers to their first CHSFL Championship win since 1998 has been named All Metro Coach of the Year. It was the first time the Chaminade team defeated rival, St. Anthony’s High School after 15 consecutive losses. In fact, it was the only team who beat them in the regular season.
The episode of “A Quick :60” announcing the All-Metro Football Team can be viewed online by visiting www.msgvarsity.com or by watching MSG Varsity’s on-demand channel 614.
