Football: Somerset-Hunterdon-Warren all-county honors and final team rankings
With the 2023 high school football season behind us, here's a look at the best from this past year.
2023 FINAL Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren TOP 10
1. Phillipsburg 10-2
2. Bernards 12-1
3. Ridge 8-2
4. Hillsborough 8-3
5. Montgomery 8-1-1
6. Watchung Hills 8-3
7. Hunterdon Central 6-4
8. Somerville 5-5
9. South Hunterdon 9-2
10. Delaware Valley 5-4
Football awards: Central Jersey and Big Central Conference postseason honors index
SOMERSET/HUNTERDON/WARREN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Connor Laverty, Bernards
The four-year letterwinner and three-year starter saved his best for last as he finished his career with a third straight division title and led the Mountaineers to a 28-5 mark in that span with four playoff wins.
The senior quarterback completed 119-of-177 passes (67.2%) for 1,727 yards and 17 touchdowns, throwing just one interception. He also rushed for 446 yards and 11 more scores, including the game-winner in overtime in the North 2 Group 2 final, giving Bernards (12-1) its first-ever sectional championship.
SOMERSET/HUNTERDON/WARREN COACH OF THE YEAR
Jon Simoneau, Bernards
The veteran coach, in his 16th season at the Mountaineers helm and 23rd with the program, took his team to heights it had never seen before, guiding Bernards to its first-ever 12-0 start and only state sectional championship in program history.
With a host of talented, experienced players, like quarterback Conner Laverty, first-year D-lineman David Brothers, and fellow seniors Jake Caldwell, Logan Ritchie and Tim Pagonis, Bernards cruised through the regular season a perfect 9-0, which included a decisive Week 1 win over rival and perennial power Hillside. The Mountaineers then rolled through the first two rounds of the playoffs, scoring lopsided wins over Ramsey and Sussex Tech, before an inspired 23-17 overtime win over Lakeland in the North 2 Group 2 final. Bernards finished 12-1 after falling to undefeated state champ Westwood in the Group 2 semifinals.
Simoneau, a J.F. Kennedy-Iselin grad, improved his career mark to 110-50.
2023 SOMERSET/HUNTERDON/WARREN ALL-COUNTY TEAMS
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB: Connor Laverty, Bernards, Sr.
QB: Michael Schmelzer, Jr. Montgomery, Sr.
QB: Aleks Sitkowski, Watchung Hills, Sr.
RB: Will Deady, Ridge, Sr.
RB: Jakob Saus, Hunterdon Central, Sr.
RB: John Wargo, Phillipsburg, Sr.
WR: Jack Clintock, Watchung Hills, Sr.
WR: Matthew D'Avino, Montgomery, Sr.
OL: Jeff Bate, Delaware Valley, Sr.
OL: Cameron Baumann, Voorhees, Sr.
OL: Ollie Collier, Immaculata, Sr.
OL: Colin Higgins, Phillipsburg, Sr.
OL: Logan Ritchie, Bernards, Sr.
KR: Jackson Jankowicz, Hillsborough, Jr.
K: Trey McFadden, Montgomery, So.
ATH: Josh Woodford, Pingry, Sr.
ATH: Dane Sorenson, Bridgewater-Raritan, Sr.
DEFENSE
DL: David Brothers, Bernards, Sr.
DL: Jayden Loftin, Somerville, Jr.
DL: Cam Montague, Watchung Hills, Sr.
DL: Chris Oliver, Ridge, Sr.
LB: Jonathan Lobello, Hillsborough, Sr.
LB: Joseph Neachukwu, Franklin, Sr.
LB: Brayden Stefan, Belvidere, Jr.
LB: Garrett Swayhoover, South Hunterdon, Sr.
LB: Na'quavere Thomas, Manville, Jr.
DB: Tyler Anderson, North Hunterdon, Sr.
DB: Jake Caldwell, Bernards, Sr.
DB: Scott Drews, Watchung Hills, Sr.
DB: Tyler Van Cleef, Hillsborough, Sr.
PR: Jarred Wooden, Bound Brook, Sr.
P: Decker McNally, Hunterdon Central, Sr.
ATH: Brandon Kurzeja, Voorhees, Sr.
ATH: Joe Spirra, Bridgewater-Raritan, Sr.
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
QB: Jack Bray, Bridgewater-Raritan, Sr.
QB: Brenden Pacheco, Somerville, Jr.
QB: Anthony Venettone, South Hunterdon, Sr.
RB: Terrell Mitchell, Somerville, Jr.
RB: Brady Post, Montgomery, Sr.
RB: Logan Stevens, Bernards, So.
WR: Anthony Brown, Immaculata, Sr.
WR: Matthew Scerbo, Jr. Phillipsburg, Jr.
OL: Jack Heider, Hunterdon Central, Sr.
OL: Logan James, Bridgewater-Raritan, Sr.
OL: Braeden Kaye, Somerville, Sr.
OL: Tim Pagonis, Bernards, Sr.
OL: Lucas Szczepanski, Montgomery, Sr.
KR: Isaiah Bennett, Manville, So.
K: Jonas Gonzalez, Bernards, Sr.
ATH: Luke Brogan, Delaware Valley, Sr.
ATH: Ryan Olivo, Ridge, Sr.
DEFENSE
DL: Jamile Adoboe, Bound Brook, Jr.
DL: Lucas Clark, Montgomery, Sr.
DL: Carson DeRoner, Pingry, Sr.
DL: Thomas Diemar, Bernards, So.
LB: Travis Cryan, Voorhees, Sr.
LB: Rooke Donohoe, Ridge, Sr.
LB: Luke Laub, Immaculata, Jr.
LB: Brady Marshall, Watchung Hills, Sr.
LB: Shayne Powell, Hillsborough, Sr.
DB: Kevin Burgess, Phillipsburg, Sr.
DB: Quinn Carran, Somerville, Sr.
DB: Brayden Kelly, Watchung Hills, Jr.
DB: Nick Santa Barbara, Hillsborough, Sr.
P: Joshua D'Ambrosio, Manville, So.
ATH: Isaac Levitan, Voorhees, Sr.
ATH: Ethan Goulbitsky, Montgomery, Sr.
ATH: Aaron Potts, North Plainfield, Jr.
THIRD TEAM
OFFENSE
QB: Kyle Blew, Belvidere, Jr.
QB: Jett Genovese, Phillipsburg, Jr.
QB: RJ Hart, Hunterdon Central, Sr.
RB: Patrick Carslile, Bernards, Fr.
RB: Joe Fleming, Immaculata, Sr.
RB: Ryan Turner, Ridge, Jr.
WR: Mason Chamberlain, Belvidere, Jr.
WR: Connor Gray, Hunterdon Central, Sr.
OL: Colin Billups, Immaculata, Sr.
OL: Aidan Gaebele, Watchung Hills, Sr.
OL: Jack Schroeder, Bridgewater-Raritan, Jr.
OL: Jeffery Shea, Franklin, Jr.
OL: Luke Testa, North Hunterdon, Jr.
KR: Joshua Rodriguez, Somerville, Jr.
K: Spencer Carran, Somerville, Jr.
ATH: Jeremiah Norwood, Bound Brook, Jr.
DEFENSE
DL: Yorddi Ahumada, Hillsborough, Sr.
DL: NFii Bannavti, North Plainfield, Sr.
DL: Jack Regan, Phillipsburg, Sr.
DL: Jack Rewey, Pingry, Jr.
LB: Charlie Gonella, Bernards, Sr.
LB: Rafferty Harris, Pingry, Jr.
LB: Max Nuzzi, Somerville, Jr.
LB: Anderson Olcott, Delaware Valley, Sr.
LB: Luke Tipton, Belvidere, Jr.
DB: Max Austin, Bernards, Jr.
DB: Cameron Bohal, Phillipsburg, Sr.
DB: Logan Direny, Voorhees, So.
DB: Justin Wistuba, Voorhees, Sr.
P: Jayden Brea, North Plainfield, Sr.
ATH: Grant Guzzino, Bound Brook, Jr.
ATH: Aaron Zalescik, South Hunterdon, Sr.
Simeon Pincus has been covering NJ sports since 1997. He can be reached at SPincus@GannettNJ.com. Follow him on Twitter @SimeonPincus
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Football Somerset-Hunterdon-Warren all-county, player of the year
