Morris/Sussex football: Midseason awards at the halfway point of the 2023 season

We're halfway there.

In just a few weeks, the football postseason will get underway as we have reached the halfway point of the regular season. Some things predicted just a few weeks ago have now changed in massive ways. Will the second half of the season resemble the first half for the programs in Morris and Sussex counties?

To mark the midpoint of the regular season, here are our picks for Morris/Sussex football midseason awards.

Public Team of the Year: Mount Olive

Only one victory last season meant lower expectations for Mount Olive this fall. All the Marauders have done over the last few weeks is prove the naysayers wrong. Mount Olive is one of only 40 remaining undefeated teams across all of New Jersey at the halfway point, sporting a spotless 5-0 record through the first five weeks.

The second half of the year comes with perhaps the greatest test to date for the Flanders school as it faces unbeaten Roxbury with the winner having the inside track to a top seed in North Group 4.

Public Coach of the Year: Ryan Roumes, Roxbury

The Gaels haven't seen success like this in nearly a decade and Roumes and his coaching staff deserve a great deal of credit. Last season, Roxbury responded to an 0-3 start to go on a run and reach the North 1, Group 4 playoffs. Despite suffering a rout at the hands of Ridge, the Gaels seemingly took notes on what it takes to get to that next level.

Roxbury hasn't hoisted a state championship trophy since the days Cosmo Lorusso roamed the sidelines with titles in 2009 and 2012. A lot of obstacles remain in the way, including a big one with Mount Olive to begin the second half. Roumes has put together a strong rushing offense with versatile quarterback Anthony Skawinski at the controls.

Public Player of the Year: Logan Pych, Vernon running back

Vernon having a solid rushing attack is nothing new and Pych contributed last season as a compliment to primary back Gage Moskovitz. Pych has not been afraid to take over the role of a 1,500-yard rusher and has made the Vikings one of the hottest teams in Morris/Sussex football. The senior has rushed for 784 yards in 115 attempts and is averaging nearly seven yards per carry.

Following a season-opening loss to Warren Hills, Vernon has rattled off four straight victories and has been guided by Pych. He has at least 112 yards rushing in every victory this season, including a 258-yard effort against Sparta on Sept. 9.

Non-Public Team of the Year: Delbarton

Delbarton made waves last season on the way to the Non-Public A semifinals. That run came following an 0-3 start to the year. Now in 2023, Delbarton is 3-1 through the first half of the season. With a big matchup looming against Pope John and a pair of tough matchups against DePaul and St. Joseph (Montvale) to end the regular season, the second half will be an interesting one for Delbarton.

2023 has an opportunity to be the best one yet for coach Brian Bowers, now in his 21st season with the Green Wave. An experienced group of 26 seniors, led by quarterback Christian Zebrowski and All-State running back Ryan Trafford, hope to continue to be contenders among the state's best in the second half.

Non-Public Coach of the Year: Dom Gaston, Pope John

The job Gaston has done at Pope John is so impactful that even our colleague Darren Cooper had to give him the nod. A 4-1 start in the first half already matches the win total from all of last season for Gaston's Lions. A victory over Seton Hall Prep in early September was one of the biggest shocks in the state thus far this season.

A second-half schedule that includes unbeaten Immaculata, area power Delbarton, and defending Non-Public B champion DePaul means it's going to be an up-hill battle in the second half for Gaston and Pope John. If the Lions can navigate through the upcoming weeks, Pope John will make a crowded Non-Public A playoff picture even more difficult to seed.

Non-Public Player of the Year: Tylik Hill, Pope John running back

One of the main reasons Pope John's start isn't looked at as a fluke is because of Hill, who has rushed for more than 700 yards in his junior year. Hill is 358 yards shy of matching his total from all of last season and his 13 total touchdown runs are already more than the nine he earned last fall.

Hill has rushed for more than 100 yards in all but one game this season. His high mark at the halfway point of the season is 21 carries for 221 yards and two touchdowns in a statement victory over Seton Hall Prep in Week 1. Hill also returned a kickoff for a touchdown in a 33-20 win over the Pirates.

Upset of the Year: Hanover Park over Mountain Lakes

The Hornets have been one of the biggest surprises of the first half and the win over last year's Group 1 runner-ups is the big feather in their cap during an undefeated start to the season. Hanover Park's 14-7 win over Mountain Lakes improved the Hornets to 4-0 and handed the Herd its first loss to a team from the area in nearly three full seasons.

Azmir Parks and Jack Kovacs each ran for touchdowns and the Hornets defense held Mountain Lakes to a single touchdown for the first time since the Group 1 state final last fall. A clash of two of the toughest defenses in the area, Hanover Park proved to be a legitimate contender by knocking off the standard-bearer.

Game of the Year: Wallkill Valley over High Point in 2OT

It won't be a surprise if the upcoming Roxbury-Mount Olive clash outshines the rest, but the best game of the first half of the season happened on a soggy Saturday afternoon at Wallkill Valley. On Sept. 9, the Rangers made more big plays and appeared to be in control of the afternoon before Mason Mericle's fourth-down conversion tied the game and sent it to overtime.

Mercile gave the Wildcats a lead in overtime, and a goal line stand nearly gave High Point the win before Zack Clarken scrambled for the tying score. A botched extra point brought us a second overtime, but Joseph Kurbin's 23-yard field goal gave the Rangers a victory in their home opener.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Morris/Sussex NJ football: Midseason awards for 2023