Early last summer, High Point’s Jerron Martress had a visit with Wildcats coach Bill Percey.
The conversation may have gone something like this.
Martress: “I’d like to play quarterback.”
Percey: “Oh yeah?
Martress: “I think I can handle it.”
Percey: “Oh yeah?”
Martress: “Well, what do you think?”
Percey: “I have someone else in mind.”
Martress: “But I’d like to lead this team and …”
Percey: “I really like John Elko for the spot.”
Martress: “I know but …”
Percey: “I see big things for you at … running back.”
Martress: “Ok, I hope you’re right.”
Turns out, Percey was right on. All Martress did was have one of the best seasons in school history – and so did the Wildcats.
Martress lit it up from Day One, rushing for 1,671 yards and 26 touchdowns. He scored at least two touchdowns in nine games, a truly remarkable achievement of consistency.
Elko, meanwhile, was a handful for defenses as well, going 81 for 135 for 1,241 yards passing and 13 touchdowns and rushing 102 times for 754 yards and 11 more TDs.
Percey’s team wound up going 9-2 and sharing the American Blue with Newton. The stunning success seemingly came out of nowhere, as High Point was just 9-19 the previous three seasons combined. It hadn’t had a winning season since 2018.
The offense was simply breathtaking almost every single week.
The team scored a whopping 396 points, went over 40 points five times and scored over 35 points in every game but one (a 21-14 win over Lenape Valley) until a 35-18 playoff loss to Glen Rock.
The key to it all was the outstanding running of Martress, who is the best offensive player returning in the entire Big State Sports area.
Here are some other offensive players to keep an eye on this fall.
Luke Irwin, QB, Pope John – The Lions made it all the way to the state Non-Public B finals with Irwin (119 for 211, 1,509 yards, 13 TDs) running the attack.
Jackson Magley, QB, Randolph – The best returning quarterback in Morris County is probably Magley, who was 112 for 177 passing for 1,288 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was also 25 for 168 as a runner for another two TDs.
Connor Consigliano, QB, Jefferson – The Falcons trailed for much of last year, but Consigliano (160 for 285, 2,224 yards, 17 TDs) showed what he is capable of.
Brandon Giangeruso, QB, Whippany Park – Giangeruso was 80 for 165 for 927 yards and seven TDs last year and can also run (78 for 422, 5 TDs last year) and kick (4 for 4 kicking field goals, 12 for 12 on extra points).
Luke McGuire, QB, Madison – McGuire’s work behind center is one of the reasons the Dodgers went on a five-game winning streak and went to the playoffs last year. He was one of the leaders in the air (48 for 88, 657 yards, 8 TDs) and on the ground (71 for 245 rushing, 4 TDs).
Kevin Giusti, RB, Lenape Valley – Lenape has had a long line of great runners and Giusti is right near the top. He had 1,245 yards and 10 TDs last year and set the school single-season record for yards in a game with 351 yards in a win over Hackettstown.
Brady Shagawat, RB, Sparta – The versatile Shagawat can help the Spartans in many ways, including running (he was 107 for 468 rushing with three TDs last year) and receiving (he caught 24 passes for 416 yards and six TDs).
Oscar Speranza, RB, Morristown-Beard – The Crimson were able to move the ball well last year and pat of the reason was the work of the skilled Speranza (66 for 343, 4 rushing TDs, 31 for 485 receiving, 6 TDs).
Carson Fitch, RB, Mountain Lakes – Fitch was hurt for some of last year but was very effective with the ball in his hands as he had 133 carries for 849 yards and 10 TDs, mostly between the tackles.
Massimo Corvelli, RB, Mountain Lakes – Corvelli (117 for 805, seven TDs) combined with Fitch to give the Herd a terrific running game down the playoff stretch last year.
Luke Gialanella, RB, Pope John – Gialanella (97 for 470, seven TDs) was a great complement to the running exploits of the graduated standout Tylik Hill.
Evan Cotter, RB, Newton – Cotter (59 for 570 rushing, four TDs, seven for 97 receiving with another TD) burst onto the scene as a freshman last year and was a major contributor.
Aiden Elliott-Abel, RB, North Warren – Elliott-Abel was effective as a runner (more than 600 yards, two TDs) and receiver (214 yards receiving, two TDs) last year.
Connor Hoebee, TE, Wallkill Valley – The sure-handed Hoebee is one of the best returning pass catchers in the area. He hauled in 61 passes for 629 yards and five touchdowns for the Rangers last year.
Slade Muller, TE, High Point – While Martress and Elko were running and throwing all over the place last year, Muller (16 for 392 receiving, eight TDs) quietly did his thing.
Stone Herbison, TE, Sparta – Herbison showed excellent hands last year, when he caught 50 passes for 313 yards and four TDs.
Prince Joshua, WR, Pope John – When QB Luke Irwin went to the air, he often called on Joshua (37 for 423, 1 TD).
Jason Post, WR, Jefferson – Post was right in the middle of Jefferson’s run and shoot as he caught 45 passes for 750 yards and six TDs.
Christian Brevig, WR, Sparta – Brevig scored nine touchdowns last year, six in the air (he caught 25 passes for 375 yards) and three as a runner (he was 12 for 113 running).
Matt Tafuri, WR, Delbarton – Tafuri matched up well against some of the powerhouses in the world of North Jersey Parochial football and caught 20 passes for 356 yards and four TDs.
Jasiah Brown, WR, Morristown – The electric Brown can move with the ball in his hands and is one to watch. He caught 25 passes for 611 yards and six TDs last year and also returned three kickoffs for touchdowns.
Nick Lagunowich, WR, Chatham – Lagunowich sparked the Cougars, who were arguably Morris County’s surprise team last year. He caught 53 passes for 737 yards for six TDs.
Joey Sommer, WR, Randolph – Sommer caught 44 passes for 659 yards and five touchdowns last year and is one of the latest in the school’s long line of sure-handed receivers.
Soren Porada, UT, Kinnelon – Porada did it all for the Colts last year, including run (441 yards rushing, one TD) and receive (42 for 775 yards, 10 TDs).
Jack Kovacs, WR, Hanover Park – The Hornets won their first sectional title since 1990 and Kovacs was in the middle of a lot of it, catching 24 passes for 338 yards and two TDs.
Darien Iannacone, WR, Hanover Park – Iannacone made his catches count last year, when five of his nine receptions went for touchdowns.
Jase Catullo, OL, Chatham – Catullo’s dad played college football at Auburn, so blocking is in his blood. When the Cougars needed a big play last year, they often looked to this probable D-1 recruit.
Evan Kennedy, OL, Pope John – Kennedy is the returning left tackle for the Lions and helped pave the way for many of Big State Sports Player of the Year Tylik Hill’s long touchdown runs last year.
Vincent Giacchi, OL, Pope John – Giacchi and Kennedy will combine to give the Lions some stellar blocking up front this fall.
Hudson Flemming, OL, Madison – The Dodgers lost their first three games last year but improved steadily with Flemming leading the way in the trenches.
GianMarco Canziani, OL, Hanover Park – If the Hornets want to repeat as sectional champions, they’ll do a lot of work behind Canziani, the best returning lineman from last year’s sectional champions.
Nick Reiss, OL, Warren Hills – The Blue Streaks accumulated 2,800 yards of total offense and one of the big movers and shakers up front was Reiss.
Quinn DiGiovanni, OL, Vernon – DiGiovanni had a good junior year up front and will head up the Vikings front wall this fall.
Ethan Thompson, OL, Jefferson – A lot that Jefferson intends to do this fall hinges on Thompson’s ability as a blocker.
Bradyn Brown, OL, Dover – Brown made a name for himself on the way to being an All-Patriot Red first-team selection last year.
Seth Gary, OL, Sparta – The Spartans figure to have one of the best teams in the area this fall and Gary’s pass and run blocking will be right in the middle of it all.
Lucas Inglima, PK, Kittatinny – If the Cougars are in a close game, they have a big advantage due to the kicking of Inglima, who averaged nearly 33 yards per punt and buried seven punts inside the opponent’s 20 in only eight games.
Dominick Grunke, PK, Montville – Grunke showed what he could do with his foot last year (7 for 8 kicking field goals, long of 39) and is likely Morris County’s best kicker this year.
