It was quite a year for sectional football champions Butler and Hanover Park and runnerup Morris Knolls and the three schools were rewarded accordingly by the Morris County Football Coaches Association in its annual All-County team.
The team consisted of the best 34 players from all of Morris County, as nominated by their respective coaches.
Hanover Park saw linebacker Joey Filippone selected as the Pete Piccirillo Defensive Player of the Year.
Hanover coach Dan Fulton was named the William O. Regan Coach of the Year after guiding the Hornets to a North 2, Group II championship, the school’s first since 1990.
Hornets quarterback Joey Borrello was named to the first-team offense after a season in which he was 95 for 128 passing or 176 TDs (only 4 INTs) and 114 for 402 rushing and 10 more TDs).
Hanover teammate Joey Tantawi, meanwhile, was named to the defense. He had 29 tackles and two INTs and was a standout return man.
Butler, which won its eighth sectional championship and first since 2018, saw three players named to the team.
Butler quarterback David Smith was named to the first team by coach Jason Luciani’s Bulldogs. Smith was 85 for 135 passing for 1,331 yards and 25 TDs while being intercepted just two times.
Versatile P.J. Coffey was also named to the offense but was arguably the most versatile player in all of Morris County. Coffey was 45 for 298 rushing with 7 TDs, caught 31 passes for 571 yards and 12 TDs, was a great defensive back (33 tackles, 3 INTs), and booted 39 extra points.
On defense, Butler’s Luca Toriello was selected after a season in which he had three sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and 49 total tackles.
Morris Knolls running back Bobby Brickner was named the John Chirrona Offensive Player of the Year. Brickner was 163 for 1,200 rushing with 11 TDs for coach Bryan Gallagher’s team, which won the rugged SFC Liberty White and finished 10-1.
Morris Knolls quarterback Chris Kaiser, who engineered the Golden Eagles intricate running game, was chosen to the offense after a season in which he was 54 for 674 and 12 TDs and made the right reads to bolster an offense that rushed for 3,312 yards this year.
Golden Eagles defensive back Jayden Koger was selected to the defense. He had 65 tackles and three interceptions.
Randolph’s Dean Mangiocavallo was the leading blocker for Rams coach Dave Albano and was named the Bill Regan Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Pequannock’s Justin Gryszkin (2 ½ sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 93 tackles) was selected as the Doug Wilkins Defensive Lineman of the Year for Golden Panthers coach Mike Moschella. Pequannock teammate Angelo Cundiff 1,294 yards, 18 TDs) was named to the all-county offense.
Mount Olive assistant coach Dave Benfatti was the John Bauer Assistant Coach of the Year.
Delbarton kicker Will Kramer, who booted a state-leading 10 field goals (with a long of 49 yards) was 32 for 34 booting extra points and saw 32 of 47 kickoffs reach the end zone for touchbacks, was named the Gerry Gallagher Special Teams Player of the Year.
Coach Brian Bowers Green Wave won the rugged SFC-United White over highly regarded DePaul and saw Phillip Folmar (47 for 844 receiving, 8 TDs) make the all-county on offense and Kyle Checchio (6 ½ sacks, 12 ½ tackles for loss, 110 tackles) make the defensive team.
Coach Kevin Hennelly’s West Morris team made it to the sectional semifinals and saw two players make the All-County defense in Brady Ashburn (2 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 105 tackles) and Tommy Borgia (10 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, 92 tackles).
Montville, another sectional semifinalist under coach Rick DeBonta, saw Anthony Feaster (76 for 475, 9 TDs rushing and 47 for 693, 5 TDs receiving), make the first team on offense and Michael Vito (9 tackles for loss, 122 tackles) make the first team on defense.
Sectional semifinalist Mount Olive saw two players make the all-county team on defense in Lincoln Youtz (4 ½ sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 122 total tackles) and James Giammanco (6 ½ sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 70 tackles) and one make the offense in Tyler Cumming (154 for 1,121 yards rushing, 11 TDs) for coach Brian O’Connor.
Chatham, led by coach Evan Picariello, reached the sectional semifinals with quarterback Will Allen (157 for 270, 2,022 yards, 17 TDs, 6 INTs) and receiver Nick Lagunowich (53 for 737 yards, 6 TDs), both of whom were chosen to the all-county squad.
Here are the schools that had one Morris County All-County performer apiece:
Boonton: Sylas White.
Dover: Emilio Mendez.
Jefferson: Jason Post.
Kinnelon: Andrew Stickley.
Madison: Chris Carfano.
Mendham: Cole Capuzzi.
Morris Catholic: Erik Edelman.
Morris Hills: Nicholas Rex.
Morristown: Reed Donegan.
Morristown-Beard: Ryan Novak.
Mountain Lakes: Connor Higgins.
Parsippany: Matthew Parker.
Parsippany Hills: R.J. Ellerbe.
Roxbury: Nick Riska.
Whippany Park: Pat Dalgauer.