PITMAN --- The New Jersey Athletic Conference announced its football weekly honors for the week ending Oct. 19.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
DARIO BELIZAIRE • Salisbury University
Junior • Slotback • Cambridge, MD/Cambridge-South Dorchester
Belizaire becomes the second Sea Gull in as many weeks to earn NJAC Offensive Player of the Week honors. The junior slotback delivered an explosive dual-threat performance in the Sea Gulls' 56-21 road victory over Montclair State, totaling 186 yards of offense. The Cambridge, MD, native rushed for 101 yards on seven carries while adding 85 receiving yards on just two catches, finding the end zone through the air with a 58-yard touchdown reception. He is currently among the top 10 in the NJAC in both rushing and receiving, and is tied for fourth with 8.0 points per game.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
DEACON SCHNEIDER • Vermont State University-Castleton
Sophomore • Linebacker • Cambridge, NY/Cambridge Central
Schneider collects his first NJAC Defensive Player of the Week honor. He was a tackling machine against TCNJ, recording 20 total stops with six solo tackles and 14 assists. The sophomore linebacker added two tackles for loss totaling two yards and is tied for second-most tackles in a single game nationally this season. For the season, he ranks tied for second with 9.0 tackles per game.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
GREG CASIMIR • Rowan University
Junior • Kicker/Punter • Hamilton, NJ/Steinert
Casimir becomes the second Prof this season to earn NJAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He turned in a masterful all-around special teams performance in the Rowan’s 45-16 triumph over William Paterson. The junior converted all four extra points, connected on a 37-yard field goal, boomed four kickoffs for 232 yards (58.0 average) with one touchback, and averaged 47 yards on two punts, including a 52-yarder that pinned the Pioneers at their own two-yard line. He leads the NJAC with 1.2 made field goals a game.
OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
MORDECAI FORD • Rowan University
Freshman • Running Back • Toms River, NJ/Toms River North
Ford picks up his second NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Week award – and third weekly award overall – after he etched his name in Rowan football history. He recorded a record-breaking 94-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter against William Paterson, the longest play in program history. The freshman running back finished with 104 yards on just three carries, averaging an incredible 34.7 yards per attempt in the 45-16 victory. He currently ranks tied for seventh in the NJAC in all-purpose yards (89.3/game).
DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
JACKSON AMBRUZS • Christopher Newport University
Freshman • Linebacker • Austin, TX/James Madison (VA)
Ambruzs earns his second NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Week honor after he contributed three tackles and recorded a crucial forced fumble in the Captains' 49-0 shutout victory over Kean. The Austin, Texas native made key plays as part of CNU's first shutout since the 2023 season opener.