When asked if he would rate Paradiso among the all-time greats at Cedar Grove his coach Rob Gogerty, who is also a former standout Panthers signal caller, responded in his own unique manner while still making his feelings clear about how his standout senior stood out among the best in the Garden State during a memorable 2024 campaign.

“I am not one to compare Cedar Grove players and teams to others,” said the Panthers head mentor. “This is my 17th season coaching football - or 21st if you include my time playing at Cedar Grove - and I have had so many really good players put it all on the line and give us everything they’ve got, so I don't think comparisons and ratings would do any justice.

“What I will say is that Stephen is the best throwing QB in the state of New Jersey right now, and that's including all group sizes and non-publics.”

Runner-Up Offensive Player of the Year: Jackson Morrice, senior WR, Cedar Grove

The other half of one of N.J.’s top pass-catch tandems in 2024 had his own incredible senior season with 99 receptions for 1,800 yards and 21 TDs, while also lugging the pigskin 43 times for 289 yards and 5 more TDs.

Because of his immense all-around talents, Morrice could be utilized effectively in any number of ways on the offensive side of the ball, and his seamless and longtime connection with Paradiso after years of playing together at all levels simply enhanced the positive results in Cedar Grove’s aerial attack which was unstoppable at times, especially in the game-deciding, second half vs. almost all opponents.

“Jackson is a stud and he can do so many things to affect the outcome of the game,” said Gogerty. “He improved tremendously this season and really just needs the ball in his hands to make an impact.

“He has scored a touchdown in five or six different ways throughout his career, and it’s had to be our job to just continue to find him ways to be successful.

“He’s also an incredible defensive player that sometimes gets overshadowed.”

Essex Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Drago, senior DB, West Essex

Few players in the state were as versatile and as productive on both sides of the ball as Drago, the Duke-bound lacrosse standout, who would make many college football teams out there very happy to have his services if he chose to pursue playing the gridiron game at the next level.

The veteran standout for some very good West Essex teams including the 8-3 North 2, Group 3 runner-up squad in 2024 and the 10-4 Group 3 state runner-up in 2023, was effective as an all-around defender for the Knights this past fall season with 105 tackles, including 58 solo stops, 47 assists, along with 2 interceptions and a forced fumble.

Offensively, he had 36 receptions for 382 yards and 5 TDs.

“Anthony is just a terrific football player with a great motor, and just exceptional all-around athlete,” West Essex veteran coach Chris Benacquista said during the season. “He has been such a mainstay for us on both sides of the ball for a long time now, including being a tremendous contributor to our defensive efforts.”

Runner-up, Defensive Player of the Year: Omari Gaines, senior DB, Shabazz

The Stanford-bound Gaines was such an impact player for the Bulldogs, including helping to lead his team’s stingy defense which just got stronger as the playoffs progressed.

The ultra-talented safety had 57 tackles, including 32 solo stops and was an absolute ballhawk and supreme cover guy while coming up with 6 interceptions, including one returned for a TD.

He also had a fumble return for another score.

One of those picks occurred in a big spot in the Bulldogs’ narrow 8-7 Group 2 state semifinal win at Hanover Park when Gaines helped preserve his team’s lead when he came up with a dazzling interception in the red zone after making a brilliant read on a well-thrown ball by Hanover Park QB Joey Borello.

The Shabazz senior star used his exceptional athleticism to beat his receiver to the spot and then come down with a huge play in the process of leading his team into the Group 2 state final

Offensively, Gaines had 10 receptions for 223 yards and 4 TDs to help boost the Shabazz aerial attack.

“Omari is so valuable for us,” said Shabazz coach Naz Oliver. “I believe that he is the top defensive player in the county and one of the best in the state.

“He really gets after it when coming up to make a tackle, and is also terrific in coverage.”

Essex Newcomer of the Year: Adam Sepe, freshman QB, Caldwell

When Caldwell coach Todd Romano decided early in the season to turn over the reins of his team’s offense to a 14-year-old freshman QB he didn’t know for sure how it would all turn out, but he certainly knew that he had great confidence in his young signal caller.

And, the precocious, young prospect delivered in a big way the rest of the way for very competitive Chiefs squad while completing 74 of 120 passes for 1,128 yards and 11 TDs along with having just 3 interceptions for a 4-5 Caldwell team which played better than its final record (4-5) would indicate.

Sepe also excelled running the football with 74 carries for 412 yards and 3 TDs.

His first start came in the second game of the season at neighboring rival West Essex and he showed plenty of positive signs, even with somewhat modest stats ( 5-of-9 passing for 47 yards and 9 carries for 44 yards), but always demonstrating loads of poise for such a young signal caller.

“Adam has all the intangibles you want in a young QB,” said Romano. “He’s going to be a very good one!”

Runner-up Essex Newcomer of the Year: Zykir Best, sophomore LB, Shabazz

One of the bright, young newcomers on the Shabazz defense was its young linebacker Best, who finished with 86 tackles in his first varsity season and came on very strong in the Bulldogs’ successful playoff run, including posting 9 tackles, including 6 solo stops in the narrow 26-24 loss to Rumson-Fair Haven in the Group 2 state final at Rutgers SHI Stadium.

“Zykir is one of the outstanding, young players in our program, and he has had an outstanding sophomore season,” said coach Naz Oliver. “We’re very excited about his future with us!”

Essex Coach of the Year: Rob Gogerty, Cedar Grove

Ed Sadloch, who was Gogerty’s high school coach and a mentor when the latter was a young assistant with the Panthers, has always exuded much pride and praise about his once star pupil who has become one of the state’s top head coaches since taking hold of the reins for the proud Group 1 program in 2016.

“I’m so proud of him and the way he has maintained the program at such a high level,” said the now retired, longtime North Jersey coach. “It’s been great to see Cedar Grove continue to thrive as such a solid Group 1 team under Rob’s direction, and this season as one of the best in all of Group 1.”

Gogerty’s players continue to thrive under his direction, and he demonstrates an uncanny ability to call plays with precision in the offensive game plan, while also showing an uncanny ability to change on the fly - if need be - depending on the situation in the midst of a contest, and frequently see his team then earn a key first down or score a touchdown in the process.

“Coach ‘Gogs’ is amazing with his ability to call the right play at the right time, while also frequently surprising the other team in the process,” said Cedar Grove QB Stephen Paradisco. “And,it always seems that we’re on the same page.

“He’s a great coach that the entire team can count on to lead us to success.”

As a scholastic star at Cedar Grove Gogerty was 11-1 as the Panthers’ QB for the 2000 N2G1 champs that finished 11-1, and he was 28-4 as a starter for coach Sadloch and company.

His 2021 Cedar Grove team won a North, Group 1 regional championship at MetLife Stadium, and although his 2024 squad would wind up losing to a strong Glassboro team in the overall Group 1 final, the season as a whole was a huge success for the Panthers, including finishing with a single-season, school-record 13 victories.

Runner-up Essex Coach of the Year: Chris Strumolo, Glen Ridge

There may have been some trepidation among at least a few Glen Ridge football fans about the prospects for the small-school team knowing that some very key seniors graduated off the Ridgers’ 6-5 playoff team in 2023, and the program’s successful head coach Manj Singh had moved up Bloomfield Avenue to take over the head job at Verona.

Stepping in to lead the Ridgers was longtime Essex County high school, college and youth football coach Chris Strumolo, who had previously been a head coach at Belleville and was once a key member of Al-Tarik White’s fine Weequahic staff, including with the 2006 Central Jersey, Group 2 championship Indians.

He certainly came in with a wealth of experience at all levels, including recently being a line coach for the Caldwell University sprint football team; however, the overall picture heading into the 2024 season at Glen Ridge certainly included some uncertainty.

However, with Strumolo providing a steady and creative approach, the Ridgers responded in a big way in their new coach’s first season at the helm, including posting victories over Singh’s solid Verona team, while also providing strong resistance in a regular season contest vs. N2G2 sectional champ Hanover Park, albeit in a 21-12 defeat, and then recording a first-round N1G2 victory over Pompton Lakes for just the second playoff win in 42 years for the Glen Ridge program.

The players, many of whom were underclassmen, certainly responded in a big way in the positive atmosphere established by their new coach. Senior leader Brad Foster, who had been a valuable wide receiver on the 2023 playoff squad, made a successful switch to QB to fill a void at a position that needed a new field general following the graduation of the team’s 2023 standout signal caller Dylan O’Neil.

Glen Ridge finished a very respectable 5-5 and Strumolo’s superb work in guiding an undermanned lineup was one of the best coaching jobs in Essex County this past fall season.

Around Essex- East Orange Campus had a superb 10-3 season rebounding from a 3-7 campaign in 2023 while winning a North 2, Group 5 playoff championship with a thrilling 13-7 victory at neighboring rival West Orange. Coach John Jacob did a superb job of guiding the Jaguars who were led by their terrific senior QB Sa’eed Cole…West Orange had as much talent as any team in the county with key players including Division I signees in QB Charlie LaMorte (Bucknell), LB EayJay McAdams (Marshall) and WR Terrell Wilfong (Syracuse). LaMorte missed the final four games of the season with a fractured elbow…Verona had a nice rebound campaign under first-year coach Manj Singh, finishing 7-4 after a 3-8 season in 2023. The ‘Billies’ running back-linebacker Bodie Maisano was one of the top all-around players in the county….Irvington (4-4) showed progress under first-year coach Marco Soto and the Blue Knights had one of the eye-opening, regular season victories for any Essex team in 2024 by knocking off a sectional finalist Passaic Tech team (9-3), 24-21 in Camptown….Montclair Kimberley Academy (8-1) enjoyed one of its best seasons under veteran coach Anthony Rea while competing in the Metropolitan Independent Football League with New Jersey, New York and Connecticut teams, and was led by the ultra-productive RB Kalvin Thomas of Orange who rushed for 1,751 yards and 24 TDs and had 28 TDs overall.

Sideline Chatter Final Essex County Top 10:
1-Cedar Grove (13-1)- Panthers roared to record 13 wins and berth in Gr. 1 final
2-Shabazz (10-4)- Shabazz was road warrior with great run in Group 2 playoffs
3-East Orange Campus (10-3)- Jaguars came up big at West Orange for N1G5 title
4-West Orange (9-3)- Talent-stocked Mountaineers were 5-0 in SFC Freedom-White
5-West Essex (8-3)- Reached N2G3 final vs. eventual group champ Old Tappan
6-Caldwell (4-5)- Had narrow defeats at West Essex and vs. Shabazz in playoffs
7-Seton Hall Prep (2-8)- rough season for Pirates who faced impossible schedule
8-Irvington (4-4)- Blue Knights had a big win vs. PCTI and improved during season
9-Montclair (4-6)- Mounties had regular season win vs. EOC and faced tough slate
10-Verona (7-4)- Hillbillies enjoyed a very nice bounce-back season in 2024.