Each week in the fall, the Delaware Valley Chapter's 12th Man Touchdown Club honors
Mercer County's offensive, defensive, and special team players of the week. Listed below are this week's winners. Congratulations to all those selected!
PLAYER NOMINATIONS:
Coaches, please submit player nominations each week by clicking here.
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2024 PLAYERS OF THE YEAR . . .
The 12th Man TD Club is pleased to once again present the following awards for the 2024 high
school football season:
The Frank "Mammy" Piscopo Memorial Award, sponsored by the Santuzza Oilers since 1989, is
awarded to the Player of the Year from the 13 WJFL schools in Mercer County.
The Charles J. "Fuzzy" Falzone Memorial Award, sponsored by the Benevolent Order of
Falzone since 1998, is given to the Lineman of the Year from the 13 WJFL schools in Mercer
County.
The Prep Player of the Year and Prep Lineman of the Year awards have been presented since
2014 to recognize the top performers from the 4 Prep schools in Mercer County.
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| Frank "Mammy" Piscopo Memorial Award - Milan Desai, Hopewell Valley
Milan Desai led his team to a 10-1 record and a trip to the South Group 3 semifinals to become
the third Hopewell Valley player (and second Bulldogs QB in three seasons) to receive the
"Mammy". The senior quarterback completed 116 of 201 passes this season for 1,850 yards
and 21 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions. Milan also carried the ball 76 times for 460 yards and
13 touchdowns as Hopewell Valley averaged over 38 points per game. A two-year starter, Milan
led the Bulldogs to a 18-3 record and passed for 3,380 yards, rushed for 697 yards and
accounted for 60 touchdowns.
"Milan's football IQ, athleticism and leadership make him the best player in the county,"
Hopewell Valley head coach Dave Caldwell said of Desai, who will play at Johns Hopkins
University next season. "Milan has a 4.8 GPA and a nearly perfect SAT score. He brings this
work ethic, intelligence and drive to the football field. He is able to read defenses and full
participate in game planning for an opponent. Milan is also a leader on and off the field."
Charles J. "Fuzzy" Falzone Memorial Award - Gavin Lewis, Hopewell Valley
Gavin Lewis dominated both sides of the line for Hopewell Valley to become the first player to
repeat as recipient of the "Fuzzy". The two-way standout was a team captain and two-way
starter the past 3 seasons, during which the Bulldogs went 28-3 and reached the sectional
playoffs twice. On defense, he had 47 tackles, 6 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 blocked punt, 3 blocked
PATs, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery. On offense, the Bulldogs moved Gavin from left
tackle to guard this season to anchor an offensive line that paved the way for over 4,000 yards
of total offense with 53 touchdowns. Like many starters, Gavin did not play in the 4th quarter that
often because the Bulldogs had commanding leads.
"Gavin is the strongest, quickest and most explosive lineman in the county," Caldwell said of
Lewis, who has power clean and bench press of over 315 pounds and a 500+ pound squat. "He
is a relentless competitor who combines his strength, speed and technique to dominate the line
of scrimmage. We liked to run behind Gavin as his kick-out, lead up and double team blocks are
devastating. He combines great technique, football IQ and strength to change the line of
scrimmage."
Photo at left: 2015 "Fuzzy" winner and Steinert graduate Frank Lucchesi, Jr. and 2024 Fuzzy winner Gavin Lewis with Bob Prunetti, who presented the Fuzzy on behalf of the Benevolent Order of Falzone
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| Prep Player of the Year - Jack Moran, Hun School
Jack Moran watched from the sidelines as the previous two winners of this award had
outstanding seasons at quarterback at The Hun School. 2024 was his chance to shine, and he
certainly did that. Jack had a season for the ages, setting numerous school records while
becoming the third straight Raiders QB to receive the Player of the Year award. His 4,513
passing yards were a single season school, county and state record, and he set the state single
game record with 608 passing yards against Mt Zion Academy. Jack completed 73% of his
passes (206-of-282) and threw 47 touchdown passes against only 5 interceptions.
"Jack's remarkable performance on the field has not only led our team to an outstanding 9-1
record against a rigorous national schedule, but also set new standards in high school football,"
Hun head coach Todd Smith said about his signal caller. "Beyond statistics, Jack's impact on
our team and program is profound. His leadership and determination have not only driven team
success, but also inspired his teammates to reach their full potential. His achievements have
drawn national attention, earning him over 12 scholarship offers and a 3-star ranking from all
major recruiting publications. Jack has committed to continue his academic and athletic journey
at the University of Charlotte, where we are confident he will excel."
Prep Lineman of the Year - Kole Briehler, Hun School
The Hun School has dominated its opponents to the tune of a 26-2 record in the past three
seasons. Kole Briehler has been a big reason behind the staggering success. Standing at 6'2"
and 290 pounds, the three-year starter has had a huge impact on the offensive and defensive
lines and his terrific 2024 season earned him Lineman of the Year honors. From the defensive
tackle position, he amassed 46 tackles, 11 sacks and 19 tackles for a loss against a national
schedule. On offense, he was impactful as a tremendous blocker and pass protector.
"Kole has been a cornerstone of our team for the past three years, starting on both sides of the
ball and consistently demonstrating his exceptional athleticism and versatility," said Smith about
the Stanford University-bound Briehler. "Kole is a formidable presence on the field. His
combination of power, speed, and explosiveness makes him a nightmare for any opponent. On
the offensive side of the ball, his high football IQ and deep understanding of our offense allowed
him to make crucial line calls and guide his fellow linemen throughout the game. Whether
playing guard or center, Kole was instrumental in clearing paths and providing protection,
contributing to one of the most productive offenses in the country. Kole's abilities extend beyond
raw athleticism; his football intelligence and leadership have made him a linchpin of our team.
His dominance has not gone unnoticed, earning him over 30 scholarship offers and a 4-star
ranking from national recruiting publications."
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The "Mammy" and "Fuzzy" awards were nominated and selected by the TD Club head coaches.
The Prep awards were nominated by the TD Club head coaches and selected by the TD Club.
VIEW ALL OF THE 12th MAN TD CLUB's 2024 WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
NEWS and NOTES from the 12th Man TD Club's in-person Events
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Pictured at right: Frank Lucchesi Jr, 2015 "Fuzzy" winner and Steinert graduate addresses the 2024 12th Man TD Club's Players of the Year
on Novermber 13th.
To view the photos from the Delaware Valley Chapter's Unsung Heroes Night, CLICK HERE
For a complete list of each team's Unsung Heroes for the 2024 season, CLICK HERE
To view the photos from the Delaware Valley Chapter's Impact Performers Night, CLICK HERE
For a complete list of each team's Impact Performers for the 2024 season, CLICK HERE
To view the photos from the Delaware Valley Chapter's Captains' Nght, CLICK HERE
For a complete list of each team's captains for the 2024 season, CLICK HERE |
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