McMillan, Rollins share Mammy Award
Duo are Mercer County’s Co-Players of the Year
For the first time since 2013, there are Co-Players of the Year in Mercer County football.
The 12th Man TD Club announced Friday that Nottingham’s Quiyon McMillan and Ewing’s Tyreek Rollins are the recipients of the Frank “Mammy” Piscopo Memorial Award.
Both were dominant twoway players at wide receiver and defensive back.
McMillan, the fourth Northstar to win the award and the first since Saquon Hampton in 2013, finished with 44 receptions for 721 yards and 10 touchdowns. The junior also recorded six interceptions (three returned for touchdowns), two fumble recoveries and 279 return yards.
“He has natural Godgiven ability,” said coach Milo McGuire, who has nurtured McMillan since he began playing varsity as a freshman. “You never know what happens from year to year, but he was on that trajectory from the start. It’s great, kudos to him. He works hard. He works basically throughout the year.”
McMillan’s stellar playmaking on the outside made Nottingham’s runheavy offense more balanced and took the team to another level. The Northstars earned the first undefeated regular season (9-0) in school history, and they have eyes on a sectional title next year.
“Without him or kids like
him, we can’t succeed,” McGuire said. “You’ve got to keep those defenses honest because yes, we were a very run-dominant team. But when you’ve got a guy that’s so dynamic like that on the perimeter, if you load the box, he’s going to make you pay — and that’s exactly what it was. So that helped us tremendously.”
Rollins, a senior, is Ewing’s first ever winner of the Mammy, which dates back to 1989.
While the Blue Devils went 6-4 and qualified for the NJSIAA playoffs, Rollins produced 1,137 receiving yards, 16 touchdowns, eight interceptions, one defensive touchdown and a kickoff return touchdown.
“He was a special player for us all year and helped our offense in being as explosive as it was,” coach Matt Dalessio said.
Rollins, who runs a 4.4 40-yard dash, has garnered Division I interest as he pursues college opportunities.
“He’s just a crazy good athlete and a real smart kid,” Dalessio said. “He wants the ball in his hands, and when he gets it he does something special with it. He’s an offensive kid and playing defensive back is the cherry on top.”
Fuzzy Award
Ewing’s Jarel McEwen earned the Charles J. “Fuzzy” Falzone Memorial Award, which since 1998 has gone to the county’s best lineman.
McEwen, the Blue Devil to win the honor, anchored a lethal offensive line.
“Jarel was key to our offensive success this season which resulted in a top 20 offense in the state,” Dalessio said. “On our 221 designed passing plays, he is credited for allowing 0 sacks to opposing defenders. He was also the player we looked to run behind when we were in need of tough yardage in the run game. He is an allaround dominant offensive lineman.”
Prep Honors
Among the four area prep schools, Hun took home both the Player of the Year and Lineman of the Year.
Quarterback Marco Lainez, a junior who recently committed to Iowa, earned the first distinction by completing 93 of 116 passes for 1,761 yards and throwing 21 touchdowns with only two interceptions. He also carried the ball 41 times for 512 touchdowns and two touchdowns.
Jacob Allen, a senior who has signed to play at Rutgers next fall, dominated at offensive tackle with 31 pancake blocks as Hun finished a perfect 9-0.
247Sports ranks Allen as the top 2022 high school recruit in all of New Jersey.