SPORTS

GMC FOOTBALL: Kevin Hemmings is Player of the Week

Greg Tufaro
@GregTufaro

After playing the best game of his career, East Brunswick High School senior quarterback Kevin Hemmings deflected attention from himself and directed it toward his teammates.

“It was my best performance on varsity,” Hemmings said of the 220 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns he contributed to Saturday’s 35-12 victory over Marlboro, “but I wouldn’t be able to do it without (teammates).”

Hemmings, who passed for two scores and rushed for two others to earn Home News Tribune Player of the Week honors, proceeded to talk in glowing terms about his running backs, receivers and offensive line.

Collectively, the group, along with East Brunswick’s improved defense, has put the Bears (3-3) in position to qualify for the NJSIAA Central Group V playoffs.

East Brunswick currently has the 10th most power points in the section, but will improve its standing with a forfeit victory over Sayreville this weekend, making the team’s game against Monroe the following week its first meaningful November contest in four years.

The Bears will enter the game against Monroe with as many victories this season as they posted in the three previous years combined (4-25).

“Our goal as a team is to improve based on wins and losses and we’ve already done that,” Hemmings said. “To be able to play Monroe for a spot in the playoffs is more than we could have expected.”

The injury-riddled Bears lost three of their first four games, getting outscored 128-22 along the way, before rebounding with consecutive victories over J.P. Stevens and Marlboro to even their record at .500.

Hemmings, receiver Sean O’Sullivan, running back Brandon Tamori and running back Zahir Jackson have all played through injuries this season.

Middle linebacker and tight end Joe Chetta, the heart of the team’s defense, began the year on the shelf. Hemmings thought he might miss the season when he injured his elbow during the team’s intrasquad Green and White scrimmage.

“That made me realize how lucky we all are, and how much we all have to put into each game, because you never really know when it can be your last,” Hemmings said. “(Injuries) taught us all something.”

Durable sophomore tailback Kyle Wiggins has been a steadying influence on the offense and has benefited from the debut of Jackson, a promising freshman who had a 35-yard touchdown run on his first varsity play from scrimmage in the win over J.P. Stevens.

Hemmings showed promise as a sophomore out of the triple option with his running and throwing ability, both of which have been maximized in the multiple I offense he has been operating the past two seasons.

A three-year starter, Hemmings displayed his athleticism on a 79-yard touchdown run that put the game out of Marlboro’s reach. He won’t take credit, however, for leading the Bears to victory.

“The game,” he said, “was a complete team effort.”