Cocozziello sweeps GMC football Player of Week and Borden's Baller of Week awards

After a season-ending injury cut short his junior year, St. Joseph High School quarterback Paul Cocozziello appears to be making up for lost time.

“He was going strong last year when unfortunately he had that injury,” Falcons head coach Rich Hilliard said of Cocozziello, who endured a hairline fracture of his right tibia in a Week 3 game against Colonia last fall.

“All winter long and the beginning of this year he was telling me how he can’t wait to get out there. He’s been working out. He’s been going to camps offseason. He had throwing coaches he would go see. The kid just wanted it so bad. He wanted to get out there and redeem himself, if you will.”

Cocozziello, who passed for more than 1,200 yards as a rookie starter two years ago, has completed 56 of 90 passes for 1,038 yards and 11 touchdowns including a 210-yard performance on 9 of 10 passing in last weekend’s 48-7 victory over Donovan Catholic, against which he threw three scoring strikes.

For his efforts, Cocozziello was voted the Greater Middlesex Conference Week 6 Football Player of the Week and Hall of Fame head coach Marcus Borden selected him as the Week 6 Borden’s Baller of the Week.

The senior signal caller became just the second player this season to sweep both awards.

Cocozziello received 5,342 votes or 29.8 percent of the total 17,823 votes cast in the MyCentralJersey.com Readers’ Choice Player of the Week voting. The Week 6 ballot featured 11 nominees.

Defending White Division champion St. Joseph, which has won 15 consecutive division games, is off to a 6-0 start thanks to a balanced offense and a stout defense that is allowing a mere 5.5 point per game.

Cocozziello benefits from one of the league’s best offensive lines, which keeps him upright and provides him with ample time to throw.

He is also surrounded by a multitude of gifted skill position players including Manny Resto (824 rushing yards) and Jordan Davis (489 yards from scrimmage).

Wideouts Jon Sot (456 receiving yards) and Nate Wyatt (207 receiving yards) are sure-handed and reliable. Wyatt has stepped up in the absence of AJ Murray, who endured a season-ending injury in St. Joseph’s opener.

“The run game is huge because everybody knows we have Manny Resto and we have a nice line,” Hilliard said. “We still like to throw the ball and get it out there. They (the run and pass games) both complement each other so well. It’s just a privilege to be able to do both. Some teams have to rely on the run. Some teams have to rely on the pass. We are very fortunate to be able to do both at this time.”

John Olmstead, one of the most coveted two-way tackles in the country who holds scholarship offers from countless major Division I programs, anchors the offense line with three-year starter David Barattucci. Bryan Boczon has been a pleasant surprise at center, as has been sophomore Isaiah Wright on the offensive line. David Barr, the younger brother of former St. Joseph All-Conference lineman P.J. Barr, who is a scholarship freshman at Bucknell, and Valentin Cintron, who has filled in when Wright and Olmstead have been sidelined, round out the top players in the trenches. Tight end Garrett Klurman is an excellent blocker and a pass-catching threat.

“Our line in particular has been playing well this year,” Hilliard said. “(Most) have been together for a while. I couldn’t be more proud of them. Our line is really solid.”

The Falcons operate out of a multitude of formations including the spread and traditional I sets. Cocozziello is relied upon to make an array of difficult throws. He has demonstrated a strong and accurate arm, as well as a deft touch.

“He’s had determination like I haven’t seen in a while,” said Hilliard, who describes his team captain as the “ultimate” leader. “He’s very unselfish. He wants to play football in college. He wants to get to the next level and keep going.

“Football is his life.”