Freeholders Honor Newark HS Football Team For Thrilling NJSIAA Win

NEWARK, NJ — The Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders honored the Weequahic High School Football Team for winning the 2016 NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 State Championship during a ceremony last month.

During the January ceremony, District 2 Freeholder Wayne Richardson and Freeholder At-Large Rufus Johnson, both from Newark, presented the team and coaches with a commendation for their gridiron achievement.

• See related article: Weequahic Tops Shabazz In Historic HS Football Game

“Sports are like life,” Johnson told the players, congratulating them for their efforts. “Any job, or anywhere you go, work or anything, it’s a team effort.”

According to a freeholder news release, Weequahic High School defeated Malcolm X. Shabazz High School (18 – 8), in the first ever All Newark Public Schools State Football Championship, on Saturday, December 3, 2016, at Kean University in Union, New Jersey. Weequahic seeded #1 when they defeated Roselle Park High School (44 - 18), and Hoboken High School (32 – 8). The team also won the first ever New Jersey Super Football Conference Red Division title (5 – 0).

The team’s victory and matchup in the 2016 NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 State Championship game, was particularly noteworthy because of the historic and intense rivalry between the two teams. Weequahic High School and Malcolm X. Shabazz High School meet every year on Thanksgiving in the “Soul Bowl” and played each other just one week prior to the final – with Weequahic prevailing in that game (22 – 8).

Both victories capped-off a great year for the team who finished their season undefeated with 12 wins and zero losses, the freeholder news release stated.

Additionally, several players from the team made the New Jersey Super Football Conference Red Division – All Conference Team, including: 1st Team Offense Richard Rueben, Ihmir Smith-Marsett, Tymen Sampson, and Jahid Alexander; 2nd Team Offense Al-Qadir Brydie, Ty’yon Foster and Eric Souza; 1st Team Defense Messiah Williams, Isaiah Martinez, Dioh Desuah, Christian Roper, Quaison Horne, Carl Watson, and Robert Leverett; 2nd Team Defense Ali Beh, Tyler Phillips and Paul Drayton.

The winning Weequahic High School football team was comprised of the following members: Seniors Jahid Alexander, Elijah Anderson, Ali Beh, Paul Drayton, Joshua Ewell, Ty’yon Foster, Shakeem Gipson, Ihmir Marsette, Isiah Martinez, Ghanee Muhammad, Richard Reuben, Christian Roper, Tymen Sampson, Eric Souza, Carl Watson, and Messiah Williams, Juniors Samir Craighead, Quaison Horne, Robert Leverette, Mekhi Roberts, and Unique Woodard, Sophomores Ahzem Baldwin, Charles Bruton, Al-Quahir Brydie, Tahmid Joseph, Yusef Lewis, and Tyler Phillips, Freshmen Anthony Apointe, Dioh Desuah, and Elijah Edward.

The team was coached by Head Coach Brian K. Logan; Assistant Coaches: Leander Knight, Sameeh McDonald, Tyron C. Turner, and Brian Johnson-Logan; and volunteer coaches: Elijah Williams, Wesley Lee, Derrick Foster, Duane Hall, Rodney Hooker, Brian Kenney, Anthony Belton, Andre Francis, III, and James Murray. The team also received assistance from athletic trainer Joe Cacciabaudo and administrative support from Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf, Principal Lisa McDonald, and Athletic Director Gary Westberry.

Photo: Glen Frieson

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