After his 290 yard, 4-touchdown game in West Morris’ trouncing of Nutley in Round 2 of the State Playoffs, NJAC Sports Center named the Wolfpack senior runningback Michael Burton as Player of the Week. Earlier this week, Burton graciously accepted the honor. However, after some apparent reflection, the team captain called us back and explained that if it weren’t for his offensive line he would not have earned this award. He requested that we instead name West Morris Central’s front six offensive linemen as the Player’s of the Week for Round 2 of the State Playoffs.

Upon receiving the news of Burton’s gesture, the offensive blockers were not surprised. “I wouldn’t expect anything different from Mike.” Senior guard Chris Truglio said.

So it is with great honor, that we name Herbie Skinner, Gerardo Antoniello, Jeremy Brown, Christian Truglio, Kelvin Veras and Dylan D’Alessio as this week’s Players of the Week. We caught up with the six big men to talk about their upcoming State Title game, their predictions of the other State games and what college recruiters should know about Michael Burton.

How great did it feel last weekend when you started to realize that you won the game and that you were heading to Giants Stadium?Herbie Skinner: Really good
Gerardo Antoniello: Awesome
Jeremy Brown: Unbelievable happiness
Christian Truglio: Honestly the feeling hasn't totally sunk in yet. It's amazing that we're going to be playing for it all.
Kelvin Veras: It was a pretty awesome feeling.
Dylan D’Alessio: It felt too good to be true, it’s almost unbelievable that we are getting the chance to play at Giants Stadium.

During the summer, did you think this team was a State Finals caliber team?Skinner: Yes
Gerardo: Definitely
Brown: Yes
Truglio: I knew this team was a State Finals caliber team. We've been working to win states the day after last season ended.
Kelvin: Definitely. Our team had a lot of new faces but we knew what potential we had.
D’Alessio: Yes, we all felt that we were a state finals caliber team.

What can you say about how your line has progressed throughout the season?Skinner: We worked real hard all season
Gerardo: We put in too much time not to...It has been great over the past 6 weeks
Brown: Everyone has worked hard throughout the season and its paying off.
Truglio: Our line has worked the hardest everyday throughout the season. As the year went on, we really grew close together and worked together better.
Kelvin: I feel like we've progressed a lot. From getting shutout week 2 to putting up 92 points in two playoff games says it all
D’Alessio: We worked hard through out the season, and we have improved every week, we are playing our best football right now.

Who on the line is the strongest?Skinner: Kelvin
Gerardo: Either Kelvin or Skinner
Brown: Kelvin
Truglio: Besides me? Cabarle is stronger than all the linemen put together
Kelvin: Skinner
D’Alessio: Kelvin Veras.

Who is the fastest?Skinner: Dylan
Gerardo: I know it's not me
Brown: Herbie
Truglio: Gerardo
Kelvin: Skinner
D’Alessio: Herbie Skinner, he brags about it all the time.

Who is the most likely to win a hot dog eating contest?Skinner: Brown
Gerardo: Brown
Brown: Gerardo
Truglio: Brown. Practice makes Perfect.
Kelvin: Brown
D’Alessio: Definitely Jeremy Brown.

How do you think your schedule prepared you for this State Final game?Skinner: As much as possible; we have played some good ones along the way.
Gerardo: A lot! We have faced a lot of different schemes this year.
Brown: Playing good teams throughout the season and playoffs have made us ready for the finals.
Truglio: We only took the season one game at a time. We never looked past anyone.
Kelvin: It has helped a lot. Seeing physical teams like Roxbury, Motown and Delby has paid off for us in the playoffs.
D’Alessio: I think our schedule has prepared us well, we have played against a lot of different styles of play this year, so we know how to get ready for our next game.

What kind of confidence does it give your team knowing your coach already has a bunch of State rings?Skinner: Good
Gerardo: We know our coaches always put us in the best position to succeed.
Brown: We know our coaching staff will give us the best game plan possible.
Truglio: All of the coaches know what they are doing. However, having State rings from past years doesn't mean anything unless we bring one home this year.
Kelvin: Coach Hennelly is awesome. It makes it easier to buy into what he's saying knowing he has the rings to back it up.
D’Alessio: It gives us a lot of confidence; we know that coach has been here before, and he knows how to take care of it.

What was the most disappointing part of your season so far?Skinner: Losing to Morristown in week 2
Gerardo: Don't have one. We are where we want to be and all of the season so far has prepared us for it.
Brown: Loss to Roxbury
Truglio: Not being able to play with Eddie for our senior year, love you man.
Kelvin: When I found out McCracken was out for the year. It would have been great to play one more year with one of my best friends.
D’Alessio: The most disappointing part of our season was our two losses; we all feel that we should be undefeated.

What do you have to say to colleges that are over looking Michael Burton right now?Skinner: They are missing out
Gerardo: You better hope he doesn't end up in your conference; he will make you pay.
Brown: They will be missing out on a great athlete.
Truglio: You're overlooking one of the hardest working, most dedicated football players in the country.
Kelvin: Your missing out on one of the most talented kids in the state.
D’Alessio: That they are missing out on a great player who works hard and never gives up.

What can a prospective college expect from Michael Burton?Skinner: 100 % effort everyday
Gerardo: A future captain
Brown: Complete dedication to their program.
Truglio: Wherever Mike goes, he will make the team significantly better, and he his work ethic will spread to both the players and coaches.
Kelvin: A kid who will outwork anyone and won't tap out.
D’Alessio: They can expect a natural leader and for Mike to give them all the effort that he has.

What is your prediction for the Roxbury - East Orange State Final?Skinner: East Orange
Gerardo: East Orange
Brown: East Orange (Nice predictions the last two weeks on us Harrigan - only off by 92 points - haha)
Truglio: My boys Bartol and Mangiro against Big Daddy Woods. I'm going E.O. 22-20
Kelvin: Roxbury
D’Alessio: I think that it will be a good game, but Roxbury will win.

How about the Butler - Mt. Lakes game?Skinner: Mt Lakes
Gerardo: Mt Lakes
Brown: Mt. Lakes
Truglio: I remember playing Mt. Lakes in a sophomore game two years ago. It was 44-0. Mt. Lakes over Butler 44-0
Kelvin: Mt. Lakes
D’Alessio: I expect Mt. Lakes to win.

Who is the best player you played with or against during your high school career?Skinner: Anthony Albanese
Gerardo: Burton
Brown: Sal Carfaro or Anthony Albanese
Truglio: Mike Burton. There is no one else out there like him.
Kelvin: Burton
D’Alessio: Burton is the best player that I have played with or against in my high school career.

Who is the unsung hero of your team?Skinner: Rosenbaum
Gerardo: Thompson
Brown: Rosenbaum
Truglio: Kelvin, he always gets the job done.
Kelvin: D'Alessio
D’Alessio: The unsung hero of our team has to be Gerardo, he is the only junior on our line, and he does a great job.

What was the funniest thing that happened during your season so far?Skinner: Truglio's pump up speeches
Gerardo: Too many to recall
Brown: Gerardo getting stuck in a bus seat
Truglio: Having everyone try to celebrate with one specific person on our team, but they never want to celebrate back
Kelvin: Probably something that Cabarle said
D’Alessio: So many funny things happened, it is hard to say one specific thing.

Okay guys, lets see how you do with our pop culture questions.

Favorite movie quoteSkinner: "I hate these guys"
Gerardo: "What are you looking at swan?"
Brown: “I hate Godzilla! I hate him too! I hate him! He destroys cities!”
Truglio: "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
Kelvin: "I'm proud of you fellas. You all kept your head on a swivel, and that's what you gotta do when you find yourself in a vicious cock fight"
D’Alessio: “ Oohh, aaand he can pass!” – Friday Night Lights

Plastic surgery I might considerSkinner: None but Brown should
Gerardo: Get back to you in 40 years
Brown: None
Truglio: Muscle Reduction surgery. I'm so huge I make the other guys on the team look small
Kelvin: None
D’Alessio: I don’t know what to consider.

Favorite Late Night TV hostSkinner: Don't know
Gerardo: Don't watch it
Brown: Jay Leno
Truglio: John Madden was the greatest man on TV ever besides Shaq.
Kelvin: Conan O’Brien
D’Alessio: I guess Jay Leno.

I should set a Guinness World Record for...Skinner: Everything
Gerardo: ?
Brown: Not really sure
Truglio: Most times getting sunburned
Kelvin: Longest kill streak on Call of Duty
D’Alessio: For the number of times I say, “what?”.

Song playing on my iPod right nowSkinner: ?
Gerardo: ?
Brown: Already Home
Truglio: Candy Shop by 50 Cent.. a classic
Kelvin: Ke$sha - Tik Tok

Number of texts you sent todaySkinner: 8
Gerardo: 2
Brown: 20
Truglio: At least 100
Kelvin: 23
D’Alessio: Around 200

___________ is the bane of my exsistence

Skinner: Coach Doerr
Gerardo: Monday conditioning
Brown: The sled
Truglio: Chutes, Sleds, Double Teams
Kelvin: Conditioning
D’Alessio: Too much homework is the bane of my existence.

If I could win an award it would be...Skinner: Most blocks downfield
Gerardo: Biggest lunch
Brown: Most useless information
Truglio: Best red headed football player
Kelvin: Laziest kid on the football team
D’Alessio: The State Title

___________ really thinks he can danceSkinner: Brown
Gerardo: Semper
Brown: Chris Semper
Truglio: Semper and Brian Veras
Kelvin: Truglio
D’Alessio: Herbie Skinner really thinks he can dance, but he’s horrible at dancing.

Deadspin is... Skinner: Don’t know
Gerardo: Don’t know
Brown: I have no idea
Truglio: I don't know..
Kelvin: cool?
D’Alessio: I have no idea

Last thing I did before I left the house was...Skinner: Shower
Gerardo: Closed the door
Brown: Ate dinner
Truglio: Stay fresh
Kelvin: Put on my white Nikes
D’Alessio: Ate breakfast

___________ should play my coach on screenSkinner - Hummm? Tell you in 10 days
Gerardo - I am only a junior - not going there
Brown: Jack Nicholson
Truglio: Gerard Butler
Kelvin: Al Pacino
D’Alessio: Dennis Quiad

Previous Player’s of the Week

Week 1: Kevin Ryan – Mt. Lakes
Week 2: Peter Brand – Butler
Week 3: Matt Crimmins – Mendham
Week 4: Kevin Gaskins – Morristown
Week 5: Andrew Regan – Boonton
Week 6: Joe Ruggiero – Pequannock
Week 7: Matt McHale – Madison
Week 8: Jimmy LaBell – Lenape Valley
Week 9: Greg DePugh – Par Hills
Round 1: Kevin Baker – Roxbury

Post Season Awards: Cast your votes today for who you think should earn an NJAC Sports Center Post Season Award. Click HERE and vote right now! Awards will be posted after the State Finals.