Star Ledger / NJIC football Player of the Year and other postseason honors

by | Dec 18, 2025

 

By: Ryan Patti | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com and  Donovan Hugel | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Football: NJIC Championship - Rutherford vs. Butler, October 24, 2025
David Smith (1) of Butler is all smiles after winning the NJIC football championship between Rutherford and Butler at Tyron Field in Rutherford, NJ on Friday, October 24, 2025.Mile Djordjiovski | For NJ Advance Media

It was a football season to remember in the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference.

Players stood out both in and out of the box score, the teams we expected to be good were while others exceeded expectations, and the conference was well-represented in the playoffs. There was a lot that made this campaign a special one in the NJIC.

Scroll for the league’s 2025 postseason honors, which includes the Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Team of the Year and division honors among more recognition.

Player of the Year: David Smith, Butler, Sr.

Smith was superb in his senior year and was Group 1’s most accomplished signal caller.

The senior dual-threat star concluded his final campaign with 1,288 yards, 16 touchdowns and only five interceptions on 88-of-141 passing. His rushing numbers were absurd compared to a season ago.

As a junior, Smith had 96 rushing attempts for 706 yards and six touchdowns. This year, Smith ran 226 times for 1,869 yards and a whopping 30 touchdowns. In six games, he contributed to four or five scores.

In his four years (two as starter), Smith completed 197-of-323 passes for 2,927 yards, 46 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions. He ran 347 times for 2,673 yards and 37 scores.

He ends his high school career with a pair of NJIC titles, two sectional crowns and three sectional championship appearances. Smith was 22-2 as Butler’s starter.

Football: Becton vs. Hanover Park, NJSIAA North 2, Group 2 Quarterfinal, October 31, 2025.
Head coach Jack Maher of Becton smiles while addressing his team during the NJSIAA North 2, Group 2 Quarterfinal football game between Becton and Hanover Park at Hanover Park High School in East Hanover, NJ on 10/31/25. Matt Kipp | For NJ Advance Media

Coach of the Year: Jack Maher, Becton

Coming into 2025, Becton had to replace starting quarterback Jon Palsi, every piece of the offensive and defensive line, and a number of bodies at the skill positions.

Head coach Jack Maher didn’t know how his season was going to go as it hinged on how fast his kids would develop. It turns out they grew up fast.

The Wildcats won the Colonial Division crown for the second year in a row, made the playoffs for the second-consecutive season, and this year, they won a postseason game — their first since 2021 in a 26-22 stunner over then-unbeaten Hanover Park.

Becton hit lulls in 2025 as it started 0-2 with lopsided losses to Hoboken (34-7) and Butler (27-6). It then dropped another game to Butler (42-7) in the NJIC semifinals two weeks before the postseason began.

The Wildcats however made a knack for responding and they did so after their 0-2 start with three shutouts and a 3-0 record in one-possession games with one being the signature win in the North 2, Group 2 quarterfinals.

Maher and his staff did wonders with a young team that should have the goods to take a leap forward in 2026.

Football: Butler vs. Kinnelon in a NJSIAA North 1, Group 1 Final at Butler High School in Butler, NJ on Friday, November 14, 2025.
Butler head coach Jason Luciani screams in excitement after the win during the NJSIAA North 1, Group 1 football final between Butler and Kinnelon at Butler High School in Butler, NJ on Friday, November 14, 2025.Matt Wood | For NJ Advance Media

Team of the Year: Butler

It was another banner-esque year for the Bulldogs, who went 11-1 with their second-consecutive conference championship and sectional title.

They defeated Rutherford in the NJIC final in 41-20 fashion.

Butler scored at least four touchdowns in 11 of its 12 games and scored 40-plus points in six contests to outsocre their opponents 426-165 for the season. Just one opponent kept Butler’s win to one score (Oct. 3 vs. Hasbrouck Heights, 43-36) and only three more kept it within two scores.

Butler’s road to the Group 1 final ended in the state semifinals once again with a loss to Cedar Grove. Last season, the Panthers overwhelmed the Bulldogs in 52-21 fashion but this season, it was senior kicker Sebastian Kovacs who sent his team to the state final with a walk-off 49-yard field goal.

It’s a tough pill to swallow for head coach Jason Luciani and company especially given their senior-oriented team, but several key-contributing juniors and sophomores are back in the fold in 2026. In-house turn out should also be great for Butler.

Luciano and his staff have developed something that kids want to be a part of.

NJ.com division honors

Colonial Division

  • Player of the Year: Avery Cano, Lyndhurst, So.
  • Coach of the Year: Jack Maher, Becton
  • Team of the Year: Becton

Liberty Division

  • Player of the Year: Dylan Ferrara, Waldwick-Midland Park, Sr.
  • Coach of the Year: Steve Dunn, Rutherford
  • Team of the Year: Rutherford

Meadowlands Division

  • Player of the Year: David Smith, Butler, Sr.
  • Coach of the Year: Jason Luciani, Butler
  • Team of the Year: Butler

Patriot Division

  • Player of the Year: Jayden Gonzalez, Bogota, Sr.
  • Coach of the Year: James Case, Bogota
  • Team of the Year: Wood-Ridge