New Jersey high school football is back and so begins our Player of the Week polls for the state. Teams in the preseason showcased what they’ve got heading into Week 2 of the regular season.

As such, we have eight athletes nominated this week for the SBLive’s New Jersey Football Player of the Week award from September 5-7, and we ask you, the fans, to help decide who should indeed be the top athlete selected.

Congratulations to last wee’s winner: Adam Shaw, Pascack Valley

Shaw, a dual-threat quarterback, was the catalyst in the team’s 31-14 victory over Rancocas Valley. The junior accounted for 233 yards and two touchdowns.

SBLive voting polls are intended to be a fun way to create fan engagement and express support for your favorite high school athletes and teams. Unless expressly noted, there are no awards for winning the voting. Our primary focus is to highlight the abilities and accomplishments of all the athletes and teams included in our poll. You can vote as often as you wish and are encouraged to share our polls with others. The use of voting bots and other forms of automated voting are not allowed. Individuals will be removed from the poll if any form of automated voting can be verified. – SBLive Sports

Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Sep. 15th. The winner will be announced in the following week’s poll. Here are this week’s nominees:

The Holmdel quarterback made numerous plays with his arm and legs in the Hornets’ 42-10 win over Ocean Township. Cannon accounted for 299 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns.

Playing on the road in Ohio against Massillon Washington, the 2026 running back was the workhorse the entire night. Calhoun carried the ball an astounding 43 times for 244 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-21 win.

One of the top rushing performances in the Garden State in Week 2 came from Beeler, who rushed for 157 yards on 25 carries and scored three touchdowns in a 28-7 win over Pennsauken.

In Camden’s 30-0 victory over Kingsway, Braxton was making plenty of plays on offense. The running rushed for 142 yards on 16 carries and scored a touchdown. Also added 17 yards receiving and a score.

Butler had a strong game in Butler’s 47-0 victory over Hawthorne last week. The quarterback completed 9-of-13 passes for 116 yards and three touchdowns.

DePaul Catholic’s offense was rolling behind a strong rushing effort from James. The running ran for 173 yards on 35 attempts and scored a touchdown in a 28-17 win over Our Lady of Good Counsel (Maryland).

Brick Memorial’s defense was up to the task of shutting down Brick Township’s offense in a 37-6 victory and Tallmadge led the way with a team-high 12 tackles and two went for a loss.

Despite Cardone’s performance coming in a 42-33 loss to Howell, the quarterback completed 18-of-28 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns.

To get live updates on your phone – as well as follow your favorite teams and top games – you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App| Download Android App

— Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivesports

🌊Event happening Saturday

🌊It’s a “time-honored ceremony”

🌊Where to watch

MIDDLETOWN — Did you happen to see the USS New Jersey Friday morning as it passed Sandy Hook on its way to Naval Weapons Station Earle?

It’s here for a huge event: its commissioning ceremony set for Saturday, Sept. 14.

“A commissioning is a time-honored ceremony for vessels that are officially becoming part of the Naval fleet and we are honored the U.S. Navy and the USS New Jersey Commissioning Committee have chosen Monmouth County to support this exciting event,” Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone said to TAPinto Middletown.

The vessel had to undergo testing and sea trials to get to this point, according to the USS New Jersey Commissioning Committee’s website. After the ceremony is complete, the vessel will then officially be a United States Navy ship.

Tickets are no longer available for the commissioning happening at 11 a.m. but there’s still a chance to see it unfold; this event will be livestreamed at this link beginning at 10:45 a.m.

SEE MORE: NJ environmentalists could next target plastic-water bottles

This latest Virginia-class submarine is the third vessel with the name, carrying the motto “Firepower for Freedom,” according to the committee’s September newsletter.

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Three of the most politically potent building trades unions in the state are headed into different campaigns in next year’s Democratic gubernatorial primary after the head of the powerful International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 announced that he wants Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff) to run.

The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters announced its endorsement of former Senate President Steve Sweeney the same day he entered the race last December, and the regional leader of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) announced last month that his union would support Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) if she runs.

In what could be a large field of candidates to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy, labor unions – part of the core vote in Democratic primaries – are charting their own paths.  Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop has been endorsed by the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Teamsters, AFSCME, and other transit-related locals.    Sean Spiller, the sitting president of the New Jersey Education President — the state’s largest public employee union – is also running for governor.

Greg Lalevee, the Local 825 business manager, told the New Jersey Globe that his union believes “Gottheimer would be the strongest Democratic primary candidate for 2025 and urge that he run.”

“These politically divisive times call for moderation and Josh is a proven leader that brings people together to deliver results. Operating Engineers, union workers, and their families benefit every day from the bi-partisan infrastructure legislation Congressman Gottheimer helped over the line,” Lalevee said.  “This is the type of leadership New Jersey should look for when deciding who should represent them in 2025.”

Lalevee’s support of Gottheimer was first reported by POLITICO.

Sweeney, who has been a union ironworker since he was in his early 20s, is the leader of the ironworkers’ Philadelphia and Vicinity District Council, and is also the general vice president of the international union.

“As a legislator in Trenton, there was not a more tireless legislator advocating on behalf of workers than Steve Sweeney. He expanded Project Labor Agreements and Prevailing Wage, he created programs that rebuilt cities, he led the effort to replenish the State’s Transportation Trust Fund, championed the effort to put $1 billion into college capital projects,” the Sweeney campaign said in a statement.  “He also expanded New Jerseys push into renewable energies and advocated for the Environmental Justice law. He was the glue that put building, the environment, and social justice together.”

Local 825 endorsed Murphy in 2021.  It’s not immediately clear if Lalevee’s decision to back Gottheimer is just for the primary or – if Gottheimer is the nominee – the general election as well.