The Sussex-Warren area didn’t bring home a state champion or have a single team advance deep into the state playoffs.

But a deeper dive reveals that the area had many, many outstanding players and some very interesting storylines.

To wit:

• Sussex Tech (7-4) won its first-ever state playoff game and posted first-ever victories over Lenape Valley and Kittatinny. The team boasted the running tandem of Andrew Baker (1,234 yards, 17 TDs) and QB Brian Gruber (1,083 yards, 14 TDs). Tip of the hat to coach Brian Stellingwerf and his staff.
• Vernon (8-2) won the SFC American White and had a marvelous season. None of that was expected (among those outside the team) due to big graduation losses from the previous year. The Vikings used the running of Logan Pych (school-record 1,825 yards, 17 TDs) and the blocking of a stellar line led by Jack Austin and Chad Quaranta. Steve Down and his staff have the program rolling.
• Newton (7-3) and Sparta (4-6) both recovered from poor starts and posted seasons that a lot of teams would die for. Matt Parzero’s Braves lost badly in their opener to Warren Hills (42-14) but turned their season around and won the NJSFC American Blue. Sparta lost its first four games and five of its first six but rebounded and made it to the sectional semifinals under coach Frank Marchiano.
• Pope John (7-4) was clearly the best school in the Sussex -Warren area. The Lions had one of its best seasons in many years with a host of standout players such as quarterback Chris Dietrich, running back Tylik Hill, and O-Linemen Justin Platt and Dan O’Leary leading the way. The Lions defeated such teams as state-ranked DePaul (33-20) and Seton Hall Prep (31-27) this year. Last year, Pope John lost to DePaul (42-10) and Seton Hall Prep (42-13).  Two years ago, the program was in disarray and went 1-9. Kudos to coach Dom Gaston and his staff.
• Warren Hills (6-4), coached by Marcus Gardineer, was having a terrific season – they started out 4-0 and 5-1 – but the Blue Streaks were ruined by injury. How solid was the team? Well, they beat a very good Vernon team in Week 1 (21-14) and played Group IV sectional Roxbury close before losing (14-7).

Here is Morris-Sussex’s second annual All-Area team from the Sussex-Warren area.

Next week, we’ll run All-Morris County.

In two weeks, we’ll run All-Area (for Morris, Sussex and Warren counties).

ALL-SUSSEX-WARREN

FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE

QB-Chris Dietrich, Pope John

RB-Tylik Hill, Pope John

RB-Logan Pych, Vernon

RB-Andrew Baker, Sussex Tech

OL-Justin Platt, Pope John

OL-Dan O’Leary, Pope John

OL-Connor Dowling, Hopatcong

OL-Billy Greenhaugh, Newton

OL-Jack Austin, Vernon

OL- Chad Quaranta, Vernon

WR-Charlie Mulligan, Pope John

WR-Josh Brancy, Sparta

WR-Jaiden McNeil, Wallkill Valley

TE-Anthony Ferroni, Warren Hills

UT-Brian Gruber, Sussex Tech

PK-Jack Morgese, Pope John

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DL-Sir Paris Jones, Pope John

DL-Patrick Teets, Newton

DL-Owen Honey, North Warren

DL-Tahg Herbison, Sparta

LB-Tyler Houser, Pope John

LB-Joe Walton, Pope John

LB-Franco Luna, Vernon

LB-Hunter Chlodnicki, Sparta

LB-Brock Duerring, Warren Hills

LB-Nick Kurilko, Newton

LB-Cole Davis, Kittatinny

DB-Wes Johnston, Pope John

DB-Michael Certo, Hopatcong

DB-DeMarius Posey, Newton

DB-T.J. Kachala, Warren Hills

UT-Ryan White, Hopatcong

P-Tyler Scarpone, Kittatinny

SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE

QB-Zack Clarken, Wallkill Valley

RB-Mason Mericle, High Point

RB-Jacob Savage, Kittatinny

RB-Landen White, North Warren

OL-De-Jilt Kennedy, Hopatcong

OL-Shawn Dehagra, Sussex Tech

OL-Dominic Buonavolonta, North Warren

OL-Paul Hamas, Warren Hills

OL-Jordan Pflugfelder, Kittatinny

OL-Giovanni Galacio, Hackettstown

WR-Anthony Sgroi, Wallkill Valley

WR-Lucas Csezmadia, North Warren

WR-Dave Kraus, Lenape Valley

UT-Shane Hoover, Sparta

UT-Joe Rozynski, Pope John

UT-Matt Guenther, Hackettstown

UT-Ryan Stricchiola, Lenape Valley

PK-Mason McLean, Lenape Valley

SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE

DL-Max Faye, Newton

DL-Duke Staley, Vernon

DL-Ethan Roberts, Warren Hills

DL-Joel Cano, Lenape Valley

LB-Cole Phillips, Sussex Tech

LB-Cade Martress, High Point

LB-Dan Fahey, Kittatinny

LB-Anthony Tudda, Newton

LB-Shawn Garrison, Sussex Tech

LB-Greg Peters, Sparta

DB-Ty Woods, High Point

DB-Zac Cusick, Pope John

DB-Luca Vizinni, Vernon

UT-Tanner Gaboda, Lenape Valley

P-Dylan Cotter, Newton