Biggest surprise
The nominees:

Freehold: From a sub-.500 team to the Federal Division champs over heavily-favored Middletown South, the Colonials made a splash this season.

Toms River North: Everyone knew they had a lot back on defense, but 12-0? The only ones thinking that from the beginning sleep in blue-and-gold pajamas.

Asbury Park: From 1-9 to their first state championship since 1984. I didn't hear much about this during the season.

Holmdel: A team that had hovered around the .500 mark for a long time exploded for a 10-1 season and a division title when everyone had Point Boro or Manasquan penciled in as National Division champs.

Southern: The Rams finally got over the hump in a big game, beating Washington Township for their first state playoff victory in school history and winning a school-record eight games.

Long Branch: From 4-6 to a school-record 10 wins and a berth in the Central Jersey Group III final? I know this is a team with talent, but doing all of that, and doing it on the road, opened some eyes.

Monsignor Donovan and Monmouth: After going 0-10, the Griffins came back to win four games with little expectations. As for Monmouth, the bottom was expected to fall out after graduating almost the entire starting lineup from the best team in school history, but the Falcons proved people wrong and went 5-5.

And the Stumpy goes to....A lot of great stories in the Shore this year, but none greater than Asbury Park. Yes, the Blue Bishops had talent, but to win 11 straight and take home their first state title in 23 years is like something out of a movie. Don Sofilkanich, call your agent.