The National Football Foundation James C. Metzger Suffolk County Chapter recently held their annual Scholar Athlete Brunch to honor the “Golden Eleven” team from Suffolk County and the “Players of the Week” team for the fall 2024 season!

Senior Aaron Fisher was selected as a member of this year’s “Golden Eleven” for his efforts on the gridiron—as a right guard and defensive tackle—s well as in the classroom. Aaron, a three-year, two-way starter earned the Bob Zellner award as the top lineman in Suffolk County and received All-Long Island and All-County honors. He also earned the James LaBue Award for the county’s top scholar athlete with a weighted grade point average of 101.5. Aaron is graduating in the top 10 of his senior class and will be studying mechanical engineering in the fall at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). He will also play football for the Engineers.

Additionally, junior Ja’Quan Thomas was recognized as part of this year’s Orlin and Cohen “Players of the Week” team. Ja’Quan, who earned Division I Most Valuable Player honors and was named the co-recipient of the Joe Cipp Award for the county’s best running back, will be back in the fall for his senior year with the Colonials. Ja’Quan also received All-Long Island and All-County honors.

The National Football Foundation was created in 1947 and is dedicated to promoting the game of amateur football and honoring those individuals who serve the game. There are 120 chapters nationally in 47 states with 14,000 members, all of whom are volunteers and participate because they believe in the positive role athletics plays in the development of our youth. The Suffolk County Chapter has been in existence since 1995 and has been supporting local high school football ever since.