AOTW: McDermott Making His Mark Among District 2’s Top Quarterbacks
By: Justin Bradley | SportzWire | October 5, 2026 | Photo courtesy Mike Eckrote
WILKES-BARRE — Brady McDermott didn’t need one big Saturday night to establish himself as one of District 2’s top quarterbacks.
It certainly didn’t hurt.
The Holy Redeemer quarterback completed 13 of 17 passes for 270 yards and four touchdowns in the Royals’ 39-14 win over Holy Cross, adding another impressive performance to a season in which his name has become a regular near the top of the Sportzwire District 2 Player Data Hub.
McDermott, a junior, currently ranks among the top five in nearly every major passing category tracked by Sportzwire, establishing himself as one of the district’s most consistently productive quarterbacks.
That body of work, punctuated by four more touchdown passes Saturday makes McDermott this week’s Sportzwire Athlete of the Week, powered by HYDRABATHS® Swing Salt - where performance meets recovery.
Commanding the Redeemer Offense
The numbers tell part of McDermott’s story.
His head coach sees the rest.
“Brady McDermott is a tough, gritty kid who does a great job of getting the ball to our backs and receivers,” Holy Redeemer head coach Vito Quaglia said. “Brady is great at identifying defenses and has the confidence and ability to make big plays.”
That ability to distribute the football has become a defining piece of McDermott’s season.
Saturday was another example. His four touchdown passes went to three different receivers, with Mike Zbierski catching two while Jerry Fino and Lucas Shrader each caught one.
But McDermott also has one of District 2’s premier weapons at his disposal in Josh Grochowski.
Grochowski has established himself as the district’s leading receiver, giving McDermott a go-to target within an offense that can attack defenses with multiple options.
Against Holy Cross, Grochowski didn’t need to find the end zone to make an impact. He caught three passes for 94 yards, averaging more than 31 yards per reception, while the attention surrounding him helped create opportunities elsewhere.
That’s part of what makes the McDermott-led passing game difficult to defend.
Take away one option, and he’s shown the willingness and ability to find another.
A Connection Worth Watching
Quarterback and receiver production naturally go hand in hand, and McDermott and Grochowski have become two names that continue to surface near the top of District 2’s statistical leaderboards.
Grochowski’s emergence as the district’s leading receiver provides McDermott with an explosive target.
McDermott’s ability to diagnose defenses and distribute the football gives Grochowski and the rest of Redeemer’s playmakers, opportunities to produce.
It’s a relationship that has helped both put together standout seasons.
More importantly for Redeemer, it has given the Royals a passing attack capable of creating explosive plays without becoming dependent on one player.
Saturday’s four-touchdown performance was simply the latest evidence.
Bigger Than One Saturday
That’s what makes McDermott’s Athlete of the Week selection different from simply recognizing one impressive stat line.
270 yards and four touchdowns gets your attention.
His season deserves it.
Week after week, McDermott continues to appear among District 2’s leaders while directing an offense featuring the district’s top receiver and a collection of additional weapons around him.
And with the season entering its stretch run, those numbers are still being written.
Fans can follow McDermott, Grochowski and the rest of District 2’s statistical leaders throughout the season on the Sportzwire District 2 Player Data Hub.
For McDermott, the latest update added 270 more yards and four more touchdowns to one of District 2’s strongest quarterback seasons.
But perhaps Quaglia’s assessment says it best.
Tough. Gritty. Confident. And capable of making the big play.
Congratulations to Holy Redeemer quarterback Brady McDermott, this week’s Sportzwire Athlete of the Week, powered by HYDRABATHS® Swing Salt, where performance meets recovery.
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