Sayreville has another tough test against Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division foe East Brunswick.
EAST BRUNSWICK at SAYREVILLE, Friday, 7 p.m.
Sayreville wasn’t supposed to do this. The Bombers returned four starters from a 9-2 season and a loss in the Central, Group 4 title game. But lo and behold, Sayreville (5-0, 3-0) is the top team in the Group and is cruising to a Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division title. East Brunswick (4-1, 2-1) might have the best chance stopping the Bombers’ charge. The Bears finished 4-6 last season, but had four loses decided by a touchdown or less. With several starters returning including versatile quarterback Mauro Tucci, East Brunswick could return to the playoffs. The Bears are fourth in Central, Group 4 with 59. Sayreville is first with 80.
BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN at HUNTERDON CENTRAL,Friday, 7 p.m.
Bridgewater-Raritan (4-1, 2-0) has had enough of five straight losing seasons. The Panthers might just pass go and head straight to the North 2, Group 4 playoffs this fall. This test against perennial power Hunterdon Central (5-0, 3-0) will show just how improved Bridgewater is. Experienced quarterback Collin Clifford runs the show smoothly and four Panthers scored in a 40-21 win over Watchung Hills last Friday. Then again, Hunterdon Central is still Hunterdon Central. The Red Devils have a big offensive line and junior quarterback Chris Ibrahim and sophomore tailback Brandon Brocklehurst have stepped in nicely.
LAKELAND at WAYNE VALLEY, Friday, 7 p.m.
Every week, it seems that Wayne Valley (3-2) has a difficult opponent. The Indians have responded with wins over Montclair, Paramus and an impressive 34-19 topping of Passaic Valley (3-2) last week. Mike Castles rushed for two fourth quarter touchdowns to seal the win. Their two losses were by a combined 9-0 score. Now, they face an opponent who’s also 3-2 and who’s also pushing for a spot in the North 1, Group 3 playoffs. Major power points will be at stake. Currently, Lakeland is No. 6 with 54 points and Wayne Valley is tied for seventh with Northern Valley Old Tappan with 52. The top eight teams qualify. Lakeland appeared to be in trouble with two straight losses, before its stunning 38-35 win Friday over Paramus, in which Bobby Thompson hit a home run via a 5-yard touchdown scamper with 2:08 left.
PASCACK VALLEY at NORTHERN VALLEY OLD TAPPAN, Friday, 6 p.m.
This is another important—though, don’t coaches say EVERY game is important—in the North 1, Group 3 playoff picture between undefeated teams. This is a tight Group, and a couple losses will make teams nervously take out the calculator. Pascack Valley (5-0) is in second place with 65 power points, Old Tappan (4-0) is tied with Wayne Valley for seventh (52 points). Both teams have performed similarly against common opponents. Against Northern Highlands: Old Tappan won 35-14 and Pascack Valley won 21-6. Against Indian Hills: Old Tappan won 55-0, and the Indians won 41-3.
BUTLER at BOONTON, Friday, 7 p.m.
Butler finished 0-10 last season. This season, well, they’re playing every game on the road because of contstruction on their field, and … the Bulldogs are 5-0 behind nine returning starters on offense. They’re also averaging 38.6 points per game led by quarterback Peter Brand. The Bulldogs showed their prowress earlier in the season by scoring 18 points in the fourth quarter against Pequannock. Place kicker Demetrios Gergatsoulis is 7-of-7 in field goals. Boonton (4-1) should pose a challenge in this Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference matchup. The Bombers are averaging 33.2 points per contest.
CHEROKEE at WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, Friday, 7 p.m.
The Burlco/Olympic American Division is turning into one of the state’s most entertaining races. This game would put the winner in the driver’s seat. Both Cherokee (4-0, 3-0) and the Minutemen (4-0, 3-0) have close wins over conference foe Pennsuaken (Washington won 12-8 two weeks ago, Cherokee 24-21 in OT last week). With Eastern (4-1, 3-1) still looming, for both squads, a win won’t clinch the title but will put open daylight between them and a banner. Washington employs a spread offense behind quarterback throwing quarterback Nick Valori. Cherokee pounds the ball behind Sean Farrell and Mike Zeuli.
SALESIANUM (Del.) at DELSEA, Friday, 7 p.m.
Delsea gets an intriguing test against Salesianum (5-0), a private school from Wilmington, Del., and the No. 1 team in the Coaches Aid Delaware poll. The Sallies are led by Ryan Kilpatrick (10 rushing TDs) and Giovanni Ferrante (8 rushing TDs). Delsea, well they have a pretty good ground game too behind Austin Medley and Sean McPherson. The Crusaders piled up 531 yards as a team in a 56-15 win over Gloucester Catholic on Sept. 26. Last week, Group 2 Delsea beat Group 4 Absegani 28-21.
TIMBER CREEK at SHAWNEE, Friday, 7 p.m.
Shawnee (2-2) is in danger of not making the South, Group 4 playoffs after winning the South, Group 3 titles the last two seasons. The Renegades took a big hit after graduating record setting running back Chris LaPierre, who set state records with 272 points and 44 touchdowns last season. But it’s not like Shawnee has played bad. It lost 14-7 to Cherokee on opening night and lost a 48-42 overtime heartbreaker to Winslow. Timber Creek (4-0) is second in South, Group 3. In the teams’ one common opponent, Moorestown, Shawnee won 31-6 while Timber Creek won 47-0.
CEDAR GROVE at ORANGE, Friday, 7 p.m.
Longtime Cedar Grove coach Ed Sadloch said in the preseason that his veteran team wouldn’t be fazed this year by much. So far, it hasn’t. The Panthers (5-0) have allowed 18 points and have a big 29-0 win over Group 2 Caldwell. Do everything running back/defensive back Patsy Caggiano rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown, while catching a TD pass in last week’s 21-12 win over Weequahic. Now, Cedar Grove gets another test against Orange (3-1), a good Group 2 school.
BISHOP EUSTACE at PAUL VI, Friday, 7 p.m.
Both South Jersey teams are undefeated—Bishop Eustace (4-0) and Paul VI (5-0)—makes this Burlco/Olympic crossover a fun game. Paul VI is coming off a 20-14 win over Burlington Township in its first test of the season. Junior quarterback Kaaliq Burroughs and junior RB James Kenner leads the way. Bishop Eustace knows how to pull out close games themselves, owning a 28-20 win over tough Cinnaminson and 14-0 over Holy Cross.
andymendlowitz@coachesaid.com
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