by Mike Pavlichko
It’s not easy being a small school in the Big Central these days.
Manville has had its issues like any other school in this COVID-shortened 2020, including having less preseason practice time than normal. For a small school, that just makes life more challenging.
Add to that the fact that the Big Central reshuffled its inaugural divisions this year in order to cut down on travel, which left Manville in a division with bigger schools like Delaware Valley, whom they normally would not play.
It also didn’t help with travel. As one of the smaller schools on the Western side of the Big Central, they ended up having to travel to Del Val and also South Hunterdon, while schools further east like Dunellen got to go to Roselle Park and New Providence as road games.
Manville’s final game of the season – unless they can pick up a Week 6 opponent – will be this Friday, when the Mustangs entertain Bound Brook on Central Jersey Sports Radio (6:50 pm pregame, 7:00 kickoff). Click here to listen.
Below, here my conversation with Manville Head Coach Pat Gorbatuk: