by Mike Pavlichko
There’s practically no history between South Brunswick and Ridge, who last met on the football field in 1964.
That was the last of a four-game series which began the year both schools debuted their respective football programs: 1961.
The Red Devils struggled in those early years, going a combined 8-25-3, while the Vikings went 1-12 from 1961 to 1962, but improved to top .500 in Year Three with a 5-2-1 mark.
They would go 8-1 in 1964 to win the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 1 title – yes, South Brunswick was a small program then – the school’s first state title in any sport.
Stephen Boyko (’65) is in the South Brunswick Athletics Hall of Fame. The quarterback led the 1964 team to an 8-1 record and the Central Jersey Group 1 title, the school’s first championship in any sport. He was also an AP All-State Selection – the only Viking QB to be so honored – then went on to win two more state titles as a member of the baseball team.
It all makes for a great story with about zero relevance to this Friday’s “Big Central Game of the Week” powered by Bellamy & Son Paving, which features the Vikings (4-3) at No. 6 Ridge (5-2) at 7 pm on Central Jersey Sports Radio.
Red Devils’ head coach Andy West knows that even though the Vikings have lost three straight since starting the year 4-0, they’ll have their hands full facing talented sophomore quarterback Vince Jairdullo, one of several young gunslingers this season in the Big Central Conference.
READ MORE: South Brunswick looks to right the ship in finale at No. 6 Ridge
Tonight’s game will be live-streamed on YouTube by the Ridge Athletic Department, with Central Jersey Sports Radio supplying the audio. Click here to watch the broadcast with Mike Pavlichko calling the play-by-play. To listen to Central Jersey Sports Radio’s audio only broadcast of the game, click here.
Listen below to our full interview with Andy West ahead of tomorrow night’s game against South Brunswick.