As the saying goes, “Respect is hard to earn but easy to lose.”
Well, it wasn’t easy, but Rahway earned the Big Central’s respect in 2020.
Despite a midseason shutdown, the eighth-ranked Indians (5-1) compiled one of their best seasons ever, defeating multiple Group 5 teams for the first time in program history and earning a second-place finish in Division 3.
Rahway finished on a blazing four-game winning streak. Consecutive victories over a trio of Group 5s— Plainfield, Sayreville, and top-10 Watchung Hills — lifted the Group 3 school to prominence.
Though the COVID stoppage wiped out the Indians’ final regular-season and first postseason games, the team recovered in time to schedule a Thanksgiving Eve battle against St. Joseph-Metuchen. Rahway rallied late for yet another quality win.
The team’s only loss came to No. 1 Somerville, the conference’s only undefeated team at 7-0 and Central Jersey Sports Radio Team of the Year.
QB Nasir Arribas and RB Rashon Bradford, both seniors, powered an offense that averaged 29 points-per-game. Arribas, who emerged a dual threat, passed for 778 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 143 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. Bradford nearly matched his rushing numbers from 2019 and finished with 773 yards and eight touchdowns.
Arribas and Bradford spoke to Central Jersey Sports Radio about the season. Click below to hear their comments:
Nasir Arribas
Rashon Bradford