The Somerville Pioneers, under the new regime that began with Jeff Vanderbeek as head coach, and now Dallas Whitaker, have always liked to challenge themselves.
For their first game, they came out on top, cruising past Olney Charter 25-0 down in the Germantown section of Philly last Friday night in a Week Zero game.
In Week One, they would square off against defending North Jersey, Section 1 Group 4 Champion (2019) Northern Highlands, but the Pioneers would not come out on top.
In the second game of Central Jersey Sports Radio’s “Big Central Game of the Week” doubleheader driven by Mark Montenero and his team at the world-famous Autoland, the top-ranked Pioneers fell to the Highlanders 32-20.
It was a back and forth affair until midway through the third quarter, when Northern Highlands scored the first of what would be three unanswered touchdowns and 19 unanswered points.
Dynamic senior receiver Jaimen Bryant caught eight passes for 97 yards and an 11-yard touchdown run, but it was Mike Miller who was named the Big Central Player of the Game, completing 21 of 39 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns, though he did throw one interception. Miller will receive a custom game ball courtesy of Autoland at the end of the season.
Click below to hear Tim Catalfamo talk to Somerville head coach Dallas Whitaker after the game: