Just to prove the point that the Big Central Conference’s Division 4 is one of the most competitive from top to bottom, there are three teams from that group in the Central Jersey Sports Radio Top Ten.
Woodbridge is fourth, Cranford is tied for seventh, and Colonia is tied for tenth.
Two of them – the Cougars and Patriots – square off tonight in Cranford in a game that will likely have a lot to say about who ends up where in the postseason.
Colonia has never beaten Cranford in two tries, dropping matchups last year (17-7) and in the 2011 North 2, Group 3 semifinals 34-7. Both meetings were at Colonia.
The Cougars, for their part, are having a great season of their own – 4-0 while allowing just 34 points total in their last three games. They’re led by quarterback Shane Van Dam, who’s thrown for nearly 300 yards on the season, and Colin Murray, who’s rushed for 513 yards. And Van Dam has plenty of targets to throw to.
MORE AUDIO: Cranford wins a battle of top Union County QBs, Cougars off to 2-0 start
For Colonia, it starts with their quarterback, Josh Oluremi, who can make things happen with his arms or his feet. He’s thrown for 562 yards and 3 TDs, but scored ten touchdowns on 682 yards rushing so far in 2021.
And there’s a great supporting cast for the Patriots as well.
Click below to hear Colonia head coach Tom Roarty talk about a big win last week over Linden, and tonight’s matchup with Cranford: