Cranford players at practice on Tuesday in advance of Friday’s North 3 regional championship vs. West Morris Central. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
It’s a bit of an awkward game, and it has been for the three years of its existence, and it won’t be next year when New Jersey high school football finally plays to group champions.
But Friday’s North Group 3 Regional Championship Game between North 2 champ Cranford (11-0) and North 1 winner West Morris Central (8-3) will have a little extra juice for the Cougars, as they look to protect their perfect record, and achieve their second such performance in seven seasons.
Their 2015 state title team also went 12-0, and so far – but maybe not for much longer – is the only perfect season in the school’s long history of playing football, which dates back to 1903.
Friday’s final game of the season for Cranford is the Big Central Game of the Week driven by Autoland, and will air on Central Jersey Sports Radio with pregame at approximately 3:45 pm, and kickoff at 4:00 from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. Mike Pavlichko and guest color commentator Matt Yascko will call all the action; click here to listen.
Click below to hear Cranford head coach Erik Rosenmeir reflect on the Cougars’ state title win over Sparta, and break down Friday’s game against West Morris with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko: