South Plainfield turning close defeats into lopsided wins thanks to Greer and Co.

As one of the four Big Central teams remaining – and 32 in the state – without a single loss, it’s nearly a complete flip of the script, and then some for the South Plainfield Tigers.

A year ago, they finished just 2-8 under then-first-year head coach Bill Hamilton. Their last four games, however, were a six-point home loss to much-improved Plainfield, an eight-point defeat at Carteret, a seven-point loss at Rahway, and a 44-30 consolation win over Lawrence.

And so, the Tigers were thinking if they could just avoid giving up the big play, and learn how to close out games, they might be okay in 2022.

So far, it’s mission accomplished.

A perfect 5-for-5, they have wins over JFK, Carteret, at North Plainfield, JP Stevens, and at Governor Livingston by a combined 194-99, good for an average margin of victory of 19, which is even better when you take out their 13-12 home squeaker over the Ramblers.

One of the big reasons why has been a balanced ground game, somewhat a staple of South Plainfield football, no matter who the coach is. That’s just what they do.

Junior Patrick Smith leads the team with 463 yards and eight touchdowns, followed by Michael Green with 525 and 3 scores.

Jason Greer, a senior, is part of the three-headed monster as well: 34 carries (only seven fewer than Smith and two fewer than Green) for 287 yards and three touchdowns, as well as the team’s longest run from scrimmage this year: 93 yards.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with South Plainfield’s Jason Greer about his team’s turnaround and success in 2022:

The Tigers continue their 2022 season Friday night when they visit Voorhees (3-2) in Glen Gardner, followed by their final home game of the regular season against Perth Amboy next weekend, and a road game at Monroe on the Friday night of cutoff weekend.