Bridgewater-Raritan has gutted out tough schedule, led by QB/LB Spirra

Getting a new football coach mid-way through your high school career isn’t an easy transition. When is name is Rick Mantz it might be even more difficult.

When Mantz took over at Bridgewater-Raritan, he added new challenges and demands of his players they hadn’t previously seen, and though his team is 3-and-5, they have had one of the toughest schedules in the Big Central Conference.

And it’s a big reason why they’re No. 11 overall in the latest North Group 5 supersection standings just a week before Cutoff Weekend.

Another big reason? Junior Joe Spirra. The junior hasn’t put up gaudy numbers like a Jaeden Jones at Colonia, but he’s been a steadying force on both offense and defense, helping to get the ball where he needs to while playing quarterback, and stifling the opposing run game when he’s playing middle linebacker.

Saturday afternoon at Williams Field in Elizabeth, his late 61-yard touchdown pass to Colin Woodring with under three minutes left helped stun the Minutemen, giving the Panthers a critical third win that likely helped them clinch a playoff berth.

But they’re not resting on that laurel. They go for a fourth victory this Friday night when Old Bridge (5-3) comes to Basilone Field. They may have opposite records, but Spirra expects a victory, and nothing less – the mark of a leader.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Bridgewater-Raritan junior Joe Spirra: