When you’re third-place team is 7-3 on the year, that’s saying something. And yet, maybe still not as much as the fact that your fourth- and last-place teams combined for eight wins.
That’s a tough division. That was the American Silver in 2022.
Expect much of the same this year.
Phillipsburg is back and loaded with talent. Fresh off the Stateliners’ first win over Easton since 2014, Frank Duffy’s team is riding high, but not resting on their laurels. They had a good “head” last year, with no ego, and it propelled the team to an 11-1 record. Starting quarterback Jett Genovese is back, as is top wide receiver Matthew Scerbo, Jr. Both are juniors, and then add in a guy like Cameron Bohal, a receiver/free safety.
Hillsborough may not have a generational talent like Tommy Amankwaa, but they come back loaded with talent, and loaded with experience. Many of this year’s seniors – like Jonathan Lobello, Tyler Van Cleef, Shayne Powerll – all played key roles on the 2021 Central Jersey Group 5 title team.
That 7-3, middle-of-the-pack team was a deceptively good Ridge Red Devil team, coached by Andy West, an alum now in his third season as head coach. There’s another Olivo on the team this year – Ryan, the quarterback/safety – and top runningback Will Deady, who also had three picks on defense last year.
Hunterdon Central and Bridgewater-Raritan both won four games last year, so they were no slouches. Central coach Casey Ransone likes how his team is practicing in the preseason, and he feels good about his veteran squad. Meanwhile, DJ Catalano – an assistant last year under Rick Mantz – got to learn from one of the best in the state before forging off on his own with the Panthers, and what he says is a great group of kids.
Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko’s preview of the American Silver Division from the Big Central Conference’s inaugural Media Days:
Discover more from Central Jersey Sports Radio
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.