No. 3 Woodbridge hosts Plainfield after two close calls to start the season

Woodbridge football head coach Joe Goerge may be in his first year leading the Barrons, but he has decades of experience coaching high school football across the state. Prior to taking over Woodbridge, he led South Brunswick to three sectional titles in 2012, 2015, and 2017, and also won two at Franklin in 1994 and 1996. He boasts a career 238-158-4 record over 35 years and five schools.

He’s needed every minute of that experience to help the Barrons win their first two games, by a combined five points.

Last week against Watchung Hills, it took a late fourth quarter touchdown between twin brothers, with quarterback Derek Anderson finding Bryan for an 11-yard score.

In the season opener at Old Bridge, the Knights scored two straight touchdowns by Brody Nugent in the final six minutes to cut the lead to 36-34. The Barrons held up strong on the conversion attempt, however, as the pass fell harmlessly to the ground and gave Woodbridge the victory.

The Anderson brothers have come up big for the Barrons in both games and will be tasked with doing so once again in Friday’s matchup against Plainfield.

Alongside the duo in the passing game brings a strong rushing attack, led by senior running backs Jahmir Beal and Zackaryus Guzman.

You can hear Friday evening’s “Big Central Game of the Week presented by Bellamy & Son Paving” on Central Jersey Sports Radio with pregame at 5:45, kickoff at 6 pm. Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel will call all the action; click here to listen.

Goerge noted that while the Cardinals are 1-1, they could just as easily be undefeated as well. In the season-opening Mountaineer Classic, they fell at Newark East Side in an 8-6 slugfest decided in the final minute. Goerge said they will be hungry and ready, and that his team will need to match that energy.

Click below to hear Woodbridge first-year head coach Joe Goerge preview Friday’s matchup with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel: