Two Big Central Conference teams advanced, and two were knocked out in Saturday high school football playoff action.
Piscataway looked like the Chiefs of old, dominating the ground game in the second half en route to a 42-13 win over Bayonne in the North 1, Group 5 opening round. James Bodley rushed for 185 yards on 20 carries, with two touchdowns, a fumble recovery for a score and an 85-yard kick return for a touchdown. It was the Chiefs’ first playoff win since 2018.
New Providence kept it on the ground almost exclusively, and picked up a 49-24 win over Boonton in North 2, Group 1 action. The Pioneers got three touchdown runs and a TD pass from quarterback TJ Munn, who also had a pick on defense to set up another score.
North 1, Group 4
Eighth-seed Colonia saw its season come to an end with a 43-13 loss at top-seed Morris Knolls. It was nearly all Golden Eagles in the first half, as they got their first touchdown in the opening quarter, then scored three more in the second to take a 29-0 lead before Colonia’s Julien Jones caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Chiera to make it 29-7 at the break. Knolls got two more third quarter touchdowns before Chiera hooked up with Jones again in the fourth.
Morris Knolls (9-0) now will entertain fourth-seed Mount Olive (6-3) next weekend in the semifinals, with the winner getting either second-seed Ridge or third-seed Ramapo in the sectional final.
South Group 1
Sixth-seed Manville opened the scoring Saturday morning in an early 11 am start at third-seed Paulsboro, but it was mainly all Red Raiders after that. Kevin Villegas booted a 29-yard field goal in the first quarter, but Paulsboro got the next three scores to close the half with a 22-3, and added another in the third quarter. Naquavere Thomas caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Josh D’Ambrosio for the other score for Manville, which finishes its season 7-3. The Mustangs were the only Big Central team in that section.
Here are next week’s matchups in all five public groups. Start times are based on this week’s matchups, where applicable, and are Friday at 7 pm unless otherwise noted. Central Jersey Sports Radio will announce coverage plans this coming week.
North 2, Group 5
(4) Bridgewater-Raritan at (1) Union City
(3) Passaic Tech at (2) Elizabeth
North 1, Group 5
(4) East Orange at (1) Ridgewood
(3) Piscataway at (2) West Orange
Central Group 5
(4) Southern at (1) Washington Twp., 6 pm Friday
(6) Cherokee at (3) Atlantic City, 6 pm Friday
South Group 5
(4) Howell at (1) Toms River North, 6 pm Friday
(3) Hillsborough at (2) Rancocas Valley, 6 pm Friday
North 1, Group 4
(4) Mount Olive at (1) Morris Knolls, Saturday 1 pm
(3) Ramapo at (2) Ridge
North 2, Group 4
(5) Chatham at (1) Phillipsburg
(3) Northern Highlands at (2) Woodbridge, 6 pm Friday
Central Group 4
(4) Marlboro at (1) Millville, 6 pm Friday
(6) Jackson Memorial at (2) Brick Memorial, 6 pm Friday
South Group 4
(4) Manalapan at (1) Winslow, 1 pm Saturday
(3 Shawnee at (2) Middletown North
North 1, Group 3
(4) Montville at (1) Pascack Valley
(7) River Dell at (3) Passaic Valley, 6:30 pm Friday
North 2, Group 3
(4) Cranford at (1) Old Tappan, 6 pm Friday
(3) West Morris at (2) West Essex, 6:30 pm Friday
Central Group 3
(4) Ocean City at (1) Somerville
(7) Delsea at (3) Cedar Creek, 6 pm Friday
South Group 3
(4) Seneca at (1) Hopewell Valley, 6 pm Friday
(3) Holmdel at (2) Mainland, 6 pm Friday
North 1, Group 2
(5) Shabazz at (1) Westwood
(3) Pequannock at (2) Bernards
North 2, Group 2
(4) High Point at (1) Glen Rock, 6 pm Friday
(3) Ramsey at (2) Hanover Park
Central Group 2
(4) Delran at (1) Rumson-Fair Haven
(3) Haddonfield at (2) Wall
South Group 2
(5) Willingboro at (1) Camden, 6 pm Friday
(3) Manchester Twp. at (2) Pt. Pleasant Boro
North 1, Group 1
(4) Glen Ridge at (1) Butler
(3) Mountain Lakes at (2) New Milford
North 2, Group 1
(4) Verona at (1) Cedar Grove
(3) Hasbrouck Heights at (2) New Providence, Friday (time TBA)
Central Group 1
(5) Pennsville at (1) Woodstown
(6) Woodbury at (2) Shore
South Group 1
(5) Riverside at (1) Glassboro, 6 pm Friday
(3) Paulsboro at (2) Schalick, 6 pm Friday
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