St. Joseph-Metuchen players stretch before a game at Phillipsburg on October 12, 2024. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
With coaching changes at the three other schools in the Big Central Conference’s American Gold Division over the last two years, defending division champion St. Joseph will have the most veteran coach at their school when the 2025 season kicks off in about ten weeks.
Despite a 5-5 overall record, the Falcons ran the table in the American Gold, going 3-0 last season under Bill Tracy, who’ll be entering his fourth season as head coach in Metuchen, following an eleven-year run at Ridge from 2009-2019.
As for the others, Westfield will bring back second-year head coach Matt Andzel, while Eugene Klein – who finished out last season after John Fiore was let go mid-year – will enter his first full season. Barris Grant slides over to Union after a successful nine-season tenure at Hillside.
Here are the preliminary schedules for the American Gold Division teams – in alphabetical order – compiled from the official league schedule and other online sources to the best of our knowledge. Please note game dates and times may be changed without notice as the season approaches. Division games marked with an asterisk (*).
Elizabeth Minutemen (6-5, 1-2, 3rd place in 2024)
Head Coach Eugene Klein (4-4, 1st full season in 2025)
- Week 0: at Linden
- Week 1: Bayonne
- Week 2: Westfield*
- Week 3: at St. Joseph-Metuchen* (Sat)
- Week 4: at St. Thomas Aquinas
- Week 5: at Bridgewater-Raritan
- Week 6: Morristown
- Week 7: Watchung Hills
- Week 8: Union*
Despite many distractions last year, Klein helped right the ship later in the year, as the Minutemen won their last three regular season games heading into the playoffs, and even won a state game, topping Morristown 34-33 before bowing out to Passaic Tech. They’ll return one of the top quarterbacks in the league in junior Arique Fleming, a dual-threat who led the team with 1,572 passing and 664 rushing yards last year.
St. Joseph-Metuchen (5-5, 3-0, American Gold champs in 2024)
Head Coach: Bill Tracy (17-13, 4th season)
- Week 0: bye
- Week 1: at Ridge
- Week 2: at Union*
- Week 3: Elizabeth* (Sat)
- Week 4: Westfield* (Sat)
- Week 5: at North Brunswick
- Week 6: Phillipsburg (Sat)
- Week 7: at St. Thomas Aquinas
- Week 8: Woodbridge (Sat)
- Week 9: Donovan Catholic (Sat)
The Falcons got off to a hot start last year, winning their first five games, but finished by losing their last five. They bring back quarterback Justin Scaramuzzo (1,953 pass yards, 18 TDs, 4 INT), who will be a senior, and that’s a big plus. They also have a number of young runningbacks returning. The defense returns players that were young, but inexperienced last year, and that should be a help to avoid a late-season swoon.
Union (2-8, 0-3, 4th place in 2024)
Head Coach: Barris Grant (1st season)
- Week 0: at Woodbridge (Thursday)
- Week 1: Hillsborough
- Week 2: St. Joseph-Metuchen*
- Week 3: at Westfield* (Sat)
- Week 4: at Hunterdon Central
- Week 5: Ridge (Sat)
- Week 6: South Brunswick
- Week 7: at Phillipsburg
- Week 8: at Elizabeth*
After a dropoff last season under first year head coach Jason Scott, who got the job late when longtime mentor Lou Grasso, Jr, departed to take the AD job at Colonia, the Farmers will look to bounce back with an experienced head coach who knows Union County football in Grant, who sent numerous student athletes onto great college destinations while with the Comets. They’ll lose dual-threat QB Omalley King to graduation, but freshman Elijah Bryant threw for 273 yards last year in a pair of late-season last year, and he could compete to be a starter. The defense will need to improve upon a 26.7 point per game average.
Westfield (5-6, 2-1, 2nd place in 2024)
Head Coach: Matt Andzel (5-6, 2nd season)
- Week 0: at Plainfield
- Week 1: Phillipsburg (Sat)
- Week 2: at Elizabeth*
- Week 3: Union* (Sat)
- Week 4: at St. Joseph*
- Week 5: Hillsborough (Sat)
- Week 6: at North Brunswick
- Week 7: at Bridgewater-Raritan
- Week 8: Ridge (Sat)
A transition year with a new coach, alum Matt Andzel, after the longtime head coach Jim DeSarno stepped down to become athletic director was a mixed bag last year, but this traditionally solid program should right the ship this year. While their top rusher and receiver both graduate, quarterback Cole Wiedler (761 pass yards, 11 TD) is back, but will need to cut down on the picks (10). No. 2 rusher Jordan Walsh (539 yards, 4 TDs) is back for his junior year. There are significant losses on defense, including senior linemene Zac Wragg (2 sacks, 3 TFLs) and Lincoln Meyers (6 sacks, 5 TFLs).
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