St. Joseph-Metuchen’s goal: finish strong in ’25

The 2024 high school football season got off to a great start for St. Joseph-Metuchen. The Falcons began the year 5-0, with the first of those wins coming over a solid Ridge squad that beat eventual state Group 4 finalist Phillipsburg a couple of weeks later.

But not long after the calendar turned to October, things went the other way. After a loss on the road to the Stateliners, tougher competition continued to prevail, with losses to St. Thomas Aquinas and Woodbridge – neither of whom lost a Big Central game last year – then to St. John Vianney in the regular season final before a first round playoff loss at Don Bosco Prep.

This year, the players say “finish.” That is, not just finish games. Finish each play. Finish each rep in practice. Go wire-to-wire.

Returning is senior quarterback Justin Scaramuzzo, who threw for nearly 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. He was also the team’s number two rusher, with 324 yards and eight more scores. He’ll need some new players, though, to develop at the runningback and receiver positions.

Defensively, there will also be key pieces to replace, like Tyler Huseth, who was a beast with nine sacks and six tackles for loss, as well as a fumble recovery.

Either way, head coach Bill Tracy feels he has the right kind of kids in the program, not only with freshmen, but also some transfers. But they’re all guys who he calls “high character people.”

“The talent is second to that,” Tracy says.

Click below to hear St. Joseph-Metuchen head coach Bill Tracy with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko at Big Central Conference Media Day: