Happy with 2-1 start, Hunterdon Central focused on Kurdyla, battle at Bridgewater-Raritan

He can throw the ball. If he’s in trouble, he’ll run. And then he’ll still throw the ball.

That’s the short version of how ninth-year Hunterdon Central football coach Casey Ransone describes Declan Kurdyla, the shifty dual-threat quarterback who plays football for Bridgewater-Raritan, yet will be going to Rutgers on a lacrosse scholarship.

But that’s really all you need to know.

He’ll be a big focus for the defense Friday night when the No. 7 Red Devils travel to Bridgewater to play the No. 6 Panthers in the Big Central Game of the Week presented by Bellamy & Son Paving. Mike Pavlichko will call all the action with guest analyst Ben LaSala, the Vice President of the Big Central Conference. Click here to listen, with pregame at 5:45 pm, and kickoff at 6.

Hunterdon Central got the season underway in fine fashion, with wins over North Hunterdon and Monroe. They got humbled last week at home by No. 1 Phillipsburg, 55-14, but even though the Stateliners lost some starts, they’re still the defending state Group 4 finalist.

And while Ransone would love to be 3-0, he understands the reality of the league and division they’re in, and the teams they play. Every night is a battle when you face the ‘Liners, Panthers, Hillsborough and Ridge – and that’s just the American Silver Division.

So, on Friday, the big thing is to keep everyone’s eyes on Kurdyla. As the old ESPN catchphrase went, “You can’t stop him, you can only hope to contain him.”

For Central’s part, they have some really good players, too. James Mongno (the second “n” is silent) is a top receiver, and due to injury, a new runningback has emerged in Reggie Osae-Aye (pronounced “oh-SAY-eye”), who didn’t see a varsity snap until this year.

Ransone says he’s been a great addition, and he’s really transformed his game, something he knows isn’t easy when making the jump from jayvee to the big squad.

Click below to hear Hunterdon Central coach Casey Ransone talk about the Red Devils and Friday’s matchup at Bridgewater-Raritan with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko: