Manville celebrates after a Senior Night shutout win over Middlesex on September 19, 2025. (Source: @manvillefootball on Instagram)
When a top-notch player graduates from a small school, the impact is felt much deeper than at a Group 5 behemoth. In a place like Phillipsburg, runningbacks seem to grow on trees.
At a small school like Manville, that’s not always the case.
Naquavere Thomas rushed for nearly 1,000 yards last year and 13 touchdowns, but his No. 2 – Isaiah Bennett – is now the No. 1, and playing like it.
Friday night, he and senior quarterback Josh D’Ambrosio rushed for three touchdowns each in a 42-0 win over Middlesex that leaves the Mustangs 4-0 near the halfway point of the season. That last happened under Brett Stibitz in 2006, when the Mustangs won their first six games, but finished 6-4.
But it’s unlikely Manville will end 2025 the same way.
All the talk about the offense aside, the defense has come up stout in the first four games. The Mustangs have won their last three games via shutout, and their only points allowed came in the season opener against Keyport, a 19-6 victory.
They’ve outscored the Red Raiders, Hopatcong, Belvidere and Middlesex a combined 92-6.
Friday night, Bennett scored on touchdown runs of 55, nine and six yards, while D’Ambrosio punched in scores from 21, four and 28 yards out. Bennett finished with 143 yards on 11 carries, while D’Ambrosio rushed 14 times for 107 yards.
The Cougars head to South Hunterdon (0-3) for the first of two road games next week, while Middlesex drops to 1-3 and will travel to Dunellen (0-2 heading into Friday night’s game at Belvidere) next Friday.
Click below to hear Manville head coach Dave Markowitch talk about the win with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:
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