Off to 3-0 start, No. 6 Bridgewater-Raritan looks to keep it rolling when Hunterdon Central visits

Thanks to wins in its first three games, Bridgewater-Raritan appears to have clinched a playoff berth.

Yes, that statement sounds ridiculous having not even played Week Three of the season yet, but that’s how strong the Panthers’ schedule is, being in the American Silver Division, with out-of-conference matchups like Morris Knolls (a sectional finalist last year), and Big Central crossovers like Westfield and Elizabeth.

Our preseason projections said Bridgewater needed at least two wins to get in, three to make it a lock.

But please, don’t tell head coach D.J. Catalano or his players that.

Also, don’t tell them that this is their first 3-0 start since they won their first eleven games of the 2016 and 2025 seasons, in both of which they went to the North 2, Group 5 finals and lost to Westfield, which finished both years undefeated (and 2017, when they also beat the Panthers in the finals).

Don’t tell them any of that. Because they’re not looking back, nor ahead.

The sole focus this week is No. 7 Hunterdon Central, which visits Bridgewater’s Basilone Field Friday night at six for both teams’ division opener. It’s our “Big Central Game of the Week” presented by Bellamy & Son Paving. Pregame starts at 5:45 pm with Mike Pavlichko calling all the action, joined by guest analyst Ben LaSala, the Vice President of the Big Central Conference. Click here to listen.

The Panthers have plenty of talent back, including quarterback Declan Kurdyla and runningback Denzel Amoafo, but then there’s also Jahmir Black, who Catalano says has made a great jump up to the varsity level.

On the defensive side, he’s a big admirer of Hunterdon Central coach Casey Ransone, even to the point where after watching game film, he might even want to incorporate some of what the Red Devils do on offense.

Imitation, sincerest form of flattery, and all that.

Either way, this one should be a tremendous matchup. Last year’s game was a 28-20 win for the Panthers and a tale of two halves. After both teams lit up the scoreboard for 48 points in the first half, the final 24 minutes went scoreless in what turned out to be a defensive battle.

Click below to hear Bridgewater-Raritan head coach D.J. Catalano talk about the Panthers and their home game Friday night with Hunterdon Central: