Brody Nugent Sets Record: Old Bridge QB Thrives in 2023

One of the big names people were talking about in the preseason – in the context of who could have a really big year – was Brody Nugent of Old Bridge.

The senior quarterback had 2,170 passing yards and 1,831 career rushing yards coming into the season, and with a host of talent around him was expected to be the leader of an offense that had a lot of pieces back.

Off to a 3-1 start, all that has come to fruition for the No. 10 Knights, and Nugent has been a big reason why. But Friday night, in a 45-7 win over South Brunswick, he took his passing game to another level.

They might not have needed all of those yards, in the end, but Nugent became the first Old Bridge quarterback (at least since the 1994 merger of Madison Central and Cedar Ridge) to throw for over 300 yards in a game, setting a school record of 302 yards on 15-of-22 passing, with five touchdowns.

Setting any record is an impressive accomplishment, especially for an offense that runs the triple option. But it’s even more impressive when you consider Old Bridge had Art Sitkowski as its varsity quarterback for two seasons. But even his career high was 140 yards passing, which came in a 28-21 come from behind win at Sayreville in 2015, a game that saw the Knights rally from a 21-7 deficit to get the victory.

On the season, Nugent already has thrown for 824 yards and nine touchdowns (with just two picks) while rushing for 322 on 48 carries, including a season high 168 yards against Cedar Creek in a season-opening win at the Battle at the Beach at Rowan University down in Glassboro.

So, for his efforts against South Brunswick, Brody Nugent is the Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Player of the Week for Week Three.

The No. 10 Knights are back home Friday night, when they visit East Brunswick (1-3) for a 6 pm kickoff.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko’s interview with Week Three Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Brody Nugent of Old Bridge:

The Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week is chosen from nominees by Big Central coaches. At the end of the season, one player will be chosen to receive a $500 scholarship courtesy of Bellamy & Son Paving. As always, we will recognize selected “Honorable Mentions,” and recognize all other all nominees in our weekly story.

Honorable Mentions:

Matt Resende, Brearley: The senior runningback helped the Bears snap a 14-game losing streak and earl head coach Elliot Platt his first win with Brearley in a 27-26 home win over Highland Park. He carried 24 times for 244 yards and two touchdowns. He also had five tackles from his linebacker position on defense.
Shaun Jackson, Sayreville: The senior rushed for 204 yards and four touchdowns Friday in a 28-14 win over Hillsborough, keeping the Bombers undefeated at 4-0.
Justin Scaramuzzo, St. Joseph-Metuchen: In a 41-20 home win Saturday over Elizabeth, Scaramuzzo didn’t throw a lot, but he was efficient, and also ran the ball to the tune of 108 yards on eleven carries for four touchdowns. Passing, he was 6-of-9 for 147 yards and a touchdown. On defense, he also logged eight tackles.
Joshua Allen, Woodbridge: He just puts up big numbers every week, and the 4-0 Barrons keep winning. Allen rushed a workhorse-like 32 times for 253 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-21 bragging rights win over Colonia Friday night, one of those scores from 89-yards out. At cornerback, he also had four tackles and two pass breakups.

Other Notable Performances:

Brayden Duckworth, Belvidere: The two-way lineman was a big part of the County Seaters’ 53-20 win over Dunellen Friday. On the defensive side of the ball, he led a defense that got two touchdowns against the Destroyers, and that’s playing less than two quarters! He also had five tackles, a blocked punt, and returned a tipped pass 20 yards for a touchdown. In the offensive side, he helped pave the way for Belvidere to score four touchdowns on just the 13 offensive plays!
Logan Stevens, Bernards: The senior runningback carried 19 times for 208 yards and three touchdowns Friday night in a 31-21 win at Voorhees that clinched the Patriot Gold Division title. He also had five catches for 65 yards, and at cornerback, he logged six tackles.
Brayden Piscardo-Leask, Delaware Valley: The junior tight end had a 76-yard touchdown catch, and on defense, at linebacker, he had a tackle and two interceptions, with one for a touchdown.
Shaun Garland, Edison: The junior tight end/halfback had seven carries for 76 yards and a touchdown – of 34 yards, to take the lead in the third quarter – along with two catches for nine in a 20-14 win over North Brunswick Friday. At defensive end, he had six tackles, four solo, two TFLs and two sacks.
Grant Lorentzen, JFK: The senior wide receiver grabbed six catches for 164 yards and five touchdowns – of 30, 36, 47, 16 and 20 yards – in a 35-0 win over New Brunswick. Three of those scores came in the first quarter, as did an interception from his defensive back position. The five TD catches is a school record.
Joe Boyd, Linden: The junior quarterback rushed for 234 yards and passed for 84, including a touchdown pass and two rushing TDs in a 28-21 win against Watchung Hills.
Zach Mutton, Montgomery: In a 24-8 win over North Hunterdon Friday, the junior defensive back recorded nine tackles, including four TFLs, a safety and a blocked punt. He also had one rush on offense for 28 yards.
Jack Fitzgerald, New Providence: In a 30-0 shutout at Metuchen on Saturday, the senior linebacker was all over the field. He had 13 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks, a tackle for loss, a safety, and a forced fumble, while also scoring a rushing touchdown on offense from the QB position.
Dan Fugurski, North Hunterdon: The senior wide receiver had 11 catches for 135 yards in a 24-8 loss to Montgomery.
Jordan Walsh, Westfield: The senior quarterback – in a 21-0 win over Union Saturday – rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns, while also throwing for 60 yards. On defense, he had five tackles from out of the secondary and a late-game interceptions.