Defending CJ3 champs, No. 7 Somerville, looking to close strong as Plainfield visits

Graduating a ton of talent as Somerville did last season, following a 12-1 campaign and a Central Jersey Group 3 championship, it would be easy to dismiss the Pioneers in 2025.

Their biggest offensive stars all finished high school. QB Brenden Pacheco threw for 1,742 yards and 27 touchdowns. Senior Terrell Mitchell tank for 1,306 and 18 scores. Senior receiver Josh Rodriguez and Brady Scheier combined for 73 catches, 1,165 yards and 15 touchdowns.

And on defense, they lost Spencer Carran and Mitchell, each with two interceptions, along with linebacker Max Nuzzi with his 3 1/2 sacks and 8 TFLs, and lineman Matthew Chubenko with four sacks and six tackles for loss.

But if you counted the Pioneers out, well, maybe you’ll want to stay away from the blackjack tables down in Atlantic City.

Because here they are, 6-1 in 2025 – their only loss coming to Montgomery – and in fourth place in the South Group 3 supersection, with a shot at a top-seed potentially still within their reach.

The names may change, but the results have been mostly the same. Their quarterback is a freshman, Dylan Boehm, and he’s already thrown for 874 yards this season along with seven touchdowns. The big damage on the ground has been done by Aidan Vesuvio-Bush, with 754 yards and eleven touchdowns. Five different receivers, led by junior Justin Bowen and sophomore James Hampton have at least 100 yards through the air.

And on the defensive side… senior linebacker Kieran McKenna already has three sacks, while senior Elijah Boyce has two, and Hampton in the secondary has five interceptions. Even more impressive, he’s brought two of those picks back for six.

With just two weeks left in the season, the Pioneers host Plainfield (3-4) Friday night in their final regular season home game of the season. Catch all the action of the “Big Central Game of the Week” presented by Bellamy & Son Paving at 6:30 pm, with pregame at 6:15. Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe have the call. Click here to listen.

Click below to hear Somerville head coach Matt Bloom talk with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko: