Plainfield is the 2026 Jets Nike 11-On 7-on-7 High School Football Tournament, beating Curtis (NY) 32-8 in the final at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, NJ. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
All three Big Central Conference participants made it to Day Two of the New York Jets’ “11-On” 7-on-7 High School Football Tournament up at the team’s Atlantic Health Training Center in Florham Park, with Plainfield winning the championship out of the entire 16-team field defeating Curtis (NY) of Staten Island Saturday afternoon, 32-8, in the finale.
The Cardinals got a good look at some of their skill players, and played especially good defense at the event. In three games of Saturday’s round-robin playoffs to determine the teams that would play for the title, Plainfield allowed just 19 points, the fewest of all eight teams who made it to the championship bracket. And they got a good look at the future under center, as rising sophomore Tyree Huff threw some tight touchdown passes, with his brother, rising seniors Tymir Huff, Makai Talley, and rising sophomore Kiion Jones getting on the board.
Plainfield also had an interception to stall Curtis’ opening drive of the game, courtesy of rising junior Jaylen Fosten.
Watch highlights of Plainfield’s 32-8 win over Curtis (NY) in the Nike 11-On High School Football Tournament at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, NJ:
Here’s audio from champion Plainfield, as well as Bridgewater-Raritan and Union, with Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel on the field with the head coaches:
Big Central results…
Here’s how each of the three Big Central teams fared in the tournament.
FRIDAY – POOL PLAY
Plainfield, 3-0 (Pool C Champions):
- Beat Curtis (Staten Island), 29-20
- Beat Montclair, 33-7
- Beat Paramus Catholic, 17-8
Union, 2-1 (Pool D, 2nd place)
- Beat Caldwell, 19-17
- Lost to Monsignor Farrell, 29-21
- Beat DeWitt Clinton (Bronx), 20-12
Bridgewater-Raritan, 2-1 (Pool B, 2nd place)
- Beat Midwood (Brooklyn), 25-0
- Beat Passaic, 20-17
- Lost to Fairfield Ludlowe (CT), 24-8
SATURDAY – PLAYOFFS AND CHAMPIONSHIP
Plainfield, 2-0-1 in Green Bracket (Champions)
- Tied Union, 6-6
- Beat Bridgewater-Raritan, 28-5
- Beat Ramapo 17-8
- Beat Curtis (NY), 32-8
Union, 2-0-1 in Green Bracket
- Tied Plainfield, 6-6
- Beat Ramapo, 24-18
- Beat Bridgewater-Raritan, 26-14
Bridgewater-Raritan, 0-2-1 in Green Bracket
- Tied Ramapo, 24-24
- Lost to Plainfield, 28-5
- Lost to Union, 26-14
How it all worked…
High school 7-on-7 tournament rules can vary from event to event. In the Jets’ tourney, touchdowns are worth six points, but with no linemen or kickers, PATs are like a two-point conversion, except that teams could go for one with the ball spotted on the five-yard line, or go for two from the ten. A three-and-out on defense was worth three points, while a defensive stop otherwise is worth two. An interception was worth three. All games were 21 minutes with a running clock, with tagging in place of tackles, played solely on one end of the field.
The 16 teams were divided into four pools, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to Saturday’s round of eight. Those were divided into two additional pools, the Green Bracket and White Bracket. Each had four teams, and after another three round-robin games, the winner of each bracket qualified for the championship.
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