Somerville is off to a good start, but now, a Top 5 matchup as No. 5 Pioneers visit No. 3 Piscataway

After an unceremonious end to the 2025-2026 campaign, Somerville got right back on track to start the new campaign with a convincing 40-21 victory over South Plainfield. But now things get even tougher.

Next up for the Pioneers is a matchup against Piscataway, a familiar foe or a brand-new one, depending on what year you went to high school.

The two squads matched up quite a bit over a 22-year stretch ranging from 1965 to 1987, playing every year. But since then, Somerville and the Chiefs (1-0) have not faced off on the gridiron.  

You can hear Friday night’s game – our Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Game of the Week – live at 6 pm, with pregame at 5:45. Mike Pavlichko and Nick Hart are on the call; click here to listen.

While a lot has certainly changed since these two teams last met, not much has changed on the field for the Pioneers in the past season. Dylan Boehm returns as the signal caller in his sophomore season and is still producing at a high level for his offense. 

Boehm’s introduction to Somerville football was stellar, completing over 57 percent of his passes for 1,449 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Much to the delight of the Pioneers, Bohem showed no signs of slowing down to kick off this season, throwing for 323 yards and a pair of touchdowns last week. 

Slowing down simply is not something that this Somerville team seems to do often, running a fast-paced offense every game. If it is not the pace of the offense and the passing threat of Boehm wasn’t enough to keep defensive coordinators on their toes, the Pioneers also sport a strong run game.

Senior Justin Bowen made his presence felt early this season, rushing for 107 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Somerville’s opening contest. Last season, Bowen rushed for 446 yards and seven touchdowns while splitting carries with then-senior Aidan Vesuvio-Bush. 

With such a talented offense, it can be easy to overlook the Pioneers’ defense, unless they are your opponent for the upcoming week. Somerville surrendered 20 or more points in just three of its games last season and held opponents to an average of less than 15 points per game.

The Pioneers will have their work cut out for them on Friday, however, against a Piscataway team coming off of a seven-win season last year and an opening-week victory over East Orange last Saturday afternoon. Long-time head coach Dan Higgins, is no stranger to success with his program, sporting a 182-61 record in his 22 years with the team – along with seven state titles – and will surely have his squad ready to go against Somerville. 

With a talented Piscataway team waiting for the Pioneers, fourth-year head coach Matt Bloom knows that his team has to execute well in all three stages of the game in order to take home a victory on Friday.

Click below to hear Somerville head coach Matt Bloom talk about his team’s matchup against the Piscataway Chiefs with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Nick Hart: