Amari Alsbrook of Old Bridge scores the go-ahead touchdown in the Central Jersey Group 5 semifinals at Sayreville on November 7, 2025. (Photo courtesy: Robert Morris/Studio Rob)
Even with similar scores, it’s been a tale of two games for Old Bridge football in 2026, particularly on one side of the ball.
The No. 4 Knights (1-1) have two high-scoring games under their belt, both flipped by special teams.
In a 43-35 loss to Shawnee in the Battle at the Beach in Ocean City, two kick return touchdowns propelled the Renegades to the opening-week victory, even after a fierce fourth-quarter comeback attempt by Old Bridge.
In Week One’s 49-21 victory over Montgomery, Old Bridge made the big special teams play, a blocked punt taken back for a score in the third quarter, breaking a 21-21 halftime tie and giving the Knights a lead it would not relinquish.
Sixth-year head coach Matt Donaghue has preached eliminating the mistakes, especially considering how explosive Old Bridge’s offense is on a weekly basis.
The Knights will take that growth away from home for the third straight week, heading to South Brunswick on Thursday for a 6 pm game that’s the BCC National Gold Division opener for both teams. You can hear it live as one of two Bellamy & Son Paving Games of the Week this week, with pregame at 5:45. Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel are on the call; click here to listen.
Gone is star quarterback Brody Nugent — the 2025 Central Jersey Sports Radio Offensive Player of the Year — along with his 3,538 yards and 39 touchdowns of offense. He’s now a first-year wide receiver at Monmouth at the FCS level.
But much of the core that led Old Bridge to its first sectional final appearance in a decade last year is back and off to a fast start.
Junior Aiden Rios made the move to quarterback after starting at wide receiver for his first two years, going from one of Nugent’s top targets to his replacement. He’s started well, throwing for over 200 yards and multiple scores in both games, while completing 70 percent of his passes through two games.
Senior Chase Rizzo also returns for his senior season at running back for his fourth year on varsity, rushing for 101 yards in each of the first two games. Junior Amari Alsbrook remains the top receiver in the passing game, after recording 923 yards and ten scores in 2025. He’s also started fast, with 91 yards in the season opener, and 109 yards with a touchdown against Montgomery last week.
All in all, the Knights’ high-powered offensive attack hasn’t missed much of a beat through two games, despite losing one of the Big Central’s top players. It’s a tip of the cap to the development and returning production already in place, with a mix of returning veterans and exciting youngsters getting some of their first taste of varsity action.
On the defensive side, a similar mix of youth and experience comes into the fold, with some timely playmaking involved as well.
They’ll have another tough task at hand facing off against a spread-out, receiver-heavy offensive attack, similar to Old Bridge’s own.
First-year coach Mike Gerst, coming from Fort Lee, also has his team at 1-1, coming off a rivalry win over North Brunswick in Week One.
But as any coach will say — Donoghue included — it’s all about shoring up everything within
Click below to hear Old Bridge football head coach Matt Donaghue talk about the Knights’ season so far and upcoming matchup against South Brunswck, with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel:
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