C.J. Griffith of Ridge holds the Unico Bowl trophy – raising money for charitable organizations in Somerset County – after a 42-19 win at Hillsborough on October 16, 2026. (Photo credit: Ben Margulis)
Back on October 9th, Ridge senior runningback C.J. Griffith nearly set a new Red Devil single-game rushing record.
In a 34-0 shutout of Westfield, he carried 30 times for 256 yards and four touchdowns, finishing 14 yards shy of the school mark of 270 set by Mike Olivo against Hunterdon Central in 2021.
One week later, last Friday in a 42-19 win at Hillsborough, he broke the mark, carrying an eye-popping 40 times for 316 yards – shattering the old record by 46 – while rushing for another four scores.
Not only was it a huge win, but Ridge now has won three-in-a-row after a 2-2 start, and Griffith eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark that night, the third Red Devil to do so this decade, joining standouts Will Deady and Aidan Stieglitz.
And Griffth is just as hot as his team – which has a huge game against Old Bridge Friday night as the Red Devils seek to improve their playoff standing – with 70 carries, 572 yards and eight scores in his last two games.
For his efforts, senior runningback C.J. Griffith of Ridge is the Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Player of the Week for Week Seven.
Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko with Week Seven Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week C.J. Griffith of Ridge:
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:
- Vincent Cilento, A.L. Johnson: The senior quarterback ran the offense superbly in a 41-28 win at Perth Amboy to claim a share of the Patriot Silver Division title. Cilento led the Crusaders’ flex-bone offense to a total of 466 yards against the Panthers, and was responsible for 202 yards on the ground on 18 carries, scoring 48-, 78- and six-yard touchdowns. He was also 2-of-4 passing fro 63 yards and a score in the win, while also making seven tackles from his linebacker position.
- Adrian Bernknopf, Dayton: In a 28-20 home win over Highland Park that gave the Bulldogs the Freedom Gold Division title – its first of any kind since winning the Union Division of the Mid-State 39 Conference in 2009 – the senior QB was 11-of-16 passing for 180 yards and a touchdown, while also scoring on a 36-yard touchdown run. He also has won more games in a two-year span – 13 – than any other Dayton starting QB, according to head coach Nick Iannacone.
- Jeff Progin, Hillsborough: In the same game where C.J. Griffith of Ridge had a historic night, the senior Raider wide receiver had one, too. With 12 catches for 138 yards in a loss to Ridge Friday night, Progin set the single game reception record on his very own Senior Night.
- Gavin Schnall, Summit: The senior runningback carried 16 times for 161 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-14 win over Scotch Plains-Fanwood. Then, at linebacker, he recorded eight tackles, two for a loss, and had a pick-six for his fourth score of the game.
- Justin Blake, Woodbridge: The junior running back figured prominently in a 41-14 home win over Linden Friday, carrying 13 times for 292 yards and four touchdowns – all for big numbers: 43, 89, 63 and 56 yards. He also had a 17-yard catch, and made five of his six PATs, for 29 total points. Oh, and he plays linebacker, too, and had three solo tackles, along with two assists.
Other Notable Performances:
- Xavier Harrigan, Montgomery: The Cougar senior rushed six times for 105 yards and a touchdown, while catching four passes for 19 yards and a score, but also had some explosive plays in the third quarter. Also a kick returner, he head a 40- and a 47-yard return in a 31-6 win at North Hunterdon last Friday.
- Braylon Diaz, JFK: At wide receiver, the senior had eight catches for 90 yards and a touchdown in a 42-20 home loss to Bernards, while also rushing four times for 47 yards and a score. On defense, at safety, he also had one interception.
- Kevin Reilly, New Providence: The senior quarterback was nearly perfect with his arm in a 34-7 win at Spotswood last Friday, going 13-of-14 for 160 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing 12 times for 61 yards, as the Pioneers bounced back after a loss to Perth Amboy the week before, their first – and only – of the season.
- Aiden Rios, Old Bridge: In a 43-0 win over East Brunswick, the senior QB threw for 242 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 108 and another score, giving him 350 yards of total offense in the game.
- Kiion Jones, Plainfield: The sophomore wide receiver had 292 receiving yards and 60 rushing yards with a touchdown in a 32-22 loss to Plainfield on Saturday.
- Jaylen Eastman, Rahway: The disruptive defensive end “took over the game on the defensive side of the ball” after Colonia took a 14-13 lead in the second quarter. He ended up with five solo tackles, 3 assists, three TFLs, a sack, 3 deflections and six QB hurries.
- Lucas Benitez, Voorhees: In a 40-6 win over New Brunswick Friday, the junior signal caller was 11-of-22 passing for 173 yards and three touchdowns, while also carrying five times for 60 yards and one more score.
- Evan Williams, Watchung Hills: The senior runningback came up huge in a 23-22 win at Plainfield that kept the Warriors’ slim playoff hopes alive. He carried 28 times for 118 yards and two touchdowns – of one and 14 yards) while also throwing a 20-yard touchdown pass on an option to Matt Connell. On defense, from the secondary, he also logged four tackles, two solo.
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