And we’re down to four.
That’s how many Big Central Conference football teams remain alive in the NJSIAA state playoffs, as only Old Bridge and Piscataway advanced to sectional title games next weekend with Friday night wins in the semis. Seven public schools got knocked out in the second round, while ten-seed St. Thomas Aquinas lost its opening round Non-Public Group B game at seven-seed Holy Spirit of Absecon, 19-0.
Phillipsburg plays Saturday in the North 2, Group 5 semis at East Orange, in a game you can hear live on Central Jersey Sports Radio at 1 pm, and if the Stateliners win, they’ll be home next Friday night at Maloney Stadium, since fourth-seed Passaic Tech was a winner in the other semifinal, handing Elizabeth its first loss of the season, 35-0, Friday night.
St. Joseph of Metuchen – an eight-seed in Non-Public A – doesn’t open play until next Friday night, when they travel to top-seed Don Bosco Prep.
Read on for more recaps, links, scores, Notes and Nuggets, and a look ahead to next week’s playoff schedule.
Elizabeth takes first loss against Passaic Tech juggernaut…
It was all Bulldogs Friday night in Elizabeth, as the top-seeded Minutemen saw their season come to an end at 10-1, with a 35-0 loss to fourth-seed Passaic Tech at Williams Field Friday night.
After a scoreless first quarter, QB Bryce Longo got PCTI on the board with a four-yard touchdown run with 7:35 to go before the half. On Elizabeth’s ensuing possession, Ian McDuffie grabbed a 42-yard pick-six just 43 seconds later to make it 14-0 Bulldogs. And Ahmad Williams added a four-yard TD run with 20 second left in the half to make it a 21-0 game at the break.
The Minutemen looked to get on the board on the opening kickoff of the second half, but it was called back on a penalty.
Randy Lewis rushed for a touchdown from 23 yards out with 6:45 to go in the third to make it 28-0, and another Passaic Tech pick led to their final scoring drive, capped by a 19-yard touchdown run from Lewis with 1:46 to go that kicked off the running clock.
FRIDAY PLAYOFF SCORES/SCHEDULE:
Group 5 – Sectional Semifinals
- North 1
- (3) Piscataway 38, (2) West Orange 35 (Coverage via Chris Tsakonas)
- (4) Irvington 28, (1) Ramapo 21
- North 2
- (4) Passaic Tech 35, (1) Elizabeth 0
- (3) Phillipsburg at (2) East Orange, 1 pm Saturday (LIVE on CJSR)
- Central
- (1) Old Bridge 35, (4) Williamstown 0 (Recap with Audio)
- (2) Rancocas Valley 42, (3) Sayreville 0
Group 3 – Sectional Semifinals
- North 1
- (1) Old Tappan 43, (1) West Morris 21
- (3) Shabazz 42, (2) Cranford 7
- North 2
- (1) West Essex 21, (5) Montville 0
- (2) Wayne Hills 28, (6) Somerville 11
Group 2
- North 2
- (1) Waldwick/Midland Park 27, (4) New Providence 7
- (2) Hoboken 25, (3) Bernards 14
Group 1
- South
- (1) Schalick 21, (5) Shore 0
- (3) Pennsville 49, (2) Delaware Valley 21 (Coverage via Alec Crouthamel)
NEXT WEEK’S SECTIONAL TITLE GAMES
- North Jersey, Section 1, Group 5
- (4) Irvington (7-4) at (3) Piscataway (9-2), Saturday (time TBA)
- Central Jersey Group 5
- (2) Rancocas Valley (11-0) at (1) Old Bridge (10-1), 6 pm Friday
NON-PUBLIC FIRST ROUND
- Non-Public Group A
- (8) St. Joseph-Metuchen (3-6) at (1) Don Bosco Prep (7-2)
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