Elizabeth Football runs out to Williams Field ahead of a 29-14 victory over Somerville on Ocotber 23rd, 2026 (Photo: Alec Crouthamel).
It’s been a magical year for Elizabeth Football, but the Minutemen (10-0) aren’t interested in any final conclusions just yet.
The North 2, Group 5 section’s top seed is ready for more, still unbeaten through ten games for the first time since the 2012 championship-winning campaign.
Up next is another familiar face, as Elizabeth will host fourth-seeded Passaic Tech in the sectional semifinals, with a trip to the final on the line for the first time in 12 years, when it fell to top-seeded Linden in the North 2, Group .
The last time the Minutemen reached the sectional semifinal, in 2024, these two teams faced off again, also at Williams Field in Elizabeth. The second-seeded Minutemen fell at home to the third-seeded Bulldogs, before Passaic Tech ultimately fell to top seed Union City in the final.
Armed with a dynamic offense and stout defense, Elizabeth looks to keep the good times rolling into a chance at a trophy.
The Minutemen completed the first task last weekend, taking down eighth-seeded Linden for the second time this season, 35-12.
The biggest key to victory came with a fast start, taking a two-score lead early in the second quarter. Even after Linden got on the board, seniors A’rique Fleming and Erick Cespedes connected for another touchdown to head into halftime back up two scores. Two third-quarter rushing touchdowns from sophomore running back Jha’ki Williams put the game away.
On the other side, the Bulldogs (7-3) routed fifth-seeded Bridgewater-Raritan, 35-0, in the quarterfinals to stretch their winning streak to five straight games.
It felt like a constant avalanche falling on the Panthers, with a blocked field goal on the opening drive turning into a Passaic Tech touchdown minutes later. A recovered fumble on the ensuing kickoff turned into a 31-yard passing score seconds later.
Down 14-0 in the blink of an eye, Bridgewater-Raritan worked its way back into Passaic Tech territory on the next drive, but a four-down defensive stand resulted in no points, and Bulldogs juinor quarterback Bryce Longo sprinted down the field for a 71-yard touchdown run less than a minute later, putting Passaic Tech up 20 after less than ten minutes of game action.
The addition of Longo to the lineup has flipped the Bulldogs’ fortunes in 2026. A transfer from St. Joseph Regional in Montvale, he made his season debut on September 25th, a 17-14 double-overtime loss to Ramapo, and Passaic Tech hasn’t lost since.
Longo, a left-handed signal-caller, has racked up 1,163 yards and 16 touchdowns (with just three interceptions), along with 271 rushing yards, in only five starts. That includes an efficient 148 yards on 10-for-15 passing with three scores through the air (and the aforementioned long rushing touchdown) against the Panthers. The Bulldogs have scored at least 34 points in all five wins in this current stretch.
It should be a whale of a quarterback battle between Longo and Fleming, and two offenses that have found their stride at the right time. Passaic Tech, last year’s North 1, Group 5 champion and Group 5 runner-up, looks to further its championship reputation, while Elizabeth seeks another chance at the mountaintop for the first time in over a decade.
Click below to hear Elizabeth football head coach Eugene Kline talk about the Minutemen’s upcoming North 2, Group 5 semifinal against Passaic Tech with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel:
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