Battle-tested Irvington heads to Piscataway in battle for North 1, Group 5 trophy

When you get to the playoffs, everyone’s record is 0-0. It’s a new season.

To extrapolate on that point, it really doesn’t matter how many wins or losses you had during the season.

And that’s especially true for Irvington football. The Blue Knights were 5-4 entering the playoffs, coming off two tough losses at East Orange by three, and by ten at Seton Hall Prep.

But in the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 5 first round, Irvington blanked Perth Amboy at home in the 5/4 game, then knocked off top-seed and 2025 state finalist Ramapo, 28-21 on the road, scoring 28 straight first-half points to build a lead they’d hold onto in the end.

So, fourth-seed Irvington (7-4) comes into Saturday afternoon’s sectional title game at third-seed Piscataway (9-2) playing some of its best football of the year. You can hear that game live on Central Jersey Sports Radio at 1 pm, with pregame at 12:40. Mike Pavlichko and Chris Taskonas will call all the action; click here to listen.

While the numbers aren’t exactly huge for Irvington, they are a balanced team, passing for 1,287 yards and rushing for 1,375 on the season. Junior quarterback Justin Spellman can sling it, and has 14 touchdown passes. He’s also thrown nine interceptions on the year, but none in the playoffs so far.

The run game is balanced, as no back has reached the 500 yard mark yet, but Nadree Richardson leads the group with 427 yards on 78 carries with five touchdowns, tied for the team lead with senior Mitch Jenkins, who did not play against Ramapo and sat out the early season after transferring in from Barringer in nearby Newark.

Defensively, defensive linemen Khayan Brydie and Jaylin Williams lead the Blue Knights with seven sacks apiece, while Williams has 21 tackles for loss. Junior Malachi Mills has another six sacks up front.

Click below to hear Irvington third-year head coach Marco Soto talk about the Blue Knights’ matchup against Piscataway in the North 1, Group 5 title game with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko: