Author: Mike Pavlichko

by Mike Pavlichko

After just one year in second run, Mark Taylor is out as St. Joseph-Metuchen head coach

When former St. Joseph-Metuchen standout Mark Taylor – Class of 1983 – was hired for a second go ’round with the Falcons back in April of 2025, the news was a big splash in the world of high school basketball in New Jersey.

A standout in the ’80s, he later coached the school in the 90s, responsible for several D1 college players, most notably Jay Williams.

And after a year with Karl Towns, Sr., the father of the school’s biggest name since Williams, Karl-Anthony Towns, leading the program to disastrous effect – the team floundered as he often missed games to watch his son play in at Madison Square Garden, after he was traded from Minnesota to the Knicks, much closer to home – the move seemed like a slam dunk.

But now it’s over, as Taylor – who orchestrated a major turnaround last season, bringing in some high profile transfers like Andrew Kretkowski from Rutgers Prep and Aiden Carter from St. Thomas Aquinas, as well as Joel Patrick from Ghana – has stepped down, school officials confirmed to Central Jersey Sports Radio Friday afternoon.

Taylor did not immediately return a message from Central Jersey Sports Radio seeking comment.

In a press release posted on the schools’s website issued soon after Central Jersey Sports Radio broke the story, the school said it “wishes Mark Taylor ’83 well following his decision to resign as head basketball coach.”

It also contained a quote from Taylor, saying “Today I am stepping down as head basketball coach of St. Joseph High School to pursue other professional opportunities.  I am grateful to my alma mater for the impact it has had on my life and for the opportunity to coach such fine young men.  I wish Saint Joe’s nothing but the way in the future.”

What’s notable is that all three of his standout transfers from last season had already transferred out over the last few months.  Kretkowski is now at the brand-new Masters Academy International in Massachusetts; Carter is at Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas, and Patrick is now at national powerhouse Montverde Academy in Florida.

News broke last week, first reported by Simeon Pincus at MyCentralJersey.com, that St. Thomas Aquinas girls’ basketball coach Tim Corrigan had left the Trojan program to join Taylor as an assistant; Corrigan is a St. Joseph alum as well.

School officials could not confirm Corrigan’s status on the record Friday afternoon, saying a search for a new head coach is underway. They would not say whether Corrigan would be in the running for the position. Corrigan says he’s still interested in coaching at St. Joseph, and in being the head coach, but could not comment further on whether he’s officially a candidate.

As a player, Taylor twice went to the Middlesex County Tournament finals – prior to the formation of the Greater Middlesex Conference – then played in College at Fordham. He also in the St. Joseph Athletics Hall of Fame.

He came back to coach at St. Joe’s for eleven seasons, breathing new life into the program, winning two GMCT crowns in six trips to the finals, as well as two state sectional titles and seven division championships.

After that, he went to Ridge, and revived that program as well, winning 94 games in five seasons from 2006 to 2011, more than any other Somerset County public school in that time frame, winning the Somerset County Tournament title in 2010, their first such trophy since 1977.

Taylor then moved to St. Benedict’s, and in 14 seasons, went 333-60, bringing his overall record – compiled from various sources – to 599-171 in 30 seasons overall at the scholastic and prep levels. Current UConn coach Danny Hurley had spent nine years there – with a down year in between – before Taylor arrived and rejuvenated the program.

Overall, he’s produced eight NBA draft picks and over a hundred Division I NCAA players.

by Mike Pavlichko

CJSR’s first look playoff standing breakdown heading into Week 5, with more details to come as we near Cutoff Weekend

We know, this is your favorite time of year, and it’s ours, too: Cutoff Weekend will be here before you know it.

As we officially get into the second half of the 2026 regular season, every game means so much. Some teams will be fighting for a top seed, others will be trying to earn a home game, and still others will try to sneak in as that overall No. 16 seed.

Each week, from now through Cutoff Weekend, we’ll provide our analysis on the scenarios for every Big Central Conference public school team that’s in the running. (Non-publics are seeded by committee, relying in varying degrees on the playoff standings.)

Our analysis is based on the official NJSIAA playoff standings as calculated by NJ.com based on games through Week Four, and standings as they are as of September 30. Since our own calculations matched NJ.com’s numbers this week, no further updates are expected this week.

One thing to remember is that Strength Index values of all out-of-state opponents have not changed since their release after Week Two, but will be updated again after Week 5, then again after this weekend’s Week Five games. One last update will be made after Week Seven, which is when all the New Jersey teams’ SI values are locked in solely for Cutoff Weekend qualification purposes. (SI is tracked all the way through the state finals to get the base numbers that are adjusted in advance of the 2027 season.)

Now, it’s on to our section-by-section breakdown! (Note: There are no Big Central teams in the South 4 or South 3 supersections, so we’ll be skipping an analysis of those sections, though we do plan to project those brackets on our Playoff Projection Show on Saturday, October 24th.)

North Group 5

Ramapo (4-1) leads the section, followed by West Orange (4-1), and then the highest-rated Big Central team, undefeated Elizabeth (5-0). All three could be interchangeable at this point, with UPR ratings from 1.8 for Ramapo and 2.20 for the Minutemen. They and 2025 North 2, Group 4 champion Phillipsburg (4-1, 4.4 UPR, 4th) could have a chance at the top seed, but we’re not sure about Piscataway (4-1), even though they’re just 0.2 UPR points behind the Stateliners. Phillipsburg has Ridge, a bye, then Bridgewater and Hunterdon Central, with an average 69.57 SI value. The Chiefs have Franklin, St. Joseph-Metuchen, Monroe and Sayreville for a 65.16 average SI value, and are hurt by St. Joe’s losing mutliplier status with its second public school loss this season, coming at the hands of Phillipsburg last week. We like the chances defending North 2, Group 5 champ Bridgewater-Raritan (4-1) gets a home game, as they currently sit in sixth, and have a strong, but manageable schedule the rest of the way if they maintain their level of play through the cutoff.

In the bottom eight of the top 16, Union (4-1) sits in ninth, but a top eight finish and a first round home game for the Farmers is still very much in play. Resurgent Perth Amboy (4-1) sits in 12th, with a wide disparity between their power point rank (8th) and OSI (16th). But after New Brunswick this week, their schedule gets tougher, with trips to New Providence and South Plainfield around a home game with Johnson in Week Seven. Plainfield (2-3) is right behind them, and we peg them as a bottom eight team for now.

South Group 5

Defending state Group 5 champ Washington Twp. (5-0, 1.4 UPR) unsurprisingly leads the pack here, followed by Southern (4-1, 2.8) and Old Bridge (4-1, 3.4). Do the Knights have a crack at a top seed? Perhaps, as they will go to the top two teams, and they would likely be the top seed in Central 5, while everyone else above them or below, down to six, is from South Jersey, including Rancocas Valley fourth, then Toms River North and Eastern. Another reason this Friday night’s Big Central Game of the Week is a critical one is that Sayreville (4-1, 7.0) is in seventh, looking not only to stay in the top eight, but maybe move up. This isn’t a winner-take-all game, but it could be great for the victor and a tough pill to swallow standings-wise for the loser.

After that, it’s all the way down to 13 for Monroe (3-2, 13.8), with no other BCC teams in the top 16 as of now. The closest bubble team would be South Brunswick (2-3, 17.4), just one UPR point behind Cherokee and Kingsway (tied for 15th), and Freehold Township in between them. But Kingsway isn’t a lock, as they sit at 0-5, and will have to split their last four games to become playoff eligible; qualifying teams must have at least two wins. That’s possible, but no guarantee, with Williamstown, Camden, St. Augustine and Atlantic City all on the upcoming schedule.

North Group 4

Despite taking its first loss of the season last Friday night, 14-7 to Cranford, Rahway remains in the thick of things, holding at No. 3 at 4-1 with a 3.0 UPR. Middletown North (4-0, 1.4) and Roxbury (4-1, 1.6) are ahead of them, but potentially catchable; we’ll know more after this week, and even more after Week Six. After Northern Highlands (3-2, 4.0), Ridge (2-2, 5.4) sits in fifth, and has a big opportunity with Phillipsburg visiting this week. Despite their .500 record, after this weekend the Red Devils will have played four Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten teams in their first four games, a big reason why they are ranked so high. But any more losses, and they could start to hurt. Montgomery (3-2, 7.80) sits at seventh, but consider they started 0-2 and now have won three-in-a-row, meaning if they continue this hot play, their stock could rise.

In the bottom half of the top 16, there’s Woodbridge (3-2, 10.8) at eleven, and Summit (3-2, 11.4) in 12th. Either have a shot at a top eight finish and a first round home game, but probably not Carteret (2-3, 14.4), unless they can get above the .500 mark. Watchung Hills, with the same record and same UPR, is in the same boat; they’re both tied for 14th.

On the bubble right now is Colonia (1-4, 19.8), sitting in 19th, with a lot of ground to make up between them and 16th-place Chatham (2-3, 16.2). But if they can string together some wins, the Patriots should be in the mix.

North Group 3

There are a couple fewer teams here this year, as Carteret and Summit moved up to Group 4, but the highest Big Central team here is still very much in the running for a top-seed. (Remember, you only need to finish in the top two overall.) It’s Old Tappan (4-0, 1.0 UPR) leading the pack – first in both power point average and OSI – but then followed by three closely-packed teams: West Essex (5-0, 3.0), Shabazz (3.1, 3.2) and undefeated Cranford (4-0, 3.8). There’s a lot of football to be played here, and this should come down to the final weekend.

After that, it’s all the way down to 12 for Somerville (3-2, 13.6), which isn’t exactly locked into the bottom eight, but it may take a lot of work on their part – and some help for others – to end up playing a first round game at Brooks Field.

South Plainfield (3-2, 16.4) is on the outside looking in, but if they keep winning, they’ll have a legitimate shot.

North Group 2

Always a contender, Bernards (3-2, 6.4 UPR) is at least in the top eight, but probably not in play for a top-seed. Westwood (4-1, 1.80) leads the section, followed by Caldwell, Rutherford, Hoboken and Lakeland. They should at least finish in the top eight and have a first-round home game.

New Providence (4-0, 9.2) is undefeated, but a victim of a weaker schedule with wins over Voorhees, Johnson, Metuchen and Roselle but they’ll be helped by Perth Amboy’s resurgence – if they can beat them next week. But first, a trip to 4-1 Dayton, with an SI of 62.74 that should help their 47.90 OSI – again, should they beat the Bulldogs. They sit in 10th right now, 2.6 UPR points out of the top eight. But to get there, they may need to win out, finishing 8-0, and get some help along the way. Squarely on the bubble, we also have undefeated Hillside (5-0), again a victim of a weaker schedule; only one of their first five opponents has an SI currently over 50. The good news is, they have Bernards, Manville and Cranford as three of their last four opponents, all with SI’s over 70. They probably need to win two of those to get in. If they win out, they’ll be in automatically, as the NJSIAA guarantees 8-0 teams will get in. But if they do win out, we think they’re likely a qualifier without that rule kicking in.

South Group 2

Though there are six Big Central teams in this section, only one is in the top 16, and it’s Governor Livingston (3-2, 15.2 UPR). The Highlanders have a decent lead of 1.2 UPR over 17th-place Haddon Heights (4-1), but it’s not insurmountable. Governor Livingston may be fending off those behind them for the rest of October.

Johnson (2-2) is well back at 19, with a 19.0 UPR.

Two undefeated 5-0 teams lead the pack here, with Rumson-Fair Haven (1.0) followed by West Deptford (1.6).

North Group 1

Two-time defending North 2, Group 1 champion Cedar Grove (3-1, 1.0 UPR) is a sizable leader here, with Boonton (5-0, 2.4) in second. After Butler, Newton, Wood-Ridge, New Milford, Mountain Lakes and Pompton Lakes round out the top eight, there are two Big Central teams who have faced each other already this year: Dayton (4-1, 9.8) and Brearley (4-1, 10.4). The Bulldogs got the better of the Bears earlier this season, so if they end up back-to-back, Dayton would get the nod based on the top-down head-to-head rule. Mountain Lakes has a 7.4 UPR, so either or both still likely have a shot at a top eight finish.

Belvidere (4-1, 19.6, 20th) is well behind the top 16, and it may not be mathematically impossible, but it would be a longshot for the County Seaters to make it.

South Group 1

With Glassboro out of the way, up to Group 2 – based on the NJSIAA’s competitive balance formula that moves up public schools that can draw on players from outside their district – Schalick (5-0, 1.0 UPR) leads the pack, followed by traditional South Jersey power Paulsboro (3-2, 4.0). It’s down to seven to get to the first Big Central team in Delaware Valley (3-2, 6.6), and they should have a good shot at a top eight finish and first-round home game in scenic Alexandria.

Manville (4-1, 10.2) sits in ninth, but eighth place Salem (2-3) has a 6.80 UPR, 3.4 points ahead. That’s a lot of ground to make up even for the Mustangs, who have played just one team over 45 in UPR; that was a win over Brearley (60.09). But three of their next four opponents – Belvidere (61.65), Hillside (73.37) and Dayton (62.74) – could help, if they beat them. A loss to the best of those, Hillside, might not be debilitating, but winning out surely would help their chances of reaching the top eight.

Highland Park (5-0, 12.6) is one of the feel-good stories of 2026. Seeking their first playoff berth in 16 years – they last made it in 2010 – the Owls have three shutouts and have outscored their opponents 177-6 this season through five games. You read that right: they are allowing 1.2 points per game. (Next is Hillside, which has allowed just 17 all season.) The Owls should make it, and if they can beat the toughest two teams remaining on their schedule – Dayton and Brearley – they’ll be in no matter what. Drop one or both? We think they make it, looking at the teams behind them. It would be a shame if they didn’t.

Two spots out of the top 16 is South Hunterdon (3-2), having a rebound year under first year head coach Kyle Hart, but sitting at 18 could be a bit of a mirage; they have a 19.8 UPR, and 16th-place Florence (2-2) has a 13.4 UPR, 6.4 points ahead. That could be a lot of ground to make up with just JP Stevens and Dunellen among their three remaining opponents.

by Mike Pavlichko

No. 3 Old Bridge has been through the wringer, but still passed nearly every test as No. 8 Sayreville visits Lombardi Field Friday night

The season hasn’t been perfect for the Old Bridge football team by any stretch of the imagination.

But where it ultimately counts – in the win column – they’ve been as solid as they come.

They say big players come up in big spots. And great teams sometime wins games they aren’t supposed to.

Two weeks ago, they led St. Thomas Aquinas 23-0 at the half, and nearly lost, as a key second-half field goal gave them enough to withstand a rally by the Trojans and win, 26-24. Last week, the script got flipped: they trailed Piscataway at the break, 26-0, but scored 27 unanswered second half points to win, 27-26.

This Friday, head coach Matt Donaghue would like to see all four quarters be solid ones, and they will likely need all that and then-some as ranked-again No. 8 Sayreville comes to Lombari Field in Old Bridge to play the third-ranked Knights in the Big Central Game of the Week presented by Bellamy & Son Paving on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

Kickoff is set for 6:00, with pregame at 5:45 as Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel call all the action. Click here to listen.

While he certainly had help, senior runningback Chase Rizzo led the second-half surge for Old Bridge last week, scoring all four touchdowns in the rally. He opened the second-half rally with a 74-yard touchdown run, then two more in the third: a one-yard run and a 20-yard reception from QB Aiden Rios. Then he got one more in the fourth, a 71-yard connection with Rios to provide the final score. He finished the game with 12 carries for 138 yards, while Rios eclipsed 100 as well, rushing for 117.

And Griffin Nugent had a late interception to seal the victory.

While Sayreville leads the all-time series 15-9 – remember, Old Bridge played its first season after the Cedar Ridge-Madison Central merger in 1994 – this has been back and forth for the past 15 seasons, with each team winning six times. And no one has won back-to-back since Old Bridge put together three victories in a row from 2013 through 2015.

And, in what could only be described as a scheduling tragedy, these teams have only met twice in six previous Big Central seasons, in 2021 and 2025.

The Bombers are a run-heavy team, led by senior Sherwin Appiah and his 682 yards and eleven touchdowns. He’s tied for the Big Central lead in rushing TDs, and fourth in rushing yardage, though all three backs ahead of him have at least 30 more carries than he does. Appiah is averaging 9.3 yards per carry, almost a first down on every touch.

Defense has been very much a team effort, and very good as well. They allowed six points each to Edison and Franklin coming off a 21-7 home loss to Ridge in Week One, before giving up 21 to a very offensive-minded St. Thomas club last Friday night.

Click below to hear Old Bridge head coach Matt Donaghue talk about the season and Friday night’s home game against Sayreville with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

by Mike Pavlichko

Big Central Schedule for Week Five: Sayreville-Old Bridge, Phillipsburg-Ridge highlight the weekend slate

There are two Top Ten matchups in the Big Central this week, as well as a host of other intriguing games as we hit the back stretch of the regular season for high school football.

The Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Game of the Week is Friday night as No. 8 Sayreville visits No. 3 Old Bridge in a battle of 4-1 teams. Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel have the call with kickoff slated for 6 and pregame at 5:45 pm; click here to listen.

There’s also top-ranked Phillipsburg at No. 10 Ridge at 6:30, a huge game for both teams in terms of playoff standing, as are many this weekend. No. 9 St. Thomas Aquinas at previously-ranked Somerville, with both 3-2, also should be a fun one to watch, with some offensive fireworks surely to be on display. Montgomery takes a three-game win streak into Cranford to face the unbeaten, 4-0 Cougars, and Dayton (4-1) looks to bounce New Providence (4-0) from the ranks of the undefeated.

Saturday, Franklin and No. 4 Piscataway renew their longstanding rivalry after a two-year hiatus, and No. 5 St. Joseph-Metuchen delves into the Super Football Conference with a matinee at Delbarton.

Below is a look at the Week Five schedule in the Big Central Conference:

THURSDAY SCHEDULE

  • Roselle Park (1-4) at Middlesex (1-3), 6 pm
  • South Brunswick (2-3) at Rahway (4-1), 6 pm

FRIDAY SCHEDULE

  • Linden (2-2) at #2 Elizabeth (5-0), 6 pm
  • #8 Sayreville (4-1) at #3 Old Bridge (4-1), 6 pm (LISTEN LIVE on CJSR)
  • Hunterdon Central (1-4) at #6 Bridgewater-Raritan (4-1)
  • Highland Park (5-0) at Bound Brook (0-5), 6 pm
  • Colonia (1-4) at Hillsborough (1-4), 6 pm
  • Westfield (1-4) at Woodbridge (3-2), 6 pm
  • South Hunterdon (3-2) at JP Stevens (3-2), 6 pm
  • New Brunswick (0-5) at Perth Amboy (4-1), 6 pm
  • Scotch Plains-Fanwood (1-4) at South Plainfield (3-2), 6 pm (Follow Marcus Borden on Twitter for updates)
  • Roselle (0-4) at Brearley (4-1), 6 pm
  • Carteret (2-3) at North Brunswick (1-4), 6 pm
  • JFK (0-5) at Metuchen (1-3), 6 pm
  • #1 Phillipsburg (4-1) at #10 Ridge (2-2), 6:30 pm
  • #9 St. Thomas Aquinas (3-2) at Somerville (3-2), 6:30 pm
  • Montgomery (3-2) at #7 Cranford (4-0), 7 pm
  • Delaware Valley (3-2) at Voorhees (1-4), 7 pm
  • Spotswood (2-3) at North Plainfield (3-2), 7 pm
  • Summit (3-2) at Watchung Hills (2-3), 7 pm
  • Belvidere (4-1) at Manville (4-1), 7 pm
  • East Brunswick (3-2) at Edison (1-4), 7 pm
  • Monroe (3-2) at North Hunterdon (0-5), 7 pm
  • New Providence (4-0) at Dayton (4-1), 7 pm

SATURDAY SCHEDULE

  • #5 St. Joseph-Metuchen (2-2) at Delbarton (2-3), 1 pm
  • Plainfield (2-3) at Union (4-1), 1 pm
  • Franklin (1-4) at #4 Piscataway (4-1), 2 pm
  • Johnson (2-2) at Governor Livingston (3-2), 2 pm
  • Dunellen (0-4) at South River (0-5), 2 pm
  • Bernards (3-2) at Hillside (5-0), 2 pm

by Mike Pavlichko

Gameday with Marcus Borden: Week 5

We are now officially in the home stretch of the high school football regular season in New Jersey and the Big Central – with just four more weeks to play before the playoffs – and it’s time to talk about it all with Central Jersey Sports Radio analyst Marcus Borden!

We open the show looking back at last week’s games, including Cranford’s big win over Rahway in a battle of unbeatens, and Old Bridge coming from behind to beat Piscataway, then preview this Friday night’s Big Central Game of the Week presented by Bellamy & Son Paving between the Knights and Sayreville.

We look ahead to some big games this weekend, including Phillipsburg at Ridge, and preview Coach Borden’s coverage of South Plainfield and Scotch Plains-Fanwood Friday night.

Click below to listen to the Week Five edition of “Gameday with Marcus Borden”:

by Mike Pavlichko

Defense with a “Furey”: Montgomery linebacker was all over the field in upset of Somerville, earns Week 4 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors

When Montgomery knocked off a ranked Somerville football team early in the 2025 season, after an OT win at Hopewell Valley and a home loss to Summit, it indicated that the Cougars could be in for a special year.

They wound up going 8-4 and playing in the North 2, Group 5 title game, which they lost at Phillipsburg. But it was indeed special, albeit bittersweet: it was Montgomery’s first-ever appearance in a sectional final.

One year later, maybe they’re at it again. After significant graduation losses and an 0-2 start – blanked by Hopewell Valley, and with a loss to now-third-ranked Old Bridge – the Cougars have won two in a row, the latest a 38-35 win over Somerville at Milich Field that puts them at 3-2 on the year.

Oh, and it was their second win in a row over the Pioneers.

But none of it happens without Zach Furey.

The senior linebacker was “all over the field,” according to second-year head coach Sean Carty. On Homecoming, he recorded 18 tackles – 14 solo – along with a sack, but also got it done on offense. he rushed eleven times for 49 yards and a touchdown, while also adding two catches for 55 yards to the mix.

And while they may have been outgained in yardage by Somerville overall – 273 to 221 – holding the high-powered Pioneer offense to under 300 yards when they’re averaging 335 is a big success.

And it was good enough to give Montgomery the win.

For his efforts, Zach Furey of Montgomery is the Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Player of the Week for Week Four.

Logo of Bellamy & Son Paving highlighting the Big Central Player of the Week.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko with Week Four Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Zach Furey of Montgomery:

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:

  • Gabe Worrell, Cranford: In a thrilling 14-7 win at Rahway, Worrell rushed 23 times for 157 yards and two touchdowns – a 27-yard run in the opening quarter and a seven-yard run in the third, which capped a 12-play, 71-yard drive that took 9:42 off the clock, and in which he carried ten times for 66 yards. On defense, at linebacker, he was busy, too, recording 13 tackles.
  • Gabriel Marquez, East Brunswick: In a 34-7 win against Voorhees, the senior runingback broke the school record for most touchdowns in a single game, with five total. How did he do it? He carried 22 times for 177 yards and four scores, which also catching two passes for 34 yards, one for a touchdown. He also plays safety, and had three tackles and an interception against the Vikings.
  • Zion Farley, North Plainfield: The senior quarterback – a transfer by way of Hudson Catholic – had to sit out the first four games of the year. But in his season debut, he made up for it, completing 20 of 32 passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns, while running it 14 times for 160 yards and two more scores – with a long of 47 – in a 41-7 road victory against JFK that puts the Canucks above .500 (3-2) for the first time since a 7-0 season-opening win over Orange.
  • Chase Rizzo, Old Bridge: The senior was a big reason for the Knights’ second-half rally – down 26-0 at the half – to beat Piscataway at Lombardi Field, 27-26. He carried 12 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns, while also catching two passes – both for touchdowns – for a total of 92 yards.
  • Sherwin Appiah, Sayreville: The senior runningback was a monster on offense in a 37-21 win at St. Thomas Aquinas on Friday. He had 23 carries for 228 yards and four touchdowns, with a long run of 60, helping pace an offense that only had to throw two passes in the game. The linebacker also had three tackles on defense.

Other Notable Performances:

  • Chase Hawthorne, Bernards: In a 28-0 win at Delaware Valley Friday, the senior cornerback had two interceptions, two tackles for loss, and eight total tackles, along with two pass breakups. His two picks were part of a three-interception night by the defense, which dominated in the whitewash.
  • Dom Pintado, Dayton: The junior linebacker recorded 21 tackle – 10 solo – two TFLs and two forced fumbles in a 40-25 win at Roselle Park Friday night.
  • Aaron Erb, Hunterdon Central: Just a freshman, the talented wide receiver had a half-dozen catches for 119 yards and a touchdown, along with four rushes for 79 yards and a second score in a 21-19 loss to Watchung Hills.
  • Cassius Carter, Manville: The Mustangs’ junior H-back carried eleven times for 186 yards and three touchdowns, scoring from 15, 14 and 29 yards out in a 42-8 win at South Hunterdon.
  • Stephen Prohidney, North Hunterdon: The senior wide receiver had seven catches for 106 yards and a 24-yard touchdown catch in a 33-22 loss Friday at Scotch Plains-Fanwood.
  • Jamir Hall, Union: The senior runningback carried 15 times for 169 yards and three touchdowns – one of which was on the very first play from scrimmage – as the Farmers improved to 4-1 with a 42-13 win at Hillsborough Friday night.
  • Evan Williams, Watchung Hills: In a 21-19 win over Hunterdon Central in Flemington, Williams carried 22 times for 168 yards and touchdowns of four and 82 yards. He also had two catches for 26 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown catch. That despite missing most of the second quarter due to injury, but he was able to come back, and “was the difference in the game,” according to first-year head coach Joe Ascolese.
  • Justin Blake, Woodbridge: The junior runningback carried for 180 yards on 16 carries – including TD runs of 34 and 75 yards – while also going 4-for-4 on PATs – in a 28-21 win at Colonia Friday to take home the bragging rights trophy in a big rivalry game.

by Mike Pavlichko

Multiplier update: Second loss for St. Joseph-Metuchen takes Falcons out of the equation, affecting several Big Central schools

The second of both NJSIAA non-public multiplier schools in the Big Central Conference has dropped out of that category, and this one also will affect a number of league schools.

When No. 5 St. Joseph-Metuchen fell to No. 1 Phillipsburg, 42-31, at home this past Monday, it was the Falcons’ second loss to a non-multiplier public school, with their first coming at Elizabeth a couple of weeks ago.

Joe’s started the year as a “B” multiplier, meaning any public school that lost to them would have received 75 percent of their OSI value rather than 50 percent. A “B” multiplier can lose once before they drop down to a “D,” which is worth 70 percent, but a second loss takes them out of the multiplier category entirely.

Two Big Central lost to St. Joseph in Weeks One and Two: Bridgewater-Raritan and Westfield. That means instead of getting the original 75% of their SI toward the OSI portion of the playoff formula, they will get 50 percent now. The Falcons’ SI value is 69.87 at the moment. Had they remained a “B” mutliplier, the Panthers and Blue Devils would have received 52.4 points toward their OSI average. Had they only lost one game, they would be worth 48.91 points. Now, they are worth 34.94 points.

After a game at Delbarton this Saturday – where the multiplier would not normally be in effect – St. Joseph has two more games remaining against Big Central public schools before the state cutoff: at Piscataway next Friday, and at home against Union on Friday, October 16th, the Falcons’ annual night game with temporary lights. If the Chiefs and/or Union lose those games, they also would get only half the SI value. (Note: SI changes every time a game is played, so those teams could get even less – or more – depending on how St. Joseph’s SI value changes over the next three weeks.

And St. Joe’s is not the first to lose multiplier status this year, either in the Big Central, or around the state.

St. Thomas Aquinas started the year as a “D” multiplier, meaning only one loss would drop them out. That came September 18th against Old Bridge. So far, that affects Westfield and Franklin, which lost to the Trojans, who still have Somerville, North Brunswick and Edison left before the cutoff.

One note: Loss of multiplier status does not affect the team that lost that status, other than, perhaps, when the seeding committee puts together the bracket. But it doesn’t change their OSI or power point values.

Here are the others around New Jersey to lose multiplier status:

  • Pope John: The Lions started as a C multiplier, but dropped out with losses to Washington Twp. and Immaculata. But it shouldn’t affect anyone, because Washington Twp. is the only public school they play all year, and the Minutemen beat them; there’s no multiplier factor for a win, only “bonus points” for a loss.
  • Holy Spirit: They started as a D multiplier, and lost that status after a September 4 loss to Camden.
  • St. John Vianney: They also started as a D multiplier, and lost that status on September 18 when they lost to Holmdel.
by Mike Pavlichko

“The Big Central in 2 Minutes” – Week 5

It’s getting to be crunch time in high school football across New Jersey, down to the last four weeks before the playoffs, and Mike Pavlichko takes a closer look on “The Big Central in 2 Minutes” for Week Five!

On this week’s episode, looks back at a huge comeback by Old Bridge over Piscataway, and this weekend’s Big Central Game of the Week as the Knights welcome in rival and neighboring Sayreville. We also look back at top-ranked Phillipsburg’s big win at St. Joseph on Monday, run through the five unbeaten teams left in the Big Central, and look ahead to some of this week’s other matchups, including the Stateliners at No. 10 Ridge – plus the Red Devils’ brutal schedule – renewal of the Piscataway-Franklin rivalry, and Perth Amboy looking to go 5-1 for the first time since 1967, almost six decades ago!

All on this week’s edition of “The Big Central in Two Minutes!

Click below to listen to the 2026 Week 5 edition of “The Big Central in Two Minutes”:

scientific calculator on wooden surface
by Mike Pavlichko

OFFICIAL NJ Football Strength Index numbers for all teams following Week Four action

We’re now officially past the mid-way point of the high school football regular season, and the playoff standings are coming more into focus. Which means more attention on Strength Index values, which give teams its OSI rating, which is 60 percent of the playoff qualification formula.

Team’s get 100 percent of an opponent’s Strength Index (SI) value for a win, and 50 percent for a loss, with defeats at the hands of some non-public teams (multipliers) worth more, anywhere from 70 to 80 percent.

But it’s all based on the Strength Index value of teams, and we’re the only place you can find all of the numbers in one, handy location.

The values below are all Central Jersey Sports Radio’s calculations through games played in Week Four, confirmed with the numbers for every single team in the state on NJ.com, which performs the official calculations for the NJSIAA.

Each week, SI values change based on the final score and the rating of the two teams that played. Here’s an example. SI goes up or down depending on how a team did compared to the difference between the two teams. If Team A (80 SI) plays Team B (60 SI) and Team A wins by 20, there’s no change. If Team A wins by 10, they underperformed by 10 points, and Team B overperformed by 10 points. Team B increases by 2 points to become a 62, and Team A drops to a 78. Team A then gets the full value of Team B for its OSI (62) while Team B gets half the value of Team A (39).

Here are Central Jersey Sports Radio’s UNOFFICIAL Strength Index values after Week Four play:

2026 Strength Index (Official) through Week 4Download

Note: The NJ.com standings also revealed the SI values of out-of-state opponents for games already played. You can find them by going to a team’s power point calculation page.

Changes? NJ.com says that updates will push every morning at 6 am, if there are any. If an incorrect score has been confirmed and changed, that could affect the SI and OSI of multiple teams, depending on how many games have been played, if any, since the error.

by Mike Pavlichko

Phillipsburg, Elizabeth hold top two spots in Big Central Power Rankings as Sayreville, Cranford skyrocket; Don Bosco, Glassboro remain 1-2 in NJ

It’s yet another week for Phillipsburg at No. 1 in the Big Central Power rankings, but Elizabeth has closed the gap a little from the No. 2 position.

The Stateliners held on to the top spot with a 42-31 win over St. Joseph-Metuchen Monday, in a game rescheduled from Saturday due to the weekend Nor’easter. The Week Five numbers saw Sayreville climb up from No. 9 into the top five after beating St. Thomas Aquinas Friday, moving all the way up to third, as Rahway fell from third to seventh after Friday’s loss to Cranford. Bridgewater-Raritan climbs two spots from six to four after a shutout win at Westfield Saturday afternoon.

No. 5 Piscataway edges down one spot this week to six after Friday’s 27-26 loss at Old Bridge, with the Knights climbing from ten to eight. And Cranford’s win over Rahway Friday raised the Cougars three spots into the nine spot, while Bernards’ win at Delaware Valley Friday put then in the ten-spot.

The power rankings are simply based on the state’s Strength Index formula, which helps determine a team’s OSI, and is 60% of the UPR playoff formula. SI values and will change each week as games are played. See the methodology at the bottom of this page.

Rounding out the top ten, it’s New Providence up two spots to No. 8, Sayreville up two to nine, and Old Bridge falling one spot to No. 10. St. Joseph-Metuchen fell out of the top ten with its loss at Elizabeth Friday night.

Statewide, Don Bosco Prep and Glassboro remain Nos. 1 and 2, while Donovan Catholic edged up from six to three, and Red Bank Catholic climbed from nine to four, with Bergen Catholic staying put to round out the Top Five.

Again, no Big Central teams made the Top 25, but Phillipsburg – which last was in three weeks ago before a loss at Freedom (PA) of Bethlehem – climbed even closer. After going from 33 to 29 last week, the Stateliners climbed another five spots this week to 28 – just three spots from cracking the Top 25.

Here are other Big Central teams in the state Top 50:

  • Elizabeth dropped one place from 35 to 34.
  • Sayreville shot up from 65 to 36.
  • Bridgewater-Raritan rose from 16 to 42.
  • Piscataway fell from 39 to 47.

Rahway dropped out, falling from 37 to 54, and Somerville fell from 41 to 71 after a loss to Montgomery. That leaves five BCC teams in the Top 50, compared with six last week.

Strength Index Methodology: Team A and Team B are compared to find the difference between their rankings, which provides the Expected Result. The margin of the final score is figured in positive or negative terms compared to the Expected Result. The difference is divided by five, and the teams increase or decrease by the resulting number.

Example #1: Team A has an SI value of 80, while Team B has an SI value of 60. The Expected Result is +20 for Team A. When the game is played, Team A wins by 30. That is 10 points higher than the expected result. Than number is divided by 5, meaning Team A increases by 2 (Team A now has an SI of 82) while Team B decreases by 2 (Team B now has an SI of 58).

Example #2: In the same scenario, Team A defeats Team B by 20. That is the same as the Expected Result, no there is no change. Team A remains with an SI value of 80, while Team B retains its 60 SI value.

Example #2: Team A defeats Team B by 10. That is 10 points fewer than the expected result. Divide by 5 to get 2, but in this case, Team A drops by 2 points to 78 (because Team A “underperformed”) while Team B increases by 2 points to 62.

Out-of-State Opponent SI: Strength Index ratings for non-New Jersey teams are calculated by finding their MaxPreps national ranking, then averaging the SI ratings of the next New Jersey team above and below them in the MaxPreps rankings.