My Friday night game in Rahway at Madden Field was everything you would want in a battle of unbeaten teams as the Indians hosted the Cranford Cougars in a thriller if you like games that come down to the wire!

Cranford would win the toss and defer the choice to the second half. Rahway would be forced to punt on their first series as the Cougar defense was up to the challenge early in the first quarter.

The Cougar offense would run inside and outside while Senior Gabe Worrell burst a down the visitor sideline for a 27-yard touchdown and 7-0 lead at the 6:09 mark of the first quarter.

The Cougars would come up short two more times in the red zone turning the ball over on downs while keeping Rahway off balanced with their shifting defense. Cranford would take a 7-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The visitors would start the second half mixing the inside and outside run while methodically keeping the ball out of the hands of Rahway’s explosive offense. Worrell would cap a nearly 10 minute drive with a 5-yard burst up the middle of the Indians defense and a 14-0 lead.

WATCH: Postgame reaction from Marcus Borden’s coverage of Cranford-Rahway

Rahway would get back in the game quickly as the Robinson to Robertson toss throwback to the quarterback at 11:11 in the fourth quarter made the score 14-7.

Cranford would be forced to punt and then lose Worrell to a leg injury with about five minutes remaining in the game. They would then stop a Rahway threat with an interception however they would have to punt on their ensuing drive.

Rahway would get to the Cougars 5-yard line with 5 seconds remaining on the clock. The sprint pass and throw from Robinson to Jaylen Eastman was out of bounds with :00.3 seconds on the home score board. The officials concurred that the game was over and that time had expired with Cranford hanging on to win 14-7.

Monday I was at St. Joseph’s Brenner Family Field for a 3:00 pm make-up game with Phillipsburg, which was postponed due to the Nor’easter which began late Friday and ended Monday around 1 pm. Needless to say the crowd was not as large as it could have been if the game was played on Saturday.

Phillipsburg would get on the board first as Junior LB David Pacewicz intercepted a pass and returned it for a 46-yard touchdown at the 8:28 mark in the first quarter. The Falcons would respond with a 5-yard Julian Colon run knotting the score at 7-7 with 35 seconds in the initial stanza.

Both teams traded punches on their next series until St, Joseph’s QB Cole Seyler hit WR Dillon Diaz on a 47-yard quick screen and a 14-7 lead with 7:10 remaining in the second quarter.

Phillipsburg’s RB Shane Moore would tie the game at 14-14 with his 45-yard burst to pay dirt with 2:36 before halftime. Both teams would trade punts on their next series while the Falcons ran a hurry-up after a Stateliner punt with 1:30 still on the clock.

Seyler would find a leaping Diaz for an 8-yard fade pattern as time expired giving St. Joseph a 21-14 lead at the half.

Phillipsburg would take the 2nd half kickoff and march down the field running the football when RB Xavier Campbell-Graham hit inside run for 29-yards tying the game at 21-21 at 6:38 in the third quarter.

Placekicker Austin Loreti would give the Falcons a 24-21 lead on a 22-yard FG however that was short-lived as Markus Jordan would take the ensuing kickoff 90 yards giving the Stateliners la 28-24 lead going into the fourth quarter.

WATCH: Postgame reaction from Marcus Borden’s coverage of Phillipsburg-St. Joseph

St. Joseph would punt on their next series whereas Phillipsburg would add to their lead with a 2-yard Vincent Berger touchdown run at 7:30 remaining in the game.

Cole Seyler would score on a 1-yard plunge with 5:55 remaining on the game clock cutting the deficit to 35-31. Xavier Campbell-Graham would add his second score on a 14-yard jaunt to the end zone and a 42-31 lead with 1:37 remaining in the game.

St. Joseph would turn it over on downs as Phillipsburg took a knee in Victory formation while improving to 4-1 on the season.

Here are my Week 5 Top Tens for the entire Big Central Conference, plus the BCC West, Middlesex County and Union County:

My Friday night game saw Old Bridge build an early 23-8 halftime lead over Aquinas with a pressure defense and opportunistic offense which mixed the run and pass early knowing they needed to keep the Trojans talented quarterback Zymere Weaver on the sideline.

Like two heavyweight boxers who traded punches in a highly-anticipated matchup, Weaver would strike quickly in the third quarter on a 69-yard pass fake off a power read to the right while a slanting Aaron Crooms would take the dart 69-yards down the Knights sideline for the score. Aquinas would quickly lineup and run Aiden Morse on a quick dive for the two-point conversion closing the gap to 23-16 midway in the 3rd quarter.

Old Bridge would follow the script of putting the ball in the hands of their workhorse Chase Rizzo as they answered with a 37-yard field goal by Arain Mezera increasing the home teams lead to 26-16 late in the 3rd quarter

Aquinas would respond by driving down the field deep into the red zone but turn the ball over on downs as the Knights kept the defensive pressure on the Trojans offense.

Tristan Bester’s interception at 8:23 in the 4th quarter would give the visitors the ball back with Weaver sprinting to his right while pulling up to throw a bomb to sophomore Elijah Delirus who was streaking across the field to the left and then down the visitors sideline. He was tackled at the one yard line. Weaver would hurry up and run it for the touchdown followed by his 2-point conversion making it 26-24 with 7:46 remaining in the game.

Old Bridge would put the ball in Rizzo’s hands as he refused to be taken down by one tackler and finished the night on 27 carries for 252 yards and two scores. The Knights would force the Trojans to use their remaining timeouts as they methodically milked the clock while dealing St. Thomas Aquinas their first defeat of the season.

Saturday I made the short trip to Bill Denny Stadium for a 1:00 p.m. match-up with the David Brearley and South River. The Rams are a youthful squad with several freshmen playing on a team of about 24 players.

The Bears would keep the ball pretty much on the ground using their two backs Monroe Passmore and Nehemiah DeLeon who tallied a combined 252 yards and 3 scores while quarterback Ryan Nelson would toss two TD passes to Rocco Federico and Nate Bonnet.

Brealey would earn every one of their 42 points as the Rams led by seniors Dominic Harris and lineman Junior Funez showed incredible passion and desire as they kept fighting and leading by example for their young teammates. Harris would score on a 53-yard jaunt in the 3rd quarter and a 20-yard dash in the final stanza while Funez did his best to block the opposition.

Here are my Week 4 Top Tens for the entire Big Central Conference, plus the BCC West, Middlesex County and Union County:

These past two weeks of the Big Central Camp Caravan have been exciting and eye-opening for those who follow high school football.

It has been my pleasure to witness six schools during the first week of official practice, which included John F. Kennedy, Spotswood, Delaware Valley, East Brunswick, New Brunswick and St. Thomas Aquinas.

I am extremely grateful to all the coaches who welcomed me and afforded me the opportunity to interview their players and themselves. I met many outstanding leaders who shared their team’s philosophy and vision for the upcoming season.

Scrimmage week was just what I expected with high energy, intense, and a much needed opportunity to hit someone in a different color jersey.

The Monday tri-scrimmage at Elizabeth H.S. with Hillside and Toms River North was a track meet when TRN had the ball, as they ran 17 no-huddle plays in a 12-minute sequence. Elizabeth and Hillside had great speed and size with several key returning starters.

Tuesday’s quad scrimmage at Somerville featured Woodbridge, Ridge and Wall. The Pioneers proved they could match athleticism and size with schools that have much larger enrollments. There were plenty of big plays by all three BCC teams, which should have their fans excited.

Wednesday’s trip to Montgomery was another quad scrimmage with Hillsborough, Linden and Nottingham. The Tigers showed incredible improvement since their first round playoff loss to Bridgewater last year as they had an entire off-season with their coaching staff. The Cartys look to continue the family legacy of winning.

Thursday at Edison saw the Eagles battle Watching Hills in game conditions. Each team is looking to improve from last year with a solid running game and opportunistic defense. They both possess playmakers.

The double-header at Old Bridge versus Red Bank Catholic was moved up from 6 pm to 2 pm due to the impending thunderstorms. I made it there with fifteen minutes to spare. The Caseys were the dominant team which should come to no surprise that know their program. Old Bridge was in the midst of a pre-season quarterback duel as they prepare to open up at the Battle of the Beach versus Shawnee this Friday at 4 pm in Ocean City.

This past Friday, the Caravan traveled to Westfield as the Blue Devils hosted neighboring Cranford in similar game-like conditions. The Cougars looked impressive in their first scrimmage as they open up Week 1 at Bernards. Westfield opens with Scotch Plains-Fanwood this week.

The last stop of the 2026 preseason Camp Caravan was at Bound Brook, where the Crusaders played two full quarters of game conditions with Point Pleasant Beach. Both teams were looking to stay healthy as they are small schools with lower numbers. There were several playmakers on both squads as they worked in their youngsters in the second half.

So, now you will ask me, “Why isn’t my school in your Preseason Top 10?”

Well as the football analyst for Central Jersey Sports Radio, I have had the honor to see all 59 teams during my stint as a sideline reporter/videographer.

It is not an exact science, nevertheless, I can say their are some teams who are perennially in the mix for the playoffs and post-season championships. (And, I’ll have additional county/regional Top Tens throughout the year.)

If I may, just let me remind you of this, it is not where you start the season, it is where you finish it!

Good luck to all 59 Big Central Conference football programs in 2026. Keep working hard!

My final regular season Friday night game versus Manville at Bound Brook was for the Big Central Football Conference Freedom Silver Division Title.

The Crusaders home game was Senior Night for the Football team and Cheerleaders. Bound Brook would win the toss and defer the choice to the second half.

The Mustangs would start their initial drive at the 40-yard line after the Bound Brook senior placekicker Zion Quesada would sqiub kick the ball to prevent a huge return from Manville’s dangerous returners.

The visitors, who run the Wing-T offense which uses multiple ball carriers, motions and misdirection while eating up the clock, forces the defense to be disciplined.

So it was no surprise that Manville’s first six plays would be running plays while moving into Crusader territory and facing a 4th and three from the Bound Brook 39-yard line. Senior Josh D’Ambrosio would line up at quarterback in the shotgun formation and run up the middle behind his center who picked up the blitzing linebacker while Josh gets the first down for a tough three-yard gain.

On the very next play, senior quarterback Samuel Echeverri, who aligns at halfback too, fakes the sweep to the halfback and rolls left hitting tight end Trevor Metz who is wide open for a 36-yard touchdown pass at 7:28 in the first quarter and a 7-0 lead.

Ironically Manville would send out sophomore placekicker Jaret Quesada, yes the cousin of Zion, to also squib kick while keeping rival Bound Brook’s returners at bay.

The Crusaders would also get the ball in decent field position running the ball with senior quarterback John Archer and senior running back Jake Markey also carrying the ball. Facing a 4th and one from midfield Archer would try to keep it himself but was stopped short when Manville’s middle linebacker Evan Canica blitzed into the backfield.

Manville would waste little time running senior Isaiah Bennett and D’Ambrosio for moderate gains, while the later would also attempt a pass to Metz which was overthrown, however, there was a roughing the passer penalty on the play moving the ball to the Crusader 41-yard line.

After a shotgun run for a 9-yard gain, D’Ambrosio would take the handoff from Echeverri going the distance while outrunning the defense for a 30-yard touchdown and a 14-0 Manville advantage with 3:42 in the first quarter.

Bound Brook would try to answer with Archer finding Zhamir Moore on a deep ball down the home sideline to Mustangs 45-yard line. On the very next play there was a holding call on the offense moving the ball back ten yards. There would then be an intentional grounding and an incomplete pass forcing a Crusader punt with 1:41 remaining in the first quarter.

The Mustangs would go back to running the ball with Bennett and D’Ambrosio getting the ball to the Bound Brook 28-yard line as the first quarter would come to a close with the Mustangs threatening and a 14-0 lead.

When play resumed D’Ambrosio was in the shotgun and giving the ball to Bennett who would go right towards the Manville bench while handing off to Echeverri on a counter play left while cuts up field inside the kick out block from his lead blocker for a 28-yard touchdown at 11:50 in the 2nd quarter and a 21-0 Mustang lead.

On the ensuing kickoff Manville decided to kick away to Zhamir Moore who lined up to the right instead of his normal spot on the left. It looked like that move was going to backfire as Moore took the ball at his 5-yard while getting knocked out of bounds at the Mustang 45-yard line. There was a holding penalty called on the return moving the ball back to the Crusader thirty yard line.

Bound Brook would go three and out after the penalty as the Manville defense was physically dominating the game and forced a punt at the 9:48 mark in the 2nd quarter up 21-0.

The Mustangs would only need 58 seconds for Echeverri to throw his second touchdown pass, this time to a leaping D’Ambrosio across the middle of the field for a 53-yard score and a 28-0 lead with 8:46 remaining in the 2nd quarter.

Bound Brook would get the ball to around midfield but would fumble the ball as a relentless Mustang defense knocked the ball out which was recovered by senior John Lunsford with 6:20 before halftime.

Manville needed only one play, as D’Ambrosio in the shotgun would roll slightly to his right, stop and throw back left to Bennett on a screen pass with left guard Tyler Johnson throwing the key block as the senior captain hid behind his blocker and then cutback right sprinting untouched for a 55-yard touchdown and 35-0 lead at the 6:05 mark before intermission.

The Crusaders would work their way down the field with trying to go deep with Moore but the Mustangs defense was not about to give up the deep pass so Archer would take the shorter routes as they advanced the ball to midfield.

However with the Bound Brook quarterback under pressure rolling to his right, he lofted a pass to his receiver who was momentarily open near the Manville sideline however a leaping D’Ambrosio from his safety position intercepted the pass with 3:54 still on the game clock before halftime.

The Mustangs would methodically run the ball with everyone getting touches and milking the clock as they moved into the red zone. With the ball on the Crusader 18-yard line, Echeverri would score again on the scissors play (counter) this time for 18-yards with 50.7 seconds before halftime and a 42-0 lead they would take into the locker room.

The Crusaders were set to receive the second half kickoff and fumbled the ball on the return at their 30-yard line. With a running clock in effect for the second half, the opportunities for the home team would be limited.

Manville would add one more score when senior Collin Shimp would take it in on a 6-yard run at 6:55 in the 3rd quarter making it 49-0.

Bound Brook would finally get on the board at 6:35 in the 4th quarter with a Jake Markey 1-yard run which made the final score 49-7 as Manville ran down the clock with their 2nd team finishing the game.

The celebration was on as the Mustangs captured the BCC Freedom Silver Division trophy, finished undefeated at 9-0 for the first time since 1968 and secured a home Central Jersey Group 1 first round playoff game against Asbury Park.

Here are my Week 8 Top Tens for the entire Big Central Conference, plus the BCC West, Middlesex County and Union County. There will be no more Top Tens until the conclusion of the season:

My Friday night game versus No. 3 St. Thomas Aquinas and No. 1 St. Joseph of Metuchen was dubbed “The Battle of Plainfield Avenue” as the distance between the only two parochial schools in the Big Central Conference is a mere 1.8 miles.

Both schools did not play each other the first year of the Falcon football program, which was 2011 under Bob Molarz, the school’s first gridiron coach. They would play however in 2012 and from 2014-16 under Casey Ransone, Molarz’s successor. For whatever reason they did not play again until last season’s tilt at St. Joseph, which was won by Aquinas 34-20.

This year’s game was Senior Night for the Trojans Football team, the Marching Band and Cheerleaders. The home team would win the toss and defer the choice to the second half.

Joe’s would get the ball in decent field position at their 35-yard line and move the ball, mixing the run and pass with fullback Mike Wellet, halfback Reggie Bropleh, quarterback Justin Scaramuzzo and tight end Edgar Cruz deep into Trojan territory before they were stopped on fourth down at the 25-yard line with 7:15 remaining in the first quarter.

Aquinas would take over and run Ian Roberts on two consecutive power plays to the left for little or no gain. Quarterback Zymere Weaver would then find Anwar Witherspoon over the middle for a first down around the 40-yard line.

The Trojans would try Roberts again on a quick toss to the right but he was swallowed up immediately by the Falcons fast-flowing defense. On 2nd down Roberts took the handoff left for no gain. Weaver would then be sacked by Sebastian Assuncao on a safety blitz. Aquinas would punt at 2:35 in the first quarter with neither team scoring on their initial drive.

St. Joseph would waste little time on their second possession as Scaramuzzo would reverse pivot faking the belly looking downfield as his tightend ran down the middle of the field, the wingback running a deep out while the halfback Kenny Noonan runs a shallow out towards the home sideline while getting a tremendous block from Reggie Bropleh who knock three Aquinas players to the ground while Noonan stayed in bounds sprinting for a 55-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 2:23 in the first quarter.

St. Thomas’ Anthony Perez looked to have a decent return which was nullified by a holding penalty. Aquinas would try to get the running game going by getting their workhorse Ian Roberts the ball. However the Falcons defensive interior front line of Jason Gross, Tom Kwiatkowski, and Brody Picariello were reeking havoc early and often on three successive run plays as the first quarter came to a close.

When play resumed St. Thomas made the decision to go for it on fourth and two with Weaver faking the inside run to Roberts while looking to throw a slant pass which was batted down by St. Joseph linebacker Dylan Pierce.

The Falcons would look to run the ball with Scaramuzzo, Bropleh and Wellet getting most of the work while getting the ball to the Aquinas 22-yard line. After an incomplete play action pass to the left for dragging tightend Edgar Cruz, Joes would run counter for 2 yards setting up a 3rd and 8 from the St. Thomas 20-yard line. This time Scaramuzzo in the shotgun would find Bropleh on a slant play for a 20-yard score and a 14-0 advantage with 8:55 before halftime.

The Trojans would start at their 30-yard line with Weaver in the shotgun looking to throw. After a miscommunication and deep throw down the field, the sophomore quarterback would hit Perez on a deep out towards the Aquinas bench. On third and four Weaver would roll right and takes off to the Trojan’s 40-yard line and the first down.

Aquinas would get to about midfield with Weaver hitting Jaylen Frias on a slant route setting the offense up on about the 25-yard line of St. Joseph. On the very next play, the sophomore signal caller hits Perez on another slant who cuts back outside after the grab setting up St. Thomas with 1st and goal from the four yard line.

Weaver would try to run it in from the four but would lose a few yards and call timeout at 3:04 in the second quarter down 14-0. When play resumes Weaver sends Perez in motion to his left and then finds Witherspoon for a 6-yard touchdown on hook pattern while closing the gap to 14-7 at the 2:59 mark of the second quarter.

The Falcons would get the ball around the 40-yard line after an injury timeout on the kick return. Scaramuzzo would go deep on a fly pattern over throwing Dwayne Hunt. He would then run a screen to Wellet down the Aquinas sideline and then keep it himself getting to midfield. The very next play he would scramble again but there was a holding penalty on the play.

After moving the ball back, the shifty Scaramuzzo would run again this time straight down the middle of the field sidestepping the defense to the Trojans 25-yard line. Joes would run a screen to Wellet for three yards followed by an other quarterback scramble for a few yards with a timeout with 1:04 on the clock before halftime. Another inside run would force Joes to call their last timeout with 4th down and 5.

The Falcons elected not to kick the field goal as Scaramuzzo in the shotgun looked downfield as his right tightend Tom Meyers slow blocked the defensive end and then released wide open in the flat while getting the ball to the one setting up Scaramuzzo’s 1-yard plunge in the end zone and a 21-7 lead with 29 seconds on the game clock.

Aquinas would make it interesting with three straight completions, the last to Witherspoon who made it to the Falcons 25-yard line as he was knocked out of bounds by Falcon Franco Reinoso as time expired.

The Trojans took the second half kickoff but had a holding penalty on the play forcing them to start on their ten yard line. Weaver would throw a quick stop route but there was a roughing the passer penalty on the play moving the ball to the 25-yard line.

Weaver would hit Witherspoon on a quick out to about the 37-yard line. The Trojans would have a false start penalty making it 3rd and 8. A quick flair pass to Jaylen Frias who would sidestep multiple defenders getting the ball down to the 9-yard line setting up Aquinas with first and goal.

After a quick pass for four yards, Weaver would hit Witherspoon who would barrel his way through two would-be-tacklers into the end zone for an apparent 5-yard touchdown but a holding penalty nullified the score.

On second and goal Weaver would be sacked at the 20-yard line. He would scramble out of bounds toward the home sideline losing yardage. Aquinas would be stopped on 4th down after an in complete pass at 8:11 in the 3rd quarter down 21-7.

St. Joseph’s offensive line would start to wear down the Aquinas defense running the ball on ten consecutive plays while dominating the line of scrimmage and the game clock. After an injury timeout, Scaramuzzo would find Edgar Cruz for a 16-yard waggle pass and a 28-7 lead over St. Thomas Aquinas with 3:54 remaining the 3rd quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff Anthony Perez would take the ball towards the middle of the field and then cutback sharply to his right down the Aquinas sideline for an 88-yard score. A failed two-point conversion made at 3:42 made the score 28-13.

A fired-up Aquinas defense would force the Falcons to punt on their next play sequence with the snap hitting a Falcon player which was scooped up quickly and fortunately not blocked but setting up St. Thomas around midfield.

The Trojans would throw an incomplete pass and then have a short run for no gain. On 3rd and long Weaver would find Tyler Montgomery who would move the ball down inside the St. Joseph 30-yard line as the third quarter would run out with the score 28-13.

When play resumed to start the final stanza, Weaver would be sacked at the Joes 35-yard line. On the very next play Weaver looked to throw the ball to Montgomery but it went off his finger tips into the hands of Witherspoon who was running a crossing route behind him for what was surely the most unlikely of scores I have seen over my 13 years covering games.

The Aquinas two-point conversion play would fail making the score 28-19 with 11:25 remaining in the game. Following the score, Trojan placekicker Brandon Falke would attempt a pooch kick which was recovered by a leaping Elijah Contaldi giving St. Joseph excellent field position.

Scaramuzzo would run left on back to back runs then hand off to Wellet going right for a 1st down to the St. Thomas 25-yard line with an injury timeout with 10:00 to go in the game. On the very next play Scaramuzzo would find a wide-open Reggie Bopleh down the visitor sideline for a 25-yard touchdown pass and a 35-19 lead with 9:25 left on the game clock.

The Falcons would squib kick forcing Trojan returner Perez to dive on the ball to get possession. After getting a first down, St. Joes would strip the ball from the Aquinas runner while recovering it at the 8:22 mark in the game.

After two runs and facing third and eleven from the Aquinas 41-yard line, Scaramuzzo would launch a bomb down the middle of the field to Bropleh for his third score of the night and a comfortable 41-19 margin following a missed PAT with 6:49 left in the contest.

St. Thomas Aquinas would make a valiant effort to get back in the game but the Falcons defensive line made it extremely difficult as they put constant pressure on Weaver and his offensive line. The athletic sophomore would scramble but lose the handle on the ball while being chased down by the defense. Jack Cummings would recover the ball with 4:15 remaining in the game.

St. Joseph would run out the clock on St. Thomas Aquinas while ending their 35-game win streak against conference opponents which was the longest in the state while improving to 7-0 on the season.

Here are my Week 7 Top Tens for the entire Big Central Conference, plus the BCC West, Middlesex County and Union County: