Hard to believe, but we’re almost at the halfway point of the 2026 high school football season in NEw Jersey, and Mike Pavlichko takes a closer look on “The Big Central in 2 Minutes” for Week Four!

On this week’s episode, Mike talks about “The Year of the Resurgence” for some Big Central teams – like Elizabeth, Highland Park, Rahway and Perth Amboy. There’s a quick look Bernards’ potentially leaving the Skyland and Big Central Conferences, and a look at some moves in the playoff standings after Week Three of play.

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

Click below to listen to the 2026 Week 4 edition of “The Big Central in Two Minutes”:

Week Two play is in the books, we’re a third of the way through the regular season, the first playoff standings of the year are out, and Mike Pavlichko takes a closer look in the Week Three edition of “The Big Central in 2 Minutes!”

On this week’s episode, Mike talks about one tweak he’d like to see with the playoff standings, then looks at some notable positions, including Piscataway leading North Group 5, as well as Elizabeth, Old Bridge, Ridge, Rahway, Spotswood and Highland Park. Plus, a closer look at the Owls’, who are blowing opponents away the first three weeks of the season. And finally, a look at our two live broadcasts this week and a big one for Marcus Borden on Friday.

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

Click below to listen to the 2026 Week 3 edition of “The Big Central in Two Minutes”:

With Week One of play in the books in high school football, everyone has now gotten into the game, and Mike Pavlichko takes a closer look in this year’s debut of of “The Big Central in 2 Minutes!”

On this week’s episode, a look at big Week One wins for Carteret and Summit, we talk about Piscataway’s Zaire Young having a second-half shoe emergency in a win over Somerville, Thursday’s intriguing matchup between a pair of 2-0 teams in Highland Park and JP Stevens., and the upcoming release of the season’s first UPR standings after Week Two of play.

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

Click below to listen to the 2026 Week 2 edition of “The Big Central in Two Minutes”:

The 2026 season is underway for the vast majority of teams in New Jersey – including all but a handful in our coverage area – which means it’s time for Mike Pavlichko to take a closer look in this year’s debut of of “The Big Central in 2 Minutes!”

On this week’s episode, Mike looks back at Summit’s wild win against Colonia Friday, Del Val’s state-best ten-year streak of victorious openers, Highland Park’s first shutout in a while, and recognizes the four Big Central coaches who picked up their first “dubs” with their current teams.

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

Click below to listen to the 2026 Week 1 edition of “The Big Central in Two Minutes”:

Thanksgiving is here, but once that’s done, that’s it for Big Central football in 2025, and Mike Pavlichko takes a look back on this week’s edition of “The Big Central in 2 Minutes!”

On this week’s episode, Mike looks back at tough state semifinal losses for Phillipsburg and Bridgewater-Raritan, while teasing the Stateliners’ game against Easton on Turkey Day, and the final Thanksgiving Day game between Roselle and Roselle Park – of which, Marcus Borden will have coverage on Twitter!

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

Click below to listen to the final episode of “The Big Central in Two Minutes” for 2025:

Championship Weekend is behind is – the Big Central won two titles with Bridgewater-Raritan and Phillipsburg claiming titles – and Mike Pavlichko look back on this week’s edition of “The Big Central in 2 Minutes!”

On this week’s episode, Mike recognizes Old Bridge, New Providence and Summit on their excellent seasons that ended with title game defeats, as well as Montgomery, which made its first ever appearance in a sectional final, then looks at the wins for the Panthers and Stateliners!

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

Click below to listen to the State Semifinal Playoff edition of “The Big Central in Two Minutes”:

Here we are – Championship Weekend! Six Big Central teams will vie for five titles this Friday night – with one guaranteed winner – Mike Pavlichko takes a quick look on this week’s edition of “The Big Central in 2 Minutes!”

On this week’s episode, Mike gives one last take on the ridiculousness of the seeding procedure – a team South of Philly in Central Jersey Group 5? – then gives a quick look at each of the five finals involving area teams, with Bridgewater-Raritan, Old Bridge, Phillipsburg, Montgomery, Summit and New Providence all playing for sectional titles.

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

Click below to listen to the Championship Weekend Playoff edition of “The Big Central in Two Minutes”:

The playoffs are here, and Mike Pavlichko takes a quick look on this week’s edition of “The Big Central in 2 Minutes!”

On this week’s episode, a thought about playoff upsets for Somerville and Bernards, a look at a guaranteed champ in North 2 Group 4, congrats the Manville on its first playoff win, we look at the unbeatens and celebrate the end of a 32-game losing streak!

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

Click below to listen to the Week 2 Playoff edition of “The Big Central in Two Minutes”:

The playoffs are here, and Mike Pavlichko takes a quick look on this week’s edition of “The Big Central in 2 Minutes!”

On this week’s episode, a quick note about the fist two seeds, and a note about the best combined year for the Woodbridge schools – Woodbridge, Colonia, and JFK – having their best season since 2014! Then, we look at some key playoff matchups, including “The Russo Bowl” and our two live broadcasts this weekend.

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

Click below to listen to the Week 1 Playoff edition of “The Big Central in Two Minutes”:

It’s Week 8 – Cutoff Weekend – in high school football across New Jersey, and this is the week where everyone finds out if they’ll get in the playoffs, and where!

On this week’s episode, a couple of quick thoughts on St. Joseph and New Providence – two of the league’s four unbeaten teams left, along with Bernards and Manville – and give a quick primer on what you need to know heading into Cutoff Weekend, including eight teams either in line for or in the running for a top seed in the playoffs.

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

Click below to listen to the Week 8 edition of “The Big Central in Two Minutes”: