Here are projected SI values for Week 1 Out-of-State Opponents based on state formula
While the entire NJISAA UPR playoff formula is very complicated, with caveats seemingly at every turn, the actual calculation of a team’s Strength Index – which helps determine the OSI for playoff qualification – is actually very simple. You find the difference between the two teams’ ratings before the play, compare that to the difference in the final score, then divide that difference by five. That’s how much one team goes up and the other goes down. But what do you use for an out-of-state or non-NJSIAA member, where the SI is not regularly calculated? That’s our cue to give…
“The Big Central in 2 Minutes” – Week 1
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…
Top two hold, but others make some jumps in Big Central Power Rankings after opening weekend
Phillipsburg and Bridgewater-Raritan remain Nos. 1 and 2 in the Week 1 Big Central power rankings, but there was some movement behind them. With a season-opening home win over South Plainfield, Somerville vaulted from five to three, jumping New Providence and St. Joseph-Metuchen, though neither team opened their season last week and will kickoff 2026 this weekend. And the Falcons will have a big game at home against Bridgewater-Raritan, a top five matchup. 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…
Summit’s Jackson Marx bookends season-opening win with two amazing plays to nab first Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honor in 2026
There’s a proud tradition around the Summit football program, whether it’s one of their championship seasons or not. Coming off a North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 finals appearance in 2025, this year’s Hilltoppers – who will now be playing in Group 4 thanks to the recent NJSIAA reclassification – are looking to finish the job. And right off the bat in 2026, things looked good. Friday afternoon, senior Jackson Marx returned the opening kickoff from Colonia 96 yards for a score to put his team up 6-0 before the Patriots even got the ball in their hands. Things snowballed…
Exclusive: Here’s a look at unofficial updated Strength Index numbers for all NJ Football teams following Week Zero play
With the shutdown of Gridiron New Jersey over the summer – and the job of calculating the NJSIAA’s complication playoff formula moving to NJ.com, Central Jersey Sports Radio will continue to run its own unofficial numbers all year, and that includes the Strength Index calculations, which are critical to figuring out a team’s OSI (Opponent Strength Index), which is 60 percent of the playoff formula. Unlike Gridiron, at least for now, it doesn’t appear NJ.com will be publishing the Strength Index numbers on a weekly basis. While the playoff standings are expected to debut after a couple of weeks -…
Marcus Borden unveils Big Central Week 1 Top Ten, debuts Union, Middlesex and BCC West Rankings
Thursday’s opening slate of games had to be rescheduled as Mother Nature did not cooperate with severe thunderstorms ravaging the Garden State. This forced me to adjust my coverage plans which meant I would head west to Delaware Valley who was hosting neighboring North Hunterdon at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Unfortunately I would not be able to attend Old Bridge’s game in Ocean City as they were taking on Shawnee H.S. in the Battle at the Beach. Their game was delayed over an hour as the Southern half of the state was under a severe weather alert. The Terriers led…
No change atop the Week 1 Bellamy & Son Paving Central Jersey Sports Radio Top Ten, but two new teams join the list
There was little change from the preseason in the latest Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten, with Phillipsburg remaining atop the rankings, while two other teams flip-flopped and two others near the bottom dropped out with losses in their opening games. Phillipsburg remained at No. 1 after a season-opening 28-21 win over Parkland (PA) at Maloney Stadium. The Stateliners open the season with three straight Pennsylvania opponents, and this week, they cross the “state line” to go play Emmaus (PA) Friday night at 7. St. Joseph-Metuchen was idle, and remains in the No. 2 spot. The Falcons will welcome in…
INSTANT REPLAY: Highland Park 29, New Brunswick 0
Highland Park QB Marcus Smith ran for two touchdowns, while going 8-of-97 passing for 97 yards, and the Owls defense registered its first shutout in 15 years with a 29-0 season-opening win over visiting New Brunswick. Click below to listen to Alec Crouthamel and Chris Tsakonas call all the play-by-play live from Jay Dakelman Field in Highland Park, NJ, on August 28, 2026:
INSTANT REPLAY: No. 6 Bridgewater-Raritan 28, No. 8 Woodbridge 7
Sophomore J.B. Baxter threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns in his varsity debut, helping No. 6 Bridgewater-Raritan to a 28-7 road win at No. 8 Woodbridge in the season opener for both schools. Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe call all the play-by-play live from Nicholas A. Priscoe Stadium in Woodbridge, NJ, on August 28, 2026:
Ten straight season-opening wins for Delaware Valley is best streak in New Jersey. Who else is close? Not many
When the Delaware Valley football team opened its 2026 season with a 17-0 win over North Hunterdon Friday night, it extended a pretty significant streak. The Terriers now have won ten straight season-openers, dating all the way back to 2017, and that’s the longest streak of its kind in the state. But not only that, it’s a very rare feat. It’s something that hasn’t been done – at least recently – by the likes of Winslow, Washington Twp., Glassboro, or even the Don Boscos or Bergen Catholics of the world. We went back to look at every team in the…
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