Tag: Cranford

December 6, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

It’s time for you – the fans – to pick the Central Jersey Sports Radio 2025 “Highlight Reel Play of the Year!” Watch, then vote!

Central Jersey Sports Radio is giving YOU the chance to weigh in on your favorite play of the 2025 high school football season, as submitted by Big Central Conference coaches!

All our finalists are in the montage below…

Watch the video below, then scroll down
to vote for your favorite!!
Voting ends at NOON on Monday, 8th.
Remember: Vote early, vote often!

The winner will be announced during our Big Central Conference
Postseason Awards Show on Thursday, December 11 at 7 pm!

October 31, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

The playoffs are here! Part Two of our first round, Big Central postseason preview, with a look at Groups 1 through 3

It’s time for the playoffs!

We got through opening weekend in the sweltering heat of the late dog days of August. We didn’t really have much of a fall, but the weather mostly nice. And Cutoff Weekend last weekend saw some teams sweating it out, some disappointed, and others rewarded for their play during the season.

Now, it’s time to get it all going!

Here’s Central Jersey Sports Radio’s look at all the playoff games in Groups 1, 2 and 3 involving BCC schools this weekend, section by section, including game dates and times. Games are Friday, except where noted.

Click here to read our preview of playoff games in Groups 4 and 5.

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2, GROUP 3:

#5 Cranford (4-5) at #4 Roxbury (6-3), 7 pm: The Cougars could be tough to figure out, or maybe not. Their season has been perfectly symmetrical, a football anagram. They lost their first two, then won two, lost one, then won two again, and lost two coming into the playoffs, falling 40-15 at Colonia, and 23-22 in overtime at Hillside last Saturday. And to move on in the playoffs, they’ll need to win on the road, a place they’re 0-4 this season. Talk about a balanced attack: though they run it more than they pass, Cranford has just 31 more yards passing than they do on the ground, 1,337 to 1,306. But they don’t rely on any one person. For example, five different receivers – led by senior Quinn Smith with 32 and junior John Fiore with 23 – have at least 15 receptions this season. Roxbury, meanwhile, likes to keep it on the ground, and in the hands of duel threat quarterback Frankie Falco. He’s just a sophomore, but he’s completing 62% of his passes for 608 yards and three touchdowns – but seven picks – while rushing for a team-best 1,048 and eleven scores. This will be the first-ever meeting between the schools.
#7 Warren Hills (5-4) at #2 Summit (7-2), Saturday 1 pm: These schools were more familiar when they were in the Mid-State Conference together, but haven’t played since 2021. The Blue Streaks have been back and forth all season, never winning or losing more than two straight all year long. Coming off a 48-20 win at Hackettstown that locked down a playoff berth, they’re a balanced attack with a good aerial game, but turnover-prone, while Summit has seven picks on the year and two fumble recoveries, with senior Andrew Trujillo disruptive up front. Say this, the Hilltoppers are battle-tested. Their two losses came to two very tough opponents – Somerville and Bernards, who combined for just one loss between them this season, by the Pioneers – and they’ve beaten some outstanding squads as well, including Montgomery and Woodbridge. Back-tunred-QB Alex Schwark continues to shine running the offense, also running himself, to the tune of 918 yards – and that’s after missing those two games due to injury. There’s a reason Summit is perfect this season with him in the lineup, but he’ll have to have another Alex Schwark type of game for his team to move on to the next round.

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 3:

#7 Matawan (5-4) at #2 Somerville (8-1), 7 pm: Here’s another first-ever matchup, as the Huskies come in to Brooks Field sporting a 1-4 road record this season, with losses at Hightstown, Red Bank, Middletown North and Shore. Then again, they’re the only team to beat Manasquan this season, so who knows what they’ll come up with. They should be a huge underdog on the road in this first round game to a team that likes to play no-huddle, switching back-and-forth, and also run Aidan Vesuvio-Bush out of the wildcat. The Pioneers are a tough team to keep up with, that’s for sure. But they will have a good shot at defending their 2024 Central Jersey Group 3 title as one of the favorites in this section.

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2, GROUP 2:

#7 Madison at #2 Bernards, 7 pm: It’s been a long time since these two teams played, their last meeting in September of 2018, predating the Big Central. But Bernards has been the winningest program in the Big Central Conference for three straight seasons. They have not lost a single regular season game, and have a sectional title to their credit, going 32-2 since the start of the 2023 season. The Mountaineers have a program folks, and they play smash-mouth football. As CJSR analyst Marcus Borden once said, “After you play Bernards, you know you played Bernards.” Junior QB Nolan Walsh has been back for a couple of games after missing two due to injury, but it’s good to know that freshman A.J. MacCracken – the first ninth-grader to start at the position for Bernards in at least 50 years, according to head coach Jon Simoneau – wouldn’t miss a beat if he was needed, as he didn’t in two starts. Bernards has put up some big offensive numbers this year, with senior Logan Stevnes nearing 1,000 yards rushing, and Walsh just 77 shy of the same milestone on the passing side. Madison will run it a lot, but yardage-wise they’re very balanced, and rarely turn it over, while their defense stays at home. The Dodgers come in on a three-game winning streak.

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 2:

#8 Voorhees (8-1) at #1 Camden (6-2), 6 pm: This is a loaded section, and even the top teams will be challenged here. And this will be good measuring stick – win or lose – for the Vikings, who have an incredibly stout run-game and a potent offense, as they face a challenging, explosive South Jersey foe. That includes senior runningback Matteo Tramutola (1,338 yards, 17 TDs) and QB Sam Meekings (99-165, 1,560 pass yards, 19 TDs). With 20 sacks – and a team-best five from senior Madden Kramer. Voorhees’ only loss this season came to Bernards, 31-21, in Week Three (Game Four – don’t get us started on this again!). The Panthers have some strong wins over teams like Kingway and Rancocas Valley. They have been back and forth between QBs this season, as senior Ahman JOnes and freshman Gregory Wyche, Jr., have combined for 1,231 yards passing. And boy can their defensive line play. They have 29 sacks and 47 TFLs on the season, with senior Jerome Foster logging 9 1/2 of each, while fellow senior DB Ibn Muhammad also has 4 1/2 sacks. It’s the first meeting between the schools.
#5 Johnson (7-1) at #4 Mansquan (7-1), Saturday 1 pm: No recent history here either, as these two last played in 2016, with ‘Squan coming up with a 33-29 win that year. The Warriors have had a challenging schedule, their lone loss coming to Group 3 Matawan, with wins over Shore (6-2) and Red Bank (5-3). But Johnson has beaten its share of good teams, including Brearley, Metuchen and Delaware Valley, all 5-4. Their lone loss came to undefeated New Providence. While the Big Blue are led by senior runningback Ace Etienne – perhaps the coolest football name ever – ALJ will keep it on the ground even more, almost exclusively. They have run 268 running plays, and made just 27 pass attempts this season, rushing for 2,079 yards and 26 touchdowns behind a balanced attack that includes juniors Zaire Majerska and Manny Rendiero, and sophomore Julian Colon, all with at least 300 yards rushing, with several more close behind.

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2, GROUP 1:

#8 Brearley (5-4) at #1 Mountain Lakes (6-2): And so they meet again. The Bears last made the trip up north in 2022 for the North 1, Group 1 title game, and fell 16-6. This year, they open up the playoffs with the Herd, a team they’ve met four times prior, splitting the wins two games apiece. After starting the season 1-2, Mountain lakes has won five straight since, and scored no less than 28 points in any of those games, three times scoring over 40. Included in that are two solid wins over Madison and Newton. It’s almost exclusively a ground attack, having attempted just 39 passes on the year, with 30 runs for a total of 2,592 yards on the ground. Might be best if Brearley can get up early and get the Herd playing from behind. Brearley started the year 0-3, but has won five of six since, the lone loss coming two weeks ago, 27-9, to Metuchen. They beat Dayton 10-7 last weekend to clinch their playoff berth. Senior QB Matthew Resende has put up Matt Sims type numbers on the ground (he was the QB on the ’22 team) but doesn’t do the same through the air; he’s more a runner than a passer. In fact, he hasn’t thrown a TD pass all year in 55 attempts. Sophomore defensive lineman Rocco Federico, however, can get after the QB; he has 13 1/2 sacks on a team that has 19 overall.
#6 Secaucus (5-3) at #3 New Providence (8-0), 7 pm: Some way, some how, Chet Parlevecchio, Jr., has been able to keep this team perfect, despite graduation losses and injuries. T.J. Munn, a huge part of last year’s North 2, Group 1 finalist team, graduated, but star runningback A.J. Whitehead returned, only to break his leg late in the season, ending his 2025 campaign. That’s shifted the load to seniors like Jack Fitzgerald, Daniel Porretti, and Mike Petses, who, for example, combined for over 150 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries last week in a win over Delaware Valley. Maybe the secret is how well-coached this team is, and well-prepared. Secaucus has won two straight coming in, and has an interesting setup, with co-head coaches – Charlie Voorhees and Tom Curry, Jr. Their best wins have come over Hawthorne and Bogota. Brandon Vega is the team’s leading rusher at 867 yards and nine scores, but QB Chase Berckes has been turnover-prone, throwing for nearly 700 yards and five TDs, but with six picks. The New Providence defense – with four touchdowns on the year – must be salivating; as a group, they’ve got ten picks this year, returning three for scores. They also have seven fumble recoveries.

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 1:

#8 Bound Brook (5-4) at #1 Burlington City (8-1), 5 pm: This will be the first-ever meeting between the schools, and not an easy task. The Crusaders are a hard team to figure, as they haven’t beaten the best teams, but three of their losses came to undefeated squads. Four of their wins came over teams that have combined for just three victories themselves, and they lost to 1-8 North Warren in their opener by a score, but they also beat 5-4 Belvidere. But they were likely still working things out, as line coach Rich Hilliard has really transformed the play up front in his first season on head coach Dave LePoidevin’s staff. Meanwhile, the Blue Devils’ only loss came in a rivalry game with Group 3 Burlington Twp., and they’re a veteran group with quality wins on the schedule. This is the epitome of how a tough schedule rewards a team – if they win.
#5 Asbury Park (5-3) at #4 Manville (9-0): Throw out the Mustangs’ first undefeated mark since 1968, but note two things here. First, this may be the best Manville team every, at least in the playoff era (since 1974) and b) this is a different level of competition than what they’ve seen most of the year. Take nothing away from their accomplishments: they were hands-down the most dominant Group 1 squad in the Big Central this year, with three shutouts, and averaging 48.5 points per game over their last six, while allowing just under nine per contest. Their best wins were over a pair of 5-4 teams in Bound Brook and Belvidere. And they have a two-headed quarterback situation with Josh D’Ambrosio (1,038 rushing yards, 15 TDs) and Sammy Echeverri, and then there’s Isaiah Bennett (762 rush yards, 15 scores). The defense has 14 sacks on the year. They’ll have to slow one of the top runningbacks in the state in A’Meire Massie, who has breakaway speed, and finds holes opened by the offensive line – which, by the way, includes twin sisters! And boy (girl?) are they legit: Elani and Eniya Johnson. They have made a difference on a team that’s back in the playoffs for the first time in three seasons, under second-year head coach and former Blue Bishop standout QB Will Johnson, who won two titles playing in that majestic stadium along Deal Lake.

October 25, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

Cutoff Weekend Friday Playoff Update – Group 3: Summit stands pat, Somerville up, but neither can gain top-seed; South Plainfield looks out

With Friday night’s Cutoff Weekend high school football games all in the books, Central Jersey Sports Radio is updating the unofficial NJSIAA playoff standings as we head into Saturday action.

We’ll have further analysis late morning into the afternoon Saturday, with our 2025 “Playoff Projection Show” scheduled for 6 pm where we give our bracket projections. The full tournament for the public schools will be unveiled on Sunday by the NJSIAA via Gridiron New Jersey. We’ll have them shortly after. The brackets become official at noon on Monday.

NORTH GROUP 3

The top seven teams in the field of 16 all stood pat, including Summit at three, but with Old Tappan and West Morris picking up wins, it looks like the Hilltoppers will have to settle for a two-seed in North 2, Group 3, with West Morris being the No. 1 seed in their section, while Old Tappan will get the overall top-seed, and be No. 1 in North 1, Group 3. That is, unless Summit drops its home game against Scotch Plains-Fanwood Saturday. That would drop them to four overall, assuming West Essex also wins. If not, they hold.
Cranford visits Hillside Saturday, but we think they’re in regardless of whether they win or lose. They might even hold their ground.
Despite a Friday win over JFK, South Plainfield looks out, finishing in 18th, but just one spot out of the playoffs behind 17th place Snyder, who plays Saturday against Lincoln. But Snyder should win that game. (Weequahic is ineligible due to DQs.)

SOUTH GROUP 3

As expected here, Somerville won, but couldn’t get one of the top two seeds, even though they moved up from fourth to third. Either way, they would have been the two-seed in Central Group 3. That means the path to a repeat sectional title for the Pioneers will go through Holmdel, who will get the top-seed in CJ3 after a 49-38 home win Friday over Middletown North. We think the Pioneers get Matawan at home in the opening round. Ewing is the only team in the running yet to play, hosting Hamilton Saturday.

October 22, 2025October 21, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

Cutoff Weekend Group 3 Playoff Update: Somerville still has a shot at a top seed, Cranford’s in, Carteret still has a shot

It’s Cutoff Weekend in New Jersey high school football, and we’re taking a look at the playoff scenarios for every Big Central team in contention.

This week, Strength Index values are locked in, and out-of-state opponent SI values also have been updated by Gridiron New Jersey, which does all the official calculations of the NJ UPR formula for the NJSIAA. And we’ve double- and triple-checked our own standings to make sure they match with Gridiron’s.

We’ll have another update to the standings after Friday night’s games – yes, there are Thursday games, but none in the BCC, and we’ll only update if there are significant changes.

And, of course, Central Jersey Sports Radio will have its annual “Playoff Projection Show,” airing LIVE on Saturday at 6 pm. Mike Pavlichko hosts with analyst Marcus Borden, and they’ll run through all the projected brackets. Plus, you’ll hear from some of the league’s coaches as well.

Here’s our breakdown of the Group 3 supersections. We won’t be getting into how the brackets look just yet, but we’ll do that with our update after Friday night’s Week 8 action. Click the supersection header to see the official standings on Gridiron New Jersey.

NORTH GROUP 3

Cranford: This one is fairly easy. The Cougars (4-4) sit in 14th place, and we think they stay around there. A win over Hillside (2-5) doesn’t move the needle, but it doesn’t hurt them much either. With Weequahic out of the picture, the Cougars are a 5-seed in North 2, Group 4. But they would be 14 or so in UPR (14.6 or so), while the next team above them in fourth, Roxbury, is in seventh, with a 7.4 UPR at the moment. There’s no way they catch them, so we’re not even going to bother with where they stand in the top 16; we think it’s an extremely high probability that Cranford ends up the five-seed regardless of what they do against the Comets.
Carteret: The Ramblers (3-4) visit Bernards (8-0) this Friday night. That’s going to be a tough one, especially with banged up QB Nolan Walsh back in the lineup from injury. (He played the second half last week against Linden.) A loss and they’re definitely out. A win and they could get to 17, which would be good enough since Weequahic (9th) is ineligible due to being over the DQ limit. And with a loss from Mendham (4-4) at Randolph (1-7) – which isn’t likely – or a Warren Hills loss at Hackettstown (both are 4-4), they could even get to 15. We think a win gets the Ramblers in, but it won’t be easy.
South Plainfield: Even if the Tigers (4-4) beat JFK (6-2), they don’t appear to have a path to the top 17. If everyone around them loses, North Plainfield would jump them, but even they don’t seem to be able to get in with any help.

SOUTH GROUP 3

Somerville: The Pioneers (7-1, 3.6 UPR) would have to make up one UPR point to get into a tie with second-place Cedar Creek (7-1, 2.6 UPR). Holmdel (5-2) is in between at third (3.2 UPR) and Burlington Twp. is No. 1 (1 UPR). A Somerville win at Watchung Hills (3-5) could get them as high as second if Cedar Creek and both Holmdel lose. If either wins, the winner gets second and the loser goes to fourth. All we can tell you is, even with a loss, Somerville at least gets one more game back at Brooks Field.

October 9, 2025October 8, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

Group 3 playoff chase: Summit, Somerville hold top-seeds, but nothing’s guaranteed; Cranford sits in the middle of the pack but could move up

Group 3 only finds two teams from the Big Central in playoff contention, although a third may be able to jump into that fray.

There aren’t too many Group 3 schools to begin with, and a couple of teams with 2-3 records sit well outside the playoffs in the North Group 3 supersection. A late run and going 2-1 of either team down the stretch could get Carteret (24th) and North Plainfield (21st) back in the conversation, with South Plainfield at 2-4, but much closer just two spots out of the top 16.

But hold the phone. A fight a couple of weeks ago in a game between Weequahic and Newark West Side resulted in enough disqualifications for both teams that, per NJSIAA rule, neither will be eligible for the postseason.

West Side is 1-5, so it probably won’t change much there, but Weequahic (4-2) sits in ninth, rising this week. They’re out, so that means, the 17 team would get in as of today, that being Snyder (3-2). But South Plainfield sits right behind them, so they’re “technically” just one spot out of the playoffs. And they may not have to worry about the three teams directly behind them either. Besides West Side at 21, Paramus (19) and Parsippany Hills (20) are both 0-6, with three games left each, and there’s a minimum of two wins to get into the postseason.

Table displaying standings and statistics for Group 3 football teams, including wins, losses, ties, playoff averages, and rankings.

The only two Big Central teams in the top 16 here are Summit and Cranford. Summit is the second seed overall in the supersection, and the loss to Somerville Saturday didn’t hurt them much, as the Hilltoppers were 5-0 with a solid OSI value. Should they drop out of the top two, they could shift up to the North 1 section, but if they stay a top-seed they should be in North 2, as they’re one of the more southern teams in the supersection. They’ll have to watch 6-0 West Morris, just 0.6 UPR points behind them

The Cougars sit 12th overall, a spot behind Wayne Hills. But again, as we’ve talked about, with the new system, you need to look at overall UPR rank since geography decides which section the teams are placed in. Wayne Hills is 10th, and Passaic Valley – fourth in North 1 Group 3 – is in fourth. So to jump two teams and get a home game, Cranford would need to get to No. 6 overall, a jump of six places in the top 16.

The saving grace could be if teams North of them get in the playoffs, displacing the southernmost North 1 teams (Cranford and West Essex) which would bump them into North 2. But even that wouldn’t be a guarantee. We think they’ll end up on the road in the first round.

A table displaying the standings for Central Group 3 and South Group 3 high school football teams, including wins, losses, ties, and various rankings.

In the South Group 3 supersection, again just one Big Central team is in the running, with Somerville at 5-1 sitting second overall, and in the top spot in Central Group 3. They’re the northernmost team in the entire section, so as long as the teams don’t change from year to year, they will never be in a “South Jersey” section again.

They’re not locked in though, just 0.4 UPR points ahead of Holmdel (3-2). The Pioneers have North Hunterdon, Plainfield and Watchung Hills left, and Holmdel has Marlboro, Raritan and Middletown North left. Neither team has huge power point or OSI opportunities left, nor is either schedule particularly weak, and even North Hunterdon’s SI – with just one win – is comparable to anyone Holmdel plays.

We think the Pioneers could be good – as long as they keep winning.

September 6, 2025September 6, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

Cranford strikes first, but No. 2 Somerville finishes off Cougars, extending Pioneers’ regular season win streak to 12

Cranford may have gotten on the board first, and had a lead at halftime, but the final 24 minutes belonged to Somerville.

The Pioneers got three touchdowns from senior Adian Vesuvio-Bush to get past visiting Cranford, 28-12, Friday night at Brooks Field in Somerville.

John Fiore – the son of former Elizabeth, Spotswood and Montclair coach John Fiore – scored the game’s first touchdown in the first quarter, putting the Cougars up 6-0, but they missed the extra point.. Vesuvio-Bush answered with a 42-yard touchdown run in the second to go up 6-7, but Cranford answered back by blocking a Pioneer punt, and bringing it back 32-yards for a touchdown.

The Cougars went for two, but the pass was incomplete, and they led 12-7 at the break.

After that, the Pioneers took over.

Vesuvio-Bush scored from two-yards out in the third quarter, and ran in a two-point conversion to put Somerville up by an even field goal, 15-12. He then ran another in from a yard out in the fourth to make it 21-12; the kick failed. And then, for insurance, sophomore James Hampton picked off a potential touchdown pass a couple yards deep into the end zone, and brought it all the way across the opposite goal line to secure a 28-12 victory.

The Pioneers – who are 2-0 and are on a 12-game regular season win streak – will play host to Montgomery (1-1) next Friday night, while Cranford (0-2) will play its third straight road game to start the season, visiting Carteret (1-0) next Friday night.

Click below to watch postgame reaction and highlights from Marcus Borden with Somerville head coach Matt Bloom, senior Aidan Vesuvio-Bush and sophomore James Hampton, presented by Sportsplext at Metuchen:

September 4, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

Gameday with Marcus Borden: Week 1

Opening Week is behind us, it’s Week One where everyone gets into the act in high school football, and it’s time to talk about it with Marcus Borden!

Mike and Marcus look back at the week gone by, including a big win for Old Bridge down at the Battle of the Beach over Cedar Creek, Arique Fleming’s masterful performance for Elizabeth in a rivalry game win over Linden, and then peek ahead to this week’s games, including those Coach Borden will see: Somerville at Cranford on Friday night, and Bernards at Hillside on Saturday.

Also on the show, we discuss other key games in the BCC, Montgomery adding longtime founding coach Zoran Milich’s name to Cougar Stadium, and our new feature, the “Speedster of the Week” presented by Higgins Speed Lab, with the Week 0 winner being Summit’s Alex Schwark.

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

August 28, 2025August 27, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

Gameday with Marcus Borden: Week 0

The 2025 high school football season begins today, and it’s time to talk about it with Marcus Borden!

The majority of Big Central Conference teams open up this weekend, and we talk about our Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Game of the Week, featuring Spotswood at Middlesex in the Chargers’ first game with their brand-new lights.

Also on the show, Coach Borden talks about the games he’ll be covering this weekend down at the Battles at the Beach, with Hillsborough taking on Washington Township on Friday, then Old Bridge battling Cedar Creek on Saturday, both at Rowan University in Glassboro. We also take a quick look back at the 2025 Big Central Camp Caravan, talk about the big numbers out for Dunellen football, and some other key Week Zero games around the league!

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

August 25, 2025August 22, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

Central Jersey Sports Radio unveils preseason Big Central Conference Top Ten: Mainstays mostly remain, while newcomers will have to earn it

This was an easy Top Ten to figure out, but it wasn’t. Probably even more than the 13 teams presented here – ten ranked, three “also being considered” – will be in and out of the rankings all season.

For now, the 2025 preseason Central Jersey Sports Radio Top Ten features many of the same teams in the final 2024 rankings, with one exception. And the few we have on the outside looking in could be just as worthy as anyone else, but we’ll leave it like that for now, and see if they can earn their way in.

After all, it’s not where you start the season – everyone is undefeated on August 25th – but where you finish.

So if the team you root for – or the team you play on – isn’t here, go get some of those dubs, and the rankings will take care of themselves.

And now, the preseason Central Jersey Sports Radio Big Central Top Ten for 2025:

Just like those “also being considered” will have to earn their way in, the top spot is Phillipsburg‘s to lose. The Stateliners finished last year 11-3, and though they didn’t win their division, they did win the North 2, Group 4 title, and became the first Big Central team to make the state finals, in its third season of existence in 2024. Gone are some big names – Jett Genovese, Felix Matos, Matthew Scerbo, Jr. – but they have plenty left, and that’s not even counting the newcomers. P’burg doesn’t rebuild, they just reload.

The next couple of teams lost a lot, too. That starts with No. 2 Somerville, which went 12-1 last year – with an undefeated regular season – and won the Central Jersey Group 3 title as well as the Liberty Silver Division flag. But like the ‘Liners, they also lose some huge talent in Brenden Pacheco, Terrell Mitchell and Brady Scheier. But this is an excellent coaching staff, and the teams behind them that were their peers last year are in much of the same boat.

Woodbridge remains at No. 3 to start the year, after a 10-1 campaign, a perfect regular season, and a Liberty Gold Division title. The Anderson twins – Derek and Bryan – are gone, but there are still experienced players on the roster, and now Joe Goerge – in his second year as head coach – will run more option than he did last year, when he deftly sprinkled it into an offense that already was running well, and just got better.

Bernards went 11-1 last year and also had a perfect regular season; they won the Patriot Gold Division and made the North 1, Group 2 finals. This program is humming along right now, and like the others, loses some key pieces, but has some big ones back, too – including the school’s sack leader, Thomas Diemar. Opposing quarterbacks better stock up on ice.

St. Thomas Aquinas has the longest active win streak against Big Central competition – 31 games, while Bernards is No. 2 at 23 – but has a new coach and lost some key players to transfer, and drops one spot to No. 5. Still, the defending National Silver Division champs should be very good, and new mentor Shamir Bearfield – out of St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City – has an outgoing attitude that should work well in North Edison.

Ridge holds at No. 6 after an 8-2 year in which they beat Phillipsburg in the regular season, and wound up winning the American Silver Division. Andy West stepped down as head coach after the season, and fellow alum Jeff Sutherland takes over. Gone is bulldog rusher Adian Stieglitz – also a great baseball pitcher – but Ridge also is a well-oiled machine, and they could stick around in the rankings much of the year.

The winner of last year’s tongue-in-cheek “OMG! He’s Back Another Year” award was Andrew Avent, who this year officially becomes a four-year starter at runningback for Rahway. Last year, he was six carries shy of 200, logging 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Indians check in at No. 7 this year, and could very well make some noise.

Piscataway finished 7-4 last season, and is looking to take one more step up this year, and maybe take home a championship for the first time since their 13-0 season in 2018, when they won the North Group 5 “bowl game” over Ridgewood. With a number of returnees back – and the addition of Josiah Zayas, who has transferred back to his hometown school from St. Thomas Aquinas, but will have to sit the first few weeks – the Chiefs could just do it.

Old Bridge is the only team in the preseason rankings that didn’t finish there last year. But the Knights have high expectations with senior quarterback Brody Nugent returning, and word on the street is this could be a big year for them. We’re not the only one who thinks so, so we’ve put them in at No. 9.

And then, a smaller school at No. 10: New Providence. The Pioneers were 9-3 last season and finished strong, reaching the North 2, Group 1 finals. While exciting dual-threat quarterback T.J. Munn is gone, star runningback A.J. Whitehead and there’s plenty of talent on the roster from a team that put up a lot of points last year, and also turned in some solid defensive efforts.

Here’s the complete 2025 Central Jersey Sports Radio Big Central preseason Top Ten:

As for the teams “also considered,” Hillsborough (7-4) finished at No. 9 last year, but loses the player who broke all kinds of records no one ever thought would fall. Jackson Jankowicz, winner of last year’s “Unbreakable Record” award. He topped Shawn Mayer’s rushing TD record of 24, and tied Tommy Amankwaa’s record of 30 total touchdowns in a single season. Head coach Sean Carty – who also coached Amankwaa, and his brothers, said last December, “I thought that might stand forever.” Bottom line: Jankowicz is tough to replace, and the Raiders may be very good. So, right now, they’re being considered.

Cranford (7-3) also had a very solid year, and will lose some key parts, but they always tend to have some good line play, and top runningback Gabe Worrell rushed for over 800 yards last year – as a sophomore! The Cougars made the North 2, Group 3 semifinals last year; we’ll see if they can climb even higher.

And St. Joseph-Metuchen may have finished just 5-5 last year, but they started out hot at 5-0. Things took a turn after a mid-season road loss at Phillipsburg, and just never recovered. But Bill Tracy is a solid coach, and some late-season injuries didn’t help either. Justin Scaramuzzo threw for 1,953 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior last year. He’s back, and we think the Falcons will finish stronger in 2025.

August 18, 2025August 17, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

2025 Big Central Preview: United Gold Division

Here’s how challenging the Big Central Conference’s United Gold Division was in 2024:

Cranford finished with the best overall record at 7-3. Summit beat them in the regular season and swept four games to win the division, but the Cougars got them back in the opening round of the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Hillside – which went 5-5 – narrowly beat Carteret 7-0, while Cranford edged them by ten.

Scotch Plains-Fanwood should be improved in its second-year under head coach Shawn Johnson, who’s knowledgeable about his players from his years coaching youth football, and the Comets have a new coach, too, in six-year NFL veteran Isa Abdul-Kuddus.

It all should make for an interesting 2025 in the United Gold.

Click below to hear our preview of the United Gold Division from Big Central Conference Media Day: