Tag: Cranford

by Mike Pavlichko

PHOTO GALLERY: Cranford celebrates third state title, first-ever on home field

Cranford won the North 2, Group 3 state championship Friday night, as the top-seeded Cougars improved to 11-0, beating third-seed Sparta 45-21 Friday night at Memorial Field.

Click below to see a photo gallery of the postgame celebration. Photos by Mike Pavlichko.

  • Students and fans storm Memorial Field after Cranford wins its third state title, defeating Sparta 45-21 in the North 2, Group 3 championship game.
  • Cranford head coach Erik Rosnemeier holds up the state championship trophy as his players surround him, after beating Sparta to win the North 2, Group 3 title Friday, November 19, 2021 at Memorial Field. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
  • Cranford offensive lineman Kevin Shriner holds up the NJSIAA trophy as he and his teammates celebrate a statechampionship.
  • Cranford senior runningback Colim Murray (left) and senior left tackle Geoff Gretta pose with the NJSIAA championship trophy. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
  • Cranford wide receiver/cornerback Will Gallagher talks to Mike Pavlichko after the game.
  • Cranford senior runningback Colin Murray talks with Mike Pavlichko after the game.
  • The scoreboard tells the story: Cranford beats Sparta 45-21 to win the North 2, Group 3 title.
by Mike Pavlichko

Murray’s career game, Gallagher’s three picks help Cranford win third state title

Despite falling behind early, 7-3, top-seed Cranford rode solid play all the way around to its third state sectional championship of the playoff era.

The undefeated Cougars improved to 11-0 with a 45-21 win over third seed Sparta (8-4), in a game that – in the end – wasn’t event that close.

Scroll down for postgame reaction.

Cranford dominated on both sides of the field in Friday night’s Big Central Game of the week, driven by Autoland, and heard live on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

There was the offensive line, which allowed a handful of negative plays against one of the state’s most disruptive defensive ends, but was able to pave the way for a career high 304 yards (unofficially) for senior Colin Murray, who dominated himself. He also had two touchdowns.

And there was the defense, which helped Cranford to a plus-7 in the turnover category, fueled by five picks of Sparta quarterback Austen Frattura – four of which came in the decisive second half. Frattura had come into the game with 16 TD passes and just two interceptions, but left with two scores and five INTs on the night.

Cranford senior runningback Colim Murray (left) and senior left tackle Geoff Gretta pose with the NJSIAA championship trophy. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

Three of those interceptions were by Will Gallagher, the Cranford baseball team’s shortstop, who’s also a wide receiver, and actually finished with as many interceptions and more yards on defense than he had catches on offense.

Murray and Gallagher were named co-Autoland Players of the Game, and will receive a custom football at the end of the year.

Cranford now moves on to play West Morris in the North Group 3 regional championship, to be played either next weekend, or the weekend of December 4 and 5, at either Met Life Stadium in the Meadowlands or Rutgers University’s SHI Stadium. Sites, dates and times will be announced Sunday by the NJSIAA.

The Cougars will face West Morris (9-3), the top seed out of North 1, Group 3, which won that sectional title Friday night with a 21-0 win over second-seed West Essex.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko down on the field with postgame reaction from Cranford’s state title win:

Cranford senior RB Colin Murray
Cranford senior WR/CB Will Gallagher
Cranford head coach Erik Rosnemeier
by Mike Pavlichko

Championship Weekend: A complete preview of both title games involving Hillsborough, North Brunswick and Cranford

Championship Weekend has finally arrived. It’s been two years since the last one, and we’re all starving for some trophies to be handed out in football.

Central Jersey Sports Radio is your place for all the action this Friday night. The North 2, Group 3 title game is the Big Central Game of the Week, driven by Mark Montenero and his team at the world-famous Autoland. That features top-seed Cranford and third-seed Sparta. Kickoff is at 7 with Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe calling all the action from Memorial Field in Cranford, but we’ll begin around 6:30 with an extended pregame show.

Meanwhile, Tim Catalfamo will be camped out at Noonan Field in Hillsborough for the Battle of the Raiders, the Central jersey Group 5 final between top-seed Hillsborough and third-seed North Brunswick.

Below, you can find previews on each game, as well as links to key prior coverage of Hillsborough, North Brunswick, and Cranford this season.

North 2, Group 3 Championship

Teams: #1 Cranford (10-0) vs. #3 Sparta (8-3)
Where: Memorial Field, Cranford
When: Friday, 7 pm
Coverage: Live play-by-play on Central Jersey Sports Radio (click here to listen)

Finals History:

Cranford: The Cougars are 2-1 all-time in three finals appearances, all coming under current head coach Erik Rosenmeier.

  • 2011: #3 seed, beat #4 Parsippany Hills 27-0 at Kean University
  • 2014: #1 seed, lost to #3 Parsippany Hills 20-13 at Met Life Stadium
  • 2015: #1 seed, beat #6 Chatham 50-23 at Kean University
Cranford head coach Erik Rosenmeier talks to his team after a 38-28 win over Woodbridge on Oct. 15, 2021. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

Sparta: The Spartans have made ten title game appearances, winning seven of them, including two of their last three under current head coach Frank Marchiano. Finals from 1976 through 2005 were in North 1, Group 2. Appearances from 2012 on were in North 1, Group 3.

  • 1976: beat Tenafly 34-7
  • 1979: beat Garfield 14-7 at home (game-winning touchdown was a 74-yd punt return for a touchdown by Brad Winfree)
  • 1980: beat Saddle Brook 13-7 (2 OT) at home
  • 1982: beat Ridgefield Park 21-14 at home
  • 1995: lost at Hoboken 37-6
  • 2003: #1 seed, beat #2 Dover 16-0
  • 2005: #4 seed, lost to #2 Hopatcong 20-14 (OT)
  • 2012: #5 seed, lost to #2 Ramapo 27-34 at Kean University
  • 2013: #2 seed, beat #5 River Dell 40-0 at Met Life Stadium
  • 2014: #1 seed, beat #3 River Dell 31-23 at Met Life Stadium

How they got here:

The Cougars earned the top overall seed in the North 3 supersection, entering the playoffs with an 8-0 record. Along the way, they knocked off then-No. 4 Woodbridge on the road in a battle of undefeated Big Central Division 4 teams, 38-28, as heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio. In the playoffs, they beat 8th-seed Demarest in the opening round 56-26, and 4th-seed Pascack Valley in the semifinals 42-7. Senior runningback Colin Murray had career highs of 235 yards and 5 touchdowns in the win over Demarest.

What to watch for:

Cranford is well-renowned for its big offensive line this season, which has paved the way nicely for Murray, and also kept quarterback Shane Van Dam upright, giving him plenty of time to throw to his favorite target, Will Gallagher, who’s also a star shortstop for the Cougars’ baseball team. The numbers on that line are impressive: av average of 6-foot-4 and 267 across the board, with all but the center at least 280 pounds a pop. Sparta has a senior defensive lineman named Parker Williamson who can only be described as a beast off the line, and he’s got the bona fides to prove it: 17 sacks on the season. Fellow senior Nick Doumbe, on the other side of the four-man front, has seven sacks, none too shabby on any other team. Somebody’s gotta give.

More on Cranford:

Sparta Preview: Sparta rebounded from inauspicious start to earn first finals bid since 2014

Central Jersey Group 5 Championship

Teams: #1 Hillsborough (11-0) vs. #3 North Brunswick (8-3)
Where: Noonan Field, Hillsborough
When: Friday, 7 pm
Coverage: Live updates by Tim Catalfamo during the Cranford-Sparta game (click here to listen)

Finals History:

Hillsborough: The Raiders are 2-2 all-time in four finals appearances. They played in the very first state tournament, which began in 1974, but have not been to the finals in 21 years.

  • 1974: Central Jersey Group 2: lost to Middlesex 24-6 at Atlantic City
  • 1979: Central Jersey Group 3: beat Madison Central 10-7 (OT) at Giants Stadium
  • 1996: Central Jersey Group 4: lost to Middletown North 33-8 at Giants Stadium
  • 2000: Central Jersey Group 4: #6 seed, beat #1 Sayreville 16-13 at Rutgers Stadium
Hillsborough head coach Kevin Carty Jr. with his team after a 44-0 win over Old Bridge on Oct. 15, 2021. (Photo: Tim Catalfamo)

North Brunswick: The Raiders have only been to two finals in their history and have never won, but this year marks their second trip to a title game in the last three playoff seasons.

  • 1979: Central Jersey Group 2: lost at South River 23-3
  • 2018: Central Jersey Group 5: #2 seed, lost at #2 Sayreville 6-0

How they got here:

Hillsborough has only trailed twice all season en route to an 11-0 record thus far. They fell behind 14-0 at home against Phillipsburg and came back to win 21-14 in overtime, and were behind briefly after halftime against Bridgewater-Raritan at Basilone Field, a game they eventually pulled out. (Scroll down for postgame coverage of that contest.) In the opening round, the Hillsborough beat 8th-seed New Brunswick 49-6, then topped 5th-seed Williamstown in Friday night’s semifinals 49-14.

For North Brunswick, it’s been an up-and-down season; the Raiders never strung together more than three wins in a 6-3 regular season. Their losses came to Sayreville by 13, to Union 42-0, and three weeks ago in their regular season finale, on the road against this very same Hillsborough team, 41-0. That game was played on a raw, cold, windy and rainy night across the state. In the playoffs, North Brunswick beat two South Jersey teams: 6th-seed Eastern in the opening round, 39-30 at home, and second-seed Cherokee on the road, 34-21 in last week’s semifinals.

North Brunswick gets set to take the field against Edison. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

What to watch for:

Hillsborough really has done everything right this year. Early on, head coach Kevin Carty, Jr., added in the wrinkle of lining up Rutgers commit Tommy Amankwaa as a runningback, and he’s taken the bull by the horns. Not to say their main back Tyler Michinard, can’t run the rock; quite to the contrary, he rushed for a school record seven touchdowns last week against Williamstown. Quarterback Jay Mazuera can throw the ball, and Will Dixon can pressure opposing QBs from his defensive end position, as he did against Phillipsburg in overtime, leading to Amankwaa’s game-clinching interception. All that said, North Brunswick’s best defense is a good offense here. Keep the ball out of the playmakers’ hands. If you can keep Amankwaa and Michinard off the field, they can’t score. Hillsborough feels the same way, but North Brunswick really needs to get that pass game going with Frankie Garbolino to open up the offense, something he couldn’t do in awful conditions three weeks ago at Noonan Field. Then, they can get it to Marquis Perry to work his magic on the ground.

More on Hillsborough:

More on North Brunswick:

by Mike Pavlichko

Sparta rebounded from inauspicious start to earn first finals bid since 2014

The Sparta football team won back-to-back North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 titles in 2013 and 2014, beating River Dell both times, but they haven’t been back since.

And after an 0-2 start, the drought could have gone on for another year.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the Cutoff Weekend: they won eight of their next nine games to become the third-seed in North 2 Group 3 this year.

Then, they put up 104 points in the first two games of this year’s playoffs, ins wins over Warren Hills and at River Dell, to make it back to the finals again.

Now 8-3, they will meet unbeaten top-seed Cranford (10-0) Friday night at 7 pm with a state title on the line, in a game you can hear on Central Jersey Sports Radio, our Big Central Game of the Week, driven by Autoland. Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe will call all the action, with a special, extended pregame starting at 6:30.

Click here to listen live, and for free.

Mike Pavlichko caught up with Sparta head coach Frank Marchiano this week. Click below to listen:

by Mike Pavlichko

This Week in the Big Central – Episode 13: The Championship Weekend 2021

It’s time to crown some champions!

On Episode 13 of “This Week in the Big Central,” driven by Mark Montenero and his team at the world-famous Autoland, we’ve got complete previews of the three conference teams vying for championships this weekend.

Mike Pavlichko is joined by Dom Savino for quick look back at the semifinals, then we go through both games with the players and coaches involved.

First, it’s a look at our Big Central Game of the Week, driven by Autoland, as the North 2, Group 3 title game features top-seed and undefeated Cranford (10-0) taking on Sparta (8-3). Mike Pavlichko talks with Cranford head coach Erik Rosnemeier and runningback Colin Murray, as well as Sparta head coach Frank Marchiano.

Then, Mike takes a look at the Central Jersey Group 5 title tilt, featuring top-seed and undefeated Hillsborough (11-0) entertaining third-seed North Brunswick (8-3). Mike Pavlichko stopped by each team’s practice this week to catch up with Hillsborough head coach Kevin Carty, Jr., and defensive end/tight end Will Dixon, as well as North Brunswick head coach Miek Cipot and top runningback Marquis Perry.

Mike and Dom close it out with a closer analysis of both matchups.

Listen to Cranford take on Sparta in the Big Central Game of the Week driven by Autoland with an extended pregame starting at 6:30, followed by kickoff at 7 with Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe, while Tim Catalfamo provides live updates from the Hillsborough-North Brunswick game. Click here to listen live, and for free.

Postgame reaction will follow from both contests later Friday night on cjsportsradio.com.

by Mike Pavlichko

Cranford looks to keep the beat going when Cougars host Spartans in North 2, Group 3 title game Friday night

In two prior state championship seasons, Cranford has gone a combined 22-1.

When you’re hot, you’re hot, and the Cougars are hot again.

Top-seed Cranford is 10-0 in 2021, and will put that perfect mark on the line Friday night in the North 2, Group 3 title game, when the Cougars host third-seed Sparta (8-3) in the North 2, Group 3 title game at Memorial Field Friday night.

It’ll be the Big Central Game of the Week, driven by Autoland. Pregame will start at about 6:30 on Central Jersey Sports Radio, with Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe covering all the action. Kickoff is at 7, and you can listen to the live audio stream by clicking here.

Cranford will be playing in its third sectional finals – all under head coach Erik Rosenmeier – and the Cougars have won twice: in 2011 and 2015, going undefeated that second time.

They’re led by quarterback Shane VanDam, who’s thrown for 1,339 yards and 16 touchdowns, with only two picks all season. Five different receivers have caught touchdown passes, including Will Gallagher, who has half of them.

PRIME TIME MATCHUP: Listen to postgame reaction from Cranford’s win over Woodbridge, a battle of unbeatens on CJSR

And then there’s runningback Colin Murray, who has rushed for 1,718 yards on 2016 carries, with a whopping 29 touchdowns to lead the Big Central.

And with New Providence’s season over, another 68 yards would put him over Charlie Barth to top the league in rushing as well. Last Friday night, in a 42-7 semifinal win over Pascack Valley, he reeled off 212 yards on just nine carries, scoring two touchdowns.

Click below to hear previews of the game and a look at Cranford’s season with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

Senior Colin Murray

Head coach Erik Rosenmeier
by Mike Pavlichko

Just three Big Central teams remain to vie for two sectional titles on Championship Weekend

With the state playoffs complete through two weekends, and sectional finals coming up this weekend, two heavy favorites are among the three Big Central teams remaining in the state playoffs.

The Big Central went 3-9 in sectional semifinals, with Somerville losing at undefeated Cedar Creek Saturday afternoon 27-0, while St. Thomas Aquinas hung in at St. Joe’s of Hammonton – down just 15-12 at the half – but ended up losing 45-12.

That leaves just third-seed North Brunswick (8-3) and top-seed and unbeaten Hillsborough (11-0) in Central Jersey Group 5, and unbeaten top-seed Cranford (10-0) in North 2, Group 4.

It will be a battle of the Raiders in the CJ5 title tilt, as Hillsborough goes for its first title since it shocked Brandon Hoyte-led Sayreville in 2000 at Rutgers Stadium. ‘Boro is 2-2 all-time in finals, losing in 1974 and 1996, but winning in 1980 and 2000. It will be the first sectional final at home for Hillsborough, which played the 1996 and 1980 games at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, and the 1974 game in Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.

North Brunswick is 0-2, losing in 1979 and 2018, the most recent defeat coming at Sayreville, which went on to win the South 5 bowl championship over Williamstown, which Hillsborough just beat this weekend in the sectional semifinals.

In North 2, Group 4, Cranford will also play its first-ever sectional final at home. The Cougars are 2-1 all time in finals, winning in 2011 and 2015, losing in 2014. They’ll face third-seed Sparta, which has quite the history; the Spartans have made it to the finals ten times, and won seven of them.

Both games will take place Friday night at 7 pm.

Central Jersey Sports Radio will announce its coverage plans later this week.

by Mike Pavlichko

Run defense, O-line power Cranford to first sectional final since 2015

There was no real turning point, but there was a point where Cranford just turned it on.

After “slogging” through the first quarter, and “only” leading fourth-seed Pascack Valley 14-0, the top-seeded Cougars rolled off four more touchdowns in the second stanza to take a 42-0 lead into halftime, and that was all she wrote.

Though they allowed one Pascack Valley score in the second half, the game was never in doubt after that, playing the entire second half with a running clock.

The win moves the Cougars to 10-0, and puts them in a sectional final for the first time in six years. It will be Cranford’s first time hosting a sectional final next Friday night, when they entertain third-seed Sparta. The Spartans (8-3) beat 2-seed River Dell on the road Friday night 42-0.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Cranford head coach Erik Rosenmeier:

by Mike Pavlichko

Friday night NJSIAA playoff results; Saturday schedule and finals matchups so far

Here are the results from Friday night’s sectional semifinal games in sections involving Big Central teams:

Central Jersey, Group 5
(1) Hillsborough def. (5) Williamstown 49-14
(3) North Brunswick def. (2) Cherokee 34-21

South Jersey, Group 5
(3) Toms River North def. (7) Edison 52-7

North Jersey, Section 2 – Group 5
(2) Clifton def. (3) Phillipsburg 28-21
(5) Eastside Paterson advanced via forfeit (Union cancelled due to COVID)

North Jersey, Section 2 – Group 4
(1) Irvington def. (5) Colonia 14-7
(2) Middletown South def. (3) Sayreville 17-8

North Jersey, Section 2 – Group 3
(1) Cranford def. (4) Pascack Valley 42-7
(3) Sparta def. (2) River Dell 42-0

South Jersey, Group 2
(1) Pt. Pleasant Boro def. (5) New Providence 28-7

Central Jersey, Group 2
(1) Raritan def. (4) Hillside 41-34
(3) Haddonfield def. (2) Bernards 24-14

SATURDAY SCHEDULE:

South Jersey, Group 3 semifinals: (4) Somerville at (1) Cedar Creek, 12 pm

Non-Public B first round: (6) St. Thomas Aquinas at (3) St. Joseph-Hammonton, 1 pm

FINALS MATCHUPS:

Central Jersey, Group 5
(3) North Brunswick at (1) Hillsborough, Friday 7 pm

North Jersey, Section 2 – Group 3
(3) Sparta at (1) Cranford, Friday 7 pm



by Mike Pavlichko

This Week in the Big Central – Episode 12: The Semifinals 2021

On Episode 11 of “This Week in the Big Central,” driven by Mark Montenero and his team at the world-famous Autoland, it’s the most in-depth look you’ll find anywhere on the 14 conference teams still alive in the state playoffs

Mike Pavlichko is joined by Dom Savino for quick look back at the first round, then a team by team breakdown of every Big Central school’s sectional semifinal matchups, plus St. Thomas Aquinas’ opening round Non-Public B game against St. Joe’s of Hammonton.

Coaches and players are featured throughout, including a detailed breakdown of Friday night’s Big Central Game of the Week driven by Autoland, featuring second-seed Bernards and third-seed Haddonfield in the Central Jersey Group 2 semifinals.