Tag: Delaware Valley

by Mike Pavlichko

New Providence pounds the rock, tops Delaware Valley, 28-21, to head into playoffs with a win

Senior quarterback TJ Munn’s one-yard touchdown run with 2:02 to go in the third quarter gave New Providence the insurance they needed to hang on for a 28-21 Cutoff Weekend win over visiting Delaware Valley Friday night.

After a scoreless first quarter, Del Val got on the board first, but New Providence answered back. A.J. Whitehead have the Pioneers the lead with a 51-yard touchdown run with 4:24 to go before the half, but the Terriers answered this time with a 27-yard pass play from Kelton Ibach to Will Weckesser to even things at 14.

With 21 seconds left before the break, quarterback TJ Munn hit Jack Fitzgerald from 40-yards out to make it 21-14. The insurance came on Munn’s one-yard run late in the third, and it helped stave off Del Val, which got within a score at 8:00 of the fourth quarter on another Ibach TD pass, this one to Eric Klemmer, and they hung on to win.

New Providence ends the regular seaosn on a two-game winning streak, improving to 7-2. They should have wrapped up at least a first-round home game with the win.

Del Val drops to 6-2, with its five-game winning streak – including a forfeit win over Roselle – snapped. The Terriers will likely open the playoffs on the road, probably finishing in the bottom eight in South 2.

Click below for postgame reaction from Marcus Borden in Union County, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

by Mike Pavlichko

Somerville’s speed sparks Pioneers past Summit for Week 5 Chris’ Auto Body “Drive of the Week”

Thanks to our newest sponsor, Chris’ Auto Body of Lambertville and New Hope, we have a new segment this football season on Central Jersey Sports Radio: “The Chris’ Auto Body Drive of the Week.”

Each week, we’ll pick the best drive from the previous weekend’s games, as shot by our high school football analyst Marcus Borden. And you’ll be able to watch the drive right here on cjsportsradio.com.

This week, it’s Somerville, which scored early and often in a 41-0 win over Summit in a battle of undefeated teams on Friday, October 4th at Brooks Field in Somerville. The long drive had two big run plays, the first from QB Brenden Pacheco to set up a Terrell Mitchell touchdown run to open the scoring.

Click below to watch the “Chris’ Auto Body Drive of the Week” for Week Five:

by Mike Pavlichko

Rain doesn’t stop Del Val and Kelton Ibach in Week 4 Chris’ Auto Body “Drive of the Week”

Thanks to our newest sponsor, Chris’ Auto Body of Lambertville and New Hope, we have a new segment this football season on Central Jersey Sports Radio: “The Chris’ Auto Body Drive of the Week.”

Each week, we’ll pick the best drive from the previous weekend’s games, as shot by our high school football analyst Marcus Borden. And you’ll be able to watch the drive right here on cjsportsradio.com.

This week, it’s Delaware Valley, playing in the rain at Vorhees. The Vikings started with an onside kick that the Terriers recovered. And despite a fumble, they got two big run plays to the left sideline and set up quarterback Kelton Ibach’s game-opening score, that led to an eventual 57-6 road victory for Del Val.

Click below to watch the “Chris’ Auto Body Drive of the Week” for Week Four:

by Mike Pavlichko

Delaware Valley puts up big numbers, makes all the key plays in 57-6 win at Voorhees

A big first half for the Delaware Valley football team – on both sides of the ball – got the Terriers a road win at Voorhees Friday night, 57-6.

Junior quarterback Kelton Ibach – the son of head coach Ben Ibach – ran for two touchdowns and threw four TD passes in the victory.

He opened the scoring with a five-yard run late in the first quarter, which ended with Del Val up 6-0 after they missed the extra point.

The second quarter belonged almost entirely to the Terriers. Christian Jensen ran in a one-yard score just four seconds into the period, but Voorhees answered with a Matteo Tramutola three-yard run to cut it to 13-6, but that was as close as the Vikings would get.

Ibach answered by hitting tight end Will Fritsche for a 60-yard score. Then Del Val blocked a punt on Voorhees’ next possession, and Ibach found wideout Eric Klemmer from seven yards out to make it 27-6.

And the defense came up big again, as they intercepted a fake punt, then Ibach scored from three yards out. After an interception on the next Vikings’ possession, Brayden Costello hit a 21-yard field goal to make it 31-6 at the half.

In the second half, Iback threw another TD pass to Klemmer, Ben Cobb had a 57-yard pick-six, and Jayden Brown ran in one more score in the fourth.

Del Val improves to 3-1, and hosts South River (1-4) next Friday night, while Voorhees drops to 2-3 with a visit next Friday night to North Plainfield (1-3).

Click below for postgame reaction from Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Marcus Borden, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

by Mike Pavlichko

2024 Big Central Preview: Patriot Gold Division

The Big Central Conference Patriot Gold Division is one of the smaller ones in the league, with only four teams. And there’s a wide range here.

Bernards is the defending champ, coming off a 12-1 season in which their only loss came in the Group 2 semifinals at Westwood. They lose a ton of talent, but should still be the favorite here, as the Mountaineers rarely rebuild, they just reolad.

Delaware Valley will look to make strides in the Terriers’ second season with Ben Ibach at the held, while Voorhees has a new coach in John Hack – formerly of Immaculata and Morris Catholic – and will build off a solid ground game last year that ran for over 3,000 yards.

JP Stevens is new to the division, and will look to break the longest active losing streak in New Jersey, at 42 games. Their first chance to break the skid under second-year head coach Jason Goerge is Week One against Bound Brook, on September 6th.

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

by Mike Pavlichko

FRIDAY Cutoff Weekend Playoff Analysis: Group 2

It’s Cutoff Weekend, and we’re the place to get all the updated playoff standings all week long, with our coverage brought to you by My Family Appliances on Route 1 South in the Wick Plaza, Edison.

We’ll have more analysis throughout the day Saturday as scores roll in. And don’t forget to join us for our “Playoff Projection Show” on Saturday at 6:00 pm as Mike Pavlichko brings you all the playoff projections, with analysis and commentary by Marcus Borden, live in studio!

Here’s an updated look at the Group 2 supersections based on Friday night results as reported to Gridiron New Jersey.

NORTH GROUP 2

This one’s real simple for the only Big Central Conference team in North 2: Bernards holds the fourth spot with a win, and falls to seventh with a loss. The Mountaineers are 8-0, and would be favored over Governor Livingston, even on the road. Regardless, their opponent will be up in the air until after Saturday action is complete.

Key Saturday Games to Watch:

  • #4 Bernards at Governor Livingston
  • #13 Pompton Lakes vs. #16 Glen Rock

SOUTH GROUP 2

The top four all stayed the same here, with only Willingboro among them (at No. 3) yet to play this weekend. New Providence got lost 9-7 at Middlesex Friday night, and dropped from 5th to 8th place, but we think they stay there, as the closest team behind them yet to play is 11th place Haddon Heights (Saturday vs. West Deptford) at 2.6 UPR points behind. That’s a lot to make up when no one else around you plays.

Johnson fell from 9th to an 11th place tie with Haddon Heights with a win over a lowly-rated South River team, and they’re also waiting to see what Haddon does Saturday.

Delaware Valley beat North Plainfield Friday night, but dropped from 12 to 15, 0.4 UPR points ahead of Spotswood, which fell to 16. The Chargers (7-1) play JP Stevens (0-8) Saturday at home. The good news here is 14th place Delran lost Friday night and dropped to 17, and the only team that has a crack at the playoffs outside the top 16 with a game still to play is Lower Cape May (6-1) hosting Gateway (1-6)

Saturday.

We think Del Val is in and locked as the 15-seed, and we think Spotswood has a win-and-get-in game Saturday against the Hawks, which are a Group 5, but have lost 38 straight games, the second-longest active losing streak in the state.

A win or loss by Lower Cape May against lowly-regarded Gateway is going to push them from 18th to 21st place, so we call them out. A win by Spotswood in either event keeps them at 16, while a loss drops them to 20, and Delran (2-7) would jump in at the last playoff spot. The Chargers control their own fate.

Key Saturday Games to Watch:

  • #3 Willlingboro at Burlington Township
  • #6 Cinnaminson at Pemberton
  • #11 Haddon Heights vs. West Deptford
  • #16 Spotswood vs JP Stevens

by Mike Pavlichko

Cutoff Weekend Playoff Analysis: Group 2

It’s down to the final weekend of the regular season in high school football, and Cutoff Weekend is just days away. This week, Central Jersey Sports Radio will bring you exclusive, team-by-team analysis of all the playoff scenarios for the 57 public schools in the Big Central Conference.

It’s all brought to you by My Family Appliances on Route 1 South in the Wick Plaza, Edison.

And don’t forget to join us for our “Playoff Projection Show” on Saturday at 6 pm (moved to an hour later) as Mike Pavlichko brings you all the playoff projections, with analysis and commentary by Marcus Borden, live in studio!

With that, here’s a look at the Group 2 supersections, with all scores and playoff standings based on Gridiron New Jersey’s official calculations as of Sunday, October 15, 2023. Click on the heading to see the standings at Gridiron New Jersey:

NORTH GROUP 2

4. Bernards (8-0, 4.2 UPR): The Mountaineers are the only Big Central Conference team in this supersection. Even with a win over Governor Livingston (6-2) Saturday afternoon, and losses by the three teams above them (Westwood, Caldwell, and Rutherford), and then the three directly behind them, we think they top out at three, but most likely end up a No. 4. Should they lose to the Highlanders, the lowest they could drop is six, and that’s probably the extreme. Our best guess is a fourth or fifth place overall finish, but that’s a big difference: between a semifinal home game or a road game.

SOUTH GROUP 2

5. New Providence (4-4, 5.2 UPR): The Pioneers can bump up as high as a four-seed overall, but they need to win first on Friday night at Middlesex (6-1). Then, they’ll need a little help from Haddonfield and Pleasantville in the way of losses. The other teams in the top nine won’t matter; we think those are the only ones that can potentially jump them into fourth if others lose. With a defeat, however, they could drop as low as ninth if everything foes the wrong way for them with other teams behind them winning. Watch the Pleasantville (6-1) game at Middle Township (7-1), because they play each other, and a Middle loss keeps New Providence from dropping to ninth – and losing a first round home game – in the Pioneers’ doomsday scenario; that would leave them no lower than eighth. A Greyhounds loss and New Prov drops back to ninth.

9. Johnson (5-2, 8.8 UPR): The Crusaders’ meteoric rise was well-documented by us last week, and surprised us. The gist: On Friday, without even playing, everyone around them lost but one (Lower Cape May, which beat winless Buena) and ALJ skyrocketed from 17th to ninth place. That’s how bunched up teams were. By the time they scored a 48-0 road win over previously-undefeated Spotswood, they had jumped all the way to eighth, only to settle in ninth after the other scores came in. They jumped a grand total of eight places in one weekend, and now are firmly in the playoff picture. The Crusaders will beat winless South River (0-7) this week, so assuming that, we don’t think Johnson can move up. In fact, the best they can probably do is finish tenth. A loss, and the worst they can do is probably 13th. Basically, they played themselves in – and got some help – last week. Count Johnson in.

12. Delaware Valley (4-3, 14 UPR): At North Plainfield on Friday night, the Terriers should win that one over the 1-7 Canucks, even on the road. Looking at teams ahead of them, Monmouth (5-3) at Pinelands (5-2) is a toss-up, but we’ll give a win to the Falcons, Haddon Heights should beat a bad West Deptford team, and Johnson will beat South River. We think Del Val is going to end up around the 15th seed.

13. Spotswood (7-1, 14.4 UPR): Spotswood also benefitted from all those teams losing last week. That’s always a worst- or best-case scenario, but it never (or rarely) actually happens. But this time it did. And losing by 48 when Spotswood had an SI three points higher than Johnson also helped. The Crusaders’ SI value rose more than 10 points, so Spotswood got about five more points for a loss than they would have if they’d lost a one-point game. We’re going to try and find the best case scenario for the Chargers, but who knows if it will be enough? Certainly a loss against winless JP Stevens leaves them out, so we’ll assume a win. Delaware Valley should win at North Plainfield. If other games break wrong, Spotswood could end up in the 17 slot, but they could make it, too, barring a wacky residual showing up somewhere. Bottom line, they’re going to need some help somewhere along the way. If their luck continues and they get a smidgen of the help they got last week, they just might make it.

OUT: Roselle (18th, 18.8 UPR) looks to be out. Looks like a case of too little, too late for the Rams, who started 0-4, but have won three straight since. The problem is this week’s opponent – Belvidere – isn’t enough to move the needle into the top 16.

by Mike Pavlichko

Week 7 Friday night Playoff Analysis: Group 2

Through the end of the season, Central Jersey Sports Radio will be updating unofficial playoff standings following Friday night’s games. Full analysis after the weekend will come during the week as the official standings are released by Gridiron New Jersey.

Here’s a look at unofficial standings after games of Friday, October 13th in Group 2. Results are calculated using scores on Gridiron New Jersey as of 9:30 am on October 14th:

The only Big Central Conference team in North 2 is Bernards, and the Mountaineers stayed perfect last night with a 38-14 win over New Providence, while the other three unbeaten teams ahead of them also won. So, there was no movement among the top four, although the teams behind got a little closer.

Bernards had a 1 point UPR lead over Hanover Park in fifth, but now the fifth place team is Newton (6-1) just 0.2 UPR points behind. That makes the Mounties’ game at Group 3 Governor Livingston (5-2) next week a big one, worth 24 power points (their average is 15.71). We’ll see if they can hold on to their spot.

New Providence stayed in seventh with their loss to highly-regarded and undefeated Bernards, with their UPR dropping from 6.2 to 6.4, but their lead over the ninth place team has expanded. They had been ahead of Pleasantville by 2.2 UPR points, but now lead Haddon Heights and Middle Township – who are tied for ninth – by 3.4 UPR points.

Delaware Valley’s loss to a very good Hillside team still dropped them – likely due to some other results more than anything – but they are still in it, safely, we think, at No. 12.

Johnson – without even playing – made a huge jump from 17 to 11, thanks to some residuals. Even their OSI went up by teams they played rising in SI value based on Friday night. They visit Spotswood, which dropped from 12 to 13. The game is considered a must win for both teams, but it may be less so for Johnson considering their move already. Follow Marcus Borden for live updates by clicking here and we’ll fave a game story and interviews presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen on our site after the game.

by Mike Pavlichko

Week 7 Playoff Analysis: Group 2

With just two weeks of play left before the state playoffs are seeded, things are heating up in the playoff chase. Here’s our look at the Big Central Conference teams in playoff contention in Group 2 as we head into Week 7 of high school football around the state.

And, of course, don’t miss our “Playoff Projection Show,” scheduled for 5 pm on Saturday, October 21st, when we’ll reveal our predicted matchups and seeds for the postseason. It’s all presented by My Family Appliances of Edison, which will be giving away three $100 gift cards during the show to lucky listeners!

All our analysis is based on Gridiron New Jersey’s official playoff calculations performed for the NJSIAA and listed on their website as of 11:30 pm on October 10. For full standings, click on each supersection’s header below:

NORTH GROUP 2:

4. Bernards (7-0, 4.2): What a bear of a group! The top four teams in the standings are all undefeated, with Westwood (1 UPR), Caldwell (2) and Rutherford (3.4) all 6-0, followed by Bernards at 7-for-7. They still have some teams close behind them in Hanover Park, Lyndhurst and Newton, all within two UPR points. Even if the Mountaineers win out – they have road games at New Providence this Friday and Governor Livingston next Saturday – we’re not sure if they will finish in the top 5. Lyndhurst and Rutherford are in the NJIC playoffs, and we don’t know yet who they will play next week. They could play each other, win or lose. Rutherford could face Lyndhurst for the NJIC championship next weekend, or they could play each other in a consolation game, too.

SOUTH GROUP 2:

7. New Providence (4-3, 6.4): The Pioneers have a little distance between themselves and the 8 and 9 teams, the ones they will have to stave off to finish in the top eight and get at least a first round home game. Tough one this weekend home to Bernards Friday night, then another good one at Middlesex next week. They might be okay with a split – specifically a loss to the Mountaineers and a win over the Blue Jays – but two wins should keep them on their home turf.

10. Delaware Valley (4-2, 13.2): It may be an uphill climb for the Terriers to a top eight finish, but it may not be impossible, depending how other teams around them fare and how the Strength Index values change this week. They host Hillside Friday, then visit North Plainfield next Friday. They need a sweep and some help, but we think it most likely they’ll be wearing road jerseys in the playoffs.

12. Spotswood (7-0, 13.6): Sitting in 12th sounds comfortable, but its not, due to the Chargers’ weak opponent in Week 8, JP Stevens, which is winless and has an SI value in the 20s. That makes Saturday afternoon’s home game against AL Johnson their play-in game. Assuming they beat JP Stevens, a loss to Johnson might leave them out of the playoffs. But a win should lock it up. It’s all on the line Saturday afternoon.

17. Johnson (4-2, 15): The Crusaders may be five spots behind Spotswood, but they also have a shot at the playoffs, and this one may be their playoff game, too. A loss this Saturday on the road against the Chargers puts them in the same position as Spotswood; ALJ visits South River. So, yeah, this might be it for Johnson, as well. Here are two more things to keep in mind: heavy rain is in the forecast this Saturday, and these last two weeks will be their only games on a natural grass surface all year.

by Mike Pavlichko

Week 6 Playoff Analysis: Group 2

Just three more weeks of games remain until the NJSIAA seeds the state playoffs, and Central Jersey Sports Radio is well into its team-by-team analysis of all the scenarios for all the Big Central Conference schools still in contention for postseason play.

All our stories are sponsored by My Family Appliances in Edison, on Route One South in Wick Plaza, which will be presenting out third annual “Playoff Projection Show” on Saturday, October 21 from 5-7, hosted by Mike Pavlichko with analyst Marcus Borden. And, My Family Appliances will be giving away three $100 gift cards to lucky listeners that night!

Scroll down for our team-by-team look at Group 2 schools in the North and South supersections, and click on the supersection name to go to Gridiron New Jersey for the official standings, as calculated by the website for the NJSIAA.

NORTH GROUP 2:

4. Bernards (6-0): The top four teams in this supersection all have what we call “pure” UPRs of 1, 2, 3 and 4. That means first place Westwood (6-0) is first in power points and OSI, Caldwell (5-0) is second in both, Rutherford (5-0) third and Bernards fourth. So they are bunched close enough together. Strength Indexes will continue to change the next two weeks, and a lot can happen with those four teams’ opponents, but right now, they’re basically battling it out with each other. A top-seed would guarantee home field through the sectional finals, and – new this year – the No. 1 overall seed means a potential home game in the group semis. (Last year, those were played at neutral sites, but now they go to the higher seeded team.) This week will tell a lot, as the Mountaineers should beat Bound Brook; the question is how much a victory over a one-win team with an SI of 31.19 will hurt them. Bernard’s OSI is almost 54, so that will bring them down. And they’ll only get 11 power points, which would bring down their 14.50 average. But they do have two stronger teams the rest of the way, both on the road. New Providence (3-3, 58.10 UPR) is next Friday, and then they visit Governor Livingston (5-1, 57.18) on the Saturday of Cutoff Weekend. Of the teams above them: Rutherford has two left against above-.500 teams; Caldwell has a 1-4 team in there, too; and Westwood has a bye this week followed by two middle-of-the-road to good opponents. Anyone can slip here, and that could give Bernards a shot, if they don’t trip themselves.

NORTH GROUP 2:

8. New Providence (3-3): The Pioneers are the highest team in the supersection from the Big Central, and we’re not exactly sure how on the “top eight” bubble they are. That’s because the next team back – Overbrook (3-2) – is four full UPR points behind them. That’s a lot of ground to make up: ten places in power point rank or seven OSI places. They should beat Metuchen at home this week, and may beat Middlesex the final week at Mountainview Park. Should they lose to Bernards, that still may not hurt them much. The Pioneers have a 47.12 OSI and Bernards is worth 40 as a loss, and might even go up by beating New Providence. Granted, they can’t lose their last three games, but they shouldn’t. They’re a good bet to get a home game.

11. Spotswood (6-0): Yes, the Chargers are undefeated, but appear destined to start the playoffs in some other town. But the bigger concern is this: if they don’t sweep their last three games, will they get in? That’s a good question. Spotswood got snubbed last year with a 6-3 record at the cutoff. They lost to Brearley, Roselle Park and Johnson, the latter by a 44-0 score. Both teams are better this year. Now, Spotswood should beat 1-4 Dayton this weekend up in Springfield. Johnson (4-1) will be a tough task at home next Saturday. And they should beat JP Stevens (0-6) the final weekend. And if they finish 9-0, they’ll be in regardless; by NJSIAA rule, no unbeaten team can be left out of the playoffs. But 8-1? With a their only loss to Johnson? Will it be enough? It might be too early to tell yet. Stay tuned…

12. Johnson (4-1): We’re a little less concerned for the Crusaders missing the playoffs, with a stronger schedule. They have Hillside and Spotswood on the road the next two weeks, then South River. So if ALJ and the Chargers both go 2-1 the rest of the way, we’d expect Johnson to move past Spotswood. How far? Likely not far enough to pick up a first round home game. They close with South River, but a win there shouldn’t hurt them much. All things being equal, Johnson – despite being behind Spotswood – is on slightly firmer footing heading into the final three weeks of the regular season.

13. Delaware Valley (3-2): The Terriers’ schedule the rest of the way out is more like Spotswood’s, but a loss to the best remaining team they have on the schedule – Hillside – would be better than a Charger loss to Johnson. So, like the Crusaders, we think they’re on better ground. That home game against the Comets comes in the middle of two road games: this week at South River (0-5) and the final weekend against North Plainfield (0-6). Del Val may need to win out as well. It depends on what some of the teams behind them do.