Tag: Dunellen

by Mike Pavlichko

Early look at Big Central Football 2026: Big graduation losses for Manville could level playing field in Freedom Silver Division

Just like some of the large school divisions, no change was made on the opposite end of the spectrum by the Big Central Conference when it comes to the Freedom Silver Division, which will keep the same six teams it had last year.

Manville is coming off a 10-1 season and a year in which it scored the first playoff win in school history, but they will see some significant graduation losses that could allow others to make a move. Bound Brook and Belvidere are coming off .500 seasons, while Middlesex will look to gain some ground, South Hunterdon has a new coach – but one who’s been with the program – and Dunellen will enter its second year with head coach Phlip McGuane, who took the post last season after longtime mentor Dave DeNapoli retired.

Here are the preliminary schedules for the Freedom Silver Division teams – in order of 2025 finish – compiled from the official league schedule and other online sources to the best of our knowledge as of the date of publication, along with a few notes on each squad. Division games are starred.

Manville Mustangs (10-1, 5-0, Freedom Silver Division Champions)
Head Coach: Dave Markowitch, 4th season (20-11)

  • Week 0: at Keansburg
  • Week 1: at Brearley
  • Week 2: Bound Brook*
  • Week 3: Dunellen*
  • Week 4: at South Hunterdon*
  • Week 5: Belvidere*
  • Week 6: Middlesex*
  • Week 7: Hillside
  • Week 8: at Dayton

It was a dominant year for the Mustangs in 2025, who went 10-1, beating Asbury Park for their first-ever postseason victory, before falling in the second-round at Burlington City. Manville posted four shutouts during the season, and never scored fewer than 31 points in league play. But, there are some big graduation losses, starting with senior quarterback Josh D’Ambrosio, who threw for 720 yards and nine TDs (with no picks!) while also rushing for 1,268 yards and 18 scores. No. 2 rusher Isaiah Bennett (925 yards, 17 TDs) also was the top receiver, with 262 yards and three TDs, but he’s also graduated. At QB, rising junior Aiden Johnson could get a shot. He threw just one pass last year, a 37-yard touchdown in a win over Highland Park. Senior tight end Collin Shimp is gone, too, and he was solid on the other side of the ball as well, logging three sacks and three TFLs last season. So is Evan Canica, who had three sacks and ten tackles for loss. But two freshmen who made an impact will return: linemen Levan Chankotadze (3 1/2 sacks, 8 TFLs) and Matthew Gorbatuck (3 sacks, 4 TFLS).

Bound Brook Crusaders (5-5, 4-1, 2nd place Freedom Silver)
Head Coach: Dave LePoidevin, 7th season (17-37)

  • Week 0: at Point Pleasant Beach
  • Week 1: Dayton
  • Week 2: at Manville*
  • Week 3: South Hunterdon*
  • Week 4: at Belvidere*
  • Week 5: Highland Park
  • Week 6: at Dunellen*
  • Week 7: Middlesex*
  • Week 8: Sussex Tech

The Crusaders are coming off their best season since the COVID-shortened year, when they went 5-2. Going 5-5 was a big step for Dave LePoidevin’s group, and they even made the playoffs, falling at Burlington City in the opening round. Rising senior Jayden Cruz should get a look at QB after the graduation of starter John Archer (829 pass yards and 7 TDs, 609 rush yards and 8 TDs), but he only threw one pass last year. The Brook also will have to replace top rusher Jake Markey, who carried 124 times (ten more than archer) for 910 yards and seven scores. But they will bring back top receiver, Zahmir Moore (22 catches, 347 yards, 4 TDs), for his senior season. The defense was very senior heavy, too, but Moore should continue to make an impact there, after logging three TFLs and three interceptions, including one for a touchdown last season. Rising junior Kayden Bailey (2 TFLs, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT) also could have an impact.

Belvidere County Seaters (5-5, 3-2, 3rd place Freedom Silver)
Head Coach: Jordon Schreffler, 5th season (16-23)

  • Week 0: at Hackettstown
  • Week 1: at Roselle Park
  • Week 2: at Dunellen*
  • Week 3: Middlesex*
  • Week 4: Bound Brook*
  • Week 5: at Manville*
  • Week 6: at South Hunterdon*
  • Week 7: at North Warren
  • Week 8: Delaware Valley

Primarily a running team, the Seaters should be set at the quarterback position, with sophomore Jake Enderley (457 yards, 8 TD) back for his junior year, with No. 2 Elijah White (162 yards, 1 TD) also back for his senior year. Top rusher Geoffrey Young is gone with his 729 yards and six touchdowns, but White could make an impact there, and on the receiving end, where he caught 10 passes for 157 yards, while rising senior Kayden Thorpe also is back at wide receiver, with 14 catches for 141 yards and two scores last season. Defensively, the loss of senior lineman Brayden Duckworth (5 sacks, 1 TFL) will have an impact, but sophomore Nick Muha (5 sacks) should make a bigger impact now as a junior, while White also had two picks and a fumble recovery playing defensive back last season.

Middlesex Blue Jays (2-8, 2-3, 4th place Freedom Silver)
Head Coach: Robert Swercheck, 3rd season (8-12)

  • Week 0: at New Providence
  • Week 1: at Highland Park
  • Week 2: South Hunterdon*
  • Week 3: at Belvidere*
  • Week 4: at Dunellen*
  • Week 5: Roselle Park
  • Week 6: Manville*
  • Week 7: at Bound Brook*
  • Week 8: JP Stevens

The Blue Jays struggled last season, but were young, with a sophomore QB in Matthew Petti, Jr., who threw for 681 yards and seven touchdowns, while top rusher Gerard Boateng – also just a tenth-grade – rushed 70 times for 343 yards and two more scores. The experience should pay off there, and in the receiving unit. The top defensive players were a bit more senior-heavy, so Swerchek will have to work on that, looking to younger players like defensive back Tyler Orts, who ha d a TFL, two forced fumbles/recoveries and two interceptions last season. There’s talent, and Middlesex should be improved this season.

South Hunterdon Eagles (1-7, 1-4, 5th place Freedom Silver)
Head Coach: Kyle Hart, 1st season

  • Week 0: New Hope
  • Week 1: South River
  • Week 2: at Middlesex*
  • Week 3: at Bound Brook*
  • Week 4: Manville*
  • Week 5: at JP Stevens
  • Week 6: at Belvidere*
  • Week 7: Dunellen*
  • Week 8: OPEN

The first new coach out in Lambertville in 16 years, Hart’s No. 1 job is to increase numbers in the program, part of what led to a one-win season last year. But he played for the Eagles, and has spent the last several years working under Jefferis, so he’s intimately acquainted with the scenario out there. The bright side is their QB last year, Tucker Hicks, was a junior. he threw for 284 yards and a touchdown last year, while top rusher Kellen Healy (119 carries, 541 yards, 5 TDs) is back for his junior year. Their defense was young, too, and will be more experienced in 2026. That includes freshman Brendan Paciulli (3 sacks), freshman Tommy Silagy (1 sack, 2 TFLs) and Healy, who had two interceptions, one for a touchdown. The Big Central notes Week 8 is open with the possibility of picking up an NJIC squad later in the year.

Dunellen Destroyers (0-9, 0-5, 6th place Freedom Silver)
Head Coach: Phlip McGuane, 2nd season (0-9)

  • Week 0: at Metuchen
  • Week 1: at JP Stevens
  • Week 2: Belvidere*
  • Week 3: at Manville*
  • Week 4: Middlesex*
  • Week 5: at South River
  • Week 6: Bound Brook*
  • Week 7: at South Hunterdon*
  • Week 8: OPEN

The Destroyers were shut out four times last year, and scored in double figures just once, but the team was young. Never a big passing team, they only managed 90 passing yards and just a shade over 700 yards on the ground as a team, but Dunellen also was young. Of the three quarterbacks on their roster to play, two were sophomores and one was a freshman. Of eleven players to rush the football, only three were seniors. That could bode well for the program as many will be back, with another year experience under their belt. On defense, they’ll miss seniors line linebackers Kahbir Casey (3 1/2 sacks, 10 TFLs) and Jackson Portik (1 1/2 sacks, 14 TFLs), but freshman lineman Colin Reynolds had seven TFLs, and sophomore Ben Howard had 12, so the cupboard isn’t bare. Again, they’ll look to bank on a baptism by fire in 2025 to make 2026 a more successful season.

by Mike Pavlichko

Early two-runs, solid pitching boost Piscataway to 3-0 win over Dunellen in Ray Cipperly GMC Invitational Final

Even when you have two of your best pitchers toss a combined two-hit shutout, it’s mathematically impossible to win a baseball game without scoring.

But on Friday afternoon in the Ray Cipperly GMC Invitational Final on Edison High School’s red turf, second-seed Piscataway took care of that part as early as they could, staking starter Sumedh Shingala to a 2-0 lead.

Shingala started, Jared Butler finished it in relief with the help of an insurance run, and the Chiefs (11-10) took their first-ever invitational title, beating fifth-seed Dunellen (18-7) to bring home Piscataway’s first county tournament hardware since winning the full tournament in 2003.

After Shingala started the game giving up a leadoff single to Dunellen, he struck out the next three batters to end the inning.

In the home half, Jason Mann walked to lead it off, then Dom Summonte slugged a triple on a 2-2 pitch to drive in Mann – who’d stole second – to make it 1-0 Piscatway. Then Patrick Novak knocked him in with a sac fly to center to give the Chiefs a 2-0 lead.

Piscatway got an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth when Novak reached on an error by the Dunellen shortstop, allowing Summonte – who’d reached on one-out single and stole second – to score.

Shingala went 4 2/3 innings, allowing just one hit, striking out 12, and got the win, improving to 5-2 on the year. Then came Butler, who only struck out two the rest of the way, but also only allowed just one more hit.

Dunellen starter Joseph Reyes took the hard-luck loss, his first of the season, going the full six innings, allowing four hits and three runs – two earned – to fall to 6-1 on the year.

Click below for postgame reaction from Piscataway starting pitcher Sumedh Shingala and head coach Rob Stoddard:

Both teams now move on to the state tournament.

Piscataway is the 15-seed in North 2, Group 4, and will visit second-seed Bayonne at 4:30 pm Wednesday, while Dunellen is the sixth-seed in Central Jersey Group 1, and will host 11-seed Florence at Columbia Park at 4 pm Wednesday.

by Alec Crouthamel

Ray Cipperly GMC Invitational Finals Preview: Dunellen, Piscataway looking to scrap their way to a title

A Championship Friday is descending upon New Jersey baseball this weekend.

One of them, the Ray Cipperly GMC Invitational, will have its final on Friday at 4pm at Edison High School, between second-seeded Piscataway and fifth-seeded Dunellen.

Both teams have taken different paths to reach the meeting point. After respective first-round byes, the Chiefs defeated the seven-seed South Amboy, aided by a seven-run sixth inning, including a grand slam from Dominick Summonte. The Destroyers put up big-time runs across the board in a 14-3 win over four-seed East Brunswick Magnet.

In the semifinals, Dunellen kept its offensive attack at a ten in a wild 22-17 win over top-seeded Perth Amboy that took four hours, while Piscataway once again got some clutch hitting in a 5-4 walk-off victory over third-seeded North Brunswick.

But both have the same goal in mind, winning a title on Friday.

Each team brings its best to the bump. For the Chiefs, they have two, top junior Sumedh Shingala — the team’s leader in wins and strikeouts — will start, with No. 2 arm Jared Butler ready and waiting, who head coach Rob Stoddard described as “a bulldog” in both starting and high-leverage relief spots. For the Destroyers, Joe Reyes will get the ball as the leader in wins and ERA among the main rotation arms.

They both have battled through respective stretches of up-and-down play — as nearly every team does — but they’re playing their best ball as of late, and will do battle for the GMC Invitational title in Edison.

RAY CIPPERLY GMC INVITATIONAL FINAL AT-A-GLANCE

Teams:
(2) Piscataway Chiefs (10-10, 6-8, GMC Blue)
(5) Dunellen Destroyers (18-6, 9-2, GMC Gold)

Head Coaches:
Piscataway: Rob Stoddard (6th season, 46-81)
Dunellen: Connor Lindsay (3rd season, 45-31)

Probable Starters
Piscataway: Sumedh Shingala (4-2, 3.73 ERA)
Dunellen: Joseph Reyes (6-0, 2.65 ERA)

Date and Time: Friday, May 22, at 4 pm
Location: Edison High School

PREVIEW INTERVIEWS:

Dunellen head coach Connor Lindsay
Piscataway head coach Rob Stoddard

HOW THEY GOT HERE:

Piscataway:
First round bye
Quarterfinals: def. (7) South Amboy, 11-5
Semifinals: def. (3) North Brunswick, 5-4

Dunellen:
First round bye
Quarterfinals: def. (4) East Brunswick Magnet, 14-3
Semifinals: def. (1) Perth Amboy, 22-17

TEAM LEADERS:

Dunellen:

  • Batting Average: Juan Luis Rodriguez (.425), Michael Dow (.417), Joseph Reyes (.397)
  • RBI: Kristian Roman Lopez (34), Colin Reynolds (26), Joseph Reyes (25)
  • HR: Cesar Andres Fermin Alarcon (1), Kristian Roman Lopez (1)
  • Walks: Kristian Roman Lopez (24), Jackson Portik (18), Joseph Reyes (14), Juan Luis Rodriguez (14)
  • Stolen Bases: Juan Luis Rodriguez (38), Michael Dow (22), David Torres (17)
  • Wins: Joseph Reyes (6), Cole Mayer (5), David Torres (4)
  • ERA (min 12 innings): David Torres (2.12), Joseph Reyes (2.65), Colin Reynolds (4.77)
  • Strikeouts (Pitcher): David Torres (53), Cole Mayer (49), Joseph Reyes (28)

Piscataway:

  • Batting Average: Jason Mann (.444), Dominick Summonte (.423), Patrick Novak (.370)
  • RBI: Patrick Novak (15), Dominick Summonte (14), Kevin Kovach (13)
  • HR: Dominick Summonte (3), Jason Mann (1)
  • Walks: Kevin Kovach (20), Sumedh Shingala (12), Jason Mann (8)
  • Stolen Bases: Jason Mann (17), Bryce Payne (14), Dominick Summonte (7)
  • Wins: Sumedh Shingala (4), Jared Butler (3), Brady Gallogly (2)
  • ERA (min 12 innings): Brady Gallogly (2.51), Jared Butler (3.35), Sumedh Shingala (3.73)
  • Strikeouts (Pitcher): Sumedh Shingala (72), Jared Butler (46), Brady Gallogly (29)

TEAM NUMBERS:

Dunellen:

  • Runs Scored: 264
  • Runs Allowed: 138
  • Batting Average: .350
  • Home Runs: 2
  • Stolen bases: 124
  • ERA: 4.19

Piscataway:

  • Runs Scored: 133
  • Runs Allowed: 132
  • Batting Average: .291
  • Home Runs: 4
  • Stolen bases: 56
  • ERA: 4.59

PREVIOUS COVERAGE of the RAY CIPPERLY GMC INVITATIONAL

by Mike Pavlichko

Dunellen wins marathon in GMC Invitational semis, topping Perth Amboy 22-17 to gain Friday finals berth

Reporters – whether print or broadcast – hardly are at a loss for words.

But they might be after this one.

In the second Ray Cipperly GMC Invitational semifinal game – following second-seed Piscataway’s win Monday night – fifth-seed Dunellen beat top-seed Perth Amboy Tuesday night.

Hold on to your hats… 22-17.

That’s not a typo, folks.

It was a game that took four hours, starting at 6 pm and ending around 10:00 under the lights at Rudyk Park.

Perth Amboy (5-19) used eight pitchers, who walked 17 Destroyer hitters, and another intentionally. The Panthers worked out nine walks off three pitchers, and had two batters get hit. Perth Amboy plunked eight Dunellen hitters.

And the scoring. Each team put up a five-spot in the first, starting with Dunellen (18-6), which – believe it or not – never trailed in the game. They led 9-6 after three, Perth Amboy cut it to 9-8 in the third, but the Destroyers got fur in that next at bat, and led 13-9 after four. Again, each team scored five runs in the sixth to make it 18-15, and for good measure, Dunellen added four more insurance runs in the seventh, then allowed two Amboy runs in their final at bat to win by five.

With freshman starter David Torres going down to injury last week, Dunellen head coach Connor Lindsay knew his team would have to piece it together on the mound.

Starter Cole Mayer went 4 2/3 and allowed ten runs, but kept his team in it as the offense piled up runs, also helped by Mayer himself, who knocked in five runs: two on a double in the first, one on a single in the second, and two more – one each – on a pair of walks in the sixth and seventh innings.

Senior Jackson Portik – the team’s nine hitter – had two RBIs on an 0-for-1 day, working out five – count ’em – five walks.

Dunellen will now face second-seed Piscataway in Friday afternoon’s Ray Cipperly Invitational title game at Edison High School. first pitch is set for 2 pm, and Central Jersey Sports Radio will provide live coverage, with our usual audio stream at cjsportsradio.com, as well as a video stream on our You Tube channel.

Click below for postgame reaction from Dunellen head coach Connor Lindsay with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

by Mike Pavlichko

GMC’s Ray Cipperly Invitational resumes this week with semifinal games; CJSR will air Friday’s final

The Greater Middlesex Conference’s Ray Cipperly Invitational tournament continues this week, with a pair of semifinal games at higher seeds. Winners will move on to Friday’s championship game, scheduled for 2 pm at Edison High School, with a live broadcast of the game on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

We’ll present our usual “radio” coverage, which you can listen to here, as well as a live video stream on our YouTube channel; there is no paywall to listen or watch. Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel will be on the call, with coverage starting at 1:45 pm.

Here’s a look at both semifinals, one scheduled for Monday, the other for Tuesday:

(3) North Brunswick (7-16) at (2) Piscataway (9-10), Monday 4 pm:

These two teams split their regular season matchups in the GMC Blue Division, and ended up right next to each other in the standings, the Chiefs finishing fourth, the Raiders fifth in the seven-team division. North Brunswick won the first meeting 7-0 at home on a combined two-hitter from Mateo Gianni (who went 4 2/3 innings) and Isaias Estrrella. Gianni also had quite the day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with four runs batted in. Piscataway took the second game, 8-6, with Sumedh Shingala and Brady Gallogly each knocking in two runs, while Jared Butler picked up the win in relief, thanks to a five-spot by the Chiefs in the fifth inning.

Both teams had byes to the quarterfinals. North Brunswick got to the semis with a 7-0 win over sixth-seed Somerset Tech. Willy Pena and Isaias Estrella knocked in two runs apiece, while Jasiah Hogans went the distance, allowing six hits, striking out five in the shutout.

Piscataway was an 11-5 winner over seven-seed South Amboy last Thursday in the quarterfinals. The Chiefs have won three straight coming in, including two games prior to the start of the Tournament, and has outscored those three opponents 42-6, with a 13-0 shutout of Highland Park, and an 18-1 win over Timothy Christian. Dominick Summonte drove in nearly half his team’s runs, going 2-for-3 with a home run and five runs batted in. Butler again got the win in relief, despite allowing five runs – four earned – in three innings of work; he and starter Sumedh Shingala combined for 17 strikeouts.

(5) Dunellen at (1) Perth Amboy, Tuesday 6 pm:

This is a rare White-Gold Division matchup, as these two schools haven’t played in baseball since at least prior to 2011. The Destroyers have won three straight coming in, while the Panthers have won two in a row.

Just like the other semifinal, both teams had byes to the quarterfinals. Amboy blew past nine-seed New Brunswick – which had picked up its first and only win of the season in the opening round, in a 5-1 win over eight-seed Highland Park. The Panthers scored early and often, with 12 men crossing the plate in the first inning; they added another in the third and six in the fourth, and finished with a five-inning run-rule victory, as starter Darwin Medina allowed just one hit, striking out eleven to get the win.

Dunellen knocked off the four-seed East Brunswick Magnet by run-rule, 14-3 in the quarterfinals. Cole Mayer drove in three runs for the Destroyers, while David Torres and Juan Luis Rodriguez each had 2-for-3 afternoons. Starter Cole Mayer struck out eight and allowed just one earned run on four hits in five innings of work.

by Mike Pavlichko

Manville hangs on for 48-46 win over Highland Park in opening round of Mustangs’ Holiday Tournament, will meet North Plainfield Monday

After a big 15-0 run to break a 26-all tie and end the third quarter, Manville had to sweat one out, as the Mustangs hung on to beat Highland Park 48-46 in the opener of their own holiday tournament Friday afternoon.

Manville (3-2) got 12 points apiece from junior Jonathon Gosk and sophomore Owen Kenyon, the second of whom scored six straight points in that third-quarter run, with and and-one followed by a triple.

The teams played a tight first quarter, with the Owls (2-4) taking a 2-0 lead, but ending the first eight minutes down 12-8. The second quarter saw Highland Park close on a 13-4 run to make it a tie game at 22 at the break.

The second half was back-and-forth early, with the teams trading buckets, and they were knotted up at 26.

Owls head coach Colin Copperthwaite called a time out at that point, with 4:55 to go in the third, just to settle things down a little. But over the next three minutes, the Mustangs went on a 12-0 run to take a 38-26 lead, forcing Highland Park to call another time out. Manville finished the half on a 15-0 run to take a 41-26 lead into the final period.

That’s when Evangelinos Kambitsis came alive, hitting a pair of threes early in the fourth. Cooper Ballentine scored a couple, and all of a sudden, the Owls were within nine. After a three by Ballantine, and another by Kambitsis, Manville’s lead was slashed to three. With the ball, and a minute to go, Highland Park again called time out.

They got a good look at a three but missed, and couldn’t convert on two putbacks. A foul put Manville at the line, where Collin Shimp missed a pair with 25.6 seconds left. The Owls got the rebound, but a pass up the floor went out of bounds on the sideline. Manville got fouled again with 13.4 to go, and this time Josh D’Ambrosio split a pair, making the second, putting them up by four.

But Highland Park couldn’t quickly get a good look, and settled for a late bucket to make it 48-46, as the clock ran out with just a few seconds left, and the Owls out of time outs.

The Manville Holiday Basketball Tournament resumes Tuesday for the boys, with the Consolation Game at 3 pm and the Championship at 7.

The Consolation will feature Dunellen (2-3) and Highland Park, while the Mustangs will meet North Plainfield (1-4). The Canucks got their first win of the season Friday, beating the Destroyers 56-32 behind a game-high 17 points from Cayden Prince. It was a solid defensive effort in the game from North Plainfield, which led 32-11 at the break; the Canucks also hit seven times from beyond the arc.

Click below to hear Manville head coach Bill Rooney talk about the Mustangs’ win over Highland Park with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

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”:

by Mike Pavlichko

Marcus Borden’s 2025 Camp Caravan: Dunellen travels to nearby North Plainfield

Week two of the 2025 Big Central Camp Caravan continued Friday for Central Jersey Sports Radio high school football analyst Marcus Borden. This time, it was a visit to Dunellen, where the Destroyers and first-year head coach Phlip McGuane welcomed in their neighbors from up the road, North Plainfield.

Below is video from the August 22, 2025 scrimmage at Columbia Park in Dunellen:

North Plainfield: Head Coach Derrick Eatman and seniors Alexander Kruszczynski (WR/RB/LB), Jhonnie Parker (MLB/DE), Julius King (WR/DB) and Luis Spagnuolo (RB/LB), as well as sophomore Anthony Costello (WR/DB).

Dunellen: Head Coach Phlip McGuane and seniors Kahbir Casey (FB/LB), Jackson Portik (TE/LB), Devyn DaSailva (HB/SS), Zahmir Dixon (OL/DL) and Jamael Davis (QB).

by Mike Pavlichko

2025 Big Central Preview: Freedom Silver Division

Our second divisional preview this season is the Freedom Silver, another six-team grouping of some of the Big Central Conference’s smaller schools.

It was a big rebound year for Belvidere, which finished 8-2 to win the Freedom Silver, following a 3-7 campaign in 2023. The County Seaters again are loaded, and should be right there again this year, but Middlesex could very well challenge them. The Blue Jays have some holes to plug, but the cupboard is far from bare, and they should be in the mix.

So should Manville, which completely flipped the script in 2024, reversing from a 3-7 year in 2023 to 7-3 last season. They’re loaded on defense.

South Hunterdon is coming off a .500 season, but should also factor into the mix, with players like senior runningback McCade Cummings back for another year.

Bound Brook will look to take a step up after a tough 2024, but with some key players returning, and Dunellen will look to rebound from a winless season with a new head coach, Phlip McGuane.

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

Belvidere wins the Big Central Central Freedom Silver Division title over Middlesex.
by Mike Pavlichko

Early look at Big Central Football 2025: Top Freedom Silver teams Belvidere, Middlesex, Manville all lose key senior standouts

After an 0-9 debut season and a 3-7 campaign in 2023, Belvidere shot to the top of the pile in the Freedom Silver Division, but they – like many others – will have to deal with some big losses. Kyle Blew was great last season for the County Seaters, as was Naquavere Thomas at Manville, Dom Parenti at Middlesex, etc., etc. The question is whether the supporting casts – solid in their own right – will be able to take it to the next level with whoever fills those shoes.

South Hunterdon loses a lot, while Dunellen and Bound Brook are looking to improve from tough seasons; the Destroyers went winless but have a new head coach and some talent coming back, while Bound Brook is coming off a one-year campaign, and faces some significant losses.

Here are the preliminary schedules for the Freedom Silver Division teams – in alphabetical order – compiled from the official league schedule and other online sources to the best of our knowledge. Please note game dates and times may be changed without notice as the season approaches. Division games marked with an asterisk (*).

Belvidere County Seaters (8-2, 5-0, Freedom Silver champs in ’24)
Head Coach: Jordan Schreffler (11-18, 2nd season)

  • Week 0: Hackettstown (Thurs, 7p)
  • Week 1: at North Plainfield
  • Week 2: at Manville*
  • Week 3: Dunellen*
  • Week 4: at Bound Brook*
  • Week 5: Dayton
  • Week 6: South Hunterdon*
  • Week 7: North Warren (Sat, 1:30p)
  • Week 8: at Middlesex*

Head coach Jordan Schreffler’s first two seasons – 0-9 and 3-7 – were a slow, but steady build to last year’s Freedom Silver championship, sweeping their five divisional games. But it will be tough to replace senior QB Kyle Blew, who threw for 1,230 yards and 22 touchdowns with just five picks on the season. All but 115 of 1,116 yards on the ground came from seniors last year, so that will have to be replaced as well. Top receiver Elijah White (421 yards, 11 TDs) returns. Two big rising seniors are back on defense, including DL Brayden Duckworth (3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, one for a TD) and LB Geoddrey Young *5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 for a score and 1 INT). Kardin LaBar – a sophomore linebacker – also could play a big role; he had two sacks and two fumble recoveries a year ago.

Bound Brook Crusaders (1-8, 1-4, 5th place in ’24)
Head Coach: Dave LePoidevin (12-32, 6th season)

  • Week 0: North Warren (Thurs, 6p)
  • Week 1: JP Stevens
  • Week 2: at Dunellen*
  • Week 3: South Hunterdon*
  • Week 4: Belvidere*
  • Week 5: at Spotswood (6p)
  • Week 6: at Middlesex*
  • Week 7: at New Providence
  • Week 8: Manville*

It could be another tough year for the Crusaders, depending on who’s waiting in the wings. Senior quarterback Jeremiah Norwood (698 pass yards, 5 TDs; 336 rush yards, #2 on the team, 5 TDs) is gone, as top rusher Andy Perpignan (536 yards, 1 TD). Same with the receivers, where the biggest impact player back is junior John Archer (7 receptions, 179 yards, 1 TD). The defense was mostly young in 2024, with some key seniors gone, too, but last year’s experience could pay off here.

Dunellen Destroyers (0-10, 0-5, 6th place in ’24)
Head Coach: Phlip McGuane (1st season)

  • Week 0: bye
  • Week 1: at Highland Park
  • Week 2: Bound Brook*
  • Week 3: at Belvidere*
  • Week 4: Middlesex*
  • Week 5: at Roselle Park
  • Week 6: at Manville*
  • Week 7: Dayton
  • Week 8: South Hunterdon*

After a 5-4 season in 2023, but a some key talent graduating, the Destroyers suffered through a winless season, and longtime head coach Dave DeNapoli retired from coaching. But he’s staying as Athletic Director, and brought in longtime boro resident Phlip McGuane. Don’t expect major changes to the double-wing scheme on offense, especially with DeNapoli still in the building able to lend a hand, if needed. Senior QB Mark Stein graduates, as does top rusger Jose Marin (513 yards, 5 TDs), but juniors Jamael Davis (RB, 410 yards, 4 scores) and TE Kahbir Casey (289 rush yards, 2 TD) should make in impact in their senior years. Freshman DL Ben Howard came up big last year with three sacks and seven TFLS, best among returnees.

Manville Mustangs (7-3, 3-2, 3rd place in ’24)
Head Coach: Dave Markowitch (10-10, 3rd season)

  • Week 0: at Keyport (Sat, 12p)
  • Week 1: at Hopatcong (6:30p)
  • Week 2: Belvidere*
  • Week 3: Middlesex*
  • Week 4: at South Hunterdon*
  • Week 5: at JP Stevens (Sat, 4p)
  • Week 6: Highland Park
  • Week 8: at Bound Brook

The Mustangs will lose a lot with the graduation of Naquavere Thomas, an all-over-the-field player who lead the team in rushing and receiving yards last year, with 947 yards and 13 scores on the ground, plus another 213 and two touchdowns through the air. But QB Josh D’Ambrosio is back. Not only did he throw for 453 yards and four scores last year, but he also ran for 764 yards and 13 touchdowns, while junior Isaiah Bennett chipped in with 489 yards and eight scores. Bennett also contributed defensively with a pick, three sacks, and four TFLs last season. Manville should be right in the thick of things again this season.

Middlesex Blue Jays (6-4, 4-1, 2nd place in ’24)
Head Coach: Bobby Swerchek (6-4, 2nd season)

  • Week 0: at Spotswood (Thurs, 6p)
  • Week 1: at Roselle Park
  • Week 2: South Hunterdon* (Thurs, 6p)
  • Week 3: at Manville*
  • Week 4: at Dunellen* (6p)
  • Week 5: New Providence
  • Week 6: Bound Brook*
  • Week 7: at FJK
  • Week 8: Belvidere

It could be a bit of a rebuild year for what was a very veteran Blue Jays team that played some solid football in 2024 under first-year head coach Bobby Swercheck. Senior QB Dom Parenti (1,013 yards, 14 TD, just 3 INTs) graduates, as do all three triple digit runningbacks from last season – Parenti, Jax Jarvis and Jack Killian) as well as all but one receiver, Julian Sameuls, who caught 20 passes for 371 yards and three scores as a junior. The defense may be a little better off and could keep Middlesex in some games. Junior Blake Wilkins (3 sacks, 3 TFLs) should contribute as a senior, and sophomore JoJo Pham had a solid varsity campaigm, with a sack, two TFLs, a forced fumble, and an interception last season.

South Hunterdon Eagles (4-4, 2-3, 4th place in ’24)
Head Coach: Toby Jefferies (72-74, 26th season)

  • Week 0: bye
  • Week 1: Dayton
  • Week 2: at Middlesex* (Thurs, 7p)
  • Week 3: at Bound Brook*
  • Week 4: Manville*
  • Week 5: Brearley
  • Week 6: at Belvidere*
  • Week 7: Spotswood
  • Week 8: at Dunellen*

Gone is senior Ed Cooper, who rushed for 1,185 yards and 17 touchdowns last year, accounting for all but three of the touchdowns the Eagles scored last season. Someone will have to replace those numbers, and that will be the challenge for Toby Jefferies, the veteran coach of this bunch. He’s dealt with the cyclical nature of high school sports before. They had a couple of nine-win seasons in 2013 and 2014, then went 22-7 over three years from 2021 through 2023, before going .500 last season. Which way will they swing in 2025?