Tag: Jaeden Jones

by Mike Pavlichko

With two titles in one season, Colonia’s Jones was instrumental for CJSR’s #1 Team in ’23-’24

Basketball is truly a team game, and perhaps no one understands that – or benefitted from it – more than Jaeden Jones.

Jones – who will graduate from Colonia this spring, then put away the gym shoes for cleats and a helmet when he suits up for the Monmouth University football team later this fall – used his point guard skills on the gridiron the past two years as a quarterback, then this year saw some pressure come off him on the hardwood with the continued emergence of sophomore Aiden Derkack, the GMC Tournament MVP.

That, plus a supporting cast that includes starting seniors Matt McSorley and James Curet, helped Colonia win its first full GMC Tournament since 2015, and take the North 2, Group 3 title for a third straight year, all while navigating the devastating loss of assistant coach Danny Brix in between the GMC Tournament final and the opening game of the state tournament.

Colonia finished 22-9 for a second straight year, and has won 20 or more games in all five full seasons (the COVID-shortened 2021 season didn’t even have 20 games in it) with coach Jose Rodriguez at the helm.

Click below to hear Colonia Senior Jaeden Jones talk about the Patriots’ 2023-24 season:

by Mike Pavlichko

Colonia’s Jaeden Jones runs his way to CJSR Offensive Player of the Year Honors

In 2021, Josh Oluremi became the first quarterback to lead Middlesex County in rushing in goodness-knows-how-long. (Historical stats in high school football are a mixed bag.)

In 2022, Colonia head coach Tom Roarty handed the keys to the offense to a junior who had never played the position before. But Jaeden Jones used his point guard mentality to run the show not only with ease, but to slice and dice his way through opposing offenses to the tune of 1,661 yards and and 19 touchdowns while still throwing for over 1,000 yards.

This year? Well, his encore performance was pretty much on par: he rushed for 1,474 yards and 22 touchdowns – three more than last year, while throwing for 1,212 yards and 9 TDs.

For his efforts, Jones has been named the Central Jersey Sports Radio Offensive Player of the Year for 2023. Scroll down to see our Honorable Mentions.

Click below to Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko with Colonia senior Jaeden Jones:

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

  • Zaimer Wright, Sayreville, RB: 1,800 yards rushing, 24 TDs
  • Aleks Sitkowski, Watchung Hills, QB: 134-220 passing for 1,696 yards, 17 TD; rushed for 690 yards and 23 TD
  • Carter Shallcross, Summit, RB: 1,483 yards and 15 TDs, two 200+ yard rushing games, only second Big Central player to rush for 100+ yards vs. St. Thomas Aquinas in last 3 seasons
  • Matt D’Avino, Montgomery, WR: 67 catches for 1,051 yards, 16 TDs, averaged 15.7 yards/catch
  • Chiekezie Ogbuewu, Dunellen, RB: 1,644 yards and 21 TDs, one TD reception
by Mike Pavlichko

Colonia’s Jones leads Pats’ to playoff berth in must-win game, earns final Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week award this season

Even if the Colonia football team still had to sweat things out early Saturday evening of Cutoff Weekend, Jaeden Jones was the young man most responsible for getting them in a position where they even needed to towel themselves off.

The senior quarterback – who brings with him a point guard mentality from basketball – figured in all five touchdowns by throwing for two and running for three in a 35-7 win over Rahway. Couple with a Lincoln win over Orange Saturday night, it got Colonia in the playoffs as the 15th-seed overall, and the 8th seed in the North 2, Group 4 playoff section.

A loss, and the Patriots wouldn’t have been scoreboard watching. They would have been scratching their heads, wondering how they didn’t make the playoffs with four wins, but Rahway did.

But that’s not how it worked out, thanks in large part to Jaeden Jones, and that’s why he’s our Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Player of the Week for Week Eight, the final weekly award to be given out this season.

Jones and company now go on the road in the first round to take on top-seed Roxbury Friday night at 7:00 in North 3, Group 4 action.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko’s interview with Week Eight Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Jaeden Jones of Colonia:

The Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week is chosen from nominees by Big Central coaches. At the end of the season, one player will be chosen to receive a $500 scholarship courtesy of Bellamy & Son Paving. As we did last year, we will recognize a few “Honorable Mentions,” and include all other all nominees in our weekly story.

Honorable Mentions:

  • Jake Caldwell, Bernards: The senior receiver had six catches for 140 yards (23.3 per catch!) in a 42-7 victory at Governor Livingston on Saturday, playing just the first five offensive drives before coming out of the game midway through the second quarter.
  • Jake Saus, Hunterdon Central: The senior was a workhorse for the Red Devils in a 32-6 win over Perth Amboy Friday night, rushing 39 times for 301 yards (7.7 yards per carry) and three touchdowns, while also hauling in a 41-yard pass from outstanding quarterback RJ Hart.
  • Cam Robinson, Middlesex: The senior defensive end was critical in a 9-7 home win over New Providence Friday night at Mountainview Park. Allowing a first quarter touchdown to the Pioneers, Robinson led a defense that shutout New Providence the rest of the way; Robinson recorded ten tackles, two sacks, and three tackles for loss in the victory.
  • Salvatore Marchione, Monroe: Head coach and Falcon alum Nick Isola says Marchione was “the best player on the field” Friday night in a 47-14 win over a good South Plainfield team, a sign Monroe is making progress in Isola’s first season. Marchione grabbed eight catches for 117 yards and had three carries for 54 yards, including a touchdown. On defense at outside linebacker, he also forced a fumble that led to a scoop and score, and had two pass breakups, along with two tackles for loss.
  • Samaad Hicks, North Brunswick: The senior was key on both sides of the ball in a 44-14 win over Cranford, which had beaten the Raiders in last year’s regular season finale. He had eight tackles and a forced fumble on defense, while running it just five times on offense for 101 yards, and catching tw passes – both for touchdowns – for another 130 yards.
  • Keiwan Kirkland, Plainfield: In a 41-7 win against Franklin, Kirkland was a force out outside linebacker. He grabbed two interceptions and had a fumble recover and 12 tackles in the victory.
  • Terrell Mitchell, Somerville: In a critical 42-14 win over South Brunswick that got the Pioneers as close as they could to a first round home game (they just missed and will open at Manasqsuan) the speedy junior rushed for three touchdowns, of 32, 23 and 12 yards in the final scheduled home game at Brooks Field this season.
  • Isaac Levitan, Voorhees: The senior helped the Vikings win the Milk Can back from rivals North Hunterdon, 35-14, with a big night, barely coming off the field. Levitan – a quarterback – carried 19 times for 137 yards and two touchdowns, also passing 5-for-6 for 49 yards and a score. He also plays linebacker, and logged nine tackles on defense.
by Mike Pavlichko

Jones powers Colonia to 35-7 win over Rahway, likely playoff spot

It was considered a play-in for the playoffs and Jaeden Jones’ elevated his play one more notch.

Hard to fathom there was any room to even do that, as he’s having another stellar season. But Friday night may have taken the cake: 233 rushing yards on 21 carries (10.6 per rush!) and three touchdowns on his own Senior Night, while throwing for 137 more and two scores on just 3-of-5 tossing it.

The result was a 35-7 win for Colonia that looks like it will get them in the playoffs. They started the night as the 16th team in North Jersey Group 4.

Colonia (5-4) got out to a 13-0 lead on a pair of touchdown runs – eight and four yards – in the first quarter. Rahway got one back on a two-yard run by sophomore Andrew Avent, but that was all they would manage.

The Patriots scored two more TDs in the final 2:16 of the first half – a 57-yard touchdown pass and a 17-yarder to Nygel Hill – the second of which was a toss to the right coffin corner of the end zone by Jones that was tipped high in the air by the defender, who then lost sight of it. Hill didn’t and grabbed it a few feet away for the score.

Jones would an another touchdown run – 27 yards – in the fourth quarter to make the final score.

Rahway fell to 3-6 with the loss, and has now lost four straight, but the Indians may have a chance at the postseason. They’ll just have to sit and wait to see what happens elsewhere Friday night and Saturday afternoon.

Colonia should be in, it’s just a matter of where.

Follow us for updated standings late Friday night/early Saturday morning, plus analysis on cjsportsradio.com Saturday, then our live “Playoff Projection Show” sponsored by My Family Appliances on Route One South in Edison. We’ll give all out matchup projections with Marcus Borden as out live in-studio analsyt, and we’ll be giving away three $100 gift cards to lucky listeners from My Family Appliances.

Click below for postgame reaction presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

Colonia QB/S Jaeden Jones and WR/CB Nygel Hill
Colonia head coach Tom Roarty
by Mike Pavlichko

Jones will run the show again for Colonia, expecting big things in ’23

The 2022 season saw quarterbacks as the top two rushers in the Big Central Conference.

One of them, Matt Sims of Brearley, has graduated. The other, Jaeden Jones of Colonia, is back to do it again.

The senior Jones, a quarterback and defensive back for the Patriots, is one of the league’s most electrifying players, and followed another dazzling QB, Josh Oluremi. In back-to-back years, they led Middlesex County in rushing, the first time it’s happened since at least the mid-90s, the furthest back we could find reliable statistics.

He’ll be a huge key for Colonia this year, which is coming off an 8-2 season and the inaugural Liberty Gold Division championship.

Their division isn’t easy, with Linden always in the mix, and Woodbridge expected to improve with a more veteran squad this year, but Colonia expects to be there again, and for good reason: they have all the pieces.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko’s interview at Big Central Media Days with Colonia head coach Tom Roarty and seniors Jaeden Jones, Joe Perosi, Logan Ramos and Tobi Popoola:

by Mike Pavlichko

Colonia boys’ seek back-to-back sectional titles when Patriots host Snyder in North 2, Group 3 final

Every year is a different team, but sometimes it’s the same result.

Fans of the Colonia boys’ basketball team hope that’s very much the case this year, as their fourth-seeded Patriots (21-8) will play for a second straight North 2, Group 3 title Monday night at 6:00 when they take on sixth-seed Snyder (17-11) out of Jersey City.

Colonia got there with a semifinal win over top-seed South Plainfield, an upset by seed, but really could have gone either way between two of the top teams in the GMC all year. The Patriots took control of after the Tigers got off to a hot start. Read more on Colonia’s semifinal win here, including postgame interviews by Chris Tsakonas with junior point guard Jaeden Jones and head coach Jose Rodriguez.

And so, here they are, back in the sectional finals for a fourth straight time, having never missed a sectional title tilt under head coach Jose Rodriguez, now in his fifth season.

Follow Sportsplex at Metuchen on Instagram for the latest on open gym sessions on their courts and turf!

The stretch began in 2019 when the blue-and-gold made the finals in Rodriguez’ first season, losing to Irvington. The next year, they came back and beat West Morris 57-33 on the road. Unfortunately, Colonia wouldn’t get a chance at a title the next year during the COVID-shortened season, but won the next-best-thing: the Jay Williams-Karl Anthony Towns GMC pod, a four-game “postseason” allowed by the NJSIAA in lieu of county and state tournaments.

But once the NJSIAA tournament came back last season, Colonia picked up right where it left off: winning a title, beating South Plainfield 56-52 in a double-overtime instant classic.

READ MORE ON THE 2022 CHAMPIONSHIP: Colonia needs double-OT to stave off South Plainfield as Pats take North 2, Group 3 title

So, here are the Patriots, looking for a third straight title in North 2, Group 3. Not to look past, but they hope to take it a step further this year, as the last two times they have been knocked out in the group semifinals, last year by Ramapo, and in 2020 by Irvington.

Junior point guard Jaeden Jones makes it all go, averaging 15 points per game but perhaps more importantly six assists in three state tournament games so far, wins over North Hunterdon, Chatham and South Plainfield. Senior Noah Taylor had a double-double in the quarterfinals against Chatham – 16 points and 10 boards – and though he was held scoreless against the Tigers, he grabbed another ten rebounds, critical in the victory as the Patriots had a 27-19 rebounding edge in the game.

Click below to hear them talk with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

The Patriots will be playing for their eighth sectional title in program history. And a win against Snyder would give them three in the last four NJSIAA state tournaments. In addition to the 2019 and 2022 wins, they also won North 2, Group 3 in 2015.

Chris Chiera was the head coach of that 2015 title team, which beat Chatham in a raucus game in Colonia’s gym, 45-43. Colonia had to rally in the fourth quarter, down 35-29 heading into the final eight minutes. The place was rocking that night, and even alum Eric LeGrand was in attendance. One of Chiera’s assistants on that team was Joe LaSala, LeGrand’s childhood friend and football teammate at Colonia, who now is the head football coach at Woodbridge.

That team then lost to Bergenfield in the Group 3 semifinals up at East Orange Campus High School.

Other titles also included a win in North 2, Group 3 in 2007, Central Jersey Group 3 titles in 1994 and 1985, and a Central Jersey Group 4 crown in 1972.

Colonia has never made it to a group final.

As for Snyder, the Tigers got knocked out of the Hudson County Tournament in the quarterfinals, 59-56 by Union City. They’ve not won more than four games in a row this season, and that only happened once: in their first four games, with wins over Lincoln, Columbia, Bayonne and Dickinson.

They have been led all year long senior point guard Ahmad Robertson, averaging 12.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. He also averages just over four assists per game to lead the team, and has a Snyder-best 61 steals on the year.

But the key late in the year has been Senior Samir Jordan – a transfer from North Star Academy – who didn’t play until February second. And since then, all he’s done is pour in points. Specifically, he scored 23 against Payne Tech in the semifinals, had a career high 28 against Mendham in the semis, and has averaged 21.2 points in the ten games he’s played since becoming eligible.

by justinsontupe

Jones brings QB vision back to hardwood for Colonia, while pouring in more points

It’s hard to believe Colonia point guard and leading scorer Jaeden Jones is still just a junior.

It might be because of his multiple monster games on both the hardwood and the gridiron. It might be because of his maturity on and off the floor.

Ask him, though, and it might just be because all he really wants to do is help his team win.

And so, it is another year, another tight race in the GMC Red Division, and another pivotal game in the Colonia-St. Thomas Aquinas rivalry. A win by Colonia sews up the division nice and neatly, with the Patriots holding the trophy all alone at the top.

Follow Sportsplex at Metuchen on Instagram for the latest on open gym sessions on their courts and turf!

Will the magnitude of the game, the intensity of the Aquinas crowd in their loud, band-box gym have any impact on Jones?

Probably not, and he will say, that’s just how he likes it.

Jones started at point guard for the Patriots as a sophomore last season, but often deferred as a lead scoring option to veterans Saivon Pressley and Billy Anderson. This season, Jones is shouldering a bit more of the load, averaging 15.5 points per game. He dropped a career-high 29 in a December win at St. Joe’s.

But part of what makes this Patriots team so dangerous is the depth and balance on the offensive end. Jones (15.5), senior big Noah Taylor (14.1), freshman wing Aiden Derkack (10.5), and senior wing Anthony Gooden (10.5) all average double-digit points per game.

Colonia (10-1) looks to bring home a banner and improve to 8-0 in the GMC Red Division Thursday night at St. Thomas Aquinas (11-1, 6-0 GMC Red). Coverage begins approximately 6:35 with Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe on Central Jersey Sports Radio. Click here to listen.

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Click below to hear Justin Sontupe talk with Colonia junior point guard Jaeden Jones:

by Mike Pavlichko

Central Jersey Sports Radio announces “Specialty Awards” for 2022

So many great players, so few awards. When you’ve got multiple deserving players for a single award, it’s time to get creative to honor those who truly deserve to be honored.

So without any further ado, here are Central Jersey Sports Radio’s postseason Specialty Awards for 2022!

“Best Rushing QB” Award: Jaeden Jones, Colonia

The top two rushers in the Big Central Conference this season were quarterbacks. Matt Sims of Brearley was No. 2, and topping the list was Colonia junior Jaeden Jones, who succeeded a pretty good runner himself: last year’s “Mr. Dynamic” Award to the most explosive player in the league by far, fellow quarterback Josh Oluremi.

Colonia’s Jaeden Jones (Source: @Jaeden_Jones2 on Twitter)

In fact, Oluremi and Jones share a unique piece of history. So far as we could tell, at least back to the mid-90s – since stats from those years aren’t as readily available as they are now – Oluremi was the first quarterback since then to lead Middlesex County in rushing. (He was second in the Big Central Conference last year to state rushing leader Colin Murray of Cranford, in Union County.)

Now, Jones has made it two years in a row for a QB to lead Middlesex County in rushing, both from the same school. And as for making his own piece of history, he’s also the first quarterback to lead the BCC in rushing in its short three-year history. (Someone remember it when we go digging for that fact in another 20 years, please?

Like Oluremi, Jones’ rushing to passing totals were about a 3:2 ratio in favor of the ground game. Jones threw 86 of 150 for 1,059 yards, but amassed 248 carries of his own on the ground for 1,661 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Jones led Colonia to an 8-2 record this year, and the Liberty Gold Division title. And the best part is, he’ll be back next year.

Click below to hear Justin Sontupe talk with Jaeden Jones of Colonia:

“Best Backfield Duo”: Kente Edwards and Alex Uryniak, North Hunterdon

While head coach Kevin Kley has called runningback Kente Edwards “the most feared runner” in the Big Central, he’s been blessed enough to have a “backup” – yes, we put that in quotes – who he says “could be the starter on any team in the league.”

And he’s not fibbing.

Edwards got banged up against Colonia in Week Five and missed the better part of the next four games, and if you closed your eyes and ears and just looked at the stat line, you wouldn’t know it was Alex Uryniak taking the bulk of the carries.

North Hunterdon’s Kente Edwards (#3, left) and Alex Uryniak (#22, second from left) at midfield for the coin toss before the North 2, Group 4 title game against Randolph in Annandale on November 12, 2022. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

Edwards had been averaging 160 yards a game, and even had 161 against Colonia. But in the first two playoff games, Uryniak ran for 433 yards and five touchdowns, while QB Luke Martini started throwing like a beast (more on him later) in the games Uryniak didn’t top 100. Uryniak ended up with 1,012 yards on the season and 13 scores, giving the Lions two thousand-yard rushers, as Edwards finished with 1,442 and 15 touchdowns.

Go ahead, pick your poison.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with the two-headed monster runningback combo of Kente Edwards and Luke Martini:

“Rising Star” Award: Jett Genovese, Phillipsburg

On a team with so many standouts, and a ton of balance among key players, Jett Genovese was able to run it all with precision for Phillipsburg.

Four runningbacks carried for over 300 yards, with none more than Xavier Moore’s 851. And through the air, Genovese found four different targets for more than 150 yards, with none more than Michael Scerbo Jr.,’s 476. That connection should be hooking up a lot again next year, as both players are sophomores.

But it was Genovese who was able to find his way through it for the Stateliners,

Phillipsburg quarterback Jett Genovese (Photo courtesy @HanisakPhoto)

And though Phillipsburg was knocked off by West Orange in the North 2, Group 5 final, Genovese came up big when it really counted – against Easton. He threw for 86 yards and three touchdown passes, while distributing the ball to five different runningbacks, led by Moore’s 114 yards, and Caleb Rivera’s two rushing touchdowns.

We have a feeling we’ll be talking about Jett a lot over the next couple of years.

Click below to Genovese talk about his first year as a starting QB for P’burg with Justin Sontupe:

“Best Returning QB-WR Tandem“: Michael Schmelzer, Jr. and Matt D’Avino, Montgomery

Montgomery had a very good season in 2022, starting 5-0 for the first time in school history.

And though the finished 7-3, with a first-round playoff loss to Northern Highlands – the North 1, Group 4 Champions and Group 4 finalist – they are the only team that can make this claim: they will have the top returning quarterback and the top returning receiver in the Big Central Conference when they come back to the field in 2023.

Montgomery QB Michael Schmelzer, Jr. (left) and WR Matt D’Avino are interviewed after a 27-20 home win over Somerville on September 16, 2022 heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio (Photos: Mike Pavlichko)

Quarterback Michael Schmelzer, Jr., threw for 1,658 yards and 21 touchdowns, good for fourth in the conference, but Luke Martini of North Hunterdon, Matt Yascko of Edison and Frankie Garbolino of North Brunswick are all graduating.

Wide receiver Matt D’Avino was second in the conference with 1,053 yards and 14 touchdowns, just one yard behind – and one TD ahead of – Derek Vaddis of North Hunterdon, who’s also graduating.

These two have been playing catch for many years now, and will get one more year together with the Cougars. We’re looking forward to watching.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Michael Schmelzer, Jr. and Matt D’Avino of Montgomery:

“Nobody Scores” Award: Bernards Defense (represented by Enzo Britez)

They may not have been St. Thomas Aquinas from a year ago, which tied a playoff-era Middlesex County record with seven shutouts, but they came pretty damn close.

In an 8-2 season with just one regular season loss, the Bernards Mountaineers played locked down D for the majority of 2022, shutting out six opponents en route to a clean 4-0 division sweep to the Big Central’s Patriot Gold title.

Bernards senior Enzo Britez (Source: @enzobritez on Twitter)

Click below to hear Justin Sontupe talk with Bernards defensive back Enzo Britez:

“Walk Off Defender” Award: Zamir Hawk, Hillside

Walkoff is a term most commonly used in baseball, but Barris Grant uses it to talk about Zamir Hawk, his senior nosetackle. Specifically, his efforts in Hillside’s two playoff wins this season, that got them to the North 1 Group 3 title game.

Hawk, a senior, had 67 tackles this year, and 15 for a loss, along with four sacks and a pick-six.

But he came up the biggest on the biggest of stages.

In the playoff opener against Parsippany Hills, the Comets scored 19 unanswered points to win and advance. But even after taking the lead in the fourth quarter, it wasn’t for good until Hawk’s pass breakup on a last-ditch effort by Par Hills effectively gave Hillside the win.

Zamir Hawk of Hillside (Source: @Hawk_973 on Twitter)

And if that wasn’t big enough, following an even bigger comeback by the Comets against River Dell, his interception sealed yet another win, propelling Hillside into the sectional semifinals.

Don’t challenge this kid!

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Hillside senior Zamir Hawk:

“Playoff Beast”: Luke Martini, North Hunterdon

North 2, Group 4 Champion North Hunterdon had all kinds of players put up all kinds of great numbers this year.

But when push came to shove, and the season was in crunch time, senior quarterback Luke Martini stepped it up a notch.

It started with the Milk Can Game against Voorhees, their big rival, when – with top runningback Kente Edwards nursing a lower body injury – Martini threw for 166 yards and three touchdowns against the Vikings in a 35-7 win.

But it didn’t stop there. He continued his hot streak into the playoffs, all the way to the sectional finals. First came 253 yards and four touchdowns against Middletown North in the opening round. Then 231 yards and two TDs in the second round against Morris Knolls. And finally, in the sectional title game, with everything on the line, in a wild ballgame that saw a combined 84 points, he threw for 411 yards and five scores against Randolph.

North Hunterdon QB Luke Martini (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

Summing up, out of his 2,306 passing yards – best in the Big Central by about 400 yards – and 22 touchdowns on the season, that four-game stretch generated 1,061 yards and a whopping 14 touchdowns.

That’s what we call a playoff beast.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk to Luke Martini about his incredible playoff run:

“Injury-Be-Damned” Award”: Adam Bowles, South Plainfield

It’s one thing to play great defense on a team that went from 2-8 to an undefeated regular season like Adam Bowles did in South Plainfield, but it’s another to do it with your arm in a cast.

Yet that’s exactly what he did for the latter half of the 2022 season.

The senior linebacker tallied 129 tackles – 77 solo – while also notching 7 1/2 tackles for loss, a sack, three quarterback hurries, and three interceptions. And he played the last five games of the season in a cast!

South Plainfield linebacker Adam Bowles (Source: @datboiadamd1 on Twitter)

Click below to hear Bowles talk with Justin Sontupe about toughing it out this season for the Tigers:

“Full 48”: Robert Orzol, Old Bridge

One of the oldest cliches in sport is they saying: “We’ve got to play the whole ___ minutes.”

But in no circumstance was it ever more true that for Old Bridge defensive lineman Robert Orzol.

We documented this game with Old Bridge head coach Matt Donaghue here, but the gist is this: after a missed field goal that would have given the Knights the lead in a Week Two game at South Brunswick, the Vikings needed to gain a first down to take a couple of knees and run out the clock. But a fumble on the second snap caught the eye of Orzol, who dove on it, giving the ball back to Old Bridge. They won the game on a touchdown.

Old Bridge DL and playoff-clinching here Robert Orzol (Source: @OrzolRobert on Twitter)

That’s an amazing enough story on its own. Fast forward to Cutoff Weekend, and Old Bridge finished 17th in the South 5 standings, oh-so-close to a playoff spot. But not so fast.

The NJSIAA playoff seeding rules conduct a top-down head-to-head tiebreaker throughout the entire bracket, meaning if the team in third, for example, beat the team in second, they flip-flop. And down the list they go until they get to number 17.

That was Old Bridge. South Brunswick was 16th. But not for long.

Yes, Old Bridge won the head-to-head. Orzol was the hero again, weeks later, as the Knights made the playoffs, all thanks to Orzol’s fumble recovery.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Robert Orzol – whose never-give-up attitude almost singlehandedly got Old Bridge into the playoffs:

“MVP” Awards: Matt Sims of Brearley and Shawn Purcell of Manville

For the first time, Central Jersey Sports Radio is giving out an “MVP” award, to the players who are, well, most valuable to their team.

While there were so many great players this season, and many with an abundance of talent, two players stood out as perhaps the most critical to their success. And it might not surprise you to see that they’re both from small Group 1 schools: Brearley and Manville

Brearly QB Matt Sims with head coach Scott Miller (left). (Source: @mattsimss6 on Twitter)

Brearley’s Matt Sims finished just behind Jaeden Jones in the Big Central in rushing, with 1,523 yards and 26 touchdowns, the sixth highest total in the state of New Jersey. (That also makes it two quarterbacks leading the Big Central on the ground this season.) He also threw for 1,063 yards and ten touchdowns, an astounding number when you consider he not only didn’t complete anywhere near a hundred passes, but he didn’t even attempt 100 passes, going 67-of-99.

But the most astounding number was this: Sims accounted for 75% of his team’s yards from scrimmage this year.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Brearley senior QB Matt Sims:

Meanwhile, Manville’s Shawn Purcell really could have received this award for a two-year body of work.

Last year, he carried 117 times for 1,176 yards and 15 touchdowns, while this year accounting for 1,238 yards on the ground on just 106 carries, hitting paydirt 22 times. He also excelled on kick returns, and has five career interceptions at cornerback. (He’d probably have more if anyone dared throw at him.)

Manville’s Shawn Purcell (Source: Twitter)

Manville should have made unprecedented back-to-back playoff appearances, amazingly missing out last year at 6-2 at the cutoff, but that’s neither here nor there. In the end, Manville was 14-5 the last two seasons with Purcell as the focal point of the offense. And that’s the best two-year record for the program since a 14-4 run in 1968 – when the Mustangs went 9-0) and 1969 (when they went 5-4). Arguably, it’s even better with better win totals in both seasons.

These seasons don’t come along every year in a small town like Manville, but Purcell was a big reason why they did.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Manville senior RB/CB/KR Shawn Purcell:

by Mike Pavlichko

Converted RB Jones gets it done through the air, on the ground, and on D, wins Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors for Week 3

Jaeden Jones was never a quarterback, but you might not know it to look at his stat line.

The Colonia junior threw for 132 yards and a touchdown on 10-of-16 passing Friday night in a 28-25 win over Linden. But that’s not what earned him Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Honors for Week 3 of the high school football season.

There were also the 31 carries he had for 151 yards and three touchdowns, plus the ten tackles and a forced fumble he had from his safety position on defense.

Colonia mentor Tom Roarty approached Jones in the off-season, after the departure of Josh Oluremi, who rushed for 1,594 yards and 20 touchdowns last season, while throwing for 954 and 6 touchdown passes, and was named “Mr. Dynamic” in Central Jersey Sports Radio’s postseason awards last year.

This year, Jones has taken the baton and run with it.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Colonia junior quarterback/safety Jaeden Jones:

Honorable Mentions

  • Michael Schmelzer, Montgomery – In a game heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio (which means we got to see it) the junior quarterback ran a masterful offense, knowing when to hold ’em, fold ’em, or pass ’em. In a 27-21 win over Somerville, he was 11-of-18 passing for 190 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw a two-point conversion pass and rushed six times for 72 yards.
  • Chiekezie Ogbuewu, Dunellen – Just a junior on a team with fewer than two dozen players, Ogbuewu – a runningback/d-back – played both sides of the ball with energy to spare. An impact right from the jump, he scored an 80-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage, and added a five-yard run and a pair of two point conversions in a 51-13 win over Belvidere on Thursday. He carried 11 times for 144 yards, while logging ten tackles – 7 solo and 2 for a loss – on defense against the County Seaters.
  • Caidan Holmes, Sayreville – The senior quarterback only threw six times against Edison, but in a 14-6 win, he completed five fo those passes for 134 yards and a touchdown, while scoring the other TD himself on the ground, part of a 21-carry, 66-yard night on the ground for the Bombers.
  • Shawn Purcell, Manville – What doesn’t the kid do? In a 46-7 win over Dayton, Purcell – a senior – rushed for four touchdowns, rattling off 195 yards on just nine carries. Among his TDs on the ground: a 63-yarder and a 59-yarder. He also had a 44-yard touchdown reception, and logged four tackles on defense. For those counting, that’s five of the Mustangs’ seven TDs in the game.
  • Khiri Summers, South Brunswick – The senior was all over the field Friday night – in his first game back from an ankle injury – to be the sparkplug in a 29-16 win over East Brunswick. He did a little bit of everything, and played every snap on offense, defense and special teams. He hauled in two passes for 14 yards, rushing 12 times for 68 – including a touchdown – and as a safety, registered 6 tackles and two pass breakups. He also had a 70-yard kick return for a touchdown.
  • Patrick Smith, South Plainfield – In a 53-30 win over rival North Plainfield Friday night, the junior runningback needed just seven carries to amasss 155 yards and four touchdowns, of 60, 55, 18 and 1 yard. On defense, he had eight tackles and two pass breakups.
  • Matt Sims, Brearley – In a 46-26 home win over Roselle Park Thursday night, the QB continued his big number senior season for unbeaten (3-0) Brearley. He was 11-of-16 for 203 yards and three touchdowns, while also eclipsing the century mark on the ground: 101 yards on 10 carries, and three trips to the end zone. On defense, Sims logged seven tackles and two pass breakups.

Other Nominations

  • Laivon Balthazar, Perth Amboy – In a narrow, 10-8 win over JFK Friday night, the Panther sophomore was 11-of-15 passing for 182 yards, and carried three times for 65 yards – and the only touchdown of the game for Amboy.
  • Patrick Garlinghouse, Delaware Valley – The senior carried the ball 27 times for 176 yards and scored three times, while registering 13 tackles at linebacker in a 33-13 win over New Providence. Down the stretch, he had several key first down gains to secure the win, and came up with big stops on D.
  • Trey Lazar, Spotswood – The junior, who plays both QB and wide receiver on offense, had 18 rushes for 135 yards and two touchdowns – which came in the fourth quarter to put the game away – in a 28-6 win at Highland Park on Friday night.
  • Ben Solimini, East Brunswick – The senior signal caller tried to will his team to victory Friday night, but fell short 29-14 against South Brunswick, despite his 17 carries for 1997 yards and two touchdowns, including a 75-yard score.
  • Zahmir Dawud, North Brunswick – In a 33-7 win over Old Bridge Friday night, the senior wide receiver had five catches for 81 yards.
  • Gabe Perez, JFK – In a tight, 10-8 loss to Perth Amboy Friday night, Perez had five catches for 62 yards. Though they didn’t win the game, a fourth-quarter pick in the end zone and a 4th-and-long pass in the fourth quarter set up a touchdown for the Mustangs to pull them within two, but they missed the two-point try for the tie.
  • Jakir Thomas, Carteret – In a 25-11 Friday night win over Plainfield, the sophomore runningback was a workhorse: 23 carries for a hard-fought 113 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, he had three pass breakups from his cornerback spot in the fourth quarter.
  • Jonathan Lobello, Hillsborough – As the Raiders have formed a strong defensive identity in 2022, Lobello has been a big reason why. The senior had seven tackles, two interceptions, and another two passes broken up in an active night, part of a 21-11 home win over Ridge.
  • Connor Laverty, Bernards – In a 35-0 win over Voorhees Friday night, the junior quarterback had four touchdowns, all in the first half, going 16-of-20 passing for 179 yards.
  • Kente Edwards, North Hunterdon – The senior runningback gave it all he had in a 48-21 loss to No. 1 Phillipsburg Friday night: 13 carries fro 189 yards and a touchdown, plus 12 tackles and an interception on defense.
by Mike Pavlichko

Colonia pulls off a first-round upset with its usual stars, Oluremi and Jones

Right from the jump, it looked like things might go Colonia’s way Friday night.

The 5th-seeded Patriots got by 4th-seed Randolph on the road, 32-21, in the opening round of the North 2, Group 4 playoffs, thanks to its stars: Josh Oluremi and Jaeden Jones.

They accounted for all the first-half scoring, with Jones kicking things off by returning an interception 51-yards for a touchdown on Randolph’s very first offensive play. Oluremi had a long touchdown run, then found Jones through the air for another score.

The win might have Colonia fans partying like it’s 2014, when the Patriots made a surprise run through the playoffs and took Phillipsburg to the brink at Rutgers, coming within a few feet of beating the Stateliners for the North 2, Group 4 title.

In any event, next up is top-seed Irvington (8-2) on the road next Friday night. The Blue Knights got by 8th-seed Linden 11-6 in their opening round game.

Click below to hear Colonia head coach Tom Roarty talk about the Patriots’ victory: