Tag: Mark Poore

by Mike Pavlichko

Jackson’s four touchdown send No. 8 Sayreville past No. 7 Piscataway, 42-24, to remain unbeaten

When two excellent teams meet, no matter their skill players, often it’s line play that determines who will come out on top.

And while Friday night’s “Big Central Game of the Week” presented by Bellamy & Son Paving was by no means a blowout, No. 8 Sayreville controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, and came out of Kenny Armwood Stadium with a 42-24 win over the No. 7 Chiefs.

The win Keeps Sayreville undefeated (6-0), while Piscataway drops to 4-2.

Shaun Jackson, the star runningback for the Bombers, was the biggest beneficiary of the superb line play by his teammates. He scored four times, the first coming after Landon Pernell scored from 20 yards out on the game’s opening drive for the Chiefs, on a 74-yard touchdown catch that tied the game at seven.

Then, he gave Sayreville its first lead, with a 15-yard run on the next possession. He also scored from a yard out just 2:12 before the half to give his team a 21-14 lead that would shrink to 21-17 after the Chiefs booted a 28-yard field goal with 25 seconds left before the break.

Jackson added a 24-yard run with 5:14 to go that sealed the deal, while Sherwin Appiah scored two touchdowns, on runs of six yards and one.

Jackson unofficially finished the night with 192 yards on 24 carries – putting him over 1,000 on the season – as the Bombers scored on all six full possessions. The only times they didn’t score was when they got the ball at the end of the first half with 20 seconds to play, and took a knee to head into the locker room, and in victory formation at the end of the game.

Sayreville also used multiple looks on offense that kept the Chiefs’ defense on their toes. They would direct snap to Jackson and Appiah, and it was a challenge just to keep up

The Bombers visit Franklin next week, while Piscataway hosts East Brunswick.

The win evened the all-time series at 20 wins each. No one has won back-to-back games in the series since the Chiefs won four straight from 2016 to 2019.

Click below for postgame reaction from head coach Mark Poore and runningbacks Sherwin Appiah and Shaun Jackson, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen!

by Alec Crouthamel

No. 8 Sayreville brings five-game win streak, perfect record on road to rival No. 7 Piscataway

In the 21st century, the name Mark Poore is synonymous with Sayreville football.

The former starting quarterback, 14-year assistant coach, and now second-year head coach, Poore’s impact on the No. 7 Bombers (5-0, 2-0) squad is visible on the field, in the stat sheet, and everywhere in between.

At 5-0, Sayreville has already surpassed its win total from last year, Poore’s first at the helm.

A group photo of individuals holding certificates, celebrating achievements in football, with some wearing varsity jackets and others in casual attire.
Sayreville head coach Mark Poore, far right, at the Brad Benson Hyundai/Mitsubishi Player of the Game Dinner and Radio Show at 1450 WCTC, December 2004. Mike Pavlichko is in the middle, with play-by-play partner Rich DeMarco (now Army West Point Associate Athletic Director-Broadcasting, and Black Knights football play-by-play man) to his left. (Archive photo)

But this week, the Bombers face off in one of their toughest tests yet, traveling on the road to face off against longtime rival No. 8 Piscataway at Kenny Armwood Field, in the “Big Central Game of the Week” presented by Bellamy & Son Paving.

You can hear that game live on Central Jersey Sports Radio, starting with pregame at 5:45 pm and kickoff at 6. Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel have the call; click here to listen.

Sayreville has used plenty of continuity to get off to a strong start on both ends of the ball, scoring at least 26 points in every game, and allowing fewer than 18 in each victory – both figures came in a season-opening 26-18 win against Colonia.

On offense, the Bombers return productivity at the two most important positions. Senior quarterback Tyler Butka returns after a midseason run as the starter due to an injury to starter Nick Nunez.

Leading a strong rushing attack – typical of Sayreville – is senior Shaun Jackson, whose 980 scrimmage yards and 13 total scores rank second in the state, trailing only fellow Big Central running back Joshua Allen from Woodbridge.

The defense has also been stout in nearly every game, limiting points and yards at an extremely high level, even without relying on an extraordinary number of splash plays, thanks to stout play at all three levels.

But the Bombers will have plenty on their hands against the Chiefs (4-1, 2-0), who will have two transfer standouts – wide receiver/defensive back Josiah Zayas and running back/linebacker Mickye Simmons – available for their second game of the season.

The rivalry has been the epitome of evenly matched, with neither team winning two straight against the other since 2019, when Piscataway ripped off a stretch of four straight wins starting in 2016. Much like nearly every game in the series, this one should be a doozy.

Click below to listen to Sayreville head coach Mark Poore talk about the Bombers’ season and the upcoming game against Piscataway with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel:

by Mike Pavlichko

Sayreville improves to 4-0 for first time since 2018 state title season as Bombers hang on for 28-14 home win over Hillsborough

If anyone doubted Sayreville’s 3-0 start, they probably shouldn’t now.

Against a good, but struggling, Hillsborough team Friday night, the Bombers earned a hard fought 28-14 win, hanging on after taking a 21-0 lead into the second half.

Runningback Shaun Jackson started things off with 7:44 to go in the first quarter with a seven-yard touchdown run to make it 8-0, then came back 49 seconds into the second quarter with a long, 76-yard scamper down the left sideline. He added another from three yards out just before the half to make it 21-0 Bombers.

But Hillsborough got its offense together in the second half. On the opening possession, following a big catch by Hameed Kamara, Andrew Schwarz punched in the Raiders’ first score from three yards out at 9:52 of the third quarter.

After forcing a punt, the Raiders would reach the end zone again at the end of the third quarter on a Devon Khurana TD pass to Jayden Carter to get within a score.

Then, the Sayreville defense tightened. After a late stop, “Action Jackson” did it again, putting an exclamation point on the win with a 20-yard touchdown run with 1:55 to go to make it 28-14.

The Bombers are now 4-0, and its their best start since 2018, when they went 11-1 – their lone loss coming in the regular season to Piscataway – when they won the Central Jersey Group 5 title over North Brunswick, and then got a “Miracle at Met Life,” beating Williamstown 14-7 to win the South Jersey Group 5 regional bowl game, when Connor Holmes fell on a Braves’ fumble in the end zone with 41-seconds to put them ahead.

Next week, they host 0-4 North Brunswick.

Hillsborough, meanwhile, drops to 1-3 for the first time since 2016, with No. 1 Phillipsburg (3-0) coming to town next week, followed by a visit to Westfield.

Click below for postgame reaction from Marcus Borden with Sayreville Head Coach Mark Poore and senior RB Shaun Jackson, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

by Mike Pavlichko

Sayreville never trails in 26-18 season-opening victory on the blue turf at Colonia

Eventually, Sayreville head coach Mark Poore would like the rest of his football team to take a little pressure off of Shaun Jackson, his senior runningback.

But on Opening Night, he’ll take the effort he got.

Jackson scored all four of his team’s four touchdowns – three on the ground, one through the air – in a 26-18 road win over Colonia, the Bombers’ fourth straight road win over the Patriots since 2000. He finished with 304 yards from scrimmage: 214 rushing, 90 receiving.

Sayreville led 6-0 after one, but was tied 6-6 at halftime. Jackson then scored twice in the third quarter to give the Bombers a lead they would not relinquish.

Poore says the game was a little sloppy early, with too many penalties for his liking, but was happy with they way his team cleaned things up and overcame adversity.

Click below to hear Sayreville head coach Mark Poore talk about the Bombers’ opening day win at Colonia:

by Mike Pavlichko

Sayreville seeking season’s first win as Bombers travel to Linden for Saturday matinee

The Sayreville football team played stingy defense in their opening game against Colonia in Week Zero, but the Bombers came up short in a heartbreaking overtime loss at home against Colonia, 14-13 in overtime.

On Saturday, they look to avoid their first 0-2 start since 2021 when they take the field against a Linden team just as equally searching for a win after falling to Elizabeth 35-28 last week.

It’s tough to start a season at 0-1, but it’s even tougher to start 0-2 and make a run towards the playoffs.

You can hear Saturday afternoon’s “Big Central Game of the Week presented by Bellamy & Son Paving” on Central Jersey Sports Radio with pregame at 1:45, kickoff at 2 pm. Mike Pavlichko and Vin Ebenau call all the action; click here to listen.

For first-year Sayreville coach Mark Poore, it’s about cleaning some things up ahead of the Linden game and continuing to build upon what went well including the way the defense played after giving up a first quarter touchdown, especially in the red zone.

This is a team that showed a lot of heart last week and it’s behind who they are as a group, Poore tells us, while also explaining this is a young team with a great deal of potential in all phases.

Click below to hear Sayreville first-year head coach Mark Poore talk about the Bombers with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Vin Ebenau:

by Mike Pavlichko

Marcus Borden’s 2024 GMC/BCC Camp Caravan: Final stop of the preseason as Plainfield visits Sayreville in regular season tune-up

Central Jersey Sports Radio high school football analyst Marcus Borden wrapped up his 2024 Camp Caravan tour of preseason practice to the blue turf of Colonia Friday morning as the Patriots scrimmaged against Summit.

You can find videos – including video highlights and interviews – from both teams below.

Sayreville: Head Coach Mark Poore and seniors Nick Nunez (QB), Dariel Jerez (FB/LB), Preston Ditzel (G/DE), Bryce Bouchard (G/MLB), and Kevin Drass (RB/S)

Plainfield: Offensive Coordinator Al-Majid Hutchins and seniors Joel Cordoba (WR/DB), Ala-Meen Watkins (QB/DE), Ra’Qui Martin (LT/DT), Chance Fritz (G/DE), Darren Hester (FB/LB) and EJ Brown (RB/FS)

You can now watch all the 2024 Camp Caravan videos on YouTube by clicking this link!

by Mike Pavlichko

Poore brings a wealth of experience in Sayreville tradition, but plans some new traditions, too

If there’s one thing Mark Poore knows, it’s how deeply-rooted football is in Sayreville.

Like the sign says, it is Bomber Country.

Not every town in Middlesex County is like that. Sure, they may have long histories, and successful pasts, but football beats through the heart of Sayreville like few other places. You could see it when football helped heal the town after Superstorm Sandy, and a couple of years later when a hazing scandal practically ripped out the town’s heart.

Poore was there well before all of it, and has been ever since. As a quarterback, he was All-Area in 2003, then went on to Montclair State to play in college. Not long after graduation, he was back on the Sayreville sidelines, coaching – and learning how to coach – with George Najjar, Chris Beagan, and finally Don Sofilkanich last season.

Poore was approved last last month by the Board of Education, and already has three assistants. Mike Novak – who recently retired as the Bombers’ baseball coach – will remain on staff, while Poore has already hired Gary Andrewshetsko – with whom he played and coached at Sayreville and in college – and James DiPaolo, who’s been an outstanding ballplayer and coach at North Plainfield.

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mark Poore talk about his formative experiences at Sayreville, and his plans for the future of the Bomber program:

by Mike Pavlichko

Bomber alum Mark Poore promoted, taking over the reins as football coach at Sayreville

Sayreville assistant and alum Mark Poore has been promoted and named the Bombers’ new football coach.

The former quarterback – who later played at Montclair State – was approved by the Sayreville Board of Education at its February meeting – per the meeting minutes – along with two assistants, Gary Andrewshetsko and James DiPaolo.

DiPaolo was previously head coach at his alma mater, North Plainfield, from 2017 through 2021 following two seasons as defensive coordinator.

Poore passed for nearly 1,000 yards and ran for more than 500 while running the option during his senior season at Sayreville in 2003, in which the Bombers went 10-1, their lone loss coming to Scotch Plains-Fanwood in the North 2, Group 3 semifinals. He was named All-Area first-team by the Home News Tribune. Poore also played defensive back.

He later came back as an assistant under his former coach, George Najjar, then returned under Chris Beagan following the 2014 hazing scandal, and has remained on staff ever since.

Poore replaces his most recent boss, Don Sofilkanich, who coached just one season for the Bombers after Beagan retired following the 2022 season. Beagan revived the program after the hazing scandal, going 51-31 in eight seasons, winning state titles in 2016 and 2018.

The Bombers went 8-3 in Sofilkanich’s only season, falling to Mount Olive in the second round of the state playoffs.