Tag: Roselle Park

by Mike Pavlichko

Gameday with Marcus Borden: Week 6

We continue to barrel toward Cutoff Weekend in New Jersey high school football, with just three games to go in the regular season for the public schools, including this week. And it’s time to talk about it all with Central Jersey Sports Radio analyst Marcus Borden!

Mike and Marcus look back at the week gone by, including undefeated Sayreville’s big win over Piscataway, Hillsborough’s comeback win Saturday at Westfield, and Somerville’s win at Summit, handing the Hilltoppers their first loss of the season.

Also on the show, Mike and Marcus talk about look at the playoffs, where six Big Central teams currently sit with top seeds, but only two of those are undefeated. The other six unbeatens are either in the running – like Sayreville and Bernards – or well out of the chase, but still in the field of 16, like unbeaten Spotswood and Manville.

We also look at this weekend’s games, including Coach’s Friday trip to Montgomery to see the one-loss Cougars take on unbeaten Woodbridge, and Saturday’s Bellamy & Son Paving “Big Central Game of the Week,” featuring a battle of unbeatens, as Phillipsburg travels to St. Joseph-Metuchen.

Click below to listen to the Week Six edition of “Gameday with Marcus Borden”:

by Mike Pavlichko

“Highly motivated” Roselle Park looking to bounce back as key skill players return

A big focus in preseason camp for Roselle Park in 2025 will be making sure the Panthers’ line play is secure.

Both sides of the ball have seen some key graduation losses, but head coach Greg Dunkerton figures if they can get that group set, the return of some key skill players will allow them to flourish.

One of those who will see an increased role this year will be Mike Aguanno, who had a bit part in the offense a year ago, with just four carries and one catch. But he’s also a part of the blocking scheme, and says he’ll do whatever it takes to help the offense gain yards and put up points.

Top rusher Anthony Ciranfrocca (163 carries, 893 yards, 6 TDs) returns, as does Nick Salas, who rushed for 386 yards and three scores as a sophomore in 2024.

And some key defensive guys will make in impact as well, Aguanno among them, as well as Lorby Castelly, who had a sack and two tackles for loss last year, along with Anthony Damiano, who had two sacks, a TFL, and a forced fumble in 2024.

Click below to hear from Roselle Park head coach Greg Dunkerton and seniors Mike Aguanno (RB/LB) and two-way lineman Lorby Castelly at Big Central Media Day:

After a bye in Week Zero, Roselle Park will open up this Friday home against Middlesex, with kickoff time set for 6 pm. The Panthers also will be heard for the first time on Central Jersey Sports Radio on Friday, October 10th, in a 7 pm game at Highland Park. The Owls won that game last year, 34-14.

by Mike Pavlichko

2025 Big Central Preview: Freedom Gold Division

Since we worked our way from the Group 5 schools down to the Group 1 last year, Central Jersey Sports Radio will start our 2025 division previews with the some small school love, beginning with the Freedom Gold and Silver, then the Patriot, and running all the way up to the Group 5 divisions.

In the Freedom Gold, Spotswood is coming off its second straight 8-2 season, and second straight division title under head coach Chris Meagher, whose team should again, at the very least, compete for the title.

Last year at this time, Highland Park was coming off a one-win season, but a big win. It came over Point Pleasant Beach and was the Owls’ first victory since 2016. A year later? They are coming off a 6-3 campaign, and still have talent, despite the loss of quarterback Markos Hantsoulis to graduation.

Dayton won four games last year, but finished red-hot, winning three of their last four. Roselle Park and South River will look to make inroads, after each won three games last season.

And Brearley has some renewed enthusiasm after a winless season last year, but also has a new coach in Elliot Platt.

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

by Mike Pavlichko

Early look at Big Central Football 2025: Crowded Freedom Gold returns with GMC stalwarts Spotswood, Highland Park leading the way

Based on recent success, Spotswood’s sweep of the Freedom Gold Division in 2024 didn’t come as a shock to anyone who follows Big Central Football, but boy was Highland Park a pleasant surprise after breaking the state’s longest active losing streak of 51 games in 2023.

The Owls finished second in the six team division, going 6-3 overall, 4-1 in the division – their only loss to the Chargers – en route to their best season since going 6-4 in 2016, the last time they’d won a game until they closed their season two years ago with a 46-29 win at Point Pleasant Beach. Spotswood was very good, as well, and both very well could be at or near the top of the division in 2025. The question is, who will join them? Can South River, Roselle Park or Dayton make inroads? And can Brearley get back in the game after an 0-10 season with a very young club, but just two years removed from an undefeated regular season and a trip to a sectional final?

Here are the preliminary schedules for the Freedom Gold 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 (*).

Brearley Bears (0-10, 0-5, 6th place in ’24)
Head Coach: Elliot Platt (first season)

  • Week 0: Wallington Twp.
  • Week 1: at A.L. Johnson
  • Week 2: at Spotswood* (6p)
  • Week 3: Highland Park* (6p)
  • Week 4: Roselle Park* (6p)
  • Week 5: at South Hunterdon
  • Week 6: South River* (6p)
  • Week 7: Metuchen (6p)
  • Week 8: at Dayton (Sat, 1p)

Eliott Platt takes over at Brearley, coming over from immaculata, where he was the defensive line coach. A Montclair-Kimberley alum, Platt will be looking to snap a 12-game skid to start the season with a Bergen County foe in Wallington before the BCC schedule kicks in with back-to-back road games. The offense should produce more with the return of QB Joe Squarillo for his senior year. The Bears didn’t throw much, but all 1,449 rushing yards return. In fact, every single skill position player on offense is back for Brearley. The defense had just a single senior as well, and the baptism-by-fire experience should pay dividends this fall.

Dayton Bulldogs (4-6, 2-3, tied for 3rd with Roselle Park, South River in ’24)
Head Coach: Nick Iannacone (11-18, 4th season)

  • Week 0: bye
  • Week 1: at South Hunterdon
  • Week 2: at Highland Park*
  • Week 3: Roselle Park*
  • Week 4: South River* (Sat, 1p)
  • Week 5: at Belvidere
  • Week 6: Spotswood*
  • Week 7: at Dunellen
  • Week 8: Brearley* (Sat, 1p)

The Bulldogs finished strong last season, winning three of their last four games after a 1-5 start. They’ll be hurt by the loss of John John DeSarno, who threw for 1,2888 yards and ten touchdowns as a senior, and the other skill positions will be young, too. Defensively, defensive back Chidiogo Iherobiem could have a big senior year, after recording a sack, six TFLs, a fumble recovery and a pair of pick-sixes last season.

Highland Park Owls (6-4, 4-1, 2nd place in ’24)
Head Coach: Shawn Harrison (7-29, 5th season)

  • Week 0: bye
  • Week 1: Dunellen
  • Week 2: Dayton*
  • Week 3: at Breareley* (6p)
  • Week 4: at Spotswood* (Thurs, 6p)
  • Week 5: Metuchen
  • Week 6: Roselle Park*
  • Week 7: at Manville (Thurs, 7p)
  • Week 8: at South River* (Sat, 1p)

Being 7-29 in four seasons never looked so good. What a joy to see joy in Highland Park again, in its best season in nearly a decade. While the graduation of QB Markos Hantsoulis – with 984 pass yards, nine touchdowns, and a team-leading 583 rushing yards – will leave a mark, there’s still some Hantsoulis blood left; receivers Kosta (350 yards, 5 TDs) and Stamatis (76 yards, 1 TD) will be back for their senior years, and Kaseem Qualls has the skills to make an impact, too. Whether they can finish 6-3 again will be a challenge, but the Owls should be in the thick of things again this year. Losing can be contagious, but so is winning.

Roselle Park Panthers (3-7, 2-3, tied for 3rd with Dayton, South River in ’24)
Head Coach: Greg Dunkerton (17-31, 6th season)

  • Week 0: bye
  • Week 1: Middlesex
  • Week 2: South River*
  • Week 3: at Dayton*
  • Week 4: at Brearley* (6p)
  • Week 5: Dunellen
  • Week 6: at Highland Park*
  • Week 7: JP Stevens
  • Week 8: at Spotswood* (6p)

Starting QB Anthony Damiano (466 yards, 3 TD) and top runningback Anthony Cianfrocca (893 yards, 6 TD) should be back for their senior seasons, and they’ll rely on the run game again, having rushed just one shy of 2,200 yards last season and 16 touchdowns. On the defensive side, Damiano once again will be a defensive stalwart. Hr had two sacks, a TFL and a forced fumble last year, and will be one of few returnees from a senior-laden unit. The Rams should bounce back this year after back-to-back five-plus in seasons.

South River Rams (3-7, 2-3, tied for 3rd with Dayton, Roselle Park in ’24)
Head Coach: Rich Marchesi (228-149, 39th season)

  • Week 0: at Point Pleasant Beach
  • Week 1: Metuchen (Sat, 1p)
  • Week 2: at Roselle Park*
  • Week 3: Spotswood* (Sat, 1p)
  • Week 4: at Dayton* (Sat, 1p)
  • Week 5: Delaware Valle (Sat, 2p)
  • Week 6: at Brearley* (6p)
  • Week 7: at South Plainfield (6p)
  • Week 8: Highland Park* (Sat, 1p)

Last year was a bit of a bounce-back for the Rams, who were winless in 2023 before winning three games last season, including their finale against Dunellen. And while South River will lose senior receiver Aiden Velez (765 yards and 7 TDs), every other major contributor at the skill positions is back, including QB Orion Familia (41-72, 478 yards, 8 TDs) and No. 2 runningback Kah’mori Cotto. The Sophomore went for 525 yards on 135 carries – tops on the team – and scored three touchdowns. They will, however, miss Coach Marchesi’s son, Michael, who led the team with four sacks last year, and was second on the team in tackles. Rising seniors Jake Dehner (DL) and Filipe Granadiero (LB) could help take up the slack.

Spotswood Chargers (8-2, 5-0, Freedom Gold champs in ’24)
Head Coach: Chris Meagher (24-15, 5th season)

  • Week 0: Middlesex (Thurs, 6p)
  • Week 1: Roselle (6p)
  • Week 2: Brearley* (6p)
  • Week 3: at South River* (Sat, 1p)
  • Week 4: Highland Park* (6p)
  • Week 5: Bound Brook (6p)
  • Week 6: at Dayton*
  • Week 7: at South Hunterdon
  • Week 8: Roselle Park* (6p)

With back-to-back eight-win seasons under their belt, and a ton of talent back, expect the Chargers to contend for yet another division title under Chris Meagher, who – after a 1-8 debut season – turned things around, and they haven’t won fewer than seven the last three seasons. They’ll open up with perhaps their biggest adjustment – playing night games under their brand new lights entertaining Middlesex on a Thursday. Dual-threat quarterback Se’mir Tolbert-Brimage (791 yards, 10 TDs passing; 638 yards, 11 TDs rushing) is back, and so is No. 1 rusher Sebastian Saracino (692 yards, 5 TDs). Their top receiver returns, too; Ryan Foster grabbed 28 passes for 418 yards and 4 TDs a year ago, while junior Vinny Young (129 yards, 2 TD) as back as well. Tolbert-Brimage and Saracino also will be key on defense. Other highlights include senior Julian Sanchez (three fumble recoveries last year as a junior) and DL Dan Keelan (1 sack, 7 TFLs, 1 fumble recovery last season).

by Mike Pavlichko

Parenti, Jarvis help Middlesex to 42-8 home win over Roselle Park as Swercheck gets first W

Coming off a tough 14-6 loss at Metuchen in its opening game of the season, Middlesex used a steady diet of Dom Parenti and Jax Jarvis to cruise to a 42-8 home win over Roselle Park Thursday night, earning new head coach Robert Swercheck his first victory with the Blue Jays.

Middlesex scored early and often. Parenti scored on touchdown runs of 91 yards and one yard, while throwing a TD pass to Sean Downes, to make it 20-0 Jays after one quarter.

In the second, the third time was a charm for Jarvis – who had had two touchdowns called back – as he picked up a 50-yard TD reception on a screen pass, and a two-point conversion made it 28-0. Then Parenti threw another TD strike to make it 35-0, putting the running clock in play for the second half.

New this year is a change to the NJSIAA running clock rule, which no longer goes back to normal, no matter how close the game gets.

It didn’t get much closer. Jarvis ran for another score from nine yards out with 4:36 to go in the third to make it 42-0, while Roselle Park added a late score and two-point conversion to make the final 42-8.

Middlesex improves to 1-1, while Roselle Park dropped its season-opener.

Click below for postgame reaction from Marcus Borden with the victorious Middlesex Blue Jays, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

by Mike Pavlichko

2024 Big Central Preview: Freedom Gold Division

Our final two divisions to preview in the Big Central Conference are the Freedom Divisions, a pair of six-team groupings including some of the smallest schools in the league.

The Freedom Gold defending champion is Spotswood, which was 8-2 a year ago, but lost a big senior group. North Brunswick transfer Se’mir Tolbert-Brimage will take over at quarterback.

Brearley and Roselle Park are expected to challenge. The Bears were 3-1 in what was a five-team division last year, and the Panthers were 6-5 overall, coming into this year on a three-game winning streak.

Dayton is looking to take a step up, as is South River. And Highland Park is coming into a season off a win for the first time since 2017, as they snapped the state’s longest active losing streak of 51 games in last year’s finale, a win over Point Pleasant Beach.

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

by Mike Pavlichko

Week 7 Friday night Playoff Analysis: Group 1

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 1. Results are calculated using scores on Gridiron New Jersey as of 9:30 am on October 14th:

Brearley’s 36-14 loss to Middlesex last night drops the Bears one spot further to No. 19, and their UPR down to 17.4, one power point rank spot. They go from 1 UPR point ouot of the playoffs to 1.8 points behind 16th place Glen Ridge. Roselle Park is tied with Brearley at 17.8 after a big win over Dunellen, jumping from 23-20, but with a weak Newark Collegiate next week, we think they’re out.

A win for South Hunterdon in its last NJSIAA-member school game of the year – they play rival New Hope-Solebury out of PA next week – keeps them in fourth, with the same UPR as last week, at 5.2 points. Middlesex improved its UPR from 8.4 to 6.8 with a win over Brearley, but the Jays hold in seventh. However, their lead over the ninth place team is bigger. Last week it was 0.6 points over Audubon, and Woodbury was tied for seventh with them. Now, they lead 8th place Penns Frove by 0.6 UPR points, and have a 1.6 point lead over ninth place Woodbury.

Dunellen’s 52-24 loss to Roselle Park last night puts the Destroyers out of the top 16 for now, at No. 17, 1.6 UPR points behind 16th place Salem, but the Rams are just 1-6. Two wins is the minimum for the playoffs. So, as of now, they wouldn’t make it. Salem hosts 2-5 West Deptford today, then is at 3-3 Woodbury next week.

Manville, right behind Dunellen, is in 18th at a 19.4 UPR, but with 1-6 Bound Brook next week, shouldn’t be a factor. That said, there are a number of winless teams behind Dunellen, so it may be the Destroyers dueling it out with Salem for that last spot, and doing some scoreboard watching in the process.

by Mike Pavlichko

Mid-Season Playoff Analysis: A look at the small schools heading into Week 5

We’ve reached the middle of the high school football season in New Jersey, and it’s time to start thinking about the playoff races.

Presented by sponsor My Family Appliances on Route One South in the Wick Plaza in Edison, here’s our look at where the smaller schools stand – Groups 1 and 2 – in the chase for the postseason heading into Week Five.

But first….

Playoff Qualification Primer

The NJSIAA uses the United Power Ranking (UPR) to determine where teams are seeded. Without getting into all the behind the scenes calculations and caveats, each team’s UPR is based on two factors: their rank in the supersection based on power points and on OSI.

Power points are an average and based on the traditional formula that’s been used – albeit altered from time-to-time – over the years. Teams get six points for every win, group points based on the group of the opponent, and residuals – 3 for every win by a team you beat, 1 for every win by a team you lost to.

OSI is the Opponent Strength Index, and average of all the opponents played. Teams get the full value of a team’s Strength Index for a win, half for a loss. A win over an opponent with an SI of 80 gets and 80, a loss gets you 40 points. SI varies based on results throughout the year.

Teams are ranked in each category. OSI values are worth 60 percent of the formula, power points 40 percent. That added number makes the UPR, with lower numbers better. The best UPR a team can have is a 1, which is first in both power points and OSI.

The UPR is calculated for the NJSIAA by the website Gridiron New Jersey. Central Jersey Sports Radio also does its own unofficial calculations throughout the season, and will unveil its playoff projections in our annual special broadcast, this year on Saturday, October 21 from 5-7 pm, presented by My Family Appliances in Edison.

North Group 2

The only Big Central Conference school in the North Group 2 supersection in Bernards, and the Mountaineers are in really good shape. They’re in second place overall, which means if the playoffs started today, they would be the top seed in North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2.

Westwood is the overall No. 1 team at the moment, and they’d be the top seed in North 1, Group 1. Both teams are 5-0.

Caldwell (4-0) – which is on the state’s longest active winning streak, currently at 32 games – is not far behind Bernards, just 6/10 of a UPR point in back of them, while Hanover Park (4-0) in fourth is just one full point off the mark.

The Mounties’ schedule is about average for the last four games, with North Plainfield, Bound Brook, New Providence and Governor Livingston. Sure, they might have to win out to retain a top seed, but with that schedule, they should.

South Group 2

Currently, Pt. Pleasant Boro (4-0) and Rumson-Fair Haven (2-2) sit in the top two spots, with the highest-standing BCC team being New Providence checking in at No. 6. The Pioneers are 3-2 with a 6.4 UPR, and if they keep playing how they’ve been, have a really good shot at a first round home game in the playoffs. Their schedule is good, with three of the last four teams already having three or more wins (Johnson and Middlesex have three wins each, Bernards is 5-0).

Then, it’s down to 11th place for Spotswood, despite the fact the Chargers are 5-0. That’s partly a product of their schedule, which isn’t great throughout.

They already toughened up their schedule by dropping Bishop Eustace for their opener and adding Bordentown, but having Highland Park on the schedule hurt them, as does having JP Stevens on Cutoff Weekend.

Last year’s Chargers were 6-3 at the cutoff – missed the playoffs – and finished 7-3. Their losses were to Roselle Park, Johnson and Brearley. They’ve already beaten the Bears. The Panthers are this weekend and the Crusaders in two more weeks.

Win the games they should and Spotswood will be in the playoffs. Any loss along the road could make things dicey.

Delaware Valley (3-2) is right behind the Chargers, and is also a good bet to make the playoffs, though with their schedule, they should have a little more margin for error.

Can Johnson make the playoffs? Sure, why not. ALJ is 3-1, and out of the picture right now in 20th place, but they have three solid opponents the next few weeks before closing with winless South River. New Providence is this week and a road game at Spotswood comes in two weeks. Both are teams ahead of them in the standings at the moment, and even a split would do wonders for the Crusaders’ chances.

And even a loss to Hillside – which comes in the middle of those two games – would not be the end of the world. Johnson’s OSI is 36.43, and a loss to the Comets (76.25 SI) would get them 38.13 points. Inotherwords, a loss to Hillside is worth more than a win over South River.

North Group 1

Last year, Brearley held on to their standing enough to pick up a first-round home game, then hosted another thanks to a first-round upset by Kinnelon.

This year, it’s a different story for Brearley, which is 2-2, but finds itself in 15th place. There are a lot of .500 teams ahead of them, with the highest being in ninth. Again, we’re seeing the lack of small schools with quality records hurt the small schools that have playoff aspirations.

Their wins have come over Roselle Park and Dayton, a combined 2-6. The Bears might just need wins over two of their three strongest opponents remaining: South Hunterdon (4-1) this week, Middlesex and Dunellen (both 3-1) the last two weeks.

Roselle Park (2-2) is in an even worse situation than Brearley. They’re also .500, but stand in 21st place with a 21.2 UPR, 4.6 UPR points (not insurmountable) out of 16th place. Keep an eye on the Panthers here, who have an opportunity still with a huge game Friday night at home against unbeaten Spotswood (5-0), then go to Middlesex next week, and host Dunellen the week after.

South Group 1

The highest team in the standings heading into Week 5 is South Hunterdon (4-1). The Eagles are in good shape for making the playoffs, but not quite a lock for a first round home game yet.

They’ve only got three games left that count before the cutoff, with big rival New Hope-Solebury (PA) on the schedule for Cutoff Weekend. Out-of-state games don’t count for playoff calculations in either power points or OSI, so they will need to solidify their position.

One slip up the next three weeks could find the Eagles on the road in the first round of the postseason. Right behind them in eighth place is Middlesex (3-1). Their schedule is good after a home game with Belvidere this weekend, but they still will likely need to win out to clinch a top eight position and a first-round home game.

Go down to 13th place and you’ll find Manville, which is 2-3. Hard to believe that a couple of seasons ago, with six wins at the cutoff, they missed the playoffs. Here they are sub-.500 and well into the field.

We’d still consider them a bubble team for now, but at least they’re on the right side of it, with a 15.8 UPR, and 1.8 UPR points ahead of 17th place Pennsville.

A little further down is Dunellen (3-1). The Destroyers are having a nice season, and if they can stay healthy, could be a nudge in the playoffs – even more than they are to opponents in the regular season. And their schedule is strong enough that if they keep winning, they will do more than just tread water in the standings. A loss or two and they could be doing some scoreboard watching.

by Mike Pavlichko

2023 Big Central Preview: Freedom Gold Division

Change is the one thing constant in high school football. And change has come to Brearley.

In addition to the losses to graduation of running threat quarterback Matt Sims, receiver Brendan Fitzsimmons and others, the Bears who remain also have a new head coach, though one they’re familiar with. Alum Allen Phillips takes over for longtime mentor Scott Miller, after serving as his assistant the last few years.

Their biggest divisional challenge may come from Spotswood, which was 1-8 two years ago in Chris Meagher’s first season, but have since turned it around and are coming off a 7-3 campaign in 2022.

Elsewhere will be teams looking to make a move, like Roselle Park with its solid ground game, but a new cast of characters. Dayton will look to increase the wins this season as well under second-year head coach Nick Iannacone.

And in Highland Park, a second straight year of the varsity program beginning the season with participation numbers in the 30s can only mean good things for alum Shawn Harrison’s efforts. Hopeully, the Owls can snap that 42-game losing streak, the longest active in the state, some time this season.

Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko’s preview of the Freedom Gold Division from the Big Central Conference’s inaugural Media Days:

by Mike Pavlichko

Manville’s Angelo Drake took on informal “coaching role,” wins Leadership Award

by Mike Pavlichko

Manville finished 2017 with a 7-2 record, and things were looking good for the Mustangs.

Angelo Drake was all ready for his sophomore season, and the opener against rival Bound Brook in 2018. And then the unthinkable happened: He broke his forearm making a tackle on a kickoff.

History repeated itself in the 2019 season opener. Same team, same play, same game.

You’ve got to be kidding.

Any other player who’s not a legitimate threat to play on Sundays might have packed it in. But not Angelo Drake.

Instead, “he never missed one day,” says head coach Pat Gorbatuk.

“He took on the role of assistant coach, helping set up practices, running drills and mentoring young players.”

He was voted a team captain as a junior, because he was – as Gorbatuk explained it – “every player’s favorite teammate.”

Listen below to Angelo Drake and his head coach, Pat Gorbatuck, talk about Drake’s model leadership for the young Mustangs:

Honorable mentions for the Leadership Award go to Nasir Williams of Roselle Park, and Shawn Patterson of Linden.

After not playing the 2018 season due to low numbers in the program, Williams – a senior – rushed for over an average over 100 yards per game in six games this season, also logging more than four tackles a game on defense. His 1.4 TDs per game were 30 percent of the team’s offense. Head coach Greg Dunkerton says Williams stayed with the program and continued to excel despite the lack of team experience, playing through injuries, and at times with as many as six sophomores on the field. He says Williams made it his goal to instill a sense of “Panther Pride” in his younger teammates.

Patterson – a senior at Linden – was a three-year starter on the offensive line, and in 2018 helped paved the way for 3,100 yards of total offense – 2,384 on the ground and 778 in the air. Coach Al Chiola says he first met Shawn in his 6th grade social studies class, where he told the coach he couldn’t wait to play football for Linden. Chiola says after a COVID shutdown, Linden had the option of playing No. 1 Woodbridge with just 2 days of practice, or taking the week off to prepare for Cranford the following week, when Williams said, “Coach, let’s play. We just want to play football.” Chiola says Williams only missed three snaps his entire varsity career.