An interception by Tamir Gladden-Boone in the end zone on a two-point conversion pass by Sayreville helped No.2 North Brunswick hold on for a thrilling 21-20 win over the 7th-ranked Bombers in Game Two of the Rumble on the Raritan at Rutgers University’s SHI Stadium in Piscataway on Sunday.
Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel call all the play-by-play on September 24, 2023:
In the opening game of Sunday’s Rumble on the Raritan action at Rutgers University’s SHI Stadium in Piscataway, 8th-ranked Hillsborough got solid defense and just enough offense to beat No. 1 and previously-unbeaten Phillipsburg, 14-13.
Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe call all the action on Saturday, September 24, 2023:
On Day Two of the Rumble on the Raritan at Rutgers University’s SHI Stadium in Piscataway, the Big Central Conference will take center stage.
Central Jersey Sports Radio has you covered with its team of reporters. Mike Pavlichko, Justin Sontupe and Alec Crouthamel will bring you all the live play-by-play, while Marcus Borden will be tweeting video updates and highlights and providing postgame reaction presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen.
Here’s a closer look at both games:
#8 Hillsborough (3-1) vs. #1 Phillipsburg (3-0), noon
Weather Forecast: 64 degrees, 69% chance of rain, winds ENE 12 MPH
Every week is a test for both of these teams, and there are major implications for this one.
To begin with, it’s a key divisional game for the two, with the Raiders already having a loss to Ridge. A P’burg win would put them 2-0 in division with Ridge having one loss and Hillsborough having two. A Boro win and all three would have one loss.
Second, while the Raiders and Stateliners are in separate playoffs supersections, there’s a big OSI and power point number at stake for the winner.
And then there are the rankings, which don’t officially determine anything, but with Phillipsburg having been a unanimous No. 1 all season, they’ll need to keep proving it each week against one of the toughest schedules in the Big Central. For Hillsborough, it’s a chance to move up, knock off the big dog, and price they belong in that realm, coming off a humbling loss to Ridge last week.
PREVIEWS
Hillsborough: Humbled Hillsborough wants to get back on track in clash with Phillipsburg at Rutgers
Phillipsburg: Top-ranked ‘Liners look to keep it going when Phillipsburg and No. 8 Hillsborough Rumble on the Raritan Sunday
STAT LEADERS
Hillsborough:
Passing: Alex Reiling, 390 yds, 4 TD
Rushing: Jackson Jankowicz, 407 yds, 5 TD
Receiving: Chimmy Ozokpor, 121 yds, 1 TD
Tackles: Jonathan Lobello, 40
Sacks: Shayne Powell, 2
Interceptions: Shayne Powell, 2
Phillipsburg:
Passing: Jett Genovese, 477 yds, 6 TD
Rushing: Caleb Rivera, 302 yds, 2 TD
Receiving: Matthew Scerbo, Jr., 229 yds, 3 TD
Tackles: Cameron Bohal, 16
Sacks: Grifton Friday-Johnson, 1
Interceptions: Kevin Burgess, 1
#7 Sayreville (3-1) vs. #2 North Brunswick (3-0), 3 pm
Weather Forecast: 65 degrees, 86% chance of rain, winds ENE 12 MPH
It took the Raiders 21 tries before they picked up their first-ever win against Sayreville in 2019. But since then, North Brunswick has won three of the last four get-togethers.
Today, it’s another first for them: playing a game at Rutgers. When the Raiders fell to Sayreville in the 2018 Central Jersey Group 5 title game, it was played at the Bombers’ home field, the first year the NJSIAA went back to higher seeds for sectional title games with the expansion of the playoffs that year to the “bowl games.” (Those eventually became “regional championships” and now serve as state group semifinal games.)
Sayreville won a state title at Rutgers in 2016, the first of two under Chris Beagan, who retired after last season.
For Sayreville, senior Zaimer Wright is a game-time decision. But last week against Edison, the Bombers were fine enough without him, spreading the field as quarterback Nick Nunez got the ball to multiple receivers and runningbacks and used the entire field to get it to them.
The Raiders are adjusting to life after Frankie Garbolino, a steadying force at QB having been the starter for the past three years. Their defense deservedly gets a lot of attention, too, averaging eight points allowed through three games, having surrendered six points to South Brunswick, a season-high 16 to Edison and just a safety to Old Bridge.
PREVIEWS
Sayreville: Wright or not, Sayreville in good shape heading into North Brunswick clash at Rutgers Sunday
North Brunswick: No. 2 North Brunswick looks to build on early momentum against No. 7 Sayreville in Rumble on the Raritan at Rutgers
STAT LEADERS
Sayreville:
Passing: Nick Nunez, 164 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Zaimer Wright, 306 yds, 4 TD
Receiving: Ky’von Mitchell, 75 yds, 1 TD
Tackles: Diego Jesus, 36
Sacks: Diego Jesus, 2
Interceptions: Shaun Jackson, 1
North Brunswick:
Passing: Al Treveliese, 434 yds, 5 TD
Rushing: Tamir Gladden-Boone, 209 yds, 2 TD
Receiving: Demba Conteh, 153 yds 1 TD (Jack Garbolino, 3 TD)
Tackles: Jack Garbolino, 32
Sacks: Anthony Walker, 1
Interceptions: Samaad Hicks, 1
As part of the five-game “Rumble on the Raritan” high school football showcase at Rutgers University’s SHI Stadium in Piscataway this September, the event will feature a Big Central Conference doubleheader on its second and final day, and Central Jersey Sports Radio will be along for the ride.
The two-day slate features three games on Saturday featuring North and South Jersey teams, while the Sunday slate includes two big-school, Big Central divisional matchups, with Phillipsburg taking on Hillsborough and North Brunswick battling Sayreville.
Phillipsburg was last year’s American Silver Division champs, with Hillsborough finishing second. They’ll play at noon on Sunday, September 24th. They’ll be followed by the 3:30 game between North Brunswick and Sayreville. Those Raiders won the National Silver Division last year, with the Bombers finishing second.
This will be Hillsborough’s first trip to SHI Stadium since beating Kingsway in the South 5 Regional Championship game in 2021. P’burg’s last time at Rutgers was also a win, almost a decade ago: they beat Colonia in overtime to with the North 2, Group 4 title.
Sayreville was last on the Banks in 2016, when they beat Middletown North for the North 2, Group 4 championship. North Brunswick, meanwhile, will be playing at Rutgers for the first time in school history, according to head coach Mike Cipot.
Keep an eye out on cjsportsradio.com later this summer as we announce our full broadcast schedule for our fourth season of outstanding Big Central Conference football coverage!
The Hillside football team is responsible for handing Bernards four of its last five losses over the past three years.
But head coach Barris Grant recognizes those were different players and different teams; all that is in the past.
That’s the mindset when the Comets face the Mountaineers Sunday in Piscataway, in the Rumble on the Raritan showcase at Rutgers University’s SHI Stadium.
It’ll be Game One of a doubleheader on the “Big Central Game of the Week” driven by Mark Montenero and his team at the world-famous Autoland Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 pm Sunday; air-time on Central Jersey Sports Radio is set for 1:45 pm with Mike Pavlichko hosting the pregame show. Justin Sontupe and Tim Catalfamo will call all the action, with Bernards High School sports broadcasting student Matt Lesnik joining the booth as well.
Click here to listen live to the broadcast.
Game Two, scheduled for 5 pm, will feature Somerville and Northern Highlands.
Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Tim Catalfamo talk about Hillside with Comets’ head coach Barris Grant:
Bernards High School football has lost just six games over the last three-plus seasons, tallying 24 wins over that same timeframe. But four of those losses have come at the hands of one foe: Hillside, who Bernards prepares to battle Sunday afternoon in the Rumble on the Raritan at SHI Stadium.
It’s Game One of Central Jersey Sports Radio’s season-opening “Big Central Game of the Week” doubleheader, driven by Mark Montenero and his team at the world-famous Autoland.
Coverage begins approximately 1:45 pm on Central Jersey Sports Radio, with Mike Pavlichko hosting the pregame show. Justin Sontupe and Tim Catalfamo will call the action, with Bernards sports broadcasting student Matt Lesnik joining the broadcast as well. Kickoff is scheduled for 2p. Click here to listen to the game live.
“They’re just a very good football program,” said Bernards Head Coach Jon Simoneau. “They just happen to be in our league, so we have to play a very difficult team. They’ve all been close games.”
Bernards will have a golden opportunity to change that narrative Sunday afternoon in front of the Rumble on the Raritan crowd. But it won’t be easy. The Mountaineers are replacing a senior starter at quarterback in Teddy Gouldin and 2020’s leading receiver, Pat Caldwell. In Bernards’ season opener last week at Penns Grove, the Mountaineers struggled following a mid-game weather delay, falling 40-20.
Mike Leanza will be the focal point of Bernards’ attack. The senior running back led the team in rushing last season and ran for 146 yards and a score in the season opener.
At stake Sunday is the chance to snap the skid against No. 10 Hillside and avoid opening the season 0-2 for the first time since 2017. But if the last few years are any indication, one can expect Bernards to be prepared for the challenge.
“We’re past this as a program, saying we are in a rebuilding year,” Simoneau said. “Everything at this point is a reloading year. Seven wins is the goal.”
Click below to hear Justin Sontupe talk with Bernards head coach Jon Simoneau about his team and the Rumble on the Raritan contest against Hillside: