Tag: Shamir Bearfield

by Mike Pavlichko

Roberts, Weaver help No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas past Elizabeth, 35-21, extending Big Central record win streak to 34 games

To do what St. Thomas Aquinas has done over the last several years, everyone needs to contribute.

That was on display in last week’s 57-45 thriller over Franklin, and it was on display Friday night in North Edison, where the No. 4 Trojans beat Elizabeth 35-21, extending their Big Central record conference winning streak to 34 games.

St. Thomas (4-1) got two long touchdown runs from Ian Roberts – 89 and 74 yards – a 13-yard touchdown run from Anwar Witherspoon out of the wildcat, and a 76-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Zymere Weaver to Tristan Bester, while Weaver also ran in a 78-yard TD in the first half.

Arique Fleming had two touchdown runs for the Minutemen (2-3), who visit No. 6 Bridgewater-Raritan next week.

St. Thomas will play Paramus Catholic (1-4) in a non-conference home game next Friday night.

Click below for postgame reaction from Central Jersey Sports Radio analyst Marcus Borden, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen, with St. Thomas Aquinas RB Ian Roberts and head coach Shamir Bearfield:

by Mike Pavlichko

Marcus Borden’s 2025 Camp Caravan:  New regime hoping for same results at Aquinas

Another day, another stop on the 2025 Camp Caravan for Central Jersey Sports Radio analyst Marcus Borden, who visited St. Thomas Aquinas in Edison on Thursday morning. Shamir Bearfield was hired away from St. Peter’s Prep – where he was defensive coordinator – back in May, but even in that short time has hit the ground running.

There’s much on the line for the Trojans, who will enter the season on a 31-game win streak against Big Central Conference opponents, their last loss coming to Bernards – which has the second-longest streak against the league, at 32 – all the way back in the pandemic season of 2020. That streak has spanned two previous coaches, dating all the way back to the late Brian Meeney.

Watch Borden’s full coverage below, including clips from camp, and interviews with Bearfield, as well as seniors Anwar Witherspoon (TE/LB), Channon Johnson (OL/DL), Anthony Perez (WR/DB) and Tyler Montgomery (WR/S).

Click below to watch Marcus Borden’s Camp Caravan visit to St. Thomas Aquinas!

by Mike Pavlichko

St. Thomas Aquinas moves quickly to name Shamir Bearfield new football coach

As quickly as Jonathan Germano came and went, St. Thomas Aquinas has hired Shamir Bearfield away from St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City as its new football coach, a day after word came out the Trojans would be looking for a new coach.

As first reported by Central Jersey Sports Radio Wednesday night, Germano told his coaching staff and administration this week he would not coach the team next year, after getting hired in late January to replace Tarig Holman, who was not brought back by the school after the 2024 season.

Bearfield was defensive coordinator for the Marauders, and has experience at Lehigh, FDU, and Seton Hall Prep. But the Jersey City school is his alma mater, and after his scholastic career, played collegiately at Temple and William & Mary.

“St. Thomas Aquinas has a proud and winning football tradition,” Kevin Sacco, St. Thomas Aquinas President said in press release from the school on Thursday. “Coach Bearfield brings the leadership, character and vision needed to build on that foundation. We are confident he will elevate our program while guiding our students to grow in faith, academics and athletics.”

“As a coach and educator, I believe in cultivating a Christ-centered environment that emphasizes service, integrity and moral leadership,” Bearfield added in the statement. “I am excited about the opportunity to integrate faith into the St. Thomas Aquinas football program – helping students deepen their relationship with God while learning the virtues of humility, perseverance and brotherhood.”

Bearfield says he was initially interested in the job in January, but wound up not pursuing it and didn’t interview, but when he got word about the position becoming open again this week, went after it.

He’s already starting assembling a staff, bringing former Sayreville standout Myles Hartsfield with him from St. Peter’s Prep.

Click below to hear our one-on-one interview with new St. Thomas Aquinas football coach Shamir Bearfield: