Tag: Summit

December 11, 2025December 11, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

In split award, South Plainfield’s Dominic Massaro is CJSR Special Teams Returner of the Year, while Cooper Smoragiewicz of Summit’s clutch boots win him Kicker of the Year

Sometimes, we just can’t decide.

Here we were, four members of the Central Jersey Sports Radio staff, gathered at a local watering hole to determine all our Player of the Year honorees, and we had an easier time picking appetizers.

Then again, maybe that should have been a sign: We eventually settled on three of them.

For the 2025 CJSR Special Teams award, we hemmed and hawed, then just decided to heck with it. We’ll split it up and have a Special Teams Returner of the Year and a Special Teams Kicker of the Year.

Those awards go to South Plainfield’s Dominic Massaro and Summit’s Cooper Smoragiewicz, respectively.

Returner of the Year – Dominic Massaro, South Plainfield:

The biggest compliment an opponent can give to a returner is to not kick the ball to him.

And South Plainfield’s Dominic Massaro – Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Special Teams Returner of the Year for 2025 – was complimented a lot this fall.

When the ball did find Massaro on special teams, he was a game-breaker (and on one occasion, a game-winner). He returned three punts for touchdowns this season – including the only one in a Week Zero win over East Brunswick. Even when he didn’t score, he set up great field position, averaging nearly 45 yards per return.

Dominic Massaro is about as South Plainfield of an athlete as they come, a tough-nosed kid who plays multiple sports at the only level he knows how: turned all the way up to eleven.

Noted for his grind-it-out rushing style, in a three-year varsity career, he’s rushed for over 3,000 yards, a thousand each of the past two seasons and just 25 yards shy – with 975 – his sophomore year.

On special teams, he had two kick returns for touchdowns in 2023, and another in 2024, and this year had three punt returns for scores, including an 85-yarder in Week Zero against East Brunswick that turned out to be the game-winner in a 9-7 road victory on August 28th.

What helped him most in that regard? Playing baseball. His comfort tracking down fly balls in the outfield helps him get to the right spot on special teams, and once the ball is in his hands, his running back instincts take over.

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Justin Sontupe speak with Dominic Massaro, our Special Teams Returner of the Year:

Kicker of the Year – Cooper Smoragiewicz, Summit

Last year, the Special Teams Player of the Year was Alexie Moriera of Phillipsburg, who kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired to give the Stateliners the North 2, Group 4 title.

This year, Summit’s Cooper Smoragiewicz won not one, but two playoff games with “walk-off” kicks. The first came in the opening round of the playoffs, a chip-shot from 19-yards out to beat Warren Hills, 24-21. The second came in the North 2, Group 3 semifinals from 34-yards out against West Essex, to send the Hilltoppers to the sectional finals with a 31-28 win.

In a season where six of Summit’s nine wins came by just three points – including those two playoff victories – Smoragiewicz was 24-of-24 on PATs.

Oh, and he’s just a sophomore, so there will be plenty more of his story to be written by the time he finished his senior season in 2027!

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel speak with Cooper Smoragiewicz, our Special Teams Kicker of the Year:

Honorable Mentions:

Thomas Diemar, Bernards: Though he didn’t play a full season due to a bad-luck, non-contact ACL injury in Game Three, Deimar – a nationally-ranked long-snapper, continued to do it for two more weeks after is injury! Head coach Jon Simoneau says he had a perfect career: never one bad snap!
Jaret Quesada, Manville: He led the Big Central Conference in PATs made this season, connecting on 54 of 59, and at one point connected on 17 straight. He had four touchbacks, and only attempted one field goal this year, connecting from 23 yards out in a Week Three, 31-0 home win over Belvidere.
Mike Bellamy, Montgomery: Ranked the No. 2 long snapper in New Jersey, the kid does it all, playing offensive line as well as fullback, where he scored four designed touchdowns this year – not just falling on a fumble by his own team in the end zone.
Gavin Pereira, Spotswood: After going 27-of-28 last year, the senior was 20-for-22 on extra points in 2025. He also hit on three of four field goal attempts, with a long of 38, while also getting four kickoff touchbacks. His coach Chris Meagher says he gets great placement on those that don’t sail out the back of the end zone.
Quaron Robinson, Union: Helping the Farmers win the field position battle, he averaged 35 yards per punt this year, many landing inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.

December 11, 2025December 11, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

Central Jersey Sports Radio announces football “Specialty Awards” for 2025

Our goal at Central Jersey Sports Radio since our founding in 2020 has always been to bring attention to all the great things done by the many outstanding student-athletes in our area, both on and off the field.

Even with Honorable Mentions in each category, just having one each of Offensive, Defensive Special Teams and Two-Way Player of the Year isn’t quite enough to cover the massive 59-team Big Central Conference.

So, in our quest to honor as many great student-athletes as possible, here are our 2024 Central Jersey Sports Radio Specialty Awards:

“Hard Nosed Runner” Award: Sam Dech, Phillipsburg

Last year, it was Jett Genovese and Matthew Scerbo, Jr., receiving the “Dynamic Duo” award. This season, it’s another Phillipsburg football player with a specialty award.

Sam Dech seems to define Phillipsburg football. They all say they live by D.I.G. – Discipline, Ignore the Noise, Grit – but for Dech it’s however much more that can be possible.

Even in a postgame interview, he’ll tell you “that’s what we wanted to do and we just came out and did it.”

A high school football game scene showing a player in a dark uniform attempting to evade two defenders in light uniforms, with spectators in the background. — *Phillipsburg’s Sam Dech looks to make a move in the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)*

Well, they don’t get there without Dech, who is a bruising runner who’s nearly impossible to bring down. Okay, not impossible, but be assured that if you hit him at the ten yard line, he’s going to bring you at least another five yards toward the end zone by the time he’s down.

That was invaluable on a 2025 team that lost Genovese and Scerbo – the second of whom was the school’s all-time leading receiver – as well as fellow receiver Felix Matos to graduation.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Phillipsburg’s Sam Dech:

The “Great Hands” Award: R.J. Wortman, Colonia

Good Hands was already taken, but Wortman is more than good hands. He’s great hands.

Colonia always seems to be a place where things happen without a lot of fan fare. But one day, you turn around, and Tom Roarty has his team in a sectional semifinal game in one of the hallowed grounds of high school football in New Jersey, Maloney Stadium.

The same could be said for R.J. Wortman, who heading into that North 2, Group 4 semi against Phillipsburg, was nearing 100 receptions on the year, and finished with a cool 101. The next highest wasn’t even that close.

A student-athlete signs a commitment in front of a table adorned with football gear, including jerseys, a football, and helmets, with a coach standing nearby, all set against a backdrop displaying 'Colonia Patriots'. — *Colonia’s R.J. Wortman signed with Rutgers on 2025 December National Letter of Intent Signing Day. (Photo courtesy Tom Roarty)*

They weren’t all long passes from senior QB Dylan Chiera, who threw for over 2,000 yards this season, one of three Middlesex County quarterbacks to do so in 2025. There were a few dinks and dunks in there, but it kept defenses on their toes, that’s for sure, with so many different ways to use him.

Couple that with the fact Wortman is a great teammate. No sooner did he commit to Greg Schiano and Rutgers – where he signed last week and will enroll early in January, skipping his senior season on the basketball court – but he was already active on Twitter, propping up all of his teammates, trying to make sure college coaches take a look at them just like they did with him.

Overall, Wortman finished with 101 catches for 1,307 yards (118.8 per game) with 15 touchdowns for the 7-4 Patriots.

Click below to hear Alec Crouthamel talk with Colonia’s R.J. Wortman:

“Is He A Lineman? Is He a Fullback” Award: Mike Bellamy, Montgomery

Senior Mike Bellamy has football in the family. His father, Joe – owner of Bellamy & Son Paving – played it, and has coached it for years at the youth level in their previous hometown of Piscataway. His brothers Joe and Rocco played for the Chiefs, with Joe on that 2018 team that won the North Jersey Group 5 Bowl Championship, beating Ridgewood at MetLife Stadium to become the first Middlesex County school to go 13-0 in a season, setting a county win record that still holds.

So, it was clear Mike would play football.

A football player wearing a yellow and green helmet with the word 'Cougars' on his jersey, stands on the sidelines, looking thoughtful during a game. — *Mike Bellamy of Montgomery. (Source: @MikeBellamy50 on Twitter)*

He’s an accomplished long-snapper, and has been a solid two-way lineman for a few seasons now. But this year, a new wrinkle was added: he would run the football.

Bellamy’s is not the story of an offensive lineman who fell on a couple of luckily-timed fumbles in the end zone to give his offense a score. No, no. This was all by design.

In fact, Bellamy carried eleven times this season for 38 yards, scoring four touchdowns, one each against Linden and Woodbridge in the regular season, then against Westfield and the Barrons again in the playoffs.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Mike Bellamy of Montgomery:

“I’m Back” Award: Devin Thomas, Plainfield

The last time we saw Devin Thomas the football player, he was quarterbacking the junior varsity at St. Thomas Aquinas, where Donald Jones, now Plainfield’s head coach, was an assistant.

Thomas transferred to Plainfield as a sophomore to represent his hometown, then gave up football to focus on basketball as a junior. It seemed a pretty good decision; Thomas scored in double-figures 12 times, helping lead the Cardinals to a Group 4 championship last March.

A football player wearing a red and white jersey with the number 11, standing on the field and signaling to teammates. The player is wearing a helmet and appears to be in an active game situation. — *Devin Thomas of Plainfield. (Source: @DevinThomas8_ on Twitter)*

When Jones took over as Plainfield head coach last spring, he gauged Thomas’s interest in coming back to the gridiron.

“Why not?”

Six months later, everyone agrees it paid off.

Thomas threw for 2,214 yards and 29 touchdowns. He ran for another 482 yards and 4 scores. Week-in and week-out, Thomas put up video game numbers under center for Plainfield.

He put an exclamation point on his stellar season with a 296-yard, 4-touchdown masterpiece in Plainfield’s final regular season game – a 28-27 come-from-behind win at Linden that clinched the Cardinals’ spot in the North 2, Group 5 playoffs.

Click below to hear Justin Sontupe talk with Devin Thomas of Plainfield:

“Comeback” Award: Jack Kalikas, A.L. Johnson

A.L. Johnson standout athlete Jack Kalikas broke his leg in October 2024. Faced with the same situation, some might wonder if they’d ever play at a high level again.

Not Jack; he wondered if he’d be able to return to play hockey that season.

While that goal proved to be a bit out of reach, it kept him going.

A quarterback in a blue football uniform throws a pass while a teammate in a similar uniform looks on during a game at night. — *Jack Kalikas of A.L. Johnson throws a pass in this undated photo. (Source: @jackkalikas on Instagram)*

Jack then set his sights on returning for lacrosse in the spring. And although he couldn’t fully come back in time, the determination accelerated the recovery process.

By summer, Jack was full go and back on the football field for A.L. Johnson. On top of that, he’d be playing for his dad, Gus Kalikas, A.L. Johnson’s athletic director-turned-head coach.

Almost one full year after breaking his leg, Jack led A.L. Johnson to a 7-2 record, playing quarterback and linebacker for the Crusaders.

Next up: hockey and lacrosse.

Click below to hear Justin Sontupe talk with Jack Kalikas of A.L. Johnson:

“Body Builder” Award: Brady Gallogly, Piscataway

Originally nominated for the Longevity Award, this one really fit him more.

Brady had always played wide receiver, but an opportunity came up where Piscataway needed a center. Ever the eager freshman, he made the suggestion.

A football player prepares to snap the ball on a field during a night game, with teammates and opponents in the background. — *Brady Gallogly, Piscataway. (Source: Hudl)*

Now, he wasn’t quite dealing with a coach who barely knew him, because his father, Frank Uhrin, is the team’s offensive coordinator. He played at Piscataway, too, as did Brady’s uncle, Robert, who also was a smaller-sized lineman on the 2002 Central Jersey Group 4 championship team, the last to be coached by legend Joe Kuronyi. His uncle, Tommy “Guns” Uhrin, was a skill player for the Chiefs in the 1990s.

But beyond all that, Gallogly had work to do. He only weight 160 pounds at the time, but with weight lifting, diet, and a training regimen, he got where he needed to be and became adept at making all the movements offensive linemen need to make.

Click below to hear Chris Tsakonas talk with Piscataway’s Brady Gallogly:

The “Tough Break for a Record-Breaker” Award: Thomas Diemar, Bernards

Coming into Game Three of the 2026 season, with at least a half-dozen games to go, you’d figure, senior Thomas Diemarr should have blown away the school’s all-time career sack record.

He already had it, with 22: ten each his sophomore and junior seasons, and two already in the first two games. This was his chance to make it nearly untouchable.

Then, in the first quarter, he plants funny in the end zone on a kickoff, with no one around him.

Young male athlete with curly hair standing outdoors, wearing a black athletic shirt, in front of a sports field and a building. — *Bernards’ all-time sack record holder, Thomas Diemar. (Photo: Marcus Borden)*

He sorely wanted back in the game, which turned out to be a win over Delaware Valley.

As it turned out, he tore his ACL, and his senior season would be done.

Diemar was a bit surprised when head coach Jon Simoneau picked him for first team All-Patriot Gold Division. But he shouldn’t have been. He deserved it, or he would have had he played.

Coach decided to honor a young man who, himself, has honored and respected the program Simoneau has built. That’s why he got the recognition, and that’s why he gets ours!

Click below to hear Alec Crouthamel talk with Thomas Diemar of Bernards:

The “Sure, I’ll Play Quarterback” Award: Alex Schwark, Summit
The “Best Player Not To Play A Snap” Award: Cole Sabol, Summit

These two awards go hand-in-hand, if you’ll just follow along.

Cole is a multi-sport athlete, and he tore his Achilles last spring in lacrosse, on the very first day of the season. After getting evaluated, he found out he’d also miss football season. That’s when Alex Schwark took the job, having never played it before.

And he did well. In fact, when he got hurt later in the year, the Hilltoppers dropped those two games, then continued winning when he was back in the lineup, three weeks later in a 10-7 win upset at previously-unbeaten Woodbridge.

A split image featuring two high school football players. On the left, a quarterback in a light blue uniform holds a football and appears ready to pass on a field. On the right, another player in a maroon and gold uniform stands next to a coach on the sidelines, looking down at the ground. — *Summit’s Cole Sabol (left) and Alex Schwark and head coach Kevin Kostibos (right) (@colesabol3 on Instagram/File photo by Mike Pavlichko)*

But Schwark never would have done so well without Sabol, who was nominated for the Leadership Award by Coach Kevin Kostibos. Why? Because he could have walked away and sulked, but instead led the team in practices, meetings, gatherings, and games. He took his teammates under his wing, including Schwark, helping to make him the quarterback he became, even if he was sharing time with Matt McKeever down the stretch, with both of them on the field at the same time.

Click below to hear Alec Crouthamel talk with Summit’s Cole Sabol and Alex Schwark:

November 14, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

North 2, Group 3 Final Preview: Summit Hilltoppers vs. West Morris Wolfpack

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 Final:
When: Friday, 7:30 pm
Where: West Morris High School, Chester, NJ
Matchup: #2 Summit (9-2) at #1 West Morris (11-0)
Weather: 41 degrees, mostly clear, wind NNW 2 mph (crosswind from home stands toward visitor stands)

HEAD COACHES:

Summit: Kevin Kostibos (13th season, 91-40)
West Morris: Kevin Hennelly (28th season, 179-92)

HOW THEY GOT HERE:

Summit:
First Round: def. #7 Warren Hills, 24-21
Semifinals: def. #3 West Essex, 31-28

West Morris:
First Round: def. #8 Snyder, 42-6
Semifinals: def. #4 Roxbury, 28-7

Who’s next? The winner of this game will play the North 1, Group 3 winner in the Group 3 semifinals. That title game features top-seed Old Tappan (10-0) hosting second-seed Wayne Hills (9-2) Friday at 6 pm. If Summit advances, they would be either at Old Tappan – the overall No. 1 seed in South Group 3 – or at home against Wayne Hills, which finished sixth in the supersection on Cutoff Weekend.

SERIES HISTORY:

This is just the second meeting between the schools, with the Wolfpack winning both prior matchups, both in the playoffs. The most recent get-together was in 2021, when West Morris won 56-31 at home in the first round of the North 2, Group 3 playoffs. They also met in the semis (first round) of that section in 1982, a 14-9 win for the Wolfpack.

SUMMIT PREVIEW:

Summit getting contributions in all three phases as Hilltoppers visit West Morris in first sectional title game appearance since 2018

FINALS HISTORY:

Summit:

Summit is one of the oldest programs in New Jersey, and has had a good deal of playoff success over the years, winning nine of 13 trips to the sectional finals over the years, with five titles in North 2, Group 3, and four in North 2, Group 2.

They have never reached a sectional final as anything lower than a four-seed, and are 4-1 in the finals as a two-seed, with three of those wins coming over the top seed – in 1976, 1988 and 1994 – with their 2013 win coming over four-seed Parsippany Hills. Their lone loss as a two-seed came in 1992 to Dover,

Ironically, the team the Hilltoppers beat for their first playoff title in 1976 was the same team they beat last week on a field goal as time expired, West Essex. That game was not quite as close, however: a 40-0 Summit triumph.

Playoff Berths: 32
Playoff Record: 35-22
Previous Finals Berths: 13
Sectional Titles: 9

North 2, Group 3:
1976: #2 Summit def. #1 West Essex, 40-0
1980: #3 Summit def. #1 Rahway, 10-7
1986: #2 Randolph def. #4 Summit, 12-7
North 2, Group 2:
1988: #2 Summit def. #1 Dover, 12-6
1992: #1 Dover def. #2 Summit, 22-0
1993: #1 Summit def. #2 Mendham, 26-21
1994: #2 Summit def. #1 Mendham, 26-8
1995: #3 Johnson def. #1 Summit, 21-6
2009: #1 Summit def. #6 Orange, 28-19
2011: #2 Madison def. #1 Summit, 47-7
North 2, Group 3:
2012: #1 Summit def. #3 Palisades Park, 30-0
2013: #2 Summit def. #4 Parsippany Hills, 16-13
2018: #1 Summit def. #3 Rahway, 36-14
lost to Ramapo in North 3 “bowl game,” 42-22 (at MetLife Stadium)

West Morris:

Playoff Berths: 37
Playoff Record: 41-26
Previous Finals Berths: 15
Sectional Titles: 10

West Morris: (CHECK THIS) The Wolfpack have made 15 title game appearances, winning ten of them, with six coming under current head coach Kevin Hennelly. As the No. 1 seed, which they are this year, West Morris is 6-2 in sectional finals.

North 2, Group 2:
1982: #3 West Morris def. #1 Randolph, 10-6
1985: #1 West Morris def. #2 Linden, 19-7
1987: #1 Randolph def. #2 West Morris, 14-13
1990: #1 Scotch Plains-Fanwood def. #2 West Morris, 25-12
1991: #2 West Morris def. #1 Nutley 14-0
1995: #1 West Morris def. #2 Nutley, 21-0
1997: #3 Morristown def. #1 West Morris, 6-0
2000: #2 Warren Hills def. #1 West Morris, 21-13
2001: #1 West Morris def. #3 Mendham, 15-14
2004: #6 West Morris def. #1 Mendham, 10-7
2009: #3 West Morris def. #4 Passaic Valley, 28-19
North 2, Group 4:
2012: #1 West Morris def. #6 Warren Hills, 35-7
North 1, Group 3:
2021: #1 West Morris def. #2 West Essex, 21-0
beat Cranford in North 3 “bowl game,” 53-14 (at MetLife Stadium)
North 2, Group 3:
2022: #1 West Morris def. #3 West Essex, 21-7
lost to Old Tappan in Group 3 semifinals, 21-6
2023: #1 Old Tappan def. #6 West Morris, 21-17

2025 SUMMIT COVERAGE:

Summit High School football players lined up on the field for a pre-game ceremony, wearing their team uniforms and helmets, with fans in the background. — *Summit captains get ready for the coin toss before a Big Central United Gold Division home game against Hillside on September 13, 2025. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)*

NEWS & NOTES:

One of the veteran skippers in the finals…

Kevin Kostibos is one of a number of long-tenured Union County coaches who stay where they are. He’s been the head coach at Summit since 2013, and only Eric Rosenmeier of Cranford has been at a Union County school longer, 20 seasons, having debuted in 2005 with the Cougars. Others at their schools a decade or more include Rahway’s Brian Russo, who just wrapped his tenth season with Indians, and Chet Parlavecchio, Jr., who is in his ninth season, and also in the finals Friday night against Cedar Grove in the North 2, Group 1 title tilt.

November 14, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

Summit getting contributions in all three phases as Hilltoppers visit West Morris in first sectional title game appearance since 2018

Look how far we’ve come.

2018 was the first yer of the New Jersey UPR playoff system. We were using the Born Power Index as a complement to traditional power points, and we weren’t quite ready yet to crown state champions.

That year, Summit beat Rahway in the North 2, Group 3 final, 36-14, and played in the first-ever North Group 3 “bowl game” – a quasi state semifinal with no title game to follow – falling to Ramapo 42-22 at Met Life Stadium.

This year, the Hilltoppers are back in a sectional final for the first time since, as third-seeded Summit (9-2) travels up to top-seed West Morris (11-0) for the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 trophy.

The Wolfpack are a tough foe. Not only have they not lost this season, they’ve only allowed 13 points in the first two playoff games, beating Snyder 42-6 and Roxbury 28-7. They’ve held seven teams to single-digit scoring on the year, and shutout one (Randolph).

But Summit has an undefeated mark of its own: the team is 9-0 with Alex Schwark in the lineup. He missed the Somerville and Bernards games – both losses – but they’re 4-0 since his return for an impressive 10-7 road win at previously-unbeaten Woodbridge.

It hasn’t exactly been a season defined by injuries, but it has certainly been shaped by them. Cole Sabol was expected to be a rare three-year starter at quarterback. But he got injured playing lacrosse in the Spring. Enter Alex Schwark, moving over from runningback, and he certainly did well the first five games of the year, until he went down to injury.

He’d only miss two games – though Summit would drop both, to two of the better teams on their schedule, Somerville and Bernards – but head coach Kevin Kostibos got a look at Matt McKeever running the show. Previously, he’d been their “under center” QB in short yardage situations. Now, Kostibos keeps both in the game, right next to each other, and you never know who’s getting the ball. The first time out was a triumph, 10-7 at Woodbridge, handing the Barrons their first loss of the year, and it’s been full steam ahead ever since.

That’ll be key against a very physical, strong defensive team in West Morris team Friday night.

And while they probably would prefer to have a game more in hand, if it’s close, the Hilltoppers could turn again to kicker Cooper Smoragieiwcz. He’s kicked go-ahead and game-winning field goals in the closing seconds in each of the last two weeks for Summit, and ready to go again if he’s needed.

But it could be the defense that faces the stiffest challenge. The Wolfpack run the ball. A lot. To the tune of 3,104 yards this season, and with 17 different players touching the ball. The offensive line is big and knows how to play the game.

Click below to hear Summit head coach Kevin Kostibos talk about the Hilltoppers and their sectional final Friday night at West Morris:

November 11, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

CJSR announces Championship Weekend playoff coverage of three area title games

Central Jersey Sports Radio will have in-person coverage of three of the five sectional title games being played this Championship Weekend, involving six teams from the Big Central Conference.

We’ll have live play-by-play of the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 final, which features two BCC squads, as top-seed Phillipsburg (9-1) will host third-seed Montgomery (8-3) at Maloney Stadium. The Stateliners – the defending champs in this section – haven’t lost to a public school all year, while the Cougars have rebounded off a 1-9 season under first-year head coach and previous Offensive Coordinator Sean Carty.

Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel will call the action, with pregame at 6:45. Kickoff is at 7. Bookmark this link to listen live.

Meanwhile, we’ll have reporters at the two other games being hosted by Big Central schools.

Central Jersey Sports Radio analyst Marcus Borden will be in New Providence, where the second-seeded Pioneers – the only unbeaten team left in the league, at 10-0 – get a surprise home game in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 final against fourth-seed and defending champion Cedar Grove (8-3) at 6:30 pm. New Providence lost to the Panthers on the road in last year’s title game, but now get to host because Cedar Grove upset top-seed Mountain Lakes Friday night in the semifinals. Follow Marcus Borden on Twitter for live updates.

And Chris Tsakonas will be at the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 5 final at Basilone Field in Bridgewater as the top-seeded Panthers (8-3) host sixth-seed Bayonne (8-3) at 6 pm. Bridgewater is in the finals for the first time since 2017, the last of a streak of three straight North 2, Group 5 finals they appeared in, falling all three times to Westfield, which was undefeated all three years, going 36-0 in that stretch. Follow Chris Tsakonas on Twitter for live updates.

Meanwhile, we’ll have postgame recaps of two other finals as well from CJSR headquarters, with third-seed Old Bridge (10-1) visiting top-seed and undefeated Washington Township (11-0) in the Central Jersey Group 5 title game at 6 pm Friday, as well as second-seed Summit (9-2) at top-seed and unbeaten West Morris (11-0) at 7:30 pm in the North 2, Group 3 final.

November 8, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

Smoragiewicz plays hero for Summit – again – with game-winning field goal as time expires to send Hilltoppers to first final since 2018

How important are special teams?

Ask Summit.

A week after kicking a go-ahead field goal from 19 yards out with seven seconds remaining for a quarterfinal win over Warren Hills, the second-seeded Hilltoppers got a 34-yarder from cool-as-a-cucumber sophomore Cooper Smoragiewicz as time expired to win a back-and-forth, see-saw affair at Tatlock Field Saturday in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 semifinals, 31-28 over visiting third-seed West Essex.

The victory sends Summit to the finals next Friday night at 7:30 at top-seed and undefeated West Morris (11-0). It’ll be their first finals appearance since beating Rahway, 36-14, in the North 2, Group 3 final in 2018, and will give them a chance at their tenth sectional title all-time, second best among Union County schools, behind Union’s eleven.

Summit scored first on a 57-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Alex Schwark with less than two minutes into the game, but the Knights got the next two – on a Jake Long five-yard run after West Essex recovered a Summit fumble, and a 42-yard touchdown catch by Luke Kesack – to take a 14-7 lead after one.

Schwark scored again from a yard out with 2:59 to go before the break, leaving the score tied 14-all at halftime.

After the Knights opened the second half with the ball but turned it over on downs, Smoragiewicz scored on a three-yard run with 4:21 to go in the third, making it 21-14.

In the fourth, Michael Lozito scored on a 13-yard touchdown catch after the Hilltoppers turned it over on downs, tying it at 21 with 9:50 to play, but on the next possession, it was Schwark again from 37-yards out capping a fast drive.

West Essex went on a long drive, and it was Long who capped it off this time, with a nine-yard run with 5:04 to go. But all it would do was set up Smoragiewicz’ heroics.

A long drive got the Hilltoppers within range. Head coach Kevin Kostibos worked and milked the clock, calling a time out with 1.3 to go so the Knights couldn’t get a chance to win in regulation. A chance to win was coming up with the ball on the 17, right in the middle of the field.

Turned out to be a piece of cake.

Smoragiwiecz split the uprights. Again.

Click below for postgame reaction from Marcus Borden with Smoragiewicz, Schwark, and head coach Kevin Kostibos, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen!

November 7, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

Big Central guaranteed finalists – and title in North 2, Group 4 – but who else will play for trophies next weekend? A look at the semis

There are eleven Big Central Conference public schools left in the state playoffs, less than half of the 25 teams that initially qualified.

But of those that remain, there are some good opportunities for the league to win championships, and there’s even a guarantee it will in North 2, Group 4, where all four teams playing in semifinals Friday are from the BCC.

That was pretty well expected, as seven of the eight teams in that section were from the Big Central, and the one that wasn’t – eight-seed Newark Central – was likely to get clobbered by top-seed Phillipsburg, which they did, 55-14.

Here’s a look at who’s in action Friday night, public and private – as well as Saturday, where Piscataway and Summit will play home matinees – with links to our pre-game, in-game and post-game coverage.

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2, GROUP 5:

(4) Union City (6-3) at (1) Bridgewater-Raritan (7-3), Friday 6 pm: Call this the “merger” bowl, with the Panthers of the BCC a merger back in the early 1990s between Bridgewater East and West, and the Soaring Eagles a conglomeration of Emerson and Union Hill in 2008. This is their second meeting, with last year being a 61-10 win for Union City. But that Bridgewater team finished 4-7 on the season, and was 3-6 when they started the playoffs. Union City finished 11-2 and went all the way to the state Group 5 final, losing to Toms River North. This is still a tall order for the Panthers, but they are much closer in record now than they were last season, and one of their two losses came with senior QB Declan Kurdyla back in the lineup. He’s thrown for 1,154 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Jahmier Black (676 yards, 5 TDs) and Denzel Amoafo (633 yards, 12 TDs) lead the ground game. Meanwhile, it’s all the ground game for Union City, which has run it 403 times for nearly 4,000 yards, with two thousand-yard rushers: Ja’Zaire Aurelus (1,084 yards, 18 TD) and Mark Boyd (1,516 yards, 25 TDs). On defense, they have 36 sacks as a team – eleven from Omar Tillman, ten from Reynaldo Mercedes – and nine picks, with two returned for touchdowns.

Two groups of high school football players shaking hands at midfield during a coin toss before a game, one team in white uniforms with red accents and the other in black and yellow uniforms. — Piscataway and Plainfield captains shake hands before the coin toss ahead of their North 2, Group 5 opening round playoff game at Kenny Armwood Stadium in Piscataway on November 1, 2025. (Photo: Marcus Borden)

(6) Bayonne (7-3) at (2) Piscataway (8-2), Saturday 1 pm: The Chiefs have beaten Bayonne all three times they’ve played them: in 2014, 2017, and last year in the first round of this section, a 42-13 win for Piscataway, which bowed out in the semis to West Orange. And this may be the best team the Chiefs have had since COVID. They can score, they get good line play, and they bend but don’t break on defense: all characteristics of some of the best P’way teams over the last decade-and-a-half. Read our full preview, with interviews with both head coaches here. This is our “Big Central Game of the Week” presented by Bellamy & Son Paving, so click here to listen as Mike Pavlichko and Chris Tsakonas call all the action, with pregame at 12:45 pm.

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 5:

(3) Old Bridge (9-1) at (2) Sayreville (9-1), Friday 7 pm: Why don’t these two teams play in the regular season? That’s a story for another day. In fact, believe it or not, the Knights and Bombers haven’t played each other since 2021! Besides that blasphemy, these teams have gone back and forth over the years in the series, and this one could see video game-like numbers, between Old Bridge QB Brody Nugent and Sayreville runnigback Shaun Jackson. Nugent has thrown for 1,926 yards and 15 TDs this season, while rushing for 1,108 and 19 scores. Jackson, meanwhile, has rushed for 1,761 yards – that’s 9.8 yards per carry, almost a first down every trip! Follow Marcus Borden for live coverage tonight, with a recap after the game at cjsportsradio.com. The other semifinal at 6 pm Friday features fourth-seed Rancocas Valley (6-4) at top-seed Washington Twp. (10-0). If Rancocas wins, the winner of the Old Bridge-Sayreville game would host the CJ5 final next Friday night. If Washington Twp. wins, the game would be down there, just north of Glassboro and Rowan University. You know, right smack dab in the heart of Central Jersey! (Eye roll)

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2, GROUP 4:

(5) Colonia (7-3) at (1) Phillipsburg (8-1), Friday 7 pm: There have only been two meetings between these two teams, and both have come in the playoffs – and a long time ago. They last met in 2015, a sectional semifinal win for P’burg, and the year before at Rutgers, the Stateliners held off Colonia in overtime for the North 2, Group 4 title. A win for the Patriots would get them back to a title game for the first time since, but more than that, would be a monumental win over one of the premier programs in the state. One matchup to watch will be Colonia receiver R.J. Wortman against Phillipsburg defensive back Jaysen Blacknall. Wortman is the top receiver in the state with 88 – that’s right, close to 100! – catches on the year for 1,160 receiving yards and 14 scores. Can the line buy enough time, though, for Dylan Chiera to get him the ball? The Stateliners are stout up front on both sides of the ball, and Colonia will have to stop a dominating run game. Only St. Joseph-Metuchen has beaten P’burg this year, and that tape has probably been worn out this week by Colonia coach Tom Roarty and his staff. This is our Friday night “Big Central Game of the Week” presented by Bellamy & Son Paving. Click here to listen to Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe call all the action live from Maloney Stadium, with pregame at 6:45. Read our Colonia preview here, including and interview with head coach Tom Roarty. Our Phillipsburg preview is here, with a chat with head coach Frank Duffy.

A football player catches the ball while being tackled by two defenders on the field during a night game, with a large crowd visible in the background. — *Woodbridge senior runningback Joshua Allen scores against Montgomery on October 10, 2025. (Photo: Marcus Borden)*

(3) Montgomery (7-3) at (2) Woodbridge (8-2), Friday 6 pm: Follow Alec Crouthamel on Twitter for updates – with postgame later on cjsportsradio.com – from this rematch of their October tenth game in Skillman, where the Cougars led 25-14 at the half, but the Barrons scored three third quarter touchdowns to pull ahead, and won 41-33. The two to watch in this one are Woodbridge runningback Joshua Allen – who had 221 yards and three touchdowns in the game – and Montgomery QB Jack Kristjanson, who threw for 206 yards and two touchdowns in that game, but also two picks. He was roughed up a bit in a Cutoff Weekend game at Rahway, getting sacked numerous times and going just 5-of-12 for 27 yards, but bounced back nicely last week against Westfield, with 13-for-20, 251 yards and three scores in a 32-10 win. Woodbridge bounced back last week, too, after losing two straight to end the regular season after a 7-0 start. They beat Rahway 21-7 in the opening round.

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2, GROUP 3:

(3) West Essex (6-3) at (2) Summit (8-2), Saturday 1 pm: This is their first meeting since 2023, a 27-17 first round playoff defeat for the Hilltoppers, who are 4-13-1 all-time against the Knights. Summit has won three straight – including a victory over Woodbridge – since dropping back-to-back games to start October, both without runningback-turned-QB Alex Schwark in the lineup. When he’s on the field instead of the bench, they’re 8-0. This could be a high scoring game, as both teams can put up points, and both can be scored upon; Summit is allowing 17 points per game to the opposition, West Essex nearly 22, but they are also 4-0 on the road this season, with wins at Caldwell, Lakeland, Nutley and Morris Knolls. Follow Marcus Borden on Twitter for live coverage of this one, with postgame later at cjsportsradio.com. The winner gets the victor from the other semifinal, which has fourth-seed Roxbury (7-3) at top-seed West Morris (10-0) at 7:30 Friday. Summit, should they win, would be at home if they get Roxbury, and on the road if it’s West Morris.

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2, GROUP 1:

(3) New Providence (9-0) at (2) Hasbrouck Heights (8-2), Friday 7 pm: In a rematch of a first-round game last year, New Providence at least is very different. Not only did they graduate star QB T.J. Munn, but standout runningback A.J. Whitehead broke his leg a few weeks ago and won’t be back in the postseason. That’s forced Chet Parlevecchio, Jr.’s staff to shuffle some guys around, leaning more on fullback Mike Petses and converting Jack Fitzgerland from wide receiver to runningback. It’s kept the Pioneers on the right path so far, with Fitzgerald going for 345 yards on 40 carries the last three weeks, after carrying just five times in the four games he even carried the ball prior. Heights is led by senior QB Nico Nipitella (1,018 yards, 16 TDs) and senior RB Michael Naplitano (1,320 yards, 18 scores). After falling in the finals last year at Cedar Grove, New Providence could face them again in the finals. The other semi has the fourth-seeded Panthers (7-3) visiting top-seed Mountain Lakes (7-2) Friday night at 7.

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 1:

(4) Manville (10-0) at (1) Burlington City (9-1), Friday 6 pm: Last week, Manville made history with its first playoff win, coming in just its sixth playoff appearance all-time. The Mustangs also set a program record with their tenth win. Now, if they get an eleventh, they’ll be in the finals for the first time ever. To do that, they will have to get past a very good Burlington City team that has run the rock about three times more than they’ve thrown it all year, to the tune of 2,278 yards on the ground, with 1,625 of them coming from senior runningback Donte Davis, who also has 22 touchdowns on the year. But hey, Manville has some gamers, too, and dominated Asbury Park on the line of scrimmage last week – though the Blue Devils are not to be confused with the Blue Bishops. Still, the two-headed quarterback monster Manville has with Sam Echeverri and Josh D’Ambrosio is confusing, and watching them on film can only do so much. Can Manville keep making history? The other semifinal is at 6 pm Friday, featuring sixth-seed Point Pleasant Beach (7-2) at second-seed Shore (7-2).

A high school football game in progress, featuring players in blue and yellow uniforms on the field, with a focus on a quarterback preparing to throw the ball under the stadium lights. — *Manville’s Josh D’Ambrosio looks to throw against Asbury Park in a Central Jersey Group 1 opening round game at home on October 31, 2025. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)*

NON-PUBLIC GROUP B:

(10) St. Thomas Aquinas (5-5) at (7) Immaculata (8-2), Friday 7 pm: The Trojans are in a transition season with new head coach Shamir Bearfield and a host of transfers in and out of the program. But they’re here in the playoffs, and have a solid opponent in the Spartans, who play in the Super Football Conference despite being in Somerset County. Quarterback Zymere Weaver is having a fine sophomore season, throwing for 2,061 yards and 23 touchdowns against just two interceptions, and Ian Roberts paces the ground game with 815 yards and seven scores. Immaculata has won five straight coming in, and is led on the ground by Daysir Spille, with 1,276 yards on 157 carries and 26 touchdowns this season. Should be a good one, with the winner going on to play second-seed Paramus Catholic (4-6), which has a bye along with top-seed DePaul in a 14-team field. The Palladins beat St. Thomas on October third, 42-14.

October 31, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

The playoffs are here! Part Two of our first round, Big Central postseason preview, with a look at Groups 1 through 3

It’s time for the playoffs!

We got through opening weekend in the sweltering heat of the late dog days of August. We didn’t really have much of a fall, but the weather mostly nice. And Cutoff Weekend last weekend saw some teams sweating it out, some disappointed, and others rewarded for their play during the season.

Now, it’s time to get it all going!

Here’s Central Jersey Sports Radio’s look at all the playoff games in Groups 1, 2 and 3 involving BCC schools this weekend, section by section, including game dates and times. Games are Friday, except where noted.

Click here to read our preview of playoff games in Groups 4 and 5.

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2, GROUP 3:

#5 Cranford (4-5) at #4 Roxbury (6-3), 7 pm: The Cougars could be tough to figure out, or maybe not. Their season has been perfectly symmetrical, a football anagram. They lost their first two, then won two, lost one, then won two again, and lost two coming into the playoffs, falling 40-15 at Colonia, and 23-22 in overtime at Hillside last Saturday. And to move on in the playoffs, they’ll need to win on the road, a place they’re 0-4 this season. Talk about a balanced attack: though they run it more than they pass, Cranford has just 31 more yards passing than they do on the ground, 1,337 to 1,306. But they don’t rely on any one person. For example, five different receivers – led by senior Quinn Smith with 32 and junior John Fiore with 23 – have at least 15 receptions this season. Roxbury, meanwhile, likes to keep it on the ground, and in the hands of duel threat quarterback Frankie Falco. He’s just a sophomore, but he’s completing 62% of his passes for 608 yards and three touchdowns – but seven picks – while rushing for a team-best 1,048 and eleven scores. This will be the first-ever meeting between the schools.
#7 Warren Hills (5-4) at #2 Summit (7-2), Saturday 1 pm: These schools were more familiar when they were in the Mid-State Conference together, but haven’t played since 2021. The Blue Streaks have been back and forth all season, never winning or losing more than two straight all year long. Coming off a 48-20 win at Hackettstown that locked down a playoff berth, they’re a balanced attack with a good aerial game, but turnover-prone, while Summit has seven picks on the year and two fumble recoveries, with senior Andrew Trujillo disruptive up front. Say this, the Hilltoppers are battle-tested. Their two losses came to two very tough opponents – Somerville and Bernards, who combined for just one loss between them this season, by the Pioneers – and they’ve beaten some outstanding squads as well, including Montgomery and Woodbridge. Back-tunred-QB Alex Schwark continues to shine running the offense, also running himself, to the tune of 918 yards – and that’s after missing those two games due to injury. There’s a reason Summit is perfect this season with him in the lineup, but he’ll have to have another Alex Schwark type of game for his team to move on to the next round.

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 3:

#7 Matawan (5-4) at #2 Somerville (8-1), 7 pm: Here’s another first-ever matchup, as the Huskies come in to Brooks Field sporting a 1-4 road record this season, with losses at Hightstown, Red Bank, Middletown North and Shore. Then again, they’re the only team to beat Manasquan this season, so who knows what they’ll come up with. They should be a huge underdog on the road in this first round game to a team that likes to play no-huddle, switching back-and-forth, and also run Aidan Vesuvio-Bush out of the wildcat. The Pioneers are a tough team to keep up with, that’s for sure. But they will have a good shot at defending their 2024 Central Jersey Group 3 title as one of the favorites in this section.

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2, GROUP 2:

#7 Madison at #2 Bernards, 7 pm: It’s been a long time since these two teams played, their last meeting in September of 2018, predating the Big Central. But Bernards has been the winningest program in the Big Central Conference for three straight seasons. They have not lost a single regular season game, and have a sectional title to their credit, going 32-2 since the start of the 2023 season. The Mountaineers have a program folks, and they play smash-mouth football. As CJSR analyst Marcus Borden once said, “After you play Bernards, you know you played Bernards.” Junior QB Nolan Walsh has been back for a couple of games after missing two due to injury, but it’s good to know that freshman A.J. MacCracken – the first ninth-grader to start at the position for Bernards in at least 50 years, according to head coach Jon Simoneau – wouldn’t miss a beat if he was needed, as he didn’t in two starts. Bernards has put up some big offensive numbers this year, with senior Logan Stevnes nearing 1,000 yards rushing, and Walsh just 77 shy of the same milestone on the passing side. Madison will run it a lot, but yardage-wise they’re very balanced, and rarely turn it over, while their defense stays at home. The Dodgers come in on a three-game winning streak.

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 2:

#8 Voorhees (8-1) at #1 Camden (6-2), 6 pm: This is a loaded section, and even the top teams will be challenged here. And this will be good measuring stick – win or lose – for the Vikings, who have an incredibly stout run-game and a potent offense, as they face a challenging, explosive South Jersey foe. That includes senior runningback Matteo Tramutola (1,338 yards, 17 TDs) and QB Sam Meekings (99-165, 1,560 pass yards, 19 TDs). With 20 sacks – and a team-best five from senior Madden Kramer. Voorhees’ only loss this season came to Bernards, 31-21, in Week Three (Game Four – don’t get us started on this again!). The Panthers have some strong wins over teams like Kingway and Rancocas Valley. They have been back and forth between QBs this season, as senior Ahman JOnes and freshman Gregory Wyche, Jr., have combined for 1,231 yards passing. And boy can their defensive line play. They have 29 sacks and 47 TFLs on the season, with senior Jerome Foster logging 9 1/2 of each, while fellow senior DB Ibn Muhammad also has 4 1/2 sacks. It’s the first meeting between the schools.
#5 Johnson (7-1) at #4 Mansquan (7-1), Saturday 1 pm: No recent history here either, as these two last played in 2016, with ‘Squan coming up with a 33-29 win that year. The Warriors have had a challenging schedule, their lone loss coming to Group 3 Matawan, with wins over Shore (6-2) and Red Bank (5-3). But Johnson has beaten its share of good teams, including Brearley, Metuchen and Delaware Valley, all 5-4. Their lone loss came to undefeated New Providence. While the Big Blue are led by senior runningback Ace Etienne – perhaps the coolest football name ever – ALJ will keep it on the ground even more, almost exclusively. They have run 268 running plays, and made just 27 pass attempts this season, rushing for 2,079 yards and 26 touchdowns behind a balanced attack that includes juniors Zaire Majerska and Manny Rendiero, and sophomore Julian Colon, all with at least 300 yards rushing, with several more close behind.

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2, GROUP 1:

#8 Brearley (5-4) at #1 Mountain Lakes (6-2): And so they meet again. The Bears last made the trip up north in 2022 for the North 1, Group 1 title game, and fell 16-6. This year, they open up the playoffs with the Herd, a team they’ve met four times prior, splitting the wins two games apiece. After starting the season 1-2, Mountain lakes has won five straight since, and scored no less than 28 points in any of those games, three times scoring over 40. Included in that are two solid wins over Madison and Newton. It’s almost exclusively a ground attack, having attempted just 39 passes on the year, with 30 runs for a total of 2,592 yards on the ground. Might be best if Brearley can get up early and get the Herd playing from behind. Brearley started the year 0-3, but has won five of six since, the lone loss coming two weeks ago, 27-9, to Metuchen. They beat Dayton 10-7 last weekend to clinch their playoff berth. Senior QB Matthew Resende has put up Matt Sims type numbers on the ground (he was the QB on the ’22 team) but doesn’t do the same through the air; he’s more a runner than a passer. In fact, he hasn’t thrown a TD pass all year in 55 attempts. Sophomore defensive lineman Rocco Federico, however, can get after the QB; he has 13 1/2 sacks on a team that has 19 overall.
#6 Secaucus (5-3) at #3 New Providence (8-0), 7 pm: Some way, some how, Chet Parlevecchio, Jr., has been able to keep this team perfect, despite graduation losses and injuries. T.J. Munn, a huge part of last year’s North 2, Group 1 finalist team, graduated, but star runningback A.J. Whitehead returned, only to break his leg late in the season, ending his 2025 campaign. That’s shifted the load to seniors like Jack Fitzgerald, Daniel Porretti, and Mike Petses, who, for example, combined for over 150 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries last week in a win over Delaware Valley. Maybe the secret is how well-coached this team is, and well-prepared. Secaucus has won two straight coming in, and has an interesting setup, with co-head coaches – Charlie Voorhees and Tom Curry, Jr. Their best wins have come over Hawthorne and Bogota. Brandon Vega is the team’s leading rusher at 867 yards and nine scores, but QB Chase Berckes has been turnover-prone, throwing for nearly 700 yards and five TDs, but with six picks. The New Providence defense – with four touchdowns on the year – must be salivating; as a group, they’ve got ten picks this year, returning three for scores. They also have seven fumble recoveries.

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 1:

#8 Bound Brook (5-4) at #1 Burlington City (8-1), 5 pm: This will be the first-ever meeting between the schools, and not an easy task. The Crusaders are a hard team to figure, as they haven’t beaten the best teams, but three of their losses came to undefeated squads. Four of their wins came over teams that have combined for just three victories themselves, and they lost to 1-8 North Warren in their opener by a score, but they also beat 5-4 Belvidere. But they were likely still working things out, as line coach Rich Hilliard has really transformed the play up front in his first season on head coach Dave LePoidevin’s staff. Meanwhile, the Blue Devils’ only loss came in a rivalry game with Group 3 Burlington Twp., and they’re a veteran group with quality wins on the schedule. This is the epitome of how a tough schedule rewards a team – if they win.
#5 Asbury Park (5-3) at #4 Manville (9-0): Throw out the Mustangs’ first undefeated mark since 1968, but note two things here. First, this may be the best Manville team every, at least in the playoff era (since 1974) and b) this is a different level of competition than what they’ve seen most of the year. Take nothing away from their accomplishments: they were hands-down the most dominant Group 1 squad in the Big Central this year, with three shutouts, and averaging 48.5 points per game over their last six, while allowing just under nine per contest. Their best wins were over a pair of 5-4 teams in Bound Brook and Belvidere. And they have a two-headed quarterback situation with Josh D’Ambrosio (1,038 rushing yards, 15 TDs) and Sammy Echeverri, and then there’s Isaiah Bennett (762 rush yards, 15 scores). The defense has 14 sacks on the year. They’ll have to slow one of the top runningbacks in the state in A’Meire Massie, who has breakaway speed, and finds holes opened by the offensive line – which, by the way, includes twin sisters! And boy (girl?) are they legit: Elani and Eniya Johnson. They have made a difference on a team that’s back in the playoffs for the first time in three seasons, under second-year head coach and former Blue Bishop standout QB Will Johnson, who won two titles playing in that majestic stadium along Deal Lake.

October 25, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

Cutoff Weekend Friday Playoff Update – Group 3: Summit stands pat, Somerville up, but neither can gain top-seed; South Plainfield looks out

With Friday night’s Cutoff Weekend high school football games all in the books, Central Jersey Sports Radio is updating the unofficial NJSIAA playoff standings as we head into Saturday action.

We’ll have further analysis late morning into the afternoon Saturday, with our 2025 “Playoff Projection Show” scheduled for 6 pm where we give our bracket projections. The full tournament for the public schools will be unveiled on Sunday by the NJSIAA via Gridiron New Jersey. We’ll have them shortly after. The brackets become official at noon on Monday.

NORTH GROUP 3

The top seven teams in the field of 16 all stood pat, including Summit at three, but with Old Tappan and West Morris picking up wins, it looks like the Hilltoppers will have to settle for a two-seed in North 2, Group 3, with West Morris being the No. 1 seed in their section, while Old Tappan will get the overall top-seed, and be No. 1 in North 1, Group 3. That is, unless Summit drops its home game against Scotch Plains-Fanwood Saturday. That would drop them to four overall, assuming West Essex also wins. If not, they hold.
Cranford visits Hillside Saturday, but we think they’re in regardless of whether they win or lose. They might even hold their ground.
Despite a Friday win over JFK, South Plainfield looks out, finishing in 18th, but just one spot out of the playoffs behind 17th place Snyder, who plays Saturday against Lincoln. But Snyder should win that game. (Weequahic is ineligible due to DQs.)

SOUTH GROUP 3

As expected here, Somerville won, but couldn’t get one of the top two seeds, even though they moved up from fourth to third. Either way, they would have been the two-seed in Central Group 3. That means the path to a repeat sectional title for the Pioneers will go through Holmdel, who will get the top-seed in CJ3 after a 49-38 home win Friday over Middletown North. We think the Pioneers get Matawan at home in the opening round. Ewing is the only team in the running yet to play, hosting Hamilton Saturday.

October 17, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

Summit ends two-game skid with huge upset win at No. 7 Woodbridge to keep Hilltoppers in the chase for a top seed in the playoffs

Alex Schwark became the Summit quarterback due to injury, and missing him the last two weeks to one of his own definitely had an effect on the Hilltoppers. They started the year 5-0, but found themselves heading into Week Seven having dropped two straight, including a three-point home defeat last Saturday at the hands of Bernards.

But with Schwark back Friday night, Summit was close to whole again, and they pulled off a 10-7 upset of No. 2 Woodbridge – on the road, mind you – to stay in the case for a top-seed in the playoffs in Group 3.

For the Barrons, it ended their undefeated season, leaving them 7-1, ending their 16-game regular season winning streak – fifth best in the state – and 17-game Big Central winning streak, which was third-best in the league.

Summit got on the board first with a 25-yard field goal from Cooper Smoagiewicz with 4:50 to go in the first quarter, then added a five-yard touchdown run by Matt McKeever – getting a lead block from Schwark off the left side – to make it 10-0 Hilltoppers with 8:11 to go before half.

Woodbridge answered with 2:11 left in the second quarter, on a two-yard pitch play to Kyle Campos.

But that’s when the scoring spigot turned off, and a defensive battle took place in the second half, with neither team getting on the board.

Click below to hear postgame reaction from Summit head coach Kevin Kostibos:

Summit (6-2) will finish up the regular season next Saturday with a home game against Scotch Plains-Fanwood (2-5), which lost at Perth Amboy Friday night. The Barrons visit No. 1 St. Joseph-Metuchen (7-0), which ended another huge streak Friday night with a 41-19 win over St. Thomas Aquinas that ended the Trojans 35-game Big Central Conference win streak, a league record.

Bernards (8-0) now has the longest at 32, after a 35-7 win over Governor Livingston at home Friday night.