Tag: Terrell Mitchell

December 11, 2024December 11, 2024 by Mike Pavlichko

Somerville’s speedy, shifty Terrell Mitchell named CJSR 2024 Offensive Player of the Year

Somerville head coach Matt Bloom calls him a “gamebreaker in all phases.”

Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano just calls him. A lot.

Well, the Scarlet Knights got their guy, and so did the Pioneers, with Mitchell helping power an offense that brought The ‘Ville its first sectional title since 2017, and Mitchell is the 2024 Central Jersey Sports Radio Offensive Player of the Year.

It was a crowded field, to be sure, as you’ll be able to tell in a moment when you scroll down and look at the names and accomplishments of all this category’s honorable mentions.

But Mitchell certainly stood out.

He helped a 5-5 team in 2023 improve to 12-1 – winning the Big Central Conference Liberty Division, setting a school record for victories, and taking the Central Jersey Group 3 title – with a 178-rush effort in 2024, producing 1,406 yards and 18 touchdowns. Mitchell also added 22 catches for 186 yards and five more scores.

He also had a kick return for a touchdown against North Hunterdon and a took a punt return to the house against Rahway. He had eight two-point conversions – on a team that went for it more often than not – and finished with 166 points. Easily, he’ll graduate as one of the most talented backs in Somerville history.

And after a lengthy and what seemed like a rock-solid commitment to Wake Forest, a late push by Greg Schiano led him to flip on Signing Day last Wednesday and ink with the Scarlet Knights.

He’s now the third Central Jersey Sports Radio “Player of the Year” winner to sign with the Scarlet Knights. South Brunswick’s Jai Patel was CJSR Special Teams Player of the Year in 2022, while Thomas Amankwaa went to “the Banks” out of Hillsborough after winning Two Way Player of the Year in 2021. Amankwaa recently announced he was entering the transfer portal.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Somerville’s Terrell Mitchell, the 2024 Central Jersey Sports Radio Offensive Player of the Year:

Honorable Mentions:

Andrew Avent, Rahway: The junior runningback – winner of the “OMG He’s Back Another Year” Award, and an Honorable Mention for “Two-Way Player of the Year” – carried 194 times for 1,412 yards, rushing for 16 touchdowns on the offensive side, while also registering 102 tackles on defense. Coach Brian Russo calls him the “all-around best player on the team the last two years.”
Jackson Jankowicz, Hillsborough: The senior may have taken the ball more than any other player in the Big Central this year. He amassed 233 carries in 2024 for 1,341 yards and 24 touchdowns, breaking Shawn Mayer’s single season record. He also tied Tommy Amankwaa’s single-season overall record of touchdowns scored, with 30. He also ends his career with the career record of four kick returns for touchdowns, is No. 2 on the career all-purpose yards list with 4,638, and third in career points scored with 258.
Chukwuma Odoh, St. Thomas Aquinas: A sophomore, and winner of the “Rising Star” Award, Odoh took over No. 1 running back duties from Chase Young this season to the tune of 1,418 yards and 17 touchdowns, rushing for at least a century in ten straight games this season. “He put the team on his back,” says assistant coach Justin Hill, in a crowded backfield that amassed over 3,000 yards on the ground as a team.
Felilx Matos, Phillipsburg: While quarterback Jett Genovese and receiver Matthew Scerbo, Jr., may have been the glue for the Stateliners over the last three years, Matos brought an extra dimension this year for the Phillipsburg, the North 2, Group 4 champions. Listed as a receiver, he hauled in 40 passes for 695 yards and five touchdowns, but he also ran the ball 85 times for 584 yards and 15 touchdowns. His best game may have come in a win over St. Joseph-Metuchen, in which he scored five times on offense, and also returned a blocked field goal for a sixth score.
James Bodley, Piscataway: One of just two seniors among the five honorable mentions here, Bodley was the winner of the “Scores Every Which Way” Award. He did so in six different ways this season: 13 on the ground, two touchdown catches, a couple of two-point conversions, a kickoff return for a score, and punt return for a TD, and a scoop-and-score fumble recovery. He rushed for over 1,000 yards this season, and finished tenth on the all-time Chief’s rushing yardage list.

November 15, 2024November 15, 2024 by Mike Pavlichko

Perfect! Somerville makes it 12-0 with dominant 24-6 win over Delsea to take Central Group 3 title

All week long, people said Somerville would need to be ready for the vaunted Delaware Wing-T Delsea reinstalled as part of their offense to help them get in the playoffs and reach the Central Jersey Group 3 title game.

They were.

The top-seeded Pioneers only allowed one Delsea score – on the seventh-seeded Crusaders’ first possession of the game – but shut them out the rest of the way to earn a 24-6 win, claiming their first sectional title since 2017 and ninth overall, improving to 12-0 for the first time in school history.

Terrell Mitchel scored to cap the game’s opening drive, putting Somerville up 6-0 on a four-year touchdown run with 7:32 left in the opening period of the “Big Central Game of the Week” presented by Bellamy and Son Paving. The two point run failed.

Delsea (4-7) took nearly nine minutes and ran into the second quarter on their first possession, and finished off a 14-yard drive with a two-yard run by Dan Russo. Their PAT was a fake, and the two-point try failed as well.

In fact, Somerville, which scored the next three touchdowns, didn’t get any of their two-point attempts on the night, but it wouldn’t matter.

That’s because Brenden Pacheco put the team up 12-6 with 6:45 to go before the half on an eight-yard TD pass to Aidan Bush – who suffered a back injury later in the game, but was able to walk off under his own power. Less than five game minutes later, Pacheco hit tight end Max Nuzzi from 23 yards out to make it 18-6 before the break.

All the while Somerville’s defense was a crushing force on Delsea, which tried to spread the field left to right but could never turn the corner as the Pioneers controlled the line of scrimmage.

They allowed only three double-digit run plays from scrimmage all night, and the Crusaders threw the ball only once. Delsea finished with 166 yards of total offense, all on the ground, with 89 of those coming on their scoring drive.

Speaking of which, Somerville only punted once, scoring on every other possession, the last coming six seconds into the fourth quarter after Bush’s injury and a scoreboard malfunction. Josh Rodriguez took the snap at QB and run it in one yard for the score.

The 12 wins is a program record, and it was the third time the Pioneers won a sectional title with a perfect record. They were 11-0 in their state title seasons in 1983 and 1979. They also finished 9-0 in 1953 and 7-0-1 in 1929.

In 1909, they were also undefeated. But they only played one game that season – beating Bound Brook 16-5.

But the season is not done yet. The win puts Somerville in the Group 3 semifinals against South Jersey winner Mainland (9-3). The second-seeded Mustangs were 42-14 home winners over fourth-seed Seneca (8-4) Friday night. A win could make them the first Big Central team – Phillipsburg also will have a shot, depending when they play – the clinch a spot in a true state championship game.

The NJSIAA expanded to group champs in football two seasons ago, in 2022.

Click below for postgame reaction from Somerville’s win over Delsea in the Central Jersey Group 3 title game:

October 4, 2024 by Mike Pavlichko

No. 3 Somerville blows past Summit, 41-0, in battle of undefeated teams at Brooks Field

Third-ranked Somerville remained undefeated Friday night, as the Pioneers improved to 6-0 with a 41-0 home win over Summit at Brooks Field, in a battle of undefeated teams.

Somerville scored three times in the first quarter to take a 20-0 lead on a Terrell Mitchel 21-yard touchdown run, a 57-yard TD pass from Brenden Pacheco to Brady Scheier, and a 65-yard strike to Max Nuzzi.

In the second, Pacheco found Nuzzi again from 18 yards away after the Pioneers got the ball on a Mitchell interception. A second strike to Scheier, again from 57 yards made it 34-0, then after a second Mitchell pick – with a running clock in play – Pacheco ran in a score from nine yards out to make it 41-0.

And with that running clock, Somerville and Summit (4-1) played a fast, scoreless second half.

Click below for postgame reaction with Marcus Borden, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

September 6, 2023September 6, 2023 by Mike Pavlichko

Aleks Sitkowski grabs Week 1 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week honors

Year in, year out, Westfield is consistently good, especially its defense.

That’s what makes what Watchung Hills senior quarterback Aleks Sitkowski’s performance against the Blue Devils on Sunday that much more impressive.

In a 34-20 road win last Saturday, Sitkowski passed 21-30 for 165 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing 13 times for 100 yards and two more scores.

He’s the first quarterback to pass and rush for over 100 yards each in a game against Westfield since Andrew Sanborn of Union threw for 178 yards and a touchdown, while running for 101 yards and a score on October 5, 2018. Sanborn also threw three picks in the game; Sitkowski threw none.

The victory has 6th-ranked Watchung Hills at 2-0 on the season, heading into a Week 2 matchup at North Hunterdon this Friday night.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Week One Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week Aleks Sitkowski of Watchung HIlls:

The Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week is chosen from nominees by Big Central coaches. At the end of the season, one player will be chosen to receive a $500 scholarship courtesy of Bellamy & Son Paving. As we did last year, we will recognize a few “Honorable Mentions,” and include all other all nominees in our weekly story.

Honorable Mentions:

Terrell Mitchell, Somerville: The junior runningback scored three touchdowns in a 33-14 win over Old Bridge last Friday night. He had touchdown catches of 37 and 26 yards, while adding a 21-yard rushing score. Overall he had seven receptions for 98 yards, and seven carries for another 94 yards.
Quinn Esser, Spotswood: In a come-from-behind, 9-8 win at Belvidere on Friday night, the senior two-way lineman led the team with six tackles, then went in as the QB in the “heavy” package and capped the game-winning 99-yard touchdown drive with a short, four-yard trip into the end zone. He then helped run the clock out with a game-clinching four-yard gain for first down.
Aiden Woomer, Edison: The senior had 155 yards on three punt return opportunities – one of which went back 60 yards for a score – while also logging a one-yard touchdown run in a 57-0 win at JP Stevens last Thursday.
Derek Anderson, Woodbridge: The junior QB kept his team in a high-flying game, a 46-36 loss to Summit. He went 19-of-38 passing for 301 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for a score.

Other Nominations:

(in alphabetical order, by school)

Logan Ritchie, Bernards: In a come-from-behind win over Hillside, the Mountaineer two-way lineman paved the way. He had six tackles – half of them for a loss – on defense, while keeping his quarterback untouched on offense, registering three big pancake blocks.
Tyrece Parrot, Carteret: In a 42-7 win over arch-rival Perth Amboy, the senior QB was 11-for-14 passing for 240 yards and three touchdowns. He also carried six times for 34 yards and another score. (He had another rushing TD called back on a holding penalty.)
Jaeden Jones, Colonia: The star senior QB carried 11 times for 174 yards and two touchdowns – one for 58 yards – in a 21-12 win over Scotch Plains-Fanwood. He also threw a 19-yard touchdown. Then, on defense, as a safety, recorded 16 tackles, 12 solo.
Fire Anderson, Cranford: In a shutout win over North Hunterdon, 4-10 last Friday night, the senior runningback got the rock 26 times and racked up 190 yards with a long run of 25. His three touchdowns went for 10, 5 and 3 yards.
Luke Brogan, Delaware Valley: In a 27-9 victory over Roselle on Friday, he threw for 181 yards and two touchdowns, while running for 49 and two more. In addition to being involved in all four scores, he kicked two extra points in the game.
Jack Dally, Governor Livingston: In a 33-21 win Thursday afternoon over Johnson, the junior runningback had 15 carries for 217 yards and three scores – of 61, 60 and 43 yards. The 61-yarded gave the Highlanders the lead back for good, after trailing 21-20. On defense, at outside linebacker, he added seven tackles, five solo.
Na’quavere Thomas, Manville: In a 12-7 win at Brearley, the junior fullback carried nine times for 50 yards ad a touchdown, had two catches for 22 yards and a touchdown. On defense, at middle linebacker, he recorded 13 tackles, 9 solo, and had a fumble recovery.
Michael Schmelzer, Montgomery: In a 49-6 win against Franklin on Friday, the senior QB was 12-of-19 passing for 188 yards and three touchdowns – often extending many plays into big gains – while rushing twice for 32 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown run.
Jack Garbolino, North Brunswick: The Raiders’ season opener was a 38-6 success over South Brunswick in large part to the junior’s four catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns, and five rushes for 12 yards, also including a score. On defense, the linebacker picked up nine tackles and a TFL.
Michael Schroeck, North Hunterdon: The senior linebacker recorded 12 tackles in a 41-0 loss to Cranford last Friday.
Patrick Smith, South Plainfield: In a 26-7 win at JFK on Friday, the senior carried 20 times for 167 yards and a touchdown.
Chase Young, St. Thomas Aquinas: The junior runningback carried 14 times for 158 yards and three touchdowns – the longest of which was 54-yards – in a 41-0 win over New Providence on Friday.
Kordal Hinton, Union: In a 27-21 overtime win over Bridgewater-Raritan, the senior linebacker logged 21 tackles, 15 solo, and was big late in the game, ultimately carrying the ball 12 times from his runningback position for 132 yards and two scores.
Brandon Kurzeja, Voorhees: The senior runningback rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns, while also playing a monster game at linebacker in a 48-8 win against North Plainfield last Thursday, registering five sacks.

October 21, 2022 by Mike Pavlichko

Somerville fends off South Brunswick to clinch playoff berth

It was a game that looked like it would be a rout at halftime, but turned out to be an old-fashioned Donnybrook.

That is, until Somerville finally decided to eat the clock before scoring its final touchdown in a 41-28 win over South Brunswick, a victory that appears to have locked up a playoff spot for the Pioneers, avoiding a miss for the first time since 2015.

On touchdowns from runningbacks Terrell Mitchel and Hashym Hobbs-Harris, and a touchdown catch by Quinn Carran that opened the scoring, Somerville led South Brunswick on the road 21-0 in a game heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio Friday night.

But South Brunswick came out angry in the second half, with Jacob Brokaw leading the way on his Senior Night.

Brokaw had a five-yard touchdown run to pull the Vikings withing 21-7. But Julian Finger’s touchdown pass answered right back for the Pioneers.

Then quarterback Braden Paulmenn finished off a drive led by Brokaw to make it 28-14, but Hobbs-Harris came back with a 54-yard score.

Paulmenn added another one-yard run, but QB Mike Miller of the Pioneers got it back to a three-schore lead at 41-21.

South Brunswick would add another touchdown from Brokaw with 1:19 left, but that would be all they’d get as Somerville came away with a 41-28 road win that should clinch a playoff berth.

Official state playoff pairings will be out Sunday from the NJSIAA, but Central Jersey Sports Radio will have a live Playoff Update Saturday morning at 11 (click here to listen) followed by a live Twitter Spaces at noon for a Q&A with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko. Then, at 6, Mike is back with a full Playoff Projection Show, with a live look at the likely matchups.