Tag: Top Ten

by Marcus Borden

Old Bridge is the new No. 1 in Marcus Borden’s Week 6 Big Central Top Ten; plus rankings for BCC West, Middlesex and Union Counties

My Friday night game in South Plainfield on Senior Night for the Marching Band, Cheerleaders and the Football Team was full of big plays as the visiting Raiders of Scotch Plains Fanwood let everyone know they were better than their 1-4 record entering the contest.

The visitors would win the toss and elected to receive. They would find themselves forced to punt on their first series as the kick was slightly blocked by the Tigers Aiden Noblecilla and Michael Fiore.

South Plainfield would waste little time scoring on their third offensive play which was a play action pass to a dragging Noblecilla off the sweep action for a 19-yard touchdown and the early lead at the 9:41 mark of the 1st quarter.

Both teams would trade possessions with the Raiders moving towards midfield as the first quarter ended with the Tigers having a 7-0 advantage. Scotch Plains QB Junior Marcus Schomberg would launch a bomb to his receiver who was running a corner route but the pass went through his hands and into the arms of South Plainfield’s Nick France who raced down the home sideline on what many thought was a defensive score. He was ruled out of bounds at about midfield.

Sophomore QB Lucas Habe would execute a perfect waggle screen pass rolling to his right, pulling up and throwing back to the left to his senior TE Noblecilla and a convoy of lineman for a 33-yard score and a 14-0 lead less than 2 minutes into the second quarter.

The Raiders would mix the run and pass on their next possession with Senior wide receiver Yasir Oates putting the pressure on the Tigers defense and getting a pass interference call setting up fellow classmate Avery Snow for a 7-yard scamper to pay dirt closing the gap to 14-7.

The visitors would thwart a South Plainfield scoring threat at 29 seconds before intermission as both teams headed to the locker room with the hosts leading 14-7.

Both South Plainfield and Scotch Plains would try to establish the run and mix in the play action pass in the 3rd quarter but both turned the ball over on downs while going for it on 4th down entering the final quarter with the home team having a 14-7 advantage.

The Tigers would put the ball in the hands of a bevy of backs moving in to scoring position when Senior Micah Anderson scored on a 2-yard plunge up the middle of the Raiders defense at 7:08 remaining in the game for a 21-7 lead.

On the ensuing kickoff Raiders Senior WR/DB Jayden Sanders took the bouncing kick to the house from around the 15-yard line weaving his way avoiding would-be-tacklers at 6:53 remaining in the game making it a seven point game again at 21-14.

The fireworks were not over as South Plainfield’s true freshman Mason Smith would show his track speed as he made one cut upfield while bursting for a 70-yard touchdown a 6:11 in the fourth quarter and a 28-14 lead.

Schomberg and Oates would not give up but the Raiders would turn it over on downs as South Plainfield would run out the clock improving to 4-2 on the season.

Saturday’s game between South River and Dunellen was a 2:00 p.m. Homecoming event which featured both teams seeking their first win of the season. Dunellen would win the toss and defer to the second half.

Both teams would try to feel each other out with the Rams punting three times and the Destroyers fumbling on their first possession, punting once and driving as the 1st quarter came to an end with no score.

Dunellen would get close to the Red Zone and call a time out to decide if they would go for it on 4th down or punt. They decided to line up in punt formation as the punter faked the ball being snapped over his head while Colin DaSilva took the short snap and hit Geramiah Burgess for a first down at the Rams 26-yard line.

On the ensuing play Sophomore QB Kayson Boyd would roll left and pull up and throw a dart to Junior WR Jermal Goodridge who was dragging to the right for a 26-yard touchdown pass. Boyd would score on a 1 and a half yard 2-point conversion up the middle of the South River defense as the Rams were offsides on the PAT attempt making it 8-0 at the 8:45 mark of the 2nd quarter.

South River would drive to the Destroyers 4 yard line behind the running of Dominic Harris and Ethan Chamberlain. They would turn it over on downs as Dunellen would run out the clock and go into the locker room up 8-0 at halftime.

The visitors would take the 2nd half kickoff and be forced to punt at 9:06 in the 3rd quarter up 8-0. The punt was shanked as the Rams were pressuring the kicker. South River would get a big run on their first play but it was called back. They would be forced to punt and tried to run for the first down coming up short at 7:15 in the 3rd quarter down 8-0.

The Rams would drive to the Destroyers 31-yard line and attempt their own punt fake but their punter was swallowed up by the Dunellen defense.

South River would force Dunellen to punt again on their next series and they received the short kick around midfield. Ethan Chamberlain would take the toss down the visitors sideline for a 48-yard score with 3:24 remaining in the 3rd quarter but the two-point conversion attempt to tie the game failed making the score 8-6 late in the 3rd quarter.

The Rams would have multiple chances to take the lead as their defense would recover two fumbles but the Destroyers were up to the challenge intercepting a Rams pass as well as forcing them to turn it over on downs multiple times in the 4th quarter.

Dunellen would stop South River one more time with 2:09 remaining in the game up 8-6. The Rams would use their timeouts and force Dunellen to either punt on 4th and 4 or go for it.

Boyd would break the huddle and look to run for the the first down marker being chased by the Rams defense while casually tossing to Goodridge who a was wide-open in the flat for the first down.

The celebration was on as there were loud cheers from the Dunellen fans and players as they rushed to the end zone opposite the scoreboard shedding tears of joy as they washed away the stigma of a 24-game losing streak for this young team under their new head coach.

Here are my Week 6 Top Tens for the entire Big Central Conference, plus the BCC West, Middlesex County and Union County:

by Mike Pavlichko

There’s a new team atop the Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten after Phillipsburg falls at Ridge, and it’s their first No. 1 ranking in BCC history

For the first time since the formation of the Big Central Conference in 2020, Elizabeth has reached the top of the Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten for Week Six.

The Minutemen are 6-0 for the first time since 2012, when they went undefeated, 11-0, and won the first-ever North 2, Group 5 championship, beating Piscataway in the final at Kean University in Union.

Phillipsburg had been No. 1, with their only prior loss coming out of state, to Freedom (PA) out of Bethlehem. But they were knocked off by No. 1 Ridge on the final play of the game Friday, and Elizabeth’s win helped cement the change. All in all, only two teams are in the same positions they were last week.

Elizabeth stayed unbeaten with a 39-18 home win against Linden Friday night, and the Minutemen will put that perfect mark on the line again this Friday when they host Hillsborough (1-4) in a crossover game.

Old Bridge (5-1) edged up a spot to No. 2 after a thrilling 14-12 home victory over then-No. 8 Sayreville Friday night, as heard live on Central Jersey Sports Radio. This week, the Knights visit much-improved Monroe (4-2) in a National Gold Division contest.

Ridge (3-2) – which has played four ranked opponents, three of which have been in the top three at one point or another – moved all the way up to No. 3 after knocking off Phillipsburg at home Friday, winning on a touchdown catch off a tipped ball at the goal line on the game’s final play. This week, the Red Devils host Westfield Friday night in a BCC crossover. Phillipsburg (4-2) dropped down to four, and is off this week.

Piscataway (5-1) was a 46-6 winner over Franklin Saturday afternoon in the first meeting of the former Thanksgiving Day rivals in three years. The Chiefs are back at it Friday night at home in a crossover game against No. 8 St. Joseph-Metuchen.

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Holding at six and seven are Bridgewater-Raritan (5-1) and Cranford (5-0). The Falcons were 5-18 winners at Hunterdon Central Friday, and visit Piscataway this Friday. The Cougars remained undefeated with a 13-12 home win over Montgomery Friday, and this Friday night are at South Plainfield for a crossover game.

Down three spots to eight is St. Joseph-Metuchen (2-3), which has dropped three straight after starting 2-0, including an impressive win over Bridgewater-Raritan. Saturday, they lost a non-conference matinee at Delbarton, 56-24. They visit No. 5 Piscataway Friday night in a crossover game.

Making its debut this season is Union (5-1), which already has topped last year’s win total by two. The Farmers won their third strai9ght on Saturday afternoon at Cooke Field, blanking Plainfield, 24-0. This week, they play a home crossover against No. 6 Bridgewater-Raritan.

And down two spots to the final position at ten is Sayreville (4-2), which lost 14-12 at Old Bridge Friday night, as heard live on Central Jersey Sports Radio. The Bombers are back at it again this with a crossover matchup Friday, visiting previously-ranked Somerville.

Previous No. 9 St. Thomas Aquinas dropped out of the rankings this week, dropping its third straight game – 42-26 at Somerville – after starting the season 3-0. They host North Brunswick in a BCC National Silver Division game Friday night in North Edison.

Below is the complete 2026 Week Six Bellamy & Son Paving High School Football Top Ten:

by Marcus Borden

No. 1 Phillipsburg still at top of Marcus Borden’s Week 5 Big Central Top Ten with Sayreville making its debut … plus rankings for BCC West, Middlesex and Union Counties

My Friday night game in Rahway at Madden Field was everything you would want in a battle of unbeaten teams as the Indians hosted the Cranford Cougars in a thriller if you like games that come down to the wire!

Cranford would win the toss and defer the choice to the second half. Rahway would be forced to punt on their first series as the Cougar defense was up to the challenge early in the first quarter.

The Cougar offense would run inside and outside while Senior Gabe Worrell burst a down the visitor sideline for a 27-yard touchdown and 7-0 lead at the 6:09 mark of the first quarter.

The Cougars would come up short two more times in the red zone turning the ball over on downs while keeping Rahway off balanced with their shifting defense. Cranford would take a 7-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The visitors would start the second half mixing the inside and outside run while methodically keeping the ball out of the hands of Rahway’s explosive offense. Worrell would cap a nearly 10 minute drive with a 5-yard burst up the middle of the Indians defense and a 14-0 lead.

WATCH: Postgame reaction from Marcus Borden’s coverage of Cranford-Rahway

Rahway would get back in the game quickly as the Robinson to Robertson toss throwback to the quarterback at 11:11 in the fourth quarter made the score 14-7.

Cranford would be forced to punt and then lose Worrell to a leg injury with about five minutes remaining in the game. They would then stop a Rahway threat with an interception however they would have to punt on their ensuing drive.

Rahway would get to the Cougars 5-yard line with 5 seconds remaining on the clock. The sprint pass and throw from Robinson to Jaylen Eastman was out of bounds with :00.3 seconds on the home score board. The officials concurred that the game was over and that time had expired with Cranford hanging on to win 14-7.

Monday I was at St. Joseph’s Brenner Family Field for a 3:00 pm make-up game with Phillipsburg, which was postponed due to the Nor’easter which began late Friday and ended Monday around 1 pm. Needless to say the crowd was not as large as it could have been if the game was played on Saturday.

Phillipsburg would get on the board first as Junior LB David Pacewicz intercepted a pass and returned it for a 46-yard touchdown at the 8:28 mark in the first quarter. The Falcons would respond with a 5-yard Julian Colon run knotting the score at 7-7 with 35 seconds in the initial stanza.

Both teams traded punches on their next series until St, Joseph’s QB Cole Seyler hit WR Dillon Diaz on a 47-yard quick screen and a 14-7 lead with 7:10 remaining in the second quarter.

Phillipsburg’s RB Shane Moore would tie the game at 14-14 with his 45-yard burst to pay dirt with 2:36 before halftime. Both teams would trade punts on their next series while the Falcons ran a hurry-up after a Stateliner punt with 1:30 still on the clock.

Seyler would find a leaping Diaz for an 8-yard fade pattern as time expired giving St. Joseph a 21-14 lead at the half.

Phillipsburg would take the 2nd half kickoff and march down the field running the football when RB Xavier Campbell-Graham hit inside run for 29-yards tying the game at 21-21 at 6:38 in the third quarter.

Placekicker Austin Loreti would give the Falcons a 24-21 lead on a 22-yard FG however that was short-lived as Markus Jordan would take the ensuing kickoff 90 yards giving the Stateliners la 28-24 lead going into the fourth quarter.

WATCH: Postgame reaction from Marcus Borden’s coverage of Phillipsburg-St. Joseph

St. Joseph would punt on their next series whereas Phillipsburg would add to their lead with a 2-yard Vincent Berger touchdown run at 7:30 remaining in the game.

Cole Seyler would score on a 1-yard plunge with 5:55 remaining on the game clock cutting the deficit to 35-31. Xavier Campbell-Graham would add his second score on a 14-yard jaunt to the end zone and a 42-31 lead with 1:37 remaining in the game.

St. Joseph would turn it over on downs as Phillipsburg took a knee in Victory formation while improving to 4-1 on the season.

Here are my Week 5 Top Tens for the entire Big Central Conference, plus the BCC West, Middlesex County and Union County:

by Mike Pavlichko

As six ranked teams fall, one new team joins, another re-enters, but Phillipsburg still atop Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten for Week Five

Week Four was nothing but more chaos in the Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten, but in the end, Phillipsburg remains at the top of the heap in the Week Five rankings. Previous No. 2 Piscataway lost to No. 4 Old Bridge, the No. 1 Stateliners held off No. 5 St. Joseph of Metuchen, and teams seven through ten – Somerville, Rahway, St. Thomas Aquinas and Ridge – all lost as well. Still, there was only room enough for two new teams to join the rankings.

This week’s rankings are a day late because of the Falcons game against Phillipsburg, which was moved to Monday due to rough weather Saturday from the Nor’easter that gripped New Jersey all weekend. But the Stateliners improved to 4-1 with a 42-31 win over the Falcons. It’ll be a quick turnaround for P’burg, which will visit No. 10 Ridge Friday night.

Elizabeth (5-0) moves up to No. 2, after a 28-23 win at Ridge last Friday. The Minutemen – looking for their first 6-0 start since 2012, a year they went undefeated and won the first-ever North 2, Group 5 state title – host neighbor Linden this Friday night.

Old Bridge (4-1) edges up one spot from four to three, after coming back from a 26-0 halftime deficit with 27 unanswered points to beat then-No. 2 Piscataway, 27-26. The Chiefs dropped from second to fourth with the loss. Old Bridge will host Sayreville (4-1) Friday night at 6 in a game you can hear live on Central Jersey Sports Radio, while Piscataway renews its rivalry with longtime Thanksgiving foe Franklin (1-4) after a two year hiatus. The Warriors got their first win of the season Monday, in another rescheduled game from the weekend, beating North Brunswick at home, 55-21.

In fifth is St. Joseph-Metuchen (2-2), which stays put after going toe-to-toe with – but losing to – No. 1 Phillipsburg Monday, 42-31. The Falcons have less of a quick turnaround – but a turnaround nonetheless – as they visit Delbarton Saturday afternoon for a non-league game.

A sign featuring the text 'BELLAMY & SON PAVING' in bold red and yellow letters, highlighting residential and commercial paving services.

Also holding at six is Bridgewater-Raritan (4-1). The Panthers blanked Westfield Saturday afternoon – the only Big Central teams the play – 20-0, and this week host Hunterdon Central on Friday night at Basilone Field.

Undefeated Cranford (4-0) makes its season debut in the rankings at No. 7, after a 14-7 win over then-No. 8 Rahway Friday night. The Cougars are back in action Friday night against Montgomery, which knocked off previous No. 8 Somerville last week for the second year in a row.

Sayreville (4-1) rejoins the rankings after being knocked out in Week Two. The Bombers had an impressive win over No. 9 St. Thomas Aquinas last Friday, 37-21, and will travel to No. 3 Old Bridge Friday night at 6:00 for a game you can listen to on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

The last two spots remain the same as last week, as St. Thomas Aquinas (3-2) holds the ninth position, despite the loss to Sayreville; they play Friday night at Somerville. Ridge (2-2) remains at No. 10, and this Friday will host top-ranked Phillipsburg.

After no one dropped out either of the last two weeks, Somerville (3-2) falls out of the rankings, as does No. 8 Rahway (4-1).

Below is the complete 2026 Week Five Bellamy & Son Paving High School Football Top Ten:

by Marcus Borden

Phillipsburg, Piscataway still 1 and 2 in Marcus Borden’s Week 4 Big Central Top Ten; plus BCC West, Middlesex and Union County rankings

My Friday night game saw Old Bridge build an early 23-8 halftime lead over Aquinas with a pressure defense and opportunistic offense which mixed the run and pass early knowing they needed to keep the Trojans talented quarterback Zymere Weaver on the sideline.

Like two heavyweight boxers who traded punches in a highly-anticipated matchup, Weaver would strike quickly in the third quarter on a 69-yard pass fake off a power read to the right while a slanting Aaron Crooms would take the dart 69-yards down the Knights sideline for the score. Aquinas would quickly lineup and run Aiden Morse on a quick dive for the two-point conversion closing the gap to 23-16 midway in the 3rd quarter.

Old Bridge would follow the script of putting the ball in the hands of their workhorse Chase Rizzo as they answered with a 37-yard field goal by Arain Mezera increasing the home teams lead to 26-16 late in the 3rd quarter

Aquinas would respond by driving down the field deep into the red zone but turn the ball over on downs as the Knights kept the defensive pressure on the Trojans offense.

Tristan Bester’s interception at 8:23 in the 4th quarter would give the visitors the ball back with Weaver sprinting to his right while pulling up to throw a bomb to sophomore Elijah Delirus who was streaking across the field to the left and then down the visitors sideline. He was tackled at the one yard line. Weaver would hurry up and run it for the touchdown followed by his 2-point conversion making it 26-24 with 7:46 remaining in the game.

Old Bridge would put the ball in Rizzo’s hands as he refused to be taken down by one tackler and finished the night on 27 carries for 252 yards and two scores. The Knights would force the Trojans to use their remaining timeouts as they methodically milked the clock while dealing St. Thomas Aquinas their first defeat of the season.

Saturday I made the short trip to Bill Denny Stadium for a 1:00 p.m. match-up with the David Brearley and South River. The Rams are a youthful squad with several freshmen playing on a team of about 24 players.

The Bears would keep the ball pretty much on the ground using their two backs Monroe Passmore and Nehemiah DeLeon who tallied a combined 252 yards and 3 scores while quarterback Ryan Nelson would toss two TD passes to Rocco Federico and Nate Bonnet.

Brealey would earn every one of their 42 points as the Rams led by seniors Dominic Harris and lineman Junior Funez showed incredible passion and desire as they kept fighting and leading by example for their young teammates. Harris would score on a 53-yard jaunt in the 3rd quarter and a 20-yard dash in the final stanza while Funez did his best to block the opposition.

Here are my Week 4 Top Tens for the entire Big Central Conference, plus the BCC West, Middlesex County and Union County:

by Mike Pavlichko

Three top-ten matchups force big shuffle in Bellamy & Son Paving Week 4 Top Ten, but Phillipsburg still leads the pack

It was inevitable that at least three ranked Big Central Conference football teams would go down this weekend, with three all-Top Ten matchups on tap. In the end, no one else lost, but those three games helped reshape the Bellamy & Son Paving Week Four rankings, while Phillipsburg remains at the top of the list.

Phillipsburg (3-1) got back on the winning track against its first New Jersey opponent of the year, beating Hillsborough Friday night at Maloney Stadium, 35-7. The Stateliners are back in action at No. 5 St. Joseph of Metuchen this Saturday for a 1 pm matinee against the Falcons.

Piscataway (4-0) edged up one place to No. 2 after a 41-17 win over South Brunswick on Friday, coupled with previous No. 2 St. Joe’s taking a loss. The Chiefs will look to go 5-0 for the first time since 2018, when they finished undefeated at 13-0 – and won the North Group 5 Regional Championship – when they visit No. 4 Old Bridge Friday night at 6 pm. The Knights built an early lead but hung on to beat then-No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas Friday night, 26-24.

Moving from seven to three is Elizabeth, which is 4-0 for the first time since 2011, a year they also started 5-0, following a 62-35 shootout win at home over then-No. 2 St. Joseph-Metuchen heard Friday night on Central Jersey Sports Radio. The Minutemen visit No. 10 Ridge Friday night at 6:30. St. Joseph-Metuchen (2-1) falls to fifth with that loss, and hosts No. 1 Phillipsburg this Saturday at 1:00.

A sign featuring the text 'BELLAMY & SON PAVING' in bold red and yellow letters, highlighting residential and commercial paving services.

To make room for Elizabeth, Bridgewater-Raritan (3-1) and Somerville (3-1) both edge down one spot, to fifth and sixth, respectively. The Panthers were 7-3 winners over then-No. 9 Ridge Friday night, and visit Westfield for a 1:00 kick Saturday afternoon, while the Pioneers were 55-24 winners against Watchung Hills Friday, and visit Montgomery at 6 pm this Friday.

Rahway (4-0) continues to rise, and finds itself at No. 8 this week, up two spots after a 42-14 win at Linden Friday. The Indians host Cranford at 6:00 this Friday night.

St. Thomas Aquinas (3-1) edges down one spot to No. 9 after taking its first loss of the season, falling to No. 4 Old Bridge, 26-24, Friday night when a second-half rally fell just short. The Trojans are back at it this Friday night as they host Sayreville at 6 pm.

And down one spot to ten is Ridge (2-1), after their 7-3 loss at then-No. 5 Bridgewater-Raritan. The Red Devils entertain third-ranked Elizabeth Friday night, a 6:30 kickoff.

Below is the complete 2026 Week Four Bellamy & Son Paving High School Football Top Ten:

by Marcus Borden

Phillipsburg still #1 in Marcus Borden’s Week 3 Top Ten… plus rankings for BCC West, Middlesex and Union Counties

Thursday night’s matchup between the JP Stevens Hawks and Highland Park Owls was between two proud programs that have struggled in recent years trying to overcome extended losing streaks which in turn caused rosters to be depleted.

Highland Park ended a 51-game losing streak in their final game on November 2, 2023, defeating Point Pleasant Beach, 46-29, whereas Stevens buried their 42-game losing skid in an overtime thriller on September 6, 2024, taking down Bound Brook, 22-21.

I was in attendance for both of those games and I can tell you that the weight of the world was off their shoulders as they were leaping for joy and hugging everyone in sight as tears streamed down their smiling faces!

Kudos to the Big Central Conference braintrust for scheduling these two rebuilding teams to face each other as they continue to bring their programs back to competiveness and respectability.

The visiting Owls wasted little time making their presence known as Senior quarterback Marcus Smith would score on their 3rd play from scrimmage going 48 yards to paydirt. The defense led by Smith, Jacob Quiros, Duan Fleming, Ziquan Grier and a host of others would stifle the Hawks offense as their own would put up 36 first half points forcing a running clock for the 2nd half. Bryce Morales would make the final score 43-0 on a 13-yard scamper late in the 3rd quarter.

Friday nigh,t I was at Columbia Park in Dunellen, as the Destroyers hosted Belvidere in white uniforms as their new, navy jerseys have yet to arrive.

Belvidere would win the toss and defer the choice until the 2nd half. The Seaters would stop the Destroyers new spread offense on their first series and proceed to score quickly with Junior quarterback Jake Enderley finding his elusive wide receiver Elijah White – a four-year starter for the Seaters – and the early 7-0 lead.

Enderley would execute a perfect option pitch to Kaiden Drake for a 33-yard score in the second quarter, followed by his own 23-yard cutback run for a 21-0 lead late in the second quarter.

Dunellen would muster a drive toward the scoreboard end of the field coming up short on a 4th down play to the Seaters 2-yard line with 1:23 before halftime. They would be rewarded a safety as they tackled the ball carrier as they snap sailed over the quarterback’s head. The halftime score would stand at 21-2

The combination of Enderley to White would account for a 55-yard score on the first play of the third quarter and a 97-yard hitch pass down the visitor’s sideline for a 35-2 lead with 40 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter which meant there would be a running clock for the remainder of the game.

Senior linebacker Kayden Thorpe would cap the scoring with a 60-yard interception return making the final score 42-2 as the Belvidere improved their record to 2-1. Dunellen would fall to 0-2.

Here are my Week 3 Top Tens for the entire Big Central Conference, plus the BCC West, Middlesex County and Union Count

by Mike Pavlichko

All but Phillipsburg win, and all ten teams remain the same in Week 3 Bellamy & Son Paving Top 10

Sure, there was a full slate of games in the Big Central in Week Two, but Top Ten wise, it was very quiet.

And while No. 1 Phillipsburg (2-1) was the only team to lose, falling 32-31 to Freedom (PA) in their final Pennsylvania game before getting into the BCC slate, that loss didn’t cost them, as they retained their top spot in the Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Week Three Top Ten.

This week, the Stateliners open divisional play in the BCC American Silver Division when they come back home to Maloney Stadium to take on Hillsborough.

In fact, nobody moved this week – all ten teams remained in their same positions as last week.

That includes St. Joseph-Metuchen (2-0), which beat Westfield on the road Friday night, 28-6. They’ll be one of six teams involved in three Top Ten matchups this weekend, as they travel to No. 7 Elizabeth (3-0) Friday night to face the Minutemen in a battle of unbeatens you can hear live on Central Jersey Sports Radio, with kickoff set for 6 pm. Elizabeth was a 19-7 winner at Union Friday night.

Holding in third is Piscataway (3-0). The Chiefs were 42-7 winners at East Brunswick on Thursday night, and this week are back at Kenny Armwood Stadium to face South Brunswick at 6 pm.

Old Bridge (3-0) remains in fourth after a 21-0 win at South Brunswick Thursday night, in which starting QB Aiden Rios dinged up his non-throwing shoulder. The Knights will hope he can be back Friday for a home date with No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas. The Trojans (3-0) were 40-0 winners Friday night at Franklin.

A sign featuring the text 'BELLAMY & SON PAVING' in bold red and yellow letters, highlighting residential and commercial paving services.

Holding at No. 5 is Bridgewater-Raritan (2-1), which beat Hillsborough for the first time since 2017 Thursday night, 40-14. The Panthers, whose lone loss came in a barnburner at St. Joseph-Metuchen last Saturday afternoon, are back in action for a Top Ten matchup against No. 9 Ridge (2-0) at Basilone Field Friday night. They won out at Hunterdon Central Thursday night, 23-17.

Somerville (2-1) maintains the sixth spot, thanks to a 54-6 drubbing of North Hunterdon at Brooks Field Thursday night. The Pioneers are back in the Ville again this week, hosting Watchung Hills at 6:30 pm.

And No. 10 Rahway (3-0) held serve with a 42-21 win at Woodbridge, the return of head coach Brian Russo to his alma mater, where he also coached. The Indians visit neighbor Linden Friday night at 7.

Below is the complete 2026 Week Three Bellamy & Son Paving High School Football Top Ten:

by Marcus Borden

Piscataway moves up; Rahway, Union join Marcus Borden’s Week 2 Top Ten… plus rankings for BCC West, Middlesex and Union Counties

We are fully underway in the Big Central, with every team playing in Week One, as ten teams who did not start the season in Week Zero made their debut.

This past Thursday, I was in Springfield for Jonathan Dayton’s home opener versus Bound Brook on their newly refurbished stadium turf field.

The Bulldogs scored early and often as Senior quarterback Adrian Bernknopf’s dominant first half passing performance of 11 completions in 14 attempts for 160 yards and five touchdowns to four different receivers made it an early night for the starters on offense and defense as Dayton’s 43-6 halftime lead meant the Junior Varsity would play the second half with a running clock.

Senior RB/LB Tyler Fuscaldo was a physically dominant performer on both sides of the ball as well as WR/DB Jackson Babiarz who had 2 receiving touchdowns while Junior Dominic Pintado who returned an interception 61 yards, led the defense with eight tackles.

Friday night I made my way to Hugh P. Walsh Field in Monroe as the Falcons hosted Governor Livingston in their new blackout uniforms before a raucous student section which was entirely blacked out as well.

Sophomore Xavier Wilson would break off an 85-yard touchdown run showing his shiftiness and speed late in the first quarter putting the home team up 7-0.

The Highlanders and Falcons traded punches with Monroe containing GL’s running game and and putting plenty of pressure on their sophomore quarterback. Neither team would score in the second quarter.

Monroe would punt on its first possession of the third quarter and then stop the visitors on 4th down. On their very next possession Senior Ghayoor Abbas finds fellow classmate Logan Richter on a 35-yard fourth down pass for a 14-0 lead heading into the final stanza.

“Mr. 4th down” would strike again as Richter would take the handoff from Abbas on a jet sweep barreling through defenders for a 3-yard TD and a 21-0 lead with 7:28 remaining in the game

The Highlanders would get to within 21-7 when Colin Hughes hit Parker Chatfield for a 6-yard TD at 3:44 remaining in the game.

Monroe’s Wilson would go 80-yards bouncing off would-be-tacklers down the home sideline making the final score 28-7 giving the Falcons their first win of the young season.

On Saturday, St. Joseph faced visiting Bridgewater in a much anticipated heavy-weight battle between two highly successful programs.

Both teams would shake off the jitters turning the ball over in their early possessions as two sophomore signal callers found out what it was like to be in a “playoff atmosphere” in just the 2nd week of the season!

The Falcons would strike first as Cole Seyler would find paydirt first late in the first quarter on a 13-yard run. Bridgewater end up punting with 15 seconds to end the quarter down 7-0.

Seyler would waste little time giving Joes a 14-0 at the 9:31 mark in the second quarter with a 39-yard pass to Maddox Mingucci down the middle of the field.

The Panthers would rely on the power of their 210 lb. feature back Jahmier Black who would score on a 1-yard plunge followed by a 2-point swinging gate conversion making it 14-8.

Joes would methodically march down the field and score on a 9-yard Seyler to Noonan corner route making it 21-8 as the first half came to a close.

Both teams would trade punts and turn the ball over before Dominic Rodriguez busted a 59-yard run down the home sideline for a 28-8 lead at 6:26 in the third quarter.

Bridgwater would follow that with their own drive as Jonathan Okolo would score on a 2-yard at 3:46 while drawing to within 28-15.

In the 4th quarter Bridgewater would put the ball into the hands of their powerful back as Black would score from 9-yards and 26-yards bringing the Panthers into the lead 29-28 with 9:59 remaining in the game.

Nick Trust would score on a 7-yard pass from Seyler at 8:05 in the 4th quarter regaining the lead at 35-29.

Both teams would turn the ball over before Seyler finds Dillon Diaz for a 28-yard score and a 43-29 lead with 5:39 remaining in the game.

Bridgewater would close the gap to 43-36 on a 1-yard Black touchdown with 2:47 remaining in the contest. The ensuing insides was recovered by the visitors, however the Falcons defense was able to put the finishing touches on a hard-fought battle between two teams that laid it all on the line in this early season matchup!

Here are my Week 2 Top Tens for the entire Big Central Conference, plus the BCC West, Middlesex County and Union County:

by Mike Pavlichko

Top teams win, middle teams drop games, so Bellamy & Son Paving Week 2 Top Ten sees more changes; Phillipsburg still No. 1

Four of the teams in the Bellamy & Son Paving Week One Top Ten lost last weekend, which leaves half of them still in the rankings, and the other half out, while the top four all stayed put in Week Two.

That starts with Phillipsburg (2-0) still atop the list, after a 24-10 win at Emmaus (PA) Friday. The Stateliners finish out their three-game Pennsylvania stretch to start the season this Friday when they visit Freedom (PA).

St. Joseph-Metuchen (1-0) won its season-opener in thrilling fashion Saturday afternoon, outlasting then-No. 6 Bridgewater-Raritan, 43-36. The Falcons are back at it Friday afternoon at 4 when they travel to Westfield.

Holding in third is Piscataway (2-0). The Chiefs were 28-14 winners over then No. 5 Somerville Friday night in the Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Game of the Week, the first time the Pioneer offense has been held without a point since 2023. Thus week, it’s a Thursday trip to East Brunswick for Piscataway.

A sign featuring the text 'BELLAMY & SON PAVING' in bold red and yellow letters, highlighting residential and commercial paving services.

Rounding out the unchanged top four is Old Bridge (1-1), which got in the win column after a season-opening non-conference loss to Shawnee in the Battle at the Beach in Ocean City with a 49-21 win over Montgomery Friday. Thursday, the Knights visit South Brunswick, in our Friday night Bellamy & Son Paving Game of the Week on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

Up a notch from six to five this week is Bridgewater-Raritan (1-1). Though the Panthers lost, they hung in nearly to the wire Saturday in a 43-36 loss at No. 2 St. Joseph-Metuchen. This week, it’s the Battle of Route 206 as Bridgewater welcomes in Hillsborough.

Flipping with Bridgewater and dropping one spot to sixth is Somerville (1-1), which took a 28-14 loss at No. 3 Piscataway Friday night in the Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Game of the Week. The Pioneers host North Hunterdon on Thursday.

A sign featuring the text 'BELLAMY & SON PAVING' in bold red and yellow letters, highlighting residential and commercial paving services.

The next two teams both move up two spots this week, after losses by then-No. 7 Sayreville and then No. 8 Summit, both of whom dropped out. It starts with Elizabeth (2-0) at No. 7, following a 43-20 home win over Plainfield Friday. The Minutemen visit Union this Friday. And St. Thomas Aquinas (2-0) moves up to No. 8 after a 24-20 win over Scotch Plains-Fanwood, with a Friday date at Franklin awaiting the Trojans.

The final two teams join the rankings for the first time this season. Ridge (1-0) is at No. 9 after opening its season with a 21-7 win over then-No. 7 Sayreville. The Red Devils visit Flemington to play Hunterdon Central this Thursday.

And Rahway (2-0) comes in at No. 10, after a 21-10 home win over previously-No. 8 Summit. The Indians visit Woodbridge Friday as head coach Brian Russo goes up against his alma mater, where he also previously coached.

Below is the complete 2026 Week Two Bellamy & Son Paving High School Football Top Ten: