Week Five–Friday Night
Fifth Week of Regular Season Opens With Ten Games on Friday
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–On Friday evening, Week Four of the 2015 Greater Middlesex Conference football regular season will begin with a big slate of 11 games. Key match-ups include: Sayreville traveling to South Brunswick for a key early season Red Division showdown, Middlesex visiting Asbury Park in an interesting GMC vs. Shore match-up, and J.F. Kennedy hosting St. Joseph’s in a GMC White clash. Piscataway, South Plainfield, and Highland Park all have byes this week. Below are game capsules on the contests:
Matawan (1-3) at Colonia (3-1)–The Huskies have sophomore QB George Pearson back in the lineup, and it provided big dividends last week in a 14-0 win over Monmouth Regional of Tinton Falls. Prior to last week’s win, Matawan had opened the season with three straight losses by a combined total of 87-24. Colonia is looking to get back on track after losing on the road in the maelstrom to previously winless Carteret (14-6). Last year, these two teams met in Week Four, and Colonia won by a field goal (10-7). It should be a rowdy crowd in Colonia tonight, but Matawan should get the edge here. Prediction: Matawan wins 20-16.
Woodbridge (4-0) at New Brunswick (4-0)–This is the big matchup of the day in Middlesex County. Both teams are ranked in the Top 5 and are undefeated. Both teams have rolled against common opponents such as Carteret and Bishop Ahr. Woodbridge won by a larger margin over the Trojans, but weather conditions were much more suitable for the Barrons high octane offense. Woodbridge has a big advantage in this one in the sense that the Barrons have played in big games before, and that gives them our nod in this one. Prediction: Woodbridge wins 28-24.
Sayreville (2-2) at Monroe (2-2)–After starting the season with two straight wins over J.P. Stevens and North Brunswick by a combined total of 57-13, Sayreville has lost two straight, but to playoff contenders Manalapan (47-27) and South Brunswick (32-12). Meanwhile, Monroe has gone in the opposite direction so far this season with two straight victories after opening the year at 0-2. The Falcons are playing at home, but haven’t beaten at top tier GMC Red team since moving up to the Red. The only victory against Sayreville, P-Way, Old Bridge, and South Brunswick was a forfeit to Sayreville last year. Prediction: Sayreville wins, 24-21.
North Brunswick (0-4) at Edison (2-2)–The Raiders may be winless, but have improved every week, and have come close to winning in each of the last two weeks with a 16-14 loss at East Brunswick, and a 9-0 loss at home to Monroe. Meanwhile, Edison is coming off a thrilling triple overtime win over East Brunswick last week. The Eagles also defeated another team that downed NBTHS recently in Monroe on opening weekend. Haaziq Daniels will be looking to do his magic for EHS at QB while James Stewart will be looking to contribute at RB for the Eagles. Max Emmanuel and Dylan Seel lead the offense for North Brunswick. Prediction: Edison wins 23-21.
Old Bridge (3-1) at Brick Memorial (3-1)–The third ranked Knights got back on track last week with a 40-18 win at J.P. Stevens. Brick Memorial has been rolling since a 36-6 defeat on opening weekend to crosstown rival, Brick Township. Over the last three games, Brick Memorial has outscored its opponents by a combined margin of 144-26. Last year, these two teams went at it very well with the Mustangs winning 35-24. Expect the same this year with Jake Esposito and Nick Sodano, who scored in last year’s loss, returning for the Knights. Brick Memorial is playing at home, and gets out edge. Prediction: Brick Memorial wins, 35-21.
J.P. Stevens (0-4) at Piscataway (3-0)–The last thing that the Hawks needed on their schedule was a Piscataway team coming off a bye. The Chiefs started the year 3-0 with wins over East Brunswick (42-0), Monroe (21-14), and Edison (37-6). Meanwhile, JPS had their first game where it scored more than 7 points. Expect a big night for Danny Haus, Kamal Stewart, Zaire Ashley, and Elijah Barnwell. Prediction: Piscataway wins, 42-6.
South Brunswick (3-1) at East Brunswick (1-2)–The Bears of EB have been playing better as of late, and could be 2-1 right now. However, South Brunswick has also been playing much better since an opening night loss to state powerhouse, Middletown South (41-21). The Vikings enhanced their resume last week with a 32-12 victory over Sayreville in Monmouth Junction. Kyle Wiggins will try to exploit the advantage of a large Bears offensive line while Phil Campbell, Mo Jabbie, and Josh Liao highlight an explosive triple option offense while hoops standout, Jaier Garrett makes big plays on defense for the Vikes. Prediction: South Brunswick wins, 34-13.
Carteret (1-3) at South Plainfield (2-1) –Carteret has played tough at home with a 14-7 loss in Week Two to Long Branch, and a shocking 14-6 win over defending GMC White Champion, Colonia in the maelstrom last week. However, the Ramblers are winless on the road this season and have been outscored by a margin of 63-12. Severe thunderstorms are in the forecast, which may suit the Ramblers. South Plainfield is coming off a bye after winning two of three games at Jost Field to start the season. Both teams have played New Brunswick with the Tigers losing more respectably (27-12). Prediction: South Plainfield wins 21-12.
Bishop Ahr (0-4) at J.F. Kennedy (0-4)–You would figure something has to give here since both teams are 0-2. The Trojans have played better in their four games for the most part after suffering tough losses to Point Beach and New Brunswick in back to back weeks on top of giving Colonia a battle in a 32-18 opening night loss. Kennedy is coming off a 34-0 loss at home to St. Joseph’s. The previous week, the Mustangs lost on the road at South Plainfield (21-7). Kennedy has lost all four of its games by at least two touchdowns. Andrew Brazicki and Dane Lupton have done well rushing the football for Ahr while Andrew Roberts hopes to get on track at QB for Kennedy. Prediction: Bishop Ahr wins, 21-17.
Dunellen (0-3) at Point Pleasant Beach (2-2)–Point Beach has been a bit difficult to figure out this season. The Gulls lost by two TDs at home to Middlesex in Week Two (27-13) and then downed Spotswood on the road last week (17-7). Meanwhile, Dunellen is young and gaining experience. The Destroyers lost to Spotswood in Week One (37-6). The Gulls have played better and are playing at home, which should give them the edge. Prediction: Point Beach wins, 28-8.
GMC Gridiron will first be at Priscoe Field in Woodbridge on Friday afternoon for the Freshmen game of the week between the Barrons and New Brunswick. Then, we will travel down St. George’s Ave to nearby Colonia to see a non-conference matchup between Colonia and Matawan of the Shore Conference.
GMC Gridiron Game Capsules–Week Five–Saturday Afternoon
Five Contests Between GMC Blue and Non-Conference Foes and White Division Clash Close Out Week Five Schedule
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–Week Five of the 2015 Greater Middlesex Conference varsity football schedule will conclude with five games involving GMC Blue teams. All three games will feature match-ups between the GMC Blue and the Shore Conference’s Class B Central Division. In addition, there will be a match-up between St. Joseph’s and Perth Amboy out of the GMC White as the Falcons have their home opener in a newly renovated stadium. Joes hasn’t played a home game in two seasons. Below are game capsules on the six games (last year’s record in parentheses):
Perth Amboy (0-3) at St. Joseph’s (1-2)–After losing their first two games including a surprise to South Plainfield on opening night (29-7), St. Joseph’s put out some of its frustrations on Kennedy during the onset of the nor’easter last Friday afternoon. The Falcons got two first half rushing TDs from Emmanuel Resto, and the defense led by Rutgers bound Nick Krimin did the rest in a 34-0 win. Meanwhile, Amboy was shut out by Woodbridge (33-0). The Falcons are playing their first home game in two years. This long awaited home cooking should provide a lift. Prediction: St. Joseph’s wins, 35-7.
Highland Park (1-2) at Keyport (2-2)–These two teams played a close contest last year before Keyport prevailed in Highland Park. These Owls are a bit more experienced, and showed that in a 41-20 win over one of Keyport’s Class B Central rivals in Keansburg in Week Two. So far this season, the Red Raiders have split their two games against GMC opponents including a 44-0 loss at Metuchen last week. The Owls need a win here to help with their playoff chances. A victory over Keyport plus two wins against division foes could get them in CJ Group I. Prediction: Highland Park wins, 27-24.
Metuchen (3-1) at Keansburg (1-3)–Both teams have played and defeated South River this season with Metuchen defeating the Rams (42-0) on opening day while Keansburg slipped past the Rams last weekend (18-13). Metuchen is led by a veteran group on both sides of the ball including Pete DiMeglio, Jake Lebovits, Trevor Firgau, Shamar Serieux, Fabian Maragh, and Devin Miller. The Bulldogs should win easily here. Prediction: Metuchen wins, 35-6.
South River (0-4) at Mater Dei (2-2)–Both teams have played Keansburg with the Rams losing to the Titans in a heartbreaker at Denny Field last week (18-13) while Mater Dei thrashed Keansburg on opening weekend (35-0). After starting the season at 2-0, the Seraphs have lost to straight to Asbury Park (42-19) and Peddie (47-12) by a combined total of 89-31. Playing South River at home could be the remedy to Mater Dei’s recent woes. Prediction: Mater Dei wins, 31-6.
Holmdel (0-3) at Spotswood (2-2)–Last year these two teams met under similar circumstances at Rob Roggy Field in Holmdel during Week Four. The Hornets entered that game just like it will this game with an 0-3 record that includes a couple blowouts. However, Holmdel didn’t let that stop it from rolling past the Chargers, 33-14. Spotswood has struggled against non-conference competition over the past season and a half, especially against the Shore. Although the Chargers have beaten up on GMC Blue opponents, they are 0-2 so far this season against the Shore including a 7-3 loss versus Shore in Week Two, and a 17-7 defeat to Point Beach last week. Prediction: Holmdel wins, 24-14.
Middlesex (3-1) at Sussex Tech (2-2)–When these two teams met last year at Middlesex, the Jays didn’t look ahead to its big divisional matchup with Metuchen, and won over the Fighting Mustangs (33-13). This year, Sussex Tech opened with a win over Prep school, Pennington on opening weekend, but after starting the season at 2-0, the Mustangs have lost two straight by a combined total of 65-34. Middlesex’s only loss was a heartbreaker to Asbury Park (14-13) last week in the maelstrom. Prediction: Middlesex wins, 26-20.
