Predicted order of Finish (last year’s record in parenthesis): 1. New Providence (8-1) 2. Bound Brook (5-2) 3. David Brearley (6-2) 4. Middlesex (3-3) 5. Roselle Park (2-4).
Bound Brook
Team Name: Crusaders
Head Coach: Dave LePoidevin
2020 Overall Record: 5-2
2020 Division Record: 4-1 2nd in Division 1A
Last Year’s Final Ranking in Big Central: NR
Last Year’s Final Ranking in Somerset County: 9
Strength Index: 58.02
Points Per Game: 34.1
Points Allowed Per Game: 21.4
Pass Completion Percentage: 62%
Passing Yards Per Game: 200.7
TD/INT Ratio: 22/5
Run/Pass Ratio: 58.6 % Run; 41.4 % Pass
Rushing Yards Per Game: 167.3
Rushing Yards Per Carry: 7.2
Most Impressive Win: Voorhees (32-8) on October 16th at home.
Most Impressive Loss: Delaware Valley (29-25) on October 9th on the road.
Key Players Lost to Graduation: Justin Miller, Brett Miller, Jahman McNeil, Dylan Darbowski
Key Players Returning: Patrick LePoidevin, Bryce Cobb, Jayden Brimage, Sharrod Tedder, Carlos Zamora, Carlos Angel, and Keiwan Kirkland
Outlook: The 2021 Bound Brook Crusasders figure to be in contention this season with a lot of returning players and one of the most balanced offenses in the Big Central Conference. With the passing of QB Patrick LePoidevin and the running of RB Bryce Cobb, Bound Brook has a good chance of winning the division. The Crusaders will need to perform well against other division contenders New Providence and David Brearley. Bound Brook opened the season with a win on the road at South Hunterdon (19-12).
David Brearley
Team Name: Bears
Head Coach: Scott Miller
2020 Overall Record: 6-2
2020 Division Record: 3-1 2nd in Division 1B
Last Year’s Final Ranking in Big Central: NR
Last Year’s Final Ranking in Union County: 6
Strength Index: 60.15
Points Per Game: 35.5
Points Allowed Per Game: 15.5
Pass Completion Percentage: 56%
Passing Yards Per Game: 46.9
TD/INT Ratio: 4/4
Run/Pass Ratio: 87.0 % Run; 13.0 % Pass
Rushing Yards Per Game: 285.6
Rushing Yards Per Carry: 6.6
Most Impressive Win: Bound Brook (44-28) on November 20th at home.
Most Impressive Loss: New Providence (21-20) on November 13th on the road.
Key Players Lost to Graduation: Derek Graichen, Michael Dotro, Dan Ramos
Key Players Returning: Matt Sims, Quinn Lonergan, Brendan Fitzsimmons, Ryan Fitzsimmons, Anthony Nwosu, Nick Torino
Outlook: The 2021 David Brearley Bears lost a great deal to graduation, but have the likes of QB Matt Sims and RB Quinn Lonergan returning. The Bears offense relies heavily on the run so they can ill afford to fall behind in games especially against the likes of division favorites New Providence and Bound Brook. Brearley opened the season with a shutout win over A.L. Johnson of Clark (36-0).
Middlesex
Team Name: Blue Jays
Head Coach: Gary Brenner
2020 Overall Record: 3-3
2020 Division Record: 1-1 Tied for 3rd in Division 2A
Last Year’s Final Ranking in Big Central: NR
Last Year’s Final Ranking in Middlesex County: NR
Strength Index: 51.67
Points Per Game: 26.2
Points Allowed Per Game: 26.7
Pass Completion Percentage: 23%
Passing Yards Per Game: 20.0
TD/INT Ratio: 2/1
Run/Pass Ratio: 91.5 % Run; 8.5 % Pass
Rushing Yards Per Game: 251.1
Rushing Yards Per Carry: 6.4
Most Impressive Win: Spotswood (34-7) on November 1st at home.
Most Impressive Loss: North Plainfield (17-13) on October 2nd at home.
Key Players Lost to Graduation: Max George, Mark Geist, Ethan Gill, Jesse Colitti, Josue Hernandez-Paiz
Key Players Returning: Stephen Young, Bobby Ulmer, Mehki Parks, Justin Robinson, Anthony Gonzalez
Outlook: The only Middlesex County team in this division, the 2021 Middlesex Blue Jays have a new coach in Gary Brenner, and lost a number of players to graduation including Max George, Mark Geist, and Ethan Gill. However, the Blue Jays have QB Stephen Young returning along with RB Mehki Parks. Bobby Ulmer is another returning player that anchors both sides of the line of scrimmage. Utilizing the option last year, the Jays ran the ball almost 92 percent of the time, and will likely rely on that same formula this year with Young and Parks. Middlesex opened the season with a 48-14 loss at Delaware Valley.
New Providence
Team Name: Pioneers
Head Coach: Chet Parlavecchio Jr.
2020 Overall Record: 8-1
2020 Division Record: 4-0 1st in Division 1B
Last Year’s Final Ranking in Big Central: NR
Last Year’s Final Ranking in Union County: 4
Strength Index: 60.92
Points Per Game: 31.9
Points Allowed Per Game: 19.3
Pass Completion Percentage: 58%
Passing Yards Per Game: 76.3
TD/INT Ratio: 7/1
Run/Pass Ratio: 78.4 % Run; 21.6 % Pass
Rushing Yards Per Game: 268.3
Rushing Yards Per Carry: 7.9
Most Impressive Win: Governor Livingston (35-14) on Thanksgiving Eve at home.
Most Impressive Loss: Glen Rock (42-28 only loss) on October 30th at home.
Key Players Lost to Graduation: Sean Michaels, Jacob Wied, Tim Walsh, Brandon Mora
Key Players Returning: Dean Licari, Charlie Barth, Trevor Davidson, Dan McKnight, Anthony Kaspereen, Owen Forbes
Outlook: The Pioneers lost a great deal to graduation, but still have leadership in key positions including Dean Licari at QB, and Charlie Barth at RB. Barth, rushed for over 1,000 yards last year as a sophomore. New Providence along with Bernards were the only two teams in the Big Central to play 9 games, and each finished 8-1. Expect New Providence to contend for division honors this year with Bound Brook and Brearley. The Pioneers open their season this week with a home game versus Middlesex, a team they defeated 33-10 on the road at the end of last season.
Roselle Park
Team Name: Panthers
Head Coach: Greg Dunkerton
2020 Overall Record: 2-4
2020 Division Record: 1-2 Tied for 3rd in Division 1B
Last Year’s Final Ranking in Big Central: NR
Last Year’s Final Ranking in Union County: NR
Strength Index: 40.71
Points Per Game: 24.7
Points Allowed Per Game: 35.5
Pass Completion Percentage: 29%
Passing Yards Per Game: 71.0
TD/INT Ratio: 3/2
Run/Pass Ratio: 85.1 % Run; 14.9 % Pass
Rushing Yards Per Game: 268.3
Rushing Yards Per Carry: 7.9
Most Impressive Win: Wood-Ridge (27-19) on October 23rd on the road.
Most Impressive Loss: South River (26-22) on November 21st on the road.
Key Players Lost to Graduation: Nasir Williams, Zahir Bass, Gavin Dunkerton, Daniel Alcine
Key Players Returning: Gabriel Amaya
Outlook: The 2021 Roselle Park Panthers will have to look to new faces to develop quickly. Losing a number of key players to graduation including Nasir Williams, Zahir Bass, Gavin Dunkerton, and Daniel Alcine, Roselle Park will be looking up at the rest of the division with teams that have at least some key players returning from a year ago.
