Predicted order of Finish (last year’s record in parenthesis): 1. Jonathan Dayton (1-2) 2. South Hunterdon (4-4) 3. Belvidere (2-4) 4. Manville (0-5) 5. Dunellen (1-7) 6. Highland Park (0-0 DNP)
Belvidere
Head Coach: Jeff Kolodziejczyk
2020 Overall Record: 2-4
2020 Division Record: 2-2
Last Year’s Ranking in Big Central: NR
Last Year’s Ranking in Hunterdon-Warren County: 6
Strength Index: 48.82
Points Per Game: 17.2
Points Allowed Per Game: 25.3
Pass Completion Percentage: 52%
Passing Yards Per Game: 41.5
TD/INT Ratio: 1/4
Run/Pass Ratio: 85.1 % Run; 14.9 % Pass
Rushing Yards Per Game: 206.5
Rushing Yards Per Carry: 5.3
Most Impressive Win: Voorhees (37-14) on October 30th on the road.
Most Impressive Loss: Bound Brook (28-22) on October 23rd at home.
Key Players Lost to Graduation: Corey Banghart, Carson Grogan, Sean Call, Justin Kane, Tommy Leidel, Shane Exley, Tyler Hover
Key Players Returning: Michael Prospero, R.J. Auriemma, Justin Connors, Nick Mourry, Gavin Chamberlain
Outlook: The 2021 County Seaters will look to be in the mix this season with the likes of returning players Prospero, Auriemma, and Justin Connors returning. Belvidere has always had a strong running game, and look for that to continue. The County Seaters will have to compete with contenders such as South Hunterdon and Jonathan Dayton as well as fend off a up and coming Manville team. Belvidere was supposed to open the season last Friday night, but due to the flooding in Manville, their game with the Mustangs was postponed.
Dunellen
Head Coach: Dave DeNapoli
2020 Overall Record: 1-7
2020 Division Record: 0-4
Last Year’s Ranking in Big Central: NR
Last Year’s Ranking in Middlesex County: NR
Strength Index: 33.35
Points Per Game: 8.3
Points Allowed Per Game: 28.4
Pass Completion Percentage: 52%
Passing Yards Per Game: 22.9
TD/INT Ratio: 2/4
Run/Pass Ratio: 95.5 % Run; 5.5 % Pass
Rushing Yards Per Game: 101.0
Rushing Yards Per Carry: 3.6
Most Impressive Win: Metuchen (14-3 only win) on November 21st on the road.
Most Impressive Loss: Pingry (19-12) on October 23rd at home.
Key Players Lost to Graduation: Anthony DeNapoli, Adem Sangiray, Tamar Saad, Anthony Guzzi, James Devine, Jeff Manna
Key Players Returning: Nasir Tippet, Oscar Wasliewski, Kebert Calderone, Vincent Brito
Outlook: The 2021 Dunellen Destroyers lost a great deal to graduation from a team that fought through a tough 2020 campaign, which ended on a solid note with a victory at Metuchen. The Destroyers do have football and hoops standout, Nasir Tippet back along with Kebert Calderone, Vincent Brito, and Oscar Wasilewski. Dunellen opened the season with a 36-0 loss at home versus Roselle Park.
Highland Park
Head Coach: Shawn Harrison
2020 Overall Record: 0-0 (Didn’t field a team last year; not enough numbers) 0-10 in 2019
2020 Division Record: 0-0
Last Year’s Ranking in Big Central: NR
Last Year’s Ranking in Middlesex County: NR
Strength Index: 20.21
Points Per Game: N/A (5.2 ppg in 2019)
Points Allowed Per Game: N/A (43.7 ppg in 2019)
Pass Completion Percentage: N/A
Passing Yards Per Game: N/A
Rushing Yards Per Game: N/A
Most Impressive Win: N/A
Most Impressive Loss: N/A
Key Players Lost to Graduation:
Key Players Returning:
Outlook: It has been a tough stretch for the Owls, which have not made the state playoffs since 2010. Highland Park, which has had a proud tradition with players such as L.J. Smith making it to the NFL, has struggled to get enough numbers to field a team in recent years. Since 2016, when the Owls had their last winning season (6-4), they have not won a game, and only played one game in 2018 and didn’t play at all a year ago. The key accomplishment here is getting on the field and playing every game.
Jonathan Dayton
Head Coach: Mike Abbate
2020 Overall Record: 1-2
2020 Division Record: 1-2 Tied for 3rd in Division 1B
Last Year’s Ranking in Big Central: NR
Last Year’s Ranking in Union County: NR
Strength Index: 43.67
Points Per Game: 23.3
Points Allowed Per Game: 30.7
Pass Completion Percentage: 59%
Passing Yards Per Game: 76.0
TD/INT Ratio: 2/0
Run/Pass Ratio: 72.9 % Run; 27.1 % Pass
Rushing Yards Per Game: 114.3
Rushing Yards Per Carry: 5.8
Most Impressive Win: Dunellen (35-14 only win of season) on October 2nd on the road.
Most Impressive Loss: New Providence (34-28) on October 23rd at home.
Key Players Lost to Graduation: Anthony Apicella, Mike Kanarek
Key Players Returning: Justin Carrier, Joey Lucarello
Outlook: The 2021 Jonathan Dayton Bulldogs will be looking to contend for the division this year despite only playing three games a season ago due to COVID. One of its two losses was a six point defeat at the hands of New Providence, which finished 8-1 overall. The Bulldogs will have to battle the likes of South Hunterdon and Belvidere for division honors while fighting off a charge from an up and coming Manville team.
Manville
Head Coach: Pat Gorbatuk
2020 Overall Record: 0-5
2020 Division Record: 0-4 6th in Division 1A
Last Year’s Ranking in Big Central: NR
Last Year’s Ranking in Somerset County: NR
Strength Index: 41.07
Points Per Game: 15.6
Points Allowed Per Game: 38.8
Pass Completion Percentage: 48%
Passing Yards Per Game: 87.2
TD/INT Ratio: 2/7
Run/Pass Ratio: 73.1 % Run; 26.9 % Pass
Rushing Yards Per Game: 149.0
Rushing Yards Per Carry: 4.6
Most Impressive Win: None.
Most Impressive Loss: South River (41-30) on November 6th at home.
Key Players Lost to Graduation: Jonathan Cox, Clete Meyer, Enoc Rios, Angelo Drake, Jack Lombardino, Richie Sonnenberg
Key Players Returning: Danny Wildgoose, Zion Harrison, Shawn Purcell, Brandon Flores
Outlook: The 2021 Manville Mustangs had high hopes coming into the season, but then the torrential rains from the remnants of Hurricane Ida produced catastrophic flooding in the town that has been hampered time and time again on the banks of the Raritan River. Nevertheless, the players helped the community clean up and try to move forward and did not play Belvidere. The Mustangs have some good young talent coming up including Danny Wildgoose, Zion Harrison (also a standout hoops player), and Shawn Purcell. Manville will now open its season versus Dunellen.
South Hunterdon
Head Coach: Toby Jefferies
2020 Overall Record: 4-4
2020 Division Record: 1-4 5th in Division 1A
Last Year’s Ranking in Big Central: NR
Last Year’s Ranking in Hunterdon-Warren County: 9
Strength Index: 48.40
Points Per Game: 22.1
Points Allowed Per Game: 20.3
Pass Completion Percentage: 52%
Passing Yards Per Game: 104.4
TD/INT Ratio: 7/5
Run/Pass Ratio: 69.5 % Run; 30.5 % Pass
Rushing Yards Per Game: 168.6
Rushing Yards Per Carry: 5.5
Most Impressive Win: Voorhees (37-14) on October 30th on the road.
Most Impressive Loss: Bound Brook (28-22) on October 23rd at home.
Key Players Lost to Graduation: Ryan Hinman, Logan Conner, Joshua Woznicki
Key Players Returning: Nick Venettone, Bode Dunn, Tommy Ramsin, Donald Gallagher, Trevor McCloughan
Outlook: South Hunterdon finished 4-4 a season ago, and despite losing the likes of QB Ryan Hinman and RB Logan Conner, the Eagles are still looking to compete for a division title. Returning players such as Nick Venettone, Bode Dunn, and Tommy Ramsin opened some eyes last week with a solid effort in a 19-12 loss against a very good Bound Brook squad.
