Vikings Host Hawks in Thursday Evening BCC Division 5C Contest
MONMOUTH JUNCTION, NJ—On Thursday evening, Big Central Gridiron will travel down to South Brunswick High School to take in the contest between the hometown Vikings and J.P. Stevens. The Vikes have had some ups and downs this season, but have won 3 of their last 4 games including a recent 45-20 rout of Monroe last week.
Meanwhile, J.P. Stevens has yet to win a game, and has only scored 6 points on the season although the Hawks were competitive in a 14-0 loss to Perth Amboy at home last Friday night. South Brunswick is currently ahead of both Edison, East Brunswick, and Monroe in the South Group 5 super section and have a shot to qualify for the playoffs, which will begin next month.
Since defeating Manalapan for the Central Jersey Group 5 crown in 2017, the Vikings have gone just 14-13 over the past three seasons including a 4-3 mark a year ago. A win over Stevens on Thursday evening would equal last year’s win total. On the other hand, the Hawks have not won a game since defeated Monroe, 29-14 on October 26, 2018. JPS has lost 19 straight since then.
The last time J.P. Stevens defeated South Brunswick was on October 20, 2006 when the Hawks won 29-19. Since then, the Vikings have won 11 straight. SBHS has actually won 13 of the last 15 meetings between the two schools since 2003. The series between these two schools began in 1998 with J.P. Stevens defeating South Brunswick, 35-6. The Vikes lead the all time series 16-4-0.
Over the course of the 20 meetings between the two schools, South Brunswick has outscored Stevens by a margin of 594-283, or by an average of about 30-14 per game. During its 11 game winning streak, the Vikings have outscored the Hawks by an overall margin of 438-99, or an average of 40-9. The closest JPS came to defeating South Brunswick during this stretch was in 2007 when the Vikes edged the Hawks 13-3.
South Brunswick has a very talented junior class with QB Vince Jairdullo, and WRs such as Khiri Summers and Jacob Brokaw. The Vikes also have talented senior wideouts in Damarion Potts and Brian Rawls Jr. Both Brokaw and Rawls are members of the SBHS boys basketball team as well. Jairdullo leads the Vikes at QB with 46 of his 93 pass attempts completed for 844 yards and 9 TDs.
On the ground, Jairdullo has rushed 23 times for 103 yards while Brokaw leads the team in rushing with 126 yards on 20 carries and 2 TDs. Another basketball standout, Kalani Antoine has also contributed to the rushing attack with 22 carries for 108 yards. Senior running back, Omar Abdelaziz, who also played some QB at the JV level two years ago for SBHS, has rushed for 120 yards in 21 carries.
Summers leads the Vikes in receiving with 16 receptions for 351 yards and 6 TDs. Potts and Brokaw are tied for 2nd in catches with 8 with Potts averaging 17 yards per reception while Brokaw has averaged almost 11 yards per reception. Rawls has 6 catches for 162 yards, or 27 yards per reception. Antoine also has 6 catches for 87 yards.
Over on the defensive side of the football, Raffieu Deen leads the team in total tackles with 29 including 9 solo tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks. Sophomore Braden Paulmenn has been a solid contributor with 25 total tackles including 9 solos along with 2 fumble recoveries including one for a touchdown, and two interceptions. Summers leads South Brunswick in INTs with 3 on the season.
On special teams, Jai Patel, who has committed to Rutgers, has made 6of 8 field goal attempts and all 15 of his extra point attempts. His season long of 45 yards occurred against Old Bridge on September 17th. He has tallied a season high 9 points on three occasions including last week versus Monroe.
For the Hawks, sophomore Qais Jasser leads the team at QB while senior Clarance Dixsoin paces the rushing attack. So far this season, Dixsoin has tallied 123 yards on 31 carries. Junior Curtis Good has rushed 12 times for 40 yards, and senior Darius Nath contributes in both rushing and receiving. Sophomore Lamar Stevenson leads Stevens in receiving yards with 35.
Prediction: South Brunswick wins, 35-7.
