SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ—The American Silver Division of the Big Central Conference is perhaps the toughest division in the league year in and year out. Hillsborough will have its work cut out with the likes of Phillipsburg, Ridge, Bridgewater-Raritan, and Hunterdon Central on the schedule. However, the Raiders have a talented junior class led by QB Alex Reiling and RB Jackson Jankowicz along with several players like LB Jonathan Lobelo returning from a year ago.
The Liberty Silver Division of the BCC is the smallest of all divisions with only four teams, but a year ago, three of those teams qualified for the playoffs while a fourth won its NJSIAA Regional Invitational Tournament. With the addition of QB Aleks Sitkowski, Watchung Hills should be the team to beat. Montgomery will also have a formidable squad led by RB/LB Brady Post.
Bernards will again be one of the top small schools in the BCC. Led by QB Connor Laverty, RB Terrence Hanratty, and WR Jake Caldwell, the Mountaineers look to contend in Group 2 once again. Meanwhile, Somerville is looking to improve on last year’s solid finish to a 4-6 season. The Pioneers are led by QB Branden Pacheco, RB Terrell Mitchell, and WRs Quinn Carran and Brady Scheier.
Hillsborough gets the pre-season nod for No. 1 in Somerset County. Last year’s records in parenthesis:
- Hillsborough (5-4)
- Ridge (7-3)
- Watchung Hills (7-3)
- Montgomery (7–3)
- Bridgewater-Raritan (4-6)
- Immaculata (4-6)
- Bernards (9-2)
- Somerville (4-6)
- North Plainfield (1-9)
- Franklin (0-8)
Other Teams Considered: Pingry (5-5), Bound Brook (0-9) and Manville (8-2).
