Middlesex and Metuchen played each other for the 34th time on Thursday. The Bulldogs defeated the Blue Jays, 14-6 in the season opener for both teams. Middlesex still leads the series 20-14.
Bulldogs Snap Four Game Losing Streak with 14-6 Win Over Jays
METUCHEN, NJ – On Thursday, Metuchen and Middlesex resumed their rivalry for the opening day of the 2024 Big Central Conference season. The two schools met for the 34th time since they began playing each other in 1972. The Bulldogs defeated the Blue Jays, 14-6 to snap the Jays’ four-game winning streak dating back to 2017.
Metuchen won its season opener by the same margin a year ago against South River at Denny Stadium. All the scoring came in the second half as Metuchen got a three-yard TD run from Evan Toth to open the scoring in the third quarter, and then another three-yard run by Ryan Toth in the fourth period. Jax Jarvis accounted for the Middlesex scoring with a 43-yard TD run to pull the Jays within 7-6 in the 3rd.
Evan Toth, who is returning from a season-ending injury a year ago, looked in top form with 18 rushes for 119 yards and a TD. Toth averaged 6.6 yards per carry, and his longest run was 20 yards. Toth added a reception for 8 yards and three tackles including for a loss on defense. Ryan Toth completed 2 of 3 passes for 20 yards and rushed 7 times for another 8 yards. Basketball standout, Cam Hayes-Durina (2 rec for 28 yards) and Justus Leitner (2 rec for 12 yards) hauled in two catches for the winners.
Middlesex leads the all-time series 20-14. The Blue Jays won the first 6 meetings between the two schools until Metuchen won in 1978. Middlesex shut out Metuchen in each of their first four meetings. With its opening-day victory, Metuchen won for the first time in the series since 2016. Check out the Bulldogs-Blue Jays rivalry at a glance.
| Year | Winner | Winning Score | Loser | Losing Score |
| 1972 | Middlesex | 20 | Metuchen | 0 |
| 1973 | Middlesex | 43 | Metuchen | 0 |
| 1974 | Middlesex | 32 | Metuchen | 0 |
| 1975 | Middlesex | 33 | Metuchen | 0 |
| 1976 | Middlesex | 21 | Metuchen | 10 |
| 1977 | Middlesex | 13 | Metuchen | 12 |
| 1978 | Metuchen | 40 | Middlesex | 0 |
| 1979 | Middlesex | 27 | Metuchen | 14 |
| 1980 | Middlesex | 22 | Metuchen | 13 |
| 1981 | Middlesex | 14 | Metuchen | 6 |
| 1998 | Metuchen | 20 | Middlesex | 0 |
| 1999 | Middlesex | 10 | Metuchen | 0 |
| 2000 | Middlesex | 35 | Metuchen | 0 |
| 2001 | Metuchen | 14 | Middlesex | 0 |
| 2002 | Metuchen | 25 | Middlesex | 21 |
| 2003 | Middlesex | 33 | Metuchen | 12 |
| 2004 | Middlesex | 27 | Metuchen | 21 |
| 2005 | Middlesex | 44 | Metuchen | 14 |
| 2006 | Metuchen | 38 | Middlesex | 14 |
| 2007 | Metuchen | 40 | Middlesex | 24 |
| 2008 | Middlesex | 38 | Metuchen | 22 |
| 2009 | Metuchen | 20 | Middlesex | 13 |
| 2010 | Middlesex | 34 | Metuchen | 0 |
| 2011 | Metuchen | 35 | Middlesex | 18 |
| 2012 | Metuchen | 20 | Middlesex | 7 |
| 2013 | Metuchen | 20 | Middlesex | 16 |
| 2014 | Metuchen | 7 | Middlesex | 0 |
| 2015 | Metuchen | 40 | Middlesex | 8 |
| 2016 | Metuchen | 28 | Middlesex | 7 |
| 2017 | Middlesex | 42 | Metuchen | 7 |
| 2018 | Middlesex | 47 | Metuchen | 26 |
| 2019 | Middlesex | 35 | Metuchen | 7 |
| 2021 | Middlesex | 28 | Metuchen | 20 |
| 2024 | Metuchen | 14 | Middlesex | 6 |
- Middlesex leads the overall series 20-14 dating back to 1972.
- Middlesex has outscored Metuchen by a margin of 732-545, or by an average of about 22-16 per contest.
- Middlesex’s first win was in 1972.
- Metuchen’s first win was in 1978.
- Middlesex has 7 shutouts.
- Metuchen has 4 shutouts.
- Longest winning streak: Both teams have won 6 straight. Middlesex from 1972 to 1977 and Metuchen from 2011 to 2016.
- Six games have been decided by 7 points or less.
- Most points scored in a game: 47 by Middlesex in 2018. Metuchen scored 40 on three occasions in 1978, 2007, and 2015.
- The largest margin of victory: 43 by Middlesex (43-0 in 1973). Metuchen defeated Hunterdon Central by 40 in 1978 (40-0).
- The two schools played for only the second time since 2019 on Thursday.
