It could end up being a shootout at Woodfield Stadium in Hillside on Saturday when the hometown Comets host Somerville in a high-powered Big Central Conference Crossover on Saturday afternoon.
Comets and Pioneers Square-Off in a High-Powered BCC Crossover Clash
HILLSIDE, NJ – On Saturday afternoon, Big Central Gridiron will be heading up to Hillside in Northern Union County to see the Comets in action against Somerville in a BCC Crossover clash. Hillside is coming off a 28-10 victory on the road at Scotch Plains-Fanwood in a United Gold match-up last week while Somerville rolled to its fourth straight to start the year with a 32-16 win over Rahway at Brooks Field. Hillside is 2-2 overall.
This will only be the fifth time the two schools have ever played each other. The Comets and Pioneers never met on the gridiron until 2009 and have split the previous four meetings. The two schools last played each other in 2013 with Hillside winning 36-17. This contest will be played for only the second time at Woodfield Stadium at Conant Street Park.
Somerville enters this game averaging 31.8 points per game on offense while giving up 14.3 per contest on defense. Meanwhile, Hillside has averaged 24.5 points per game on offense while yielding 25.3 points per contest on defense. With its win at Scotch Plains-Fanwood last week, Hillside snapped a two-game losing streak. Somerville is undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the latest BCG Top 10, and is atop the BCG rankings in Somerset County.
Hillside moved up in one way and down in another for the 2024 season. The Comets are now in South Group 2 this year after being in North Group 3 the past two seasons. Meanwhile, in the Big Central Conference, Hillside moved up into the bigger school United Gold Division with the likes of Carteret, Cranford, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, and Summit this season after being in the Patriot Silver with A.L. Johnson, Metuchen, New Providence, and Roselle.
Somerville has gone through some changes as well for this season. Although the Pioneers remain in the South Jersey Group 3 region, they have moved down in the Big Central Conference. Over the past two seasons, Somerville competed in the BCC’s American Gold Division with the likes of Elizabeth, St. Joseph’s, Union, and Westfield. This year, the Pioneers are competing in the BCC’s Liberty Silver Division with such schools as Montgomery, North Hunterdon, Rahway, and Watchung Hills.
A win over Somerville on Saturday afternoon would provide a huge boost to Hillside’s playoff chances. Currently, the Comets are ranked 12th in the South Jersey Group 2 Supersection according to Gridiron New Jersey. Hillside sits behind Manchester Township, Haddonfield, Gloucester City, and Metuchen for a top-eight seed in the region. A win over the larger school and undefeated Pioneers would give the Comets some help.
Meanwhile, Somerville ranks at the top of the South Jersey Group 3 region. If the Pioneers can keep winning, they could not only lock up a home-field game for the first round or two but perhaps throughout the entire sectional bracket they end up in. Playing in the familiar confines of Brooks Field would be a tremendous boost for the Pioneers during the post-season. Potential contenders for the top seed in South Group 3 are Mainland Regional, Ocean City, Hopewell Valley, and Timber Creek.
Both teams qualified for the playoffs in each of the last three seasons. Hillside lost to Sparta in the opening round of the 2023 North Jersey Section 1 Group 3 playoffs at Woodfield Stadium last October. In 2022, Hillside reached the sectional finals before losing to Old Tappan in North Jersey Section 1 Group 3. The Comets were last in South Group 2 several seasons ago when they reached the sectional semifinals and lost to Raritan (41-34) in a thriller.
At the same time, Somerville lost on the road at Manasquan (14-13) in the opening round of the South Jersey Group 3 sectional playoffs. Two seasons ago, the Pioneers made a nice push toward the end of the 2022 season to qualify but then lost again on the road at Seneca (47-33) in the opening round of the Central Jersey Group 3 playoffs. Back in 2021, Somerville advanced to the South Jersey Group 3 semifinals before losing to Cedar Creek (28-0).
Hillside’s offense has relied more on the run so far this season, but still has a good deal of yardage through the air. The Comets’ ground game has accounted for over 71 percent of all the offensive plays, but only about 55 percent of the offensive yards. Sophomore running back, Mitchell Jenkins, is averaging 6.5 yards per carry and accounts for 64 percent of Hillside’s rushing attack and 73 percent of the rushing scores.
Senior quarterback Zion Risher has not thrown an interception in the last two games for the Comets. Risher has completed 60 percent of his passes for 474 yards and 3 TDs. Risher has averaged 11.9 yards per completion. Juniors Kamari and Quaron Robinson have been Risher’s top targets to date this season. The duo have combined for 26 catches for 299 yards and a TD. Quaron Robinson leads the Comets with an average of 14.1 yards per reception. Kamari Robinson ranks 2nd on the Comets in kickoff return yardage.
On defense, Hillside is led by senior lineman, Darren Ikinnagbon. Playing tight end on offense, Ikinnagbon has flourished on the defensive side of the ball this year with 45 total tackles including 21 solos, 6 for loss, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Ivie Igiehon ranks second with 30 total tackles including 12 solos and 3 for loss.
Sophomore defensive back, Jamir Hall ranks third in total tackles with 23 including one for loss, and has a fumble recovery as well. Shakeam Gatewood and Isaiah Lambert each have an interception to lead the Comets in that department. Gatewood leads the team in return yardage while senior kicker Eveno Casseus has made 6 of 9 extra points.
On the other side of the field, Somerville’s offense is more balanced in both play selection and total yardage. Most of the Pioneers’ plays have been on the ground with 55 percent of the offensive play-calls but account for just 51 percent of the offensive yardage. Somerville also has a lot of firepower back from last season including QB Brenden Pacheco, RB Terrell Mitchell, and WRs Josh Rodriguez and Brady Schemer.
Pacheco has completed 59 percent of his passing attempts for 632 yards and 8 TDs versus no interceptions. Pacheco has averaged 13.4 yards per completion and has rushed 13 times for 66 yards and another score. The Somerville signal-caller has distributed his passes well. He has completed a pass to seven different receivers and a TD strike to four of them.
Rodriguez and Scheier both lead Somerville’s receiving corps. Each has caught two TD passes this season. While Scheier leads the Pioneers in receptions (18), Rodriguez has more receiving yards (214), and yards per catch at 23.8. Rodriguez has tremendous athleticism as demonstrated with his one-handed touchdown grab against Westfield last season.
Mitchell is a dangerous threat in many facets of Somerville’s game. Mitchell leads the Pioneers’ ground game with 48 carries for 352 yards and 5 TDs while also catching 11 passes for another 98 yards and three scores. Mitchell also impacts the game on special teams with kickoff and punt returns. So far this season, Mitchell has 96 yards including a 74-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Max Nuzzi anchors Somerville’s defense. The senior linebacker has 24 total tackles including 2 solos, 2 for loss, and 1.5 sacks. Rodriguez, who also helps Mitchell in the return game leads the Pioneers with two interceptions. Sophomore linebacker, Justin Bowen leads the team in sacks with three while also collecting an interception. Senior wideout and placekicker, Spencer Carran has made all of his extra-point attempts.
Both Hillside and Somerville have high-octane offenses that can put up video game-like numbers on the board. The Comets and Pioneers also are capable of playing up-tempo. Somerville’s experience and balance will be the keys here. Hillside lost five wideouts from last year’s team and Talibi Kaba has yet to play this season after rushing for over 1,000 yards a year ago.
Prediction: Somerville wins 35-24.
