Jonathan Dayton vs. David Brearley – Rivalry at a Glance

On Thursday night, David Brearley of Kenilworth will host Jonathan Dayton of Springfield in a Big Central Conference Freedom Gold Division match-up. This will be the thirty-sixth meeting between these two schools. Brearley and Dayton have played each other every year since 2006. David Brearley leads the series, 26-8-1.

Dayton Looks to Beat Brearley for the First Time Since 2012

KENILWORTH, NJ – On Thursday evening, the Bulldogs of Jonathan Dayton travel the short journey to Avery Ward Field to take on the David Brearley Bears in the latest edition of this long-standing rivalry between the two schools. The Bears have won 11 straight in this rivalry. However, Brearley has not won a game this season while Dayton has won twice including last week over Dunellen.

The Brearley Bears have been going through a bit of a rebuild since the graduation of standout QB Matt Sims among others two seasons ago. Jonathan Dayton has not been above .500 since the 2010 season when the Bulldogs finished 9-2 overall under current Woodbridge head coach, Joe Goerge. Dayton has been no better than 5-5 over the past 14 years.

Highlights from David Brearley’s 40-6 victory over Jonathan Dayton in October 2021.

Last season, David Brearley downed Jonathan Dayton by the score of 30-14 in Kenilworth. Two years ago, the Bears shut out the Bulldogs 26-0 in Springfield. The last time Big Central Gridiron covered this clash was three years ago when Brearley rolled past Dayton, 40-6.

David Brearley leads the all-time series 26-8-1. There was one tie in 1983 (7-7) and Jonathan Dayton forfeited a game in 2001. Dayton won the first-ever meeting in 1969 (19-13). Brearley then won 15 of the next 19 contests from 1970-2008. The closest that the Bulldogs came to defeating Brearley since 2012 was in 2016 (lost 22-21).

Highlights from Jonathan Dayton’s loss to Highland Park back on September 13th.

Jonathan Dayton and David Brearley have played each other every year from 2006 to the present. Brearley has won 16 of the last 20 meetings. Eleven of the contests have been decided by 8 points or less. Both teams have combined to record 9 shutouts in the series. These two schools now compete in the BCC’s Freedom Gold.  Check out the Bulldogs-Bears rivalry at a glance.

YearWinnerWinning ScoreLoserLosing Score
1969Jonathan Dayton19David Brearley13
1970David Brearley24Jonathan Dayton19
1981David Brearley17Jonathan Dayton7
1982Jonathan Dayton7David Brearley0
1983Jonathan Dayton7David Brearley7
1984David Brearley14Jonathan Dayton6
1985David Brearley6Jonathan Dayton0
1986David Brearley20Jonathan Dayton0
1987David Brearley42Jonathan Dayton15
1988David Brearley36Jonathan Dayton8
1989Jonathan Dayton21David Brearley15
1990David Brearley37Jonathan Dayton15
1997David Brearley48Jonathan Dayton0
1998David Brearley30Jonathan Dayton29
1999Jonathan Dayton18David Brearley15
2000David Brearley52Jonathan Dayton6
2001David Brearley2Jonathan Dayton0 (forfeit)
2006David Brearley41Jonathan Dayton7
2007David Brearley49Jonathan Dayton0
2008David Brearley27Jonathan Dayton0
2009Jonathan Dayton28David Brearley12
2010Jonathan Dayton39David Brearley12
2011Jonathan Dayton19David Brearley7
2012Jonathan Dayton19David Brearley16
2013David Brearley39Jonathan Dayton13
2014David Brearley50Jonathan Dayton41
2015David Brearley27Jonathan Dayton14
2016David Brearley22Jonathan Dayton21
2017David Brearley41Jonathan Dayton27
2018David Brearley40Jonathan Dayton0
2019David Brearley14Jonathan Dayton2
2020David Brearley44Jonathan Dayton7
2021David Brearley40Jonathan Dayton6
2022David Brearley26Jonathan Dayton0
2023David Brearley30Jonathan Dayton14
A look at the rivalry between Jonathan Dayton and David Brearley through the years.
  • Rivalry began in 1969.
  • Both teams didn’t play each other from 1971 to 1980, 1991 to 1996, and 2001 to 2005.
  • David Brearley leads the series 26-8-1.
  • David Brearley has outscored Jonathan Dayton by a margin of 915 to 434 all-time or by an average of about 26 to 12 per game.
  • Jonathan Dayton won the first meeting in 1969.
  • David Brearley won 15 of the next 19 meetings from 1970 to 2008.
  • The two schools tied once in 1983 (7-7).
  • Jonathan Dayton forfeited in 2001.
  • Both teams have played every year since 2006.
  • David Brearley has the longest winning streak in the series with 11 straight from 2013 to the present.
  • Jonathan Dayton’s longest winning streak in the series is 4 straight from 2009 to 2012.
  • David Brearley and Jonathan Dayton have never played each other in the playoffs.
  • Most points scored in a game: 52 by David Brearley in 2000 (won 52-6).
  • Jonathan Dayton scored 41 in a game in 2014 (lost 50-41).
  • Most points scored by both teams combined was 91 in 2014 (David Brearley won 50-41).
  • Fewest points scored by both teams combined was 6 in 1985 (David Brearley won 6-0).
  • David Brearley has 8 shutouts in the series. Last shutout was in 2022 (26-0).
  • Jonathan Dayton only has one shutout in the series, and that was in 1982 (7-0).
  • Belvidere has won 16 of the last 20 meetings dating back to the 2000 season.
  • 11 games have been decided by 8 points or less.
  • Largest margin of victory: David Brearley won by 49 in 2007 (49-0).
  • Jonathan Dayton’s largest margin of victory was 27 in 2010 (39-12).