Led by QB Jayden Schmalz and RB DJ Cook, the top-seeded Piscataway Middle School Chiefs rolled past second-seeded Elizabeth, 32-6 to win the 2024 Big Central Conference Middle School Championship at Kenny Arwood Stadium on Tuesday night.
Chiefs Roll Past Elizabeth for the Big Central Middle School Championship
PISCATAWAY, NJ – A year ago, the Piscataway Middle School Football team left Kenny Armwood Stadium empty-handed after losing to Union in the 2023 Big Central Middle School Championship. For top returnees such as Jayden Schmalz, Jahmir Snead, and DJ Cook the goal was to return and take care of unfinished business. Schmalz and Cook made sure that P-Way left little doubt in this year’s final.
Schmalz rushed for a touchdown and threw for another while collecting an interception on defense in the first half. Cook rushed for two scores to help lift the top-seeded Middle School Chiefs to a 32-6 victory over second-seeded Elizabeth to gain redemption and claim the once elusive Big Central Middle School football crown. Piscataway had four scores along with two-point conversions en route to a comfortable 32-0 lead late in the fourth quarter.
Cook opened the scoring with a five-yard TD run with five seconds to play in the first quarter. Schmalz followed up by running the ball into the end zone for the two-point conversion and an 8-0 lead. The score was after the Middle School Chiefs took the opening kickoff, and kept possession of it for the entire opening stanza.
The initial scoring drive was in jeopardy at one point though. Backed up by a penalty, Piscataway had to resort to a little bit of trickery in the form of a Cassius Welcome run off a reverse on third down to set up a 4th down and 4 at Elizabeth’s 30-yard line with 1:46 remaining in the first quarter.
Schmalz then ran through the right side of Piscataway’s offensive line for about 18 yards and a first down at Elizabeth’s 12-yard line. Schmalz ran it in the same direction again for about another 7 yards to the Elizabeth five before Cook capped the drive of 7:55 with his TD run.
Piscataway’s stout and quick defense forced Elizabeth to turn it over on downs near midfield on its opening possession early in the second to set the stage for Schmalz to make the game’s next big play. Running left through the Piscataway offensive line, Schmalz cut back to his right, found daylight, and took it to the house for a 44-yard touchdown run. Schmalz then ran left on a sweep and bowled his way into the end zone for two-point conversion and a 16-0 P-Way lead with 1:42 remaining in the first half.
P-Way got the ball back again moments later and converted the turnover with a 44-yard TD pass by Schmalz. The QB then weaved his way through the right side of the Piscataway for the two-point conversion and a 24-0 lead with 24 seconds to play in the second.
The score remained that way as both teams went to the intermission. Piscataway kicked off to open the second half and Elizabeth mishandled the kick leading to another turnover. After an apparent TD run off a reverse by Welcome was negated by penalty, the Middle School Chiefs rebounded to get the ball in the end zone anyway.
All Piscataway needed was five plays including a 4th down conversion. Cook then ran a counter play to the left for 10 yards and his second TD of the game. Schmalz added another two-point run for a 32-0 P-Way lead with 3:52 to play in the third.
Elizabeth closed out the scoring with its only touchdown of the game. The Middle School Minutemen scored on a 40-yard TD pass from Griffin to Jacque Perez with 1:16 to play. Elizabeth was unable to convert the two-point conversion for a 32-6 Piscataway lead.
Elizabeth was able to quickly get the ball back, but the Middle School Chiefs were able to stop the drive on downs. The final play of the game saw an Elizabeth pass toward the end zone elude a receiver as time ran out.
With the victory, Piscataway concluded its season at 8-0 with the Big Central Middle School Championship trophy. The Middle School Chiefs outscored their opponents during their playoff run by a margin of 120-12 including a shutout.
Over the past two seasons, Piscataway Middle School went 15-1 with two Big Central Conference Middle School Championship Game appearances and this year’s title. Let’s take a closer look at this year’s Piscataway Middle School football team.
2024 Piscataway Middle School Schedule
| Date | Winner | Winning Score | Loser | Losing Score |
| 9/18/24 | Piscataway | 30 | Franklin | 8 |
| 9/25/24 | Piscataway | 38 | North Plainfield | 6 |
| 10/02/24 | Piscataway | 46 | South Plainfield | 0 |
| 10/09/24 | Piscataway | 48 | Churchill MS (East Brunswick) | 0 |
| 10/17/24 | Piscataway | 48 | Plainfield | 0 |
| 10/23/24 | Piscataway | 44 | Plainfield | 0 |
| 10/30/24 | Piscataway | 44 | Franklin | 6 |
| 11/12/24 | Piscataway | 32 | Elizabeth | 6 |
Statistics
- Final Record: 8-0 – Big Central Conference Middle School Champions
- Home: 7-0
- Away: 1-0
- 2023 Record: 7-1 – Big Central Conference Middle School Runner-Up
- Points For: 330
- Points Against: 26
- PPG: 41.3
- PAPG: 3.3
- Average margin of victory: 38.0 points per game.
- Largest margin of victory: 48 points vs. Churchill Middle School (East Brunswick) (won 48-0) on 10/9/24 and vs. Plainfield (won 48-0) on 10/17/24.
- Closest margin of victory: 22 points vs. Franklin (won 30-8) on 9/18/24.
- Most points scored in a game: 48 vs. Churchill Middle School (East Brunswick) on 10/9/24 and vs. Plainfield on 10/17/24.
- Longest winning streak: Went undefeated at 8-0. Won 15 of 16 over the past two seasons.
- Shutouts: Four
- Offensive firepower: Five games where Piscataway Middle School scored 44 points or more.
- Defensive grit: Piscataway Middle School held its opponents to 8 points or less in all eight of its games.
Head Coach
- James Boyd
Assistant Coaches
- Justin Enes
- Rob Stoddard
