Big Central Conference Clashes with WJFL in Week 0

Posted on by Big Central Gridiron
The Somerville Pioneers went 3-1 against schools from the West Jersey Football League in 2024. The rest of the Big Central Conference went a combined 5-14 against the WJFL.

BCC Taking on West Jersey Football League in Several Important Non-Conference Games Opening Weekend

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – One of the interesting aspects of every opening weekend is the number of crossover and non-conference games involving Big Central Conference teams.  The BCC’s divisional schedules usually don’t kick into gear for the first couple of weeks.  Thursday night’s Week 0 contest between Westfield and Plainfield (won by Westfield 21-14) is a rare exception.  Looking at non-conference play, many Big Central Conference schools are clashing against foes from the WJFL in Week 0.

Of the 33 total games that involve BCC teams on the Week 0 slate, two-thirds of them are non-conference contests.  Taking a deeper dive into those 22 non-conference clashes this opening weekend, Big Central Gridiron found that there are 10 games between BCC and West Jersey Football League schools.  Two of them will be taking place as part of the WJFCA’s Battle at the Beach showcase being held at Rowan University on Friday and Saturday.

Hillsborough will face Washington Township on Friday morning at Rowan while Old Bridge will face-off against Cedar Creek on Saturday afternoon.  On Thursday, BCC teams played WJFL opponents in a contest with Hammonton defeating Franklin Township in Atlantic County (24-14).  On Friday, there will be eight contests between BCC and WJFL teams.  Take a look below at these match-ups.

Week 0 Schedule – BCC vs. WJFL – Thursday, August 28th

  • Franklin at Hammonton (Hammonton won, 24-14)

Week 0 Schedule – BCC vs. WJFL – Friday, August 29th

  • Hillsborough vs. Washington Township, 11:45 AM – Battle at the Beach – Rowan University
  • Robbinsville at South Brunswick, 6:00 PM
  • Notre Dame at Bridgewater-Raritan, 6:00 PM
  • Willingboro at Rahway, 6:00 PM
  • Somerville at Schalick, 6:00 PM
  • Monroe at West Windsor-Plainsboro, 6:00 PM
  • Montgomery at Hopewell Valley, 6:00 PM
  • Moorestown at Watchung Hills, 6:00 PM

Week 0 Schedule – BCC vs. WJFL – Saturday, August 30th

  • Old Bridge vs. Cedar Creek, 3:00 PM – Battle at the Beach – Rowan University

A year ago, schools from the Big Central Conference played WJFL opponents in six Week 0 contests and went 3-3.  Over the course of the 2024 season, BCC schools played those from the West Jersey Football League twenty-three times, and went a combined 8-15 in those games.  The BCC went 5-3 during the regular season, but the WJFL dominated in the state playoffs with a 12-3 mark, including a Group 4 State Championship win by Winslow Township over Phillipsburg and a South Group 3 Regional Championship victory by Mainland over Somerville in overtime (36-35).

Ironically, the Somerville Pioneers had the best record against WJFL opponents.  Somerville played Absegami, Ocean City, Delsea, and Mainland, and compiled a 3-1 mark while outscoring those foes by a combined 129-56.  Cedar Creek has enjoyed some success against BCC teams. Going back to the 2021 season, the Pirates have played teams from the Big Central Conference three times, including twice in the Battle at the Beach. Cedar Creek is 2-1 in those contests.

The West Jersey Football League is arguably the best high school football conference in the Garden State, with 94 teams from Mercer and Burlington County in the north to Atlantic and Cape May County in the south.