Manville Mustangs Display Their Horsepower

BCC Freedom Silver Co-Leader Records Third Straight Shutout

MANVILLE, NJ – A year ago, the Big Central Conference’s Freedom Silver Division race went down to the final week of the regular season as Belvidere and Middlesex settled things with the Seaters winning the crown.  This year’s division derby may not be much of a horse race.  With the Manville Mustangs displaying their horsepower over the first four weeks of the season, the 2025 BCC Freedom Silver crown may not take that long to be decided.

On Friday night, Manville rolled to a 42-0 victory over Middlesex in a divisional clash at Ned Panfile Stadium in Manville.  It was the third straight shutout for the BCC Freedom Silver Co-Leader, which has outscored its foes by a margin of 126-6.  The Manville Mustangs have held their opponents scoreless in 15 of the 16 quarters they have played so far this season.  Last year’s division winner, Belvidere, recorded five shutouts and yielded an average of 9.4 points per game en route to an 8-2 overall record and 5-0 division mark.

Big Central Conference – Freedom Silver Division Standings – Through Week 3

Team	Wins	Losses	PCT	Div	Conf	GF	GA	GD	L5	Strk	Last	Next
Manville	4	0	1.000	2-0	2-0	126	6	120	4-0	W4	MID W42-0	@ SHR Fri, Sep 26
Bound Brook	3	1	0.750	2-0	3-0	132	62	70	3-1	W3	SHR W14-2	vs BEL Fri, Sep 26
Belvidere	2	2	0.500	1-1	1-2	88	90	-2	2-2	W1	DUN W52-20	@ BBHS Fri, Sep 26
Middlesex	1	3	0.250	1-1	1-3	33	137	-104	1-3	L1	MAN L42-0	@ DUN Fri, Sep 26
Dunellen	0	3	0.000	0-2	0-3	26	134	-108	0-3	L3	BEL L52-20	vs MID Fri, Sep 26
South Hunterdon	0	3	0.000	0-2	0-3	20	55	-35	0-3	L3	BBHS L14-2	vs MAN Fri, Sep 26

One of the wins that highlighted the solid 4-0 start to the season was a 31-0 victory over Belvidere two weeks ago.  Manville left no doubt which team is the one to beat in the Freedom Silver in 2025.  The Mustangs are currently tied with arch rival, Bound Brook, for the division lead.  The Crusaders defeated South Hunterdon, 14-2, at LaMonte Field on Friday night.  The two schools are scheduled to meet on October 24th at Bound Brook.  Manville has won three of the last four meetings between, including a 42-3 rout at home in 2024.

The Mustangs are averaging 31.5 points per game on offense while yielding less than a safety per game on defense.  A year ago, Manville finished third in the BCC Freedom Silver behind Belvidere and Middlesex.  The Mustangs finished 7-3 overall, including a 3-2 mark in divisional play.  Manville finished 10th in the final Big Central Gridiron Small School Top 10 in 2024, and averaged 27.2 points per game on offense while giving up 14.9 points per game on defense.  The Mustangs ranked 2nd in point differential in the BCC Freedom Silver last season.

2025 Manville Mustangs – Results – Through Week 3

Date	Opponent	Time/Score	Location	Media
Sat, 30 Aug	Keyport	Non-Conference W 19-6	Ciccotelli Field	NFHS
Fri, 5 Sep	Hopatcong	Non-Conference W 34-0	Howell High School	Hopatcong Athletics
Fri, 12 Sep	Belvidere	BCC Freedom Silver W 31-0	Ned Panfile Stadium	Manville Athletics
Fri, 19 Sep	Middlesex	BCC Freedom Silver W 42-0	Ned Panfile Stadium	Manville Athletics

Manville was tied with South Hunterdon for a distant second in shutouts behind Belvidere in the division a year ago, and the Mustangs have already surpassed their shutout mark in 2024.  Led by QB and three-sport standout, Josh D’Ambrosio, Manville is averaging 321.5 total yards per game on offense.  D’Ambrosio has accounted for 57.5 percent of the offense and 50 percent of the scoring with 9 of 13 completions for 229 yards and 3 TDs passing and 52 carries for 478 yards and 6 TDs rushing.

D’Ambrosio has also contributed on both defense and special teams.  A linebacker on defense, D’Ambrosio has tallied 13 total tackles and an interception.  He has also handled the punting duties for Manville with an average of nearly 30 yards per punt, including a long of 49, and four inside the 20.  D’Ambrosio also returns kickoffs and punts for the Mustangs, and has three returns for 51 yards.  

Category
Overall Record	4-0
Division Record	2-0
Total Points	126
Points Per Game	31.5
Total Points Allowed	6
Points Per Game Allowed	1.5
Shutouts	3
Yards Rushing	1,024
Yards Rushing Per Game	256
Yards Passing	262
Yards Passing Per Game	65.5
Total Yards	1,286
Total Yards Per Game	321.5
Yards Rushing Allowed	436
Yards Rushing Allowed Per Game	109
Yards Passing Allowed	208
Yards Passing Allowed Per Game	52
Total Yards Allowed	644
Total Yards Allowed Per Game	161

Defensive lineman Evan Canica has collected 38 total tackles, including 12 solos, 5 for loss, and a sack.  Canica has also forced a fumble and intercepted a pass.  Senior RB/DB Isaiah Bennett has helped lead the Mustangs on both sides of the ball.  Bennett is second on the team in rushing with 30 carries for 329 yards and 6 touchdowns.  Bennett also has a 59-yard reception for another score while collecting 35 total tackles, including 14 solos and three for loss on defense.

Manville has been able to generate plenty of offensive production out of the tight-end position thanks to the duo of Trevor Metz and Collin Shimp.  Metz leads the Mustangs in receiving with 4 catches for 123 yards and two scores.  Meanwhile, Shimp, another three-sport standout, has contributed to both the ground game and the passing attack on offense.  Shimp has rushed 27 times for 167 yards and a TD, and also caught 4 passes for 47 yards.  Metz and Shimp had combined for 57 total tackles on defense.

Shimp is tied for the team lead in sacks with two, while Metz is second in solo tackles with 13.  Freshman Matthew Gorbatuk has made a big splash on the defensive side of the ball for the Mustangs with 20 total tackles, including 8 solos, 4 for loss, and two sacks.  Sophomore Jaret Quesada has provided the leg for Manville’s kicking game by converting 15 of 17 extra points and his only field goal attempt of 24 yards.

The Manville Mustangs look to continue displaying their horsepower when they travel to Lambertville and face South Hunterdon in another BCC Freedom Silver contest on Friday night.  Then, Manville will travel to North Edison for a late Saturday afternoon game with J.P. Stevens on October 4th.  The Mustangs will host Dunellen on Thursday, October 9th, and Highland Park on Friday, October 17th, before visiting Bound Brook.