Bound Brook’s Return to Respectability

Crusaders‘ Dramatic Turnaround Produces First Place Tie with Arch-Rival Manville in BCC Freedom Silver

BOUND BROOK, NJ – During the first five games of the 2025 season, Bound Brook’s football team has produced a dramatic turnaround that has resulted in a first-place tie with arch-rival Manville in the Big Central Conference’s Freedom Silver Division.  Bound Brook’s return to respectability has been one of the pleasant surprises in a season that has seen its share of upsets and head-scratching results to date.

Bound Brook was 15-12 overall from 2019 through 2021.  When Big Central Gridiron launched in 2021, the Bound Brook Crusaders were among the more formidable small school programs in the Big Central Conference.  During the 2021 season, the Crusaders were 4-6 overall and reached the Central Jersey Group 2 playoffs.  The year before, Bound Brook was 5-2 in the COVID-shortened 2020 season after finishing 6-4 in 2019.  

Then came the storm.  Over the last three years, Bound Brook has compiled an overall mark of 3-24, including a 2-11 record in divisional play.  Two of those past three seasons were spent in the BCC’s Patriot Gold Division with the likes of Bernards, Delaware Valley, and Voorhees.  In 2024, the Crusaders moved down to the Freedom Silver and didn’t have much success either.

Last season, Bound Brook finished only 1-8 overall, including a 1-4 mark in divisional play.  This year’s Crusaders have already quadrupled their win total from a year ago with four victories in their first five games.  The 2025 campaign started with what appeared to be more of the same, with a 32-27 loss at the hands of North Warren on August 28th.  Since then, the Crusaders have gone 4-0 and have outscored their foes by a margin of 133-57, or an average of 33-14 per game.

2025 BCC Freedom Silver Division Standings – Through Week Four

Team	Wins	Losses	PCT	Div	Conf	GF	GA	GD	L5	Strk	Last	Next
Manville	10	1	0.909	5-0	7-0	431	110	321	4-1	L1	BURC L52-21	---
Bound Brook	5	5	0.500	4-1	5-3	215	300	-85	1-4	L3	BURC L49-0	---
Belvidere	5	5	0.500	3-2	3-4	220	171	49	3-2	L1	WAHS L18-14	---
Middlesex	2	8	0.200	2-3	2-7	124	340	-216	0-5	L5	KEAN L27-6	---
South Hunterdon	1	7	0.125	1-4	1-7	66	182	-116	1-4	W1	DUN W26-0	---
Dunellen	0	9	0.000	0-5	0-8	49	383	-334	0-5	L9	SRHS L19-0	---

Bound Brook lost several key players to graduation in June, including QB Jeremiah Norwood and RB Andy Perpignan.  However, there was still plenty of optimism coming into camp this summer.  The Crusaders brought back veterans on both the offensive and defensive lines, an experienced defensive backfield, and, most importantly, improved team chemistry.  Players demonstrated more leadership by taking on additional roles and responsibilities.

One key returning player this year is John “Messiah” Archer.  A bright spot with big play capability in 2024, Archer has moved to QB and brings a dynamic element to a Crusader offense that averaged only 13 points per game.  Archer can make plays from anywhere on the field.  Against South Hunterdon in Week 3 of the 2024 season, Archer returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.  Through the first five games, Archer has led an offense that has averaged 32 points per contest.  

Archer has accounted for 58.3 percent of Bound Brook’s offensive yardage and 10 of the team’s 21 touchdowns.  Others, such as senior RB Jake Markey and junior WR Zahmir Moore, have also contributed on offense.  Markey is the team’s leading rusher with 61 carries for 468 yards, or an average of 7.7 yards per rush, along with 6 touchdowns.  Moore leads the team in receiving with 15 catches for 189 yards, or 12.6 yards per reception, along with 2 TDs.  

Basketball standout, Dorian Roundtree, has provided some punch on offense as well, with 4 receptions for 123 yards, including a 90-yard catch for a touchdown against Belvidere last week.  Roundtree’s score highlighted a fourth-quarter rally that propelled the Crusaders to a 28-27 come-from-behind win over the defending BCC Freedom Silver champions.  

Markey and Moore have helped anchor the defense with 38 and 29 total tackles, respectively, while Moore has collected three interceptions, including one for a touchdown.  Moaaz Abdelmonem has tallied 31 total tackles, including 16 solos, 2 tackles for loss, and a sack, as well as a forced fumble and fumble recovery.  Kieran Pareja has a fumble recovery and an interception along with 25 total tackles, including 17 solos.

The defense has shown significant improvement by reducing its points allowed by more than half from a year ago.  The Crusaders have already recorded a shutout while not allowing a touchdown or field goal in another game.  Special teams have also enjoyed some success. 

Moore has led the return game with two kickoff returns for 104 yards and a touchdown, and a 50-yard punt return for another score.  Zion Quesada has made 17 of 18 extra point attempts, while Xavier Quesada has three punts for 80 yards, including a long of 50, and one inside the 20.  

Right now, it appears that Bound Brook is on a collision course with arch-rival Manville for not only local bragging rights, but also for the BCC Freedom Silver Division crown.  The Mustangs look like the favorite to win right now, especially with a defense that has rivaled Belvedere’s from a year ago. 

Nevertheless, the Crusaders have a lot to be proud of at this point in the season, with more wins already than in the past three years combined.  Bound Brook needs to continue building on its return to respectability.