Battle of the Bridge Set for Saturday

Posted on by Big Central Gridiron

Manville and South River will be representing the Big Central Conference at the Battle of the Bridge on Saturday at Keansburg High School.

Big Central and Shore Conference Teams Square off in Two Games

KEANSBURG, NJ – On Saturday, the Big Central Conference’s Week 0 football schedule will conclude with four games.  Two of those contests will take place in the Battle of the Bridge at Keansburg High School.  The Battle of the Bridge will feature two games with teams from the BCC taking on schools from the Shore Conference.  Manville and South River will represent the Big Central, while Keansburg and Point Pleasant Beach will represent the Shore.  Below is the schedule for Saturday:

Battle of the Bridge – Schedule

  • 11:00 AM – Manville vs. Keansburg
  • 2:00 PM – South River vs. Point Pleasant Beach

A Look at the Teams in the Battle of the Bridge

Keansburg

The Titans were 3-6 last season, but ended the year with two straight wins, including a victory over Middlesex in an NJSIAA Regional Crossover.  This year’s squad has an offensive line that averages 291 pounds, and is bringing back memories of the legendary “Here’s the Beef” team from 1994 according to the Shore Sports Insider.  The Titans averaged 21.8 points per game a year ago, and have four starters on offense and defense returning.  

Junior QB Mason Rand (6’3”, 200 pounds), junior RB Taurian Black, and senior wideout Mikey Clayton highlight Keansburg’s offensive attack, while the defense is led by juniors David Mount and Dahmier Hill, Anthony Rodriguez, and senior Ayden Duryea.  The Titans are coached by John Bird, who is starting his 9th season. Keansburg will be competing in the Shore Conference’s Class C South Division with the likes of arch rival Keyport, Freehold Boro, Lakewood, New Egypt, and Point Pleasant Beach.  

Highlights of Keansburg in action against Dunellen in October 2013.

Manville

The Mustangs turned in an historic season a year ago by going undefeated through the regular season for the first time since 1968.  Manville also won its first playoff game before falling to Burlington City in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 1 Semifinals to finish at 10-1.  Coached by David Markowitch, who is starting his fourth season, the Mustangs will be looking to build off of last year’s success. 

Leading the way for Manville this season will be senior quarterback Jonathan Gosk, junior RBs Cassius Carter, Elijah Bennett, and Aidan Johnson, sophomore RB/LB Matt Gorbatuk, senior guard Noah Sommers, junior guard Tyler Johnson.  Jaret Quesada will be joining Bennett and Gorbatuk in leading the Mustang defense.

Highlights of Manville in action against Burlington City in the 2025 NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 1 Semifinals.

Point Pleasant Beach

Another rival of Keansburg in the Shore Conference’s Class C South Division this season, the Garnet Gulls were 7-3 overall and reached the Central Jersey Group 1 semifinals before falling to powerhouse Shore Regional.  Point Beach lost its starting quarterback, Matthew Rossi to graduation (attending FDU-Florham this fall), but still has 16 of its 22 starters from last year returning.  The Gulls averaged 31.9 points per contests, while tallying 1,216 rushing yards and 2,284 passing yards according to the Shore Sports Insider.

Leading Point Pleasant Beach on offense will by junior quarterback, Billy Cavanaugh.  Gage Boyle, a three year starter, will anchor a deep running back corps, where four players will be sharing the load in the Garnet Gulls’ Wing T offense.  Senior Danny Neal, junior Tom Aiosa, and sophomore Jalen Kreiger also make up the Point Beach backfield.  Senior Danny Cavanaugh returns at wideout after hauling in 29 passes for 593 yards a year ago.  The Gulls are coached by Joe Zaccone, who is starting his 8th year at the helm.

Highlights from Point Pleasant Beach’s 31-12 victory at Spotswood on October 15, 2016.

South River

The Rams are coached by Rich Marchesi, who starts his 40th season at the helm and is the longest tenured coach in the Big Central Conference.  South River was only 1-9 a year ago, and is looking for its first winning season since 2020.  On top of losing the likes of last year’s QB Orion Familia to graduation, South River lost its top running back from a year ago, Kah’mori Cotto, who transferred to Parsippany High School. 

Senior wideout, Dominic Harris is one of the top returning players for the Rams.  Harris rushed 46 times for 254 yards, while also hauling in 11 receptions for another 86 yards.  Teammate Ethan Chamberlain led the Rams in kickoff return yardage with 229, including a long of 81.  Harris was second on the team in return yardage with 223 yards.

Highlights of South River in action versus Roselle Park during the 2025 season.

Previous Meetings

South River and Point Pleasant Beach played each other in the season opener a year ago at the Antrim School football field in Point Pleasant. The Garnet Gulls rolled past the Rams for a 37-6 victory. The last time Manville played Keansburg was in 2023 with the Titans defeating the Mustangs 40-28 at Ned Panfile Stadium in Manville.