Football results: Big Central Conference and area roundup for Week 0
By Simeon Pincus and Andy Mendlowitz, MyCentralJersey.com,
2 days agoCHECK BACK THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND. THIS ROUNDUP WILL BE UPDATED AS GAMES ARE REPORTED!
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
Hunterdon Central 42, North Hunterdon 14: Giovanni Veliz rushed for three touchdowns and Drew Cella threw for three scores to lead the Red Devils. Hunterdon Central led 15-7 at halftime and broke it open with 27 points in the third quarter. Cella threw touchdowns passes to Nick Vasquez of 71 and 12 yards in the quarter. He connected with James Mongno for a 9-yard score in the first quarter. Veliz rambled for 152 yards on 21 carries with scores from 2, 15 and 5 yards. out Additionally, Preston Shamanski forced a fumble.
Pingry 53, St. Luke's (New Canaan, CT) 14: Ryan Moye threw four touchdowns and rushed in two more scores as the Big Blue won big. Rafferty Harris had three receiving touchdowns and contributed defensively with an interception and a couple sacks. Jack Moye added a receiving touchdown, while Finn Cavanaugh rushed for a score and kicked six extra points. Defensively, Kiernan Harris scooped up a fumble recovery for a touchdown and Oscar Irwin snagged an interception in the win.
Newark Eastside 8, Plainfield 6: EJ Brown scored on a five-yard first-quarter touchdown run for Plainfield, but Eastside found a safety early in the fourth quarter to get on the board and then the game-winning touchdown with 4:00 left to sink the Cardinals. Joel Cordoba recorded 13 tackles and recovered a fumble, while JJ Anderson picked up a sack for Plainfield.
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Manville 28, Keyport 7: Na’Quavere Thomas opened the season with 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns and Isaiah Bennett added 85 yards rushing and a score and Manville scored an impressive victory. Josh D’Ambrosio also ran in a TD for the Mustangs, who led 21-0 headed to the fourth quarter.
Seton Hall Prep 34, Union 0: Kahden Davis threw a touchdown pass and ran in another for Seton Hall Prep, which had touchdowns scored by four different players and notched a pair of safeties.
More: Elizabeth football roars back to beat Linden on Jamal Lyles' game-saving interception
More: Piscataway football uses swarming defense, playmakers to overcome Manalapan
Hillside 42, Snyder 20 : Sophomore Mitchell Jenkins rushed for 170 yards and four touchdowns and Hillside rolled to the opening-day win in a game played at West Orange High School. Travis Miller caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Zion Risher, while Sean Caldwell added a one-yard scoring run and the ensuing conversion for the Comets.
Notre Dame 40, Bridgewater-Raritan 38 : Declan Kurdyla threw four touchdown passes, including three in the fourth quarter, but Bridgewater-Raritan’s inspired rally came up just short as they dropped the hard-fought opener on the road.
The Panthers trailed 7-0 early, before Mike Bratus’ nine-yard scoring run and the ensuing kick tied it in the second quarter. Notre Dame then scored two touchdowns, before a 33-yard field goal from Joe Squicciardi, who also went 5-for-5 kicking extra points, drew BR to within 21-10.
The game was 34-10 entering the fourth quarter, but Bridgewater-Raritan wasn’t done. Denzel Amoafo caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Kurdyla and the Panthers deficit was 34-24. Bridgewater-Raritan then recovered its second onside kick of the fourth quarter and cashed in, as Ja’Sante Johnson hauled in a 29-yard scoring pass from Kurdyla and the score was 40-31 with 8:59 remaining.
But Notre Dame hit back, returning the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, but missing the conversion, and it was 40-31, but the Panthers had the retort, as Nick DiEsso grabbed an 11-yard TD pass from Kurdyla and it was a 40-38 game with 6:36 left.
Bridgewater-Raritan’s defense then came up big, holding Notre Dame without a first down after three plays and then stopping a fake-punt attempt to give the offense the ball at the Irish 28-yard line, Squicciardi, but a 40-yard field goal attempt was blocked, ending the epic rally with 40 seconds left in the game, before Notre Dame ran it out.
More: High school football in Central Jersey: Links to our preview coverage for 2024 season
Hopewell Valley 42, Montgomery 0: Brandon Rector recorded a sack for Montgomery.
Watchung Hills 31, Moorestown 7 : Mason Kelly threw two touchdown passes, including a 15-yard strike to Jake Arakelian, who also ran in a score Friday and Watchung Hills opened with an impressive road victory. Lucas Garcia also ran in a score for the Warriors, while Brayden Kelly hauled in a 56-yard scoring pass in the win. Byron McCann connected on all four of his PAT kicks and added a 25-yard field goal for Watchung Hills.
Jackson Memorial 17, North Brunswick 7 : Al Trevelise hit Lennon Travelis with a 24-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to get North Brunswick on the board. Jahir Dawud and Nyeem Houston each had an interception for the Raiders, while Brian Gomez and Abdul Kargbo each recorded a sack. The game was tied 7-7 until Jackson Memorial's Joe Muzzillo kicked a 36-yard field goal with 2:36 remaining. The Jaguars recovered the onside kick afterward and added a touchdown with 1:10 left.
Immaculata 35, Kellenberg (NY) 21 : Cole Hayden rushed for 189 yards and two touchdowns, adding a passing touchdown, and Immaculata is off to a winning start. Nick Strokes pitched in 99 rushing yards and a touchdown for the Spartans, while Jahmier Black also got in on the ground. Quinn Hayden hauled in a 50-yard touchdown pass in the win.
South Brunswick 30, Robbinsville 13: Daniel Duffie threw a touchdown pass to Julian Williams and rushed for another score as the Vikings earned the nonconference win in head coach’s Ibrahim Halsey debut. Kamari Toney rambled for 130 yards on 19 carries highlighted with a 53-yard touchdown run. Omar Adams (11-90) added a rushing score in the win and Greg Schifrin drilled a 28-yard field goal. Duffie finished 6-for-8 with 112 passing yards.
St. John Vianney 34, Carteret 0: Jakir Thomas rushed for 112 yards on 24 carries and recorded 12 tackles (eight solo, one for a loss) to lead Carteret. He was also 2-for-4 with 105 passing yards.
Franklin 28, Trenton Central 22: Dubem Kawah broke for a 50-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter as the Warriors opened with the win. Kawah rushed for 101 yards on seven carries and added a 45-yard scoring scamper. Amir Glover had an 86-yard kickoff return in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 22-20.
FRIDAY’S OTHER SCORES
Boonton 27, Belvidere 6
Delran 41, Roselle 7
Freehold Boro 28, New Brunswick 0
Montclair Kimberly 35, Dunellen 6
THURSDAY’S RESULTS
Colonia 14, Sayreville 13 (OT): Dylan Chiera threw for 165 yards (15-of-28), including a 12-yard touchdown in overtime and Colonia toppled Sayreville in a drama-filled finish. Rynal Wortman caught nine passes for 109 yards in the win, while Kyle Bell scored on a three-yard run for the Patriots. Nick Nunez threw a TD pass and Devin Krass run one in for Sayreville.
More: Football: Woodbridge holds off Old Bridge for wild opening-day win
Rahway 41, Voorhees 14: Andrew Avent rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns, adding another score on a fumble return, plus a 2-point conversion run and Rahway opened in dominant fashion. Jaquan Robinson hit Jaquan Robinson on an 11-yard strike in the first quarter, while Dimitri Dulorie added a 21-yard TD catch and Jayvon Cooper ran in another score in the win. Avent also pitched in on defense, recording seven solo tackles, including two for a loss, and three assists. He also delivered a 40-yard punt. Voorhees QB Sam Meekings threw two touchdown passes, hitting Logan Dirney and Ryland Benitez with scores. Marco Tramutola rushed for 123 yards for the Vikings.
More: Football: Veteran-led Somerville edges Hillsborough for dramatic opening-day win
More: Football: New Providence handles South Plainfield
Edison 27, East Brunswick 0 : Nyekir Eato scored four touchdowns and grabbed three interceptions to fuel Edison. Eato scored on a 19-yard run, a five-yard run, an 85-yard kickoff return, and a 24-yard run. Eato finished with 18 carries for 118 yards. AJ Sarni tallied an interception, while Aidan Nagy, Shaun Garland and Robert Roma posted sacks for the Eagles.
Lakeland 35, Governor Livingston 9: Lucciano Santamaria hit Parker Chatfield with a 10-yard scoring pass, but Governor Livingston fell to last year’s North 2 Group 2 finalist. Mason Barker booted a 33-yard field goal for the Highlanders.
Metuchen 14, Middlesex 6: Ryan Toth punched it in on a three-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter and Austin Loreti added his second PAT of the game and Metuchen secured an impressive opening-day win. Evan Toth got the Bulldogs going in the third quarter on a three-year run. Jax Jarvis got Middlesex on the board later in the period on a 43-yard scoring jaunt.
Wood-Ridge 24, Spotswood 10: Semir Tolbert Brimage scored on a 32-yard run and Gavin Perreria connected on a 37-yard field goal for Spotswood.
Bernards 35, Monmouth 6: Logan Stevens scored three touchdowns – two on the ground, one through the air – and Nolan Walsh tossed a pair of TD passes and Bernards rolled. Patrick Carlisle added a rushing score in the win, while Max Austin caught a scoring pass.
Perth Amboy 27, J.F. Kennedy 9 : Lavion Balthazar threw three touchdown passes to Brandon Bradsher and the Panthers scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to seal the win. Bradsher caught three passes for 120 yards in the win and picked off a pass on defense. Balthazar was 4-for-10 for 120 yards and rushed for a team-high 75 yards on seven carries and added a score. Albin Castano also rushed in a touchdown, had eight tackles and recovered a fumble. Emmanuel Moreno added an interception. For J.F. Kennedy, Richie Trotman threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Grant Lorentzen (6-62). Nyeem Muse had 12 tackles for the Mustangs.
Monroe 31, Scotch Plains-Fanwood 30: Brandon Macaluso threw three touchdown passes and was 19-of-30 for 187 yards as Monroe snagged the win. The senior also rushed for a touchdown, as did Kimoni Yearwood. Logan Fotiadis had 8 catches for 88 yards and two scores and Logan Richter had five receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown. The Falcons stopped Scotch Plains-Fanwood going for a 2-point conversion around the 4-minute mark. Monroe led 31-16 in the third quarter before a Raiders comeback.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Football results: Big Central Conference and area roundup for Week 0
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Comments / 0