Thanksgiving Games I am ready to Feast on (Plate #1)

<p>As the NJSIAA consolidated playoff brackets to finally name one true state champion per group, the vast majority of teams cut the fixings and did away with their Thanksgiving games in favor week 0 games. Some teams, however, refuse to let the tradition die as they feel no football on Thanksgiving is like stuffing without gravy. </p>   <p>If I was not busy self-gorging on the greatest American holiday, here are a few games that I would try to catch - and subsequent players that should be game planned for.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">St. Thomas Aquinas (9-1) @ Immaculata (6-3)</h2>   <p>In a battle of Central Jersey Non-Public schools, St. Thomas Aquinas will travel into Somerset County as they fight to get a leg up in local recruiting. It is my understanding that this will be the first head-to-head Thanksgiving Day game for the teams. Both teams were bounced from the Group B playoff bracket - Immaculata beating St. John Vianney and then losing to Holy Spirt and STA getting upset at home by DePaul after earning a bye.</p>   <p>In this game I expect Trojans' junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='801495' first='Roman' last='Blanks'] to open up the offense a bit more. Blanks had a very efficient year going 77 for 113 on the season with 1215 yards. He protected the ball as he threw for 14 touchdowns and just 1 interception. Defensively for STA [player_tooltip player_id='999497' first='Christian' last='Magliacano'] is their heart-and-soul. In his last high school game, I fully expect Magliacano to be willing to (figuratively) die on the field of play. Selling out as he usually does, Magliacano will look to build on his 148 tackle (97 solo), 30 tackle for loss, 2 sack, 3 forced fumble, 1 blocked kick, and 1 pick-six campaign to wrap up an <em>extremely </em>productive career. </p>   <p>For as young as Blanks is, the host Spartan's have an even younger quarterback in sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='595189' first='Mason' last='Geis'] under center. Perhaps I am rooting for a young gun slinger-type shootout, but I can forsee Geis - now with two full seasons of varsity experience under his belt - to open up the offense a bit. For the year Geis has gone 56 of 113 for 15 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. A keep-you-honest type of runner, Geis has found the end zone 4 times this year on the ground. Another younger player, this time on on defense for Immaculata, is [player_tooltip player_id='1021139' first='Luke' last='Laub']. Laub is amongst the team leaders in tackles with 82 on the season (58 solos). He has also tacked on 2 tackles for loss, recovered 2 fumbles, and intercepted a pass. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Phillipsburg (9-2) @ Easton (PA) (3-7)</h2>   <p>For the first time in six tries last year, Phillipsburg finally got over on Easton by a score of 35-14. In perhaps the longest rivalry in the state dating back to 1905, Easton still leads the all-time series 67-43-5. With their playoff hopes recently dashed, expect the Stateliners' to try to go double-or-nothing this Turkey Day.</p>   <p>In a traditional run-oriented offense, [player_tooltip player_id='855768' first='Jett' last='Genovese'] has injected a bit of life to the Stateliners' passing attack. In his second year as the starter, Genovese went 85 for 150 on the year with 1311 yards while tossing 14 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions. No slouch in the run game by any measure, Genovese slashed 48/162/1 on the ground this year. A defender I am excited to see more of is [player_tooltip player_id='1093194' first='Cameron' last='Bohal']. Very active in his senior season, Bohal filled several stat boxes along the way. In his last ride Bohal has made 49 tackles, intercepted 3 passes, and blocked 3 kicks. Expect him to be a disrupter for P-burg. <br><br>Having to reach out to the good folks at Prep Redzone Pennsylvania, a few of the highest rated prospects for Easton on offense are juniors receivers [player_tooltip player_id='919528' first='Jasir' last='Frutchey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='919527' first='JC' last='Wilson III']. Wilson has slashed 25/321/3, while Frutchey has gone 34/476/6. Frutchey has been a strong contributor on defense making 36 tackles with 2 picks, and 2 forced fumbles. Frutchey has also returned a punt to the house. Two defenders the Stateliners' should plan for are senior [player_tooltip player_id='1104900' first='Peter' last='Diaz'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1077192' first='Kurtis' last='Crossman']. Diaz has been credited with 39 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 sacks during his final campaign; whereas Crossman, who is also a baseball player and wrestler, has made 33 tackles on the year. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Middletown South (4-5) @ Middletown North (6-4)</h2>   <p>In the Battle of Middletown, the home North squad has its work cut out for themselves if they look to close South's all-time 35-12-1 lead in the series, including avenging last year's 27-10 loss. </p>   <p>Hoping to change the wings for North will be a senior receiver-quarterback hookup between [player_tooltip player_id='751320' first='Luke' last='Sheehan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1093199' first='Dylan' last='Briggs']. The fellow 2024 graduates have linked up 45 times this year for 845 yards and 5 scores. Sheehan has gone to throw for 1997 yards with 18 touchdowns and 3 interceptions this year on 135 of 209 attempts. Sheehan has also rushed for 318 yards and 1 score on the season. A defender I am excited to see perform for North is [player_tooltip player_id='1093204' first='Brian' last='O'Donnell']. O'Donnell, a junior, has really come on strong this year with 73 tackles/38 solo. I am curious to see how he sends his seniors off and transitions to the defense being led by him. </p>   <p>O'Donnell and company will have their hands full with the two-headed monster at tailback that South deploys. [player_tooltip player_id='854969' first='Colin' last='Gallagher'] leads the way for South with 672 yards and 7 touchdowns on 102 carries. A key cog on defense too, Gallagher has made 109 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and forced 4 fumbles. Providing Gallagher a blow when needed is [player_tooltip player_id='814172' first='Jake' last='Czwakiel']. Czwakiel has spelled effectively for Gallagher to the tune of 408 yards and 6 touchdowns on 79 carries. Czwakiel has also spent time at quarterback too, contributing with 449 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions on 42 of 89 attempts. Finally, Czwakiel has made 37 tackles on defense with 3 interceptions - 1 that was taken back to the crib. A breakout defender-in-waiting ins [player_tooltip player_id='1093205' first='Giuseppe' last='Massagli']. Massagli has made 37 tackles on the season with 6.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Camden Eastside (6-4) @ Camden (10-2)</h2>   <p>In what will be the "Turkey Bowls" 90th rendition, Camden Eastside will travel across town into Camden in what is expected to be a highly competitive game. Last season Eastside took care of business with a 25-2 victory. Although Eastside has won the last three contests, Camden still leads the all-time series 54-34-3.</p>   <p>Looking to tally another victory in the series for Eastside will be [player_tooltip player_id='172522' first='William' last='Love']. One of the Garden State's last top recruits available, Love has presumably had a strong season. With stats that seem incomplete, in five games Love has been credited with 23 tackles on the year with 3 tackles for loss while on offense he has slashed 10/184/3 as a receiver. Finding Love as a target on offense has been quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='995360' first='Nazir' last='Flack']. Flack, a fellow senior, has gone 66 of 148 for the season with 7 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. </p>   <p>For Camden, [player_tooltip player_id='1086008' first='Mahki' last='Brunson'] will look to out gun Flack in a quarterback showdown. A year his junior, Brunson played to a very clean season going 81 of 123 for 1290 yards with 13 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. More of a threat on the ground Brunson has rushed for 354 yards and 3 scores. [player_tooltip player_id='844703' first='Braheem' last='Long'] is an athletic two-way receiver/defensive back for Camden. When split out wide Long has gone for 339 yards and 4 scores with 19 grabs; however, on defensive Long absolutely fills up the stat sheet. Long has made 35 tackles on the season (27 solos) with 3 tackles for lods, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, and 1 pick-six.</p>

As the NJSIAA consolidated playoff brackets to finally name one true state champion per group, the vast majority of teams cut the fixings and did away with their Thanksgiving games in favor week 0 games. Some teams, however, refuse to let the tradition die as they feel no football on Thanksgiving is like stuffing without gravy.