The Big Central Conference’s Top Games: Week 3

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this article, we preview some of the Big Central Conference's top games going into Week 3 of football here in the great, Garden State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday, September 19</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Metuchen (3-0) @ New Providence (2-1), 6pm</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rebuild in Metuchen appears to have reached the summit, as the Bulldogs are off to a 3-0 start following a 5-5 campaign last fall. Much of their early season success can be attributed to their leading rusher, senior [player_tooltip player_id='679058' first='Evan' last='Toth']. Across three games thus far, Toth has rushed 41 times for 301 yards and 5 scores, having reached the endzone twice in the last two games. Toth has also contributed on defense with 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception. Defensively, fellow senior [player_tooltip player_id='1467522' first='Kyle' last='Johnston'] seems to be blossoming into a key contributor on defense. Building of of a strong junior campaign, Johnston has made 18 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss, outpacing his 43/12 numbers of the same stats from last year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs opponent, New Providence, has won a thrilling 13-12 game against Governor Livingston while dropping a heartbreaking 28-24 game at Arthur L. Johnson. Offensively we see a two-man show with senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1467524' first='TJ' last='Munn'] and junior running back [player_tooltip player_id='1467528' first='AJ' last='Whitehead']. The two actually have very nearly identical statistics on the ground, both having 42 rushing attempts; however, Munn has out gained and outscored Whitehead, 279 to 228 and 4 to 2, respectively. Additionally, Munn has been very efficient, completing 21 of 29 pass attempts for 171 yards thus far. Defensively, the Pioneers have two standouts who clean up a lot of plays for them too. Senior defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1021039' first='Jameson' last='Moore'] has stood out so far in the young campaign, making 24 tackles (14 solos), 3 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. Backing him is linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1538276' first='Mike' last='Petses'], a junior, who has made 28 tackles, 17 of which have been solo stops. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Friday, September 20</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Franklin (3-0) @ St. Thomas Aquinas (2-1), 6pm</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Franklin, off to their best start in years, is 3-0 and riding high as they won their first conference game against East Brunswick, blanking them 34-0. Now the meat and potatoes of their schedule, divisional play, begins as they travel to Edison to play St. Thomas Aquinas. A youth movement appears to be occurring in Franklin, as they are led by sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1105217' first='Jah'naad' last='Cady'], who has gone 28-50 through the air for 369 yards with 5 touchdowns to 1 interception. Cady has also pitched in with 96 yards on the ground. His favorite target? None other than senior [player_tooltip player_id='1467532' first='Unisa' last='Kamara']. With just 6 receptions thus far, Kamara has hauled in all but one of Cady's touchdown passes for a total of 4 on the season, while leading the Warriors in yardage with 127. Lastly, a freshman appears to the both the present-and-future at running back. [player_tooltip player_id='1467533' first='Michael' last='Rogers'] is leading Franklin in all rushing categories, having slashed 33/189/3 thus far.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After challenging themselves with two matchups with out-of-state opponents and a conference road game, St. Thomas Aquinas final returns to the friendly confines of home. The Trojans were not afraid to make a change at quarterback when their offense stalled in their first game against Mount St. Joseph from Maryland, turning to freshman [player_tooltip player_id='751653' first='Zymere' last='Weaver'] to lead the way. Weaver has been extremely productive in his chances, going 19-23 for 324 yards and 5 touchdowns without a pick. The youth movement extends to their backfield too, as despite having incumbent starter [player_tooltip player_id='976963' first='Chase' last='Young'], [player_tooltip player_id='614993' first='Chukwuma' last='Odoh'], who had a great offseason picking up several FCS offers, leads the team in touches and production, slashing 41/322/4 on the ground to Young's 37/182/2 slash line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Rahway (3-0) @ Somerville (3-0), 7pm</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a battle of unbeaten teams, Rahway Head Coach Brian Russo recently earned his 100th career victory. Something tells me the next 99 might come easier, but that 101st will not come without a fight as the Chiefs travel to Somerville. Having played, and impressed me, since his freshman year, now-junior [player_tooltip player_id='1002386' first='Andrew' last='Avent'] is off to a monster start to his season on both sides of the ball. As a rusher, Avent has carried the ball 59 times for 465 yards while scoring 8 times. He is also the team leader in tackles with 30, while he has proven to make disruptive plays that include 7 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 1 scoop &amp; score. A defensive teammate that is breathing down Avent's neck for the team-lead in tackles is sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1301807' first='Jaylen' last='Eastman']. Eastman has made 25 tackles (11 solo), so far, with 3 stops behind the line, 2 sacs, and forced one fumble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Having covered Somerville extensively in the past, highlighting a lot of their talent in the class of 2025, I am going to do my best to avoid mentioning the usual suspects; however, I must speak to [player_tooltip player_id='995084' first='Brenden' last='Pacheco']'s early-season production. Pacheco has gone 40-69 for 553 yards with 8 touchdowns to no interceptions. He has also rushed 13 times for 66 yards and 1 score. This production in terms of touchdown to interception ration eerily similar to his hot start last year. Pacheco's favorite target so far this season is actually not who you would expect in [player_tooltip player_id='946851' first='Joshua' last='Rodriguez'], but rather fellow senior [player_tooltip player_id='1467543' first='Brady' last='Scheier']. Scheier leads the team in receptions and yardage, as he has converted 16 catches to 193 yards and 2 scores. Defensively the absence of [player_tooltip player_id='819155' first='Jayden' last='Loftin'] is no doubt a big, irreplaceable one, but senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1467551' first='Max' last='Nuzzi'] is doing his best impersonation Nuzzi leads the team in tackles with 25 (14 solos), has made 2 tackles for loss, and is half-a-sack off the team lead with 1.5. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Saturday, September 21</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Woodbridge (3-0) @ Colonia (3-0), 1pm</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All eyes in Middlesex County and the North IV playoff bracket will be on Woodbridge Township, as they host not only a battle of unbeatens, but a fight for in-town bragging rights as undefeated Woodbridge travels to cross-town rival to take on Colonia. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is a bit of brotherly love going on at Woodbridge, as they have a dynamic quarterback-receiver combo in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='354983' first='Derek' last='Anderson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='354982' first='Bryan' last='Anderson']. Although I am unsure which mom pushed out first, Derek is the quarterback that pushes the ball downfield. So far Derek is 28-49 for 474 yards with 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, while adding 127 yards and 2 scores on the ground on 21 attempts. His brother, Bryan, is by far Derek's favorite target. On the season Bryan has made 17 receptions for 280 yards and 3 scores. The next closest receiver has just 5 receptions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the other side of town, Colonia appears to spread the ball around a lot more. This season they have four ball carriers with at least 10 carries on the season. The three who seem to be leading the charge are a trio of backs: [player_tooltip player_id='1467556' first='Kyle' last='Bell'] ('27), [player_tooltip player_id='1467560' first='Yisrael' last='Custudio'] ('26), and [player_tooltip player_id='1467564' first='George' last='Simpson'] ('26). Respectively, these teammates have slashed 21/157/1, 16/100/1, and 20/135 on the ground accounting for 392 of the team's 491 total rushing yards. One final junior that needs mention is [player_tooltip player_id='1467565' first='Julien' last='Jones'], the clear leader for the Patriots defense. In the young season, Jones has made 42 tackles (26 solos), with 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 pick six.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->