The Big Central Conference’s Top Games: Week 4

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this article, we preview some of the Big Central Conference's top games going into Week 4 of football here in the great, Garden State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday, September 26</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>South Brunswick (3-1) at Piscataway (2-2), 6pm<br><br>Perhaps the last hire in the coaching cycle, first year Coach Ibrahim Halsey is leading South Brunswick to a quick, 3-1 start. They are, perhaps, facing their toughest challenge as they travel to Piscataway. The Vikings are paced by sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1476945' first='Kamari' last='Toney']. Thus far in the young campaign, Toney is second on the team with 49 carries that have garnered 259 yards and 2 scores. Meanwhile, the the trenches are patrolled by senior [player_tooltip player_id='1029740' first='Dason' last='Boateng']. The two-way lineman is having a great season as he leads the team in tackles with 31. Moreover, he has made numerous disruptive plays including: 4 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 1 scoop &amp; score.<br><br>For Piscataway, they have two Chiefs that stand out above all the Indians, senior teammates [player_tooltip player_id='1040415' first='James' last='Bodley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1196466' first='Jahai' last='Johnson']. Bodley is a dual-threat, leading a backfield that has had 10 other palyers carry the ball, with 46 carries for 313 yards and 3 scores. Bodley also impacts the game as a target, having made 7 catches for 112 yards and 2 scores. Lastly, as a linebacker he has made 29 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss. Complementing Bodley is [player_tooltip player_id='1196466' first='Jahai' last='Johnson'], who is used in a variety of ways. Johnson has scored 2 times on 5 carries for 69 yards, while making 16 catches - a team high - for 101 yards. Johnson's biggest impact on the game, however, might be in the return game where he has already made 3 house calls on the young season. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Friday, September 27</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Spotswood (3-1) at Highland Park (3-0), 7pm<br><br>Coming off of a program-best 2023 campaign, Chris Meagher looks to take his Spotswood Chargers on a deep playoff run as they prepare to take on Highland Park, who is experiencing a program resurgence of their own. The Chargers are led by a two-volt charge in the backfield between junior [player_tooltip player_id='1043534' first='Sebastian' last='Saracino'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1476946' first='Se'mir' last='Tolbert-Brimage']. Saracino, a known commodity around Spotswood since his freshman year, has produced 268 yards and 2 scores on 49 carries. Now a linebacker, Saracino has made 15 tackles (6 solos) and 1 tackle for loss. Tolbert-Brimage, the team's quarterback, has rushed 50 times for 239 yards and 6 scores, while adding 345 yards and 3 scores through the air on 23-39 passing, while throwing 3 picks. Tolbert-Brimage has also made 6 tackles, 1 tacle for loss, 2 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery as a defensive lineman. <br><br>The bloodline is strong in Highland Park, the Hantsoulis bloodline that is. Headlined by senior and oldest brother [player_tooltip player_id='1025994' first='Markos' last='Hantsoulis'], he Owls are flying high. Markos, a quarterback, has gone 19-26 passing for 345 yards with 4 touchdowns and 1 interception. On the ground, Markos has rushed 26 times for 260 yards and 6 scores, while also adding an interception on defense. Markos' two younger brothers, [player_tooltip player_id='1476948' first='Kosta' last='Hantsoulis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1476949' first='Stamatis' last='Hantsoulis'] are both junior receivers that their eldest brother loves to work the ball to. Kosta leas the team with 5 receptions for 144 yards and 3 scores and adds an element of special teams to his game going 4-4 on PATs and making his only field goal attempt on the season, a 20-yarder. Meanwhile Stamatis has contributed with 3 grabs and 22 yards.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>JFK Iselin (2-2) at Monroe (2-2), 7pm<br><br>While Woodbridge and Colonia get much of the attention in Woodbridge Township, JFK Iselin seems to be a program on the rebound. Much of what the Mustangs' do are behind the efforts of [player_tooltip player_id='1110220' first='Fiheem' last='Howell Jr']. Howell Jr is off to a tremendous start having rushed 50 times for 517 yards with 7 scores. Howell Jr is complemented by a blossoming outside threat in fellow junior [player_tooltip player_id='1069013' first='Grant' last='Lorentzen']. Lorentzen has a team high 20 receptions for 184 yards and 2 scores. Additionally, Lorentzen has taken two kickoffs to the house, proving to be a game breaker on special teams.<br><br>At the southern tip of Middlesex County, the Monroe Falcons have a quarterback-receiver duo that is prepared to play spoiler and make a push for the playoffs. [player_tooltip player_id='875807' first='Brandon' last='Macaluso'], who looks every bit of the part and showcased as much when I saw him in person during the camp circuit, has had a strong start to his final season. Macaluso has gone 49-81 through the air for 522 yards with 7 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, while also scoring twice as a rusher. Fellow senior [player_tooltip player_id='1476951' first='Logan' last='Fotiadis'] has been is clear, favorite target in all situations. Fotiadis paces the Faclons with a 17/177/4 slash line as a target.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Saturday, September 28</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Cranford (2-1) at Summit (3-0), 1pm<br><br>Two perennial playoff contenders square off deep in Union County as Cranford Visits Summit. Cranford, a traditional run-heavy team, is back at it with a one-two punch featuring a senior and a sophomore. [player_tooltip player_id='1305461' first='Amari' last='Petgrave'], who I first saw in person during the camp circuit, is a genetic mutant. Aside from being chiseled like ancient Greek statue, he also scored exceedingly high in the combine portion of the event. Petgrave is the team's leading rusher in yards and attempts, with 235 and 42 respectively. He has also scored 3 times. The future is currently the present as sophomore teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1476953' first='Gabe' last='Worrell'] leads the team with 6 scores on the ground, having rushed 23 times for 130 yards.<br><br>For as much as Cranford wants to run the ball, Summit might want to do it even more. The Hilltoppers' backfield appears set for the next two seasons with junior [player_tooltip player_id='1476956' first='Alex' last='Schwark'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1476955' first='Gavin' last='Schnall']. Schwark leads the team in yardage with 339 and scores with 7, despite being second on the team with 24 attempts. The younger Schnall actually leads the team with 33 carries, leading to an output of 148 yards and 1 score. Defensively, linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1476957' first='Matt' last='McKeever'] is a prospect to be aware of too, as he leads the team with 22 tackles and 2 sacks, while making 2 tackles for a loss as well.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>St. Joseph's Metuchen (3-0) at Westfield (2-1), 1pm<br><br>After leading Elizabeth 21-0 at half last week, the St. Joseph Falcons held on a second half surge to win 21-20. There is something of a metamorphosis happening to Bill Tracy's team. A master of the Wing-T, it has devolved to something of a Pro-T offense that features very good quarterback play by junior [player_tooltip player_id='1476965' first='Justin' last='Scaramuzzo']. Scaramuzzo has gone 37-61 on the season for 679 yards with 3 touchdown passes and no turnovers. Also the team leader in all rushing categories, Scaramuzzo has slashed 25/128/4 on the ground. Kicker [player_tooltip player_id='1476966' first='Tyler' last='Huseth'] makes the Falcons a threat to score at any point on the field as he is perfect, 5-5 in field goal attempts, thus far on the season. His longest make is from 43 yards and has made 9-11 PATs. <br><br>This year Westfield can be summed up by one name: [player_tooltip player_id='1093217' first='Enzo' last='Ferrero']. Rumor has it that around some circles in town Enzo has been nicknamed "Endzone" Ferrero. The one-man wrecking crew leads the team in receptions with 20 - four times that of his next closest teammate - and 319 yards while scoring 4 times. Ferrero has also intercepted a pass, is 5-6 on PATs and has made his only field goal attempt, nailing a 35-yarder. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->