The Super Football Conference’s Top Games: Week 4

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this article, we preview some of the Super Football 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>Passaic Valley (2-1) at Millburn (2-1), 7pm<br><br>As Passaic Valley rolls into Millburn, they will look to ride the coattails of their lead horse in the backfield, [player_tooltip player_id='1476912' first='Nick' last='Huliev']. Huliev is off to a nice start so far this season, having rushed 38 times for 355 yards and 2 scores. He is backed by fellow 2026 graduate [player_tooltip player_id='1054149' first='Dante' last='Benvenuti']. Benvenuti has caught 10 receptions for 199 yards and 1 score. Also serving as a standout linebacker, Benvenuti leads the team with 25 tackles, 7 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, and has blocked 1 kick. He is flanked on defense by [player_tooltip player_id='1476914' first='Christian' last='Meletta'], who has made 23 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 pick-6. <br><br>Millburn looks to ride the continued momentum junior Mr. Do-It-All [player_tooltip player_id='1476917' first='PJ' last='Sicoli'] has brought to the team. Sicoli is the team's leading passer with 195 yards and a 3:2 TD to Int ratio; however, he is a big playmaker on the perimeter with the ball in his hands, rushing 33 times for a team-high 123 yards and 2 scores. Senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1476918' first='Kiefer' last='Curi'] appears to be a disruptive force on defense, as he has made 3 solo tackles, 2 sacks, forced a fumble, recovered one for a scoop &amp; score, and has recorded a safety thus far. Lastly, [player_tooltip player_id='1476919' first='Ryan' last='Feldman'] lines up as the their kicker, having converted all three field goal attempts so far this year, with the longest going for 32 yards, along with going 2-2 in PATs.</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>Ridgewood (4-0) at Passaic County Tech (4-0), 6pm<br><br>If the playoffs were to start today, Ridgewood would be North V's #1 seed and PCTI would be right behind them at #2. With an approximate URP of 0.6 separating the two teams, this is, for sure, is a big early-season matchup that will certainly impact the playoff picture down the road. <br><br>As they have seemingly forever, Ridgewood deploys a strong running game. This year, the feature back appears to be senior [player_tooltip player_id='1043555' first='Colin' last='Burns']. Burns, on the season, has gone for 426 yards and 6 scores on 49 carries. Right behind him is junior [player_tooltip player_id='1476920' first='James' last='Nugent'], who has slashed 48/236/4 so far this year. Defensively, senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1011815' first='Nick' last='Brigliadoro'] is cleaning up everything in front of him to the tune of 38 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 pick. [player_tooltip player_id='1476922' first='John' last='DeVincenzo'] appears to be an emerging force at the defense's second level, too. The sophomore has made 22 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and forced 2 fumbles. <br><br>After years of dominance by recently graduated, James Madison-bound Trashon Dye, it appears that PCTI is feeling out there new offensive identity a bit. Attempting to replace Dye's legendary production is junior [player_tooltip player_id='1476925' first='Noah' last='Foxworth']. Foxworth currently leads the time in rushing attempts and yardage (28 and 204 respectively) and is tied for second on the team with two rushing scores. Two players in the passing game that are playing well off of each other are senior [player_tooltip player_id='994290' first='Joel' last='Perez'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1187352' first='Ian' last='McDuffie']. Perez made his mark mostly on defense last year, but this year has a team-leading 227 yards on 9 catches - 2 of which were scores. Down the stretch as a freshman, McDuffie appeared in a handful of games, but seems to be entering his own as a sophomore. He leads the team with 10 receptions that have yielded 220 yards and a team-high 4 touchdown receptions. Further, he has made 15 stop on defense (11 solo) and forced a fumble. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Union City (3-1) at Northern Highlands (3-1), 6:15pm<br><br>Although I try my hardest to repeat teams when I preview the week in advance, I cannot help myself when perennial Group V power Union City takes a road trip out of town to take on perennial Group IV power Northern Highlands. Last week junior [player_tooltip player_id='1475739' first='Khalil' last='Sutton'], a Dickinson transfer, had his coming out party last week against Newark East Side. Sutton, on the season, has made 16 tackles (9 solo), 7 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, and blocked 1 kick. He joins a fierce defensive line that also features [player_tooltip player_id='829410' first='Omar' last='Tillman'], [player_tooltip player_id='1085702' first='Adrian' last='Villalta'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1216611' first='Reynaldo' last='Mercedes']. He was featured last week, but [player_tooltip player_id='1466376' first='Kingston' last='Evans'] might be that guy. For the second game in a row, Evans made a house-call on a kickoff to open the scoring. Third time is a charm.<br><br>A trio of seniors look to lead the way and re-anoint Northern Highlands as champions once more. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='802075' first='Nate' last='Johnson'], running back [player_tooltip player_id='1250027' first='Matthew' last='Boydell'], and receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1328743' first='Shane' last='Hanlon'] are the Highlanders' version of triplets. Johnson has gone 46-70 for 712 yards for 7 touchdowns and 3 picks, while also rushing 35 times for 186 yards and 3 scores. Lining up next to Johnson in the backfield is [player_tooltip player_id='1250027' first='Matthew' last='Boydell'], who leads the team in attempts (42) and yardage (307), while also scoring three times; also a safety, Boydell has made 20 tackles with 3 for a loss. Lastly, Hanlon leas the team in receptions, by far, with 21 for the season. Those 21 catches have generated a team-leading 334 yards, while he is second on the team with two touchdowns. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Vernon (3-1) at Sparta (3-1), 7pm<br><br>Two teams atop the Patriot Red Division face off as Vernon travels to Sparta. With a three-headed-emerging-as-four-faced running game, the play of two defenders seem poised to allow the Vikings to run the ball and play defense. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1476929' first='Chase' last='MacLean'] seems to clean things up and make his defensive linemen right, leading the team with 44 tackles with 1 for loss. Supporting MaLean in a big way is junior [player_tooltip player_id='1476927' first='Gavin' last='Wilczewski']. Wilczewski has been a disruptive force, making havoc plays for their defensive front. Having made 32 tackles on the season (14 solos), he has also forced a fumble, make 4 tackles for loss, and sacked the quarterback twice. <br><br>Sparta is having a strong year through the air with [player_tooltip player_id='1048181' first='Shane' last='Hoover'], a junior, leading the air raid. Hoover has gone 77-105 this year for 975 yards with 11 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Flanking him in the backfield is his fellow 2026 graduate [player_tooltip player_id='1476932' first='Brady' last='Shagawat']. Shagawat is an true-dual threat as a running back. Shagawat leads the team, by a gaping margin, as he has produced 223 yards and 2 touchdowns on 51 attempts. Furthermore, Shagawat's 14 receptions and 3 touchdowns are four and 1 off of the team lead, while he leads the team with 230 yards 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>Verona (3-1) at Newark Central (4-0), 12pm<br><br>Running the ball with [player_tooltip player_id='1032178' first='Bodie' last='Maisano'] seems to be Verona's go-to. The Hillbilly is off to an outstanding season, having rushed 54 times for 395 yards with 3 scores. A tremendous two-way player, Maisano has made a 40.5 tackles on the season with 5 for a loss, 2 sacs, while also recovering and forcing two fumbles a piece. [player_tooltip player_id='1476933' first='Jayden' last='Nigro'] appears to be the next option on offense. Used in a secondary role as a rusher, Nigro has slashed 23/156/5 on on the ground, while hauling in 4 grabs for 83 yards and 1 score. Another interesting prospect is defensive lineman/kicker [player_tooltip player_id='1476934' first='Logan' last='Knoetig']. Knoetig has been credited with 16 tackles on the season with 3 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and also forcing and recovering a fumble a piece. He is also 3-5 on his PATs.<br><br>The Blue Devils of Newark Central are a team that does not lack high-end talent, most notably the trio of seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1037508' first='Nahshon' last='Brown'], [player_tooltip player_id='1453963' first='Zahir' last='Wilson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1037505' first='Jahsyn' last='Reid']. Reid is the team's quarterback and has gone 18-32 for 262 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Reid has also rushed 40 times for 439 yards and 7 scores. Somehow also used as a receiver, Reid has also hauled in 3 grabs for 90 yards and 1 touchdown. Defense is a part of his game too, as Reid has made 34 tackles (17 solo) with 5 tackles for loss and one fumble recovery. [player_tooltip player_id='1453963' first='Zahir' last='Wilson'] seems to be the lead back on the ground, slashing 65/641/4 as a rusher. Wilson also appears to be the team's leading tackler, making 59 stops (27 solo) thus far, adding 14 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery to his stats. Lastly, Brown is the third option out of the backfield with 38 totes for 399 yards and 2 scores. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->