Big Central Conference Games of the Week, Week 5

With as much football action as our Great Garden State has this coming weekend within the high school ranks, here are a handful of games – and as a fan what I am looking for in each one – throughout the Big Central Conference this weekend.   Prep Redzone's Winter Showcase is back for 2025 with more locations than ever. Looking to attend? Register <a href="https://prepredzone.com/all-events/?type=Showcase">here</a>. Save a few dollars off the cost of registration by using my special promo code, MankariousWinterPRZ   Be sure to follow me on <a href="https://x.com/BrendanScoutsNJ">Twitter</a> for the latest New Jersey high school football prospect news and not miss a beat!   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Friday, October 3</h2>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>West Orange (3-1) at Phillipsburg (4-0) In a battle of teams vying for the top spot in their respective North Groups, West Orange travels out to Phillipsburg to take on the Stateliners. For the visiting Mountaineers, [player_tooltip player_id='402204' first='David' last='Moore Jr.'], a UMass commit, has done a little bit of everything. primarily a receiver, the senior leads the way in all categories, slashing 21/319/5 thus far. He will get a few totes (4/44) and sling it (his only pass was a 20-yard touchdown throw); however, he is an impact player as he has the most returns on the team and on defense. Despite only having 9 tackles, Moore leads the team with two fumble recoveries (one of which he took back for 6) and blocked kicks (2), while also intercepting a pass for a score. Leading the way in forced turnovers is defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1924090' first='Bashir' last='Moss']. In addition to his 24 tackles, Moss has stepped in front of 2 passes and took one back to the house. As they have been known to do as though it is in their DNA, Phillipsburg moves the rock on the ground. In fact, excluding their quarterback, the 'Liners boast three rushers with better than 22 carries. Leading the way is returning starer [player_tooltip player_id='1189148' first='Sam' last='Dech']. On his team high 43 carries, Dech has gone for 547 yards and 10 scores. Between the trio of backs who play second fiddle to Dech, I am unsure who is the primary spell back and who has amassed touches in blowout victories. [player_tooltip player_id='1924091' first='Tyler' last='Wargo'] is second on the team with 26 carries, rendering 139 yards and 2 scores; meanwhile, [player_tooltip player_id='1924092' first='Ziyahn' last='McGurn'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1924094' first='Shane' last='Moore'] are tied with 22 carries each. McGurn has been a bit more productive, however, gaining 241 yards and 4 scores, while Moore has amassed 156 yards. McGurn also is a key factor on defense, finding himself second on the team with his 22 stops (17 solo), adding a tackle for loss and recovering a fumble as well.</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Sayreville (5-0) at Piscataway (4-1) After several years of inconsistency, Sayreville appears to have returned to the perennial threat they were under the long-sustained success of former head coach George Najjar. On the other hand, Piscataway is still Piscataway and must always be respected. The two link up for a classic throwback old GMC matchup once more. [player_tooltip player_id='1005865' first='Shaun' last='Jackson'], a senior, is on fire this season for the Bombers. Jackson is the workhorse on offense, carrying the ball a team-leading 88 times for 866 yards with 11 scores. Playing Robin to Jackson's Batman is [player_tooltip player_id='1924095' first='Dion' last='Osae']. Still just a sophomore, Osae has been a promising complimentary component to the offense, gaining 296 yards and 3 scores on 27 attempts. Defensively, look for [player_tooltip player_id='1924097' first='Brian' last='Zangrillo'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1891856' first='Chase' last='Barnes'] to clean up everything in front of them. Zangrillo finds himself the team leader in tackles (38 total, 17 solo) with a tackle for loss, while Barnes is right on his heels with 35 total stops and 17 solo tackles of his own, while adding a fumble recovery to his name. Junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1196461' first='Landon' last='Pernell'], now a three-year starter, just got a big boost to add to his 47-71, 724 yards, 7 total touchdown, 2 interception season. With [player_tooltip player_id='1894639' first='Sean' last='Love'] already entrenched as a big-play receiving threat (18/341/3), the rich just got richer. SaintThomas Aquinas transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1170233' first='Josiah' last='Zayas'] has arrived and should have an big, immediate impact. After having to sit out due to senior transfer rules, with one game under his belt Zayas caught 3 passes for 61 yards and a score. He looks to encroach on his 41/1063/16 season last year that earned him offers form Syracuse and Iowa State. </li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Governor Livingston (3-2) at Johnson (3-1) After two disappointing losses to open the season, Governor Livingston has ripped off three-straight wins, including a 3-point victory last week against South Plainfield. They head to Clark to face on Arthur L. Johnson, who find themselves 3-1 under first year head coach Gus Kalikas and roaring to get to 4-1 For the host Crusaders, although they have not amassed much yardage individually, Johnson has scored 12 total scores on the ground. Six of those scores have come from their leading ball carrier [player_tooltip player_id='1924098' first='Zaire' last='Majerska']. In addition to those 6 scores, he has rushed 32 times for 186 yards. Supporting him is [player_tooltip player_id='1924100' first='Julian' last='Colon']. Still just a sophomore, Colon has scored 3 times on 24 carries for 187 yards. On defensive, two-way lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1688983' first='John' last='Brown'] is their most disruptive force. A senior, Brown has made 24 stops - good for third on the team - but leads the team with 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 11 tackles for loss. Having already previewed Governor Livingston in week's prior, we take a closer look at some of their most productive defenders. The defensive front is anchored by [player_tooltip player_id='1924102' first='Mark' last='Capparelli']. A senior, Capparelli is amongst the team leaders with 33 tackles (10 solo) and has the team lead in tackles for loss, 8.5, and sacks, 2.5. Fellow lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1906662' first='Max' last='DiDonato'] ais right on his heels with 8 tackles for loss and a sack; however, he stes the pace with 47 tackles (24 solo). Lastly, [player_tooltip player_id='1924103' first='Parker' last='Chatfield'] is making a big, immediate impact in the secondary. With his 14 tackles (8 solo, 1 for loss), he boasts the fact that he has all 3 of the team's interceptions this season.</li> </ul>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Saturday, October 4</h2>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Somerville (4-1) at Summit (5-0) A strong pair of Group III schools out of the BCC square off as Somerville travels up Route 22 Northbound to face Summit. Somerville looks to add a blemish to Summit's perfect record; whereas Summit looks to treat their Group III rival the same as they did Group V and Group IV competition and add another dub to their record. Somerville has had major contributions from several places on defense this year - truly exemplifying what it means to play as a cohesive unit. Coming up big this year has been senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1924104' first='Samuel' last='Muse']. Muse has seized the team lead in tackles with 44 (20 solo), while having a tackle for loss. A prospect I suspect transferred from St. Joseph Metuchen, [player_tooltip player_id='1182019' first='J.' last='Griffin Kaye'] has made an immediate impact this season in the secondary. On his way to cleaning things up, Kaye has made 35 tackles (18 solo) with a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery. [player_tooltip player_id='1924106' first='Shyheim' last='Hobbs-Harris'], however, might be the Pioneers' most disruptive defender. Amongst his 24 tackles (13 solo), he leads the team with 6 tackles for loss and 2 fumble recoveries - one of which he took to the house; Hobbs-Harris boasts a sack and forced fumble to his name as well. Summit is yet another one of those teams that run the ball like crazy. To underscore this, the Hilltoppers have ran the ball 196 times and passed it just 45 times; and four different ball carriers have carried the ball 20+ times. A young back that actually finds himself second on the team in their rushing attack is [player_tooltip player_id='1924107' first='Cooper' last='Smoragiewicz']. Just a sophomore, Smoragiewicz has 33 carries for 239 yards; hopefully he finds pay dirt for the first time this season. On defense [player_tooltip player_id='1476955' first='Gavin' last='Schnall'] figures to be a tough one to defend. Aside from fighting for the team lead in tackles with 34, he is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss (9) and and interceptions (1). In a similar sense, [player_tooltip player_id='1924110' first='Daniel' last='Licciardi'] is a prospect that cleans up all in front of him. Licciardi has made 38 tackles on the year and has matched Schnall's 9 tackles for loss.</li> </ul>

With as much football action as our Great Garden State has this coming weekend within the high school ranks, here are a handful of games – and as a fan what I am looking for in each one – throughout the Big Central Conference this weekend.