Big Central Conference Games of the Week, Week 7

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">Thursday, October 16</h2>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Metuchen (3-4) at Brearley (4-3), 6pm Although this matchup does not necessarily have playoff implications for both teams, I still figure it to be a competitive matchup. At 27th in a field of 16, Metuchen figures to be a long shot to make the playoffs in South 2, yet they have an opportunity to play spoiler and dash Brearley's playoff hopes, as they sit 18th - looking to move up at least two spots in order to qualify in the North I bracket. For Brearley, they prefer to get the ball moving on the ground, preferably with [player_tooltip player_id='1955314' first='Matthew' last='Resende']. For a team that has rushed the ball 204 times while only passing 45 times, Resende leads the way with 115 of those carries for 940 yards and 8 scores. Like many small-school prospects, Resende also leads the way on defense with his 57 tackles, also collecting 1 sack, 5 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, and an interception to go with it. Joining Resende on defense is junior [player_tooltip player_id='1955312' first='Rocco' last='Federico']. Although he has only made 17 tackles, Federico has been a disruptive force as he leads the team with 9 sacks and 4 forced fumbles. Lastly, fellow 2028 graduate [player_tooltip player_id='1720187' first='Monroe' last='Passmore'] has been doing very well for a team that does not pass more. Defensively he has made 24.5 tackles - 5.5 of which have been for a loss. An explosive prospect, he has just about half of the second-leading ball carriers totals (23 carries) on the season, but finds himself second on the team (197 yards) with 2 scores. This trend continues as Passmore is Brearley's primary returner, housing 2 kickoffs. The offensive attack of Metuchen runs through the play of [player_tooltip player_id='1281516' first='Justus' last='Leitner']. Now a senior, Leitner leads the Bulldogs in all receiving categories with 32 catches 581 yards and 5 scores. A playmaker in the back-seven, he also is tied for the team lead with 2 interceptions and has recorded a sack, a tackle for loss, and 10 tackles on the season. In terms of top defenders, [player_tooltip player_id='1955315' first='Danny' last='Montemurno'] headlines the Metuchen front. Montemurno, a senior, leads the team with 58 tackles (17 solo), 2 sacks, and 12 tackles for loss. Additionally, he has forced a fumble.</li> </ul>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Friday, October 17</h2>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Linden (2-5) at Carteret (3-3) After a bit of a sluggish start to the season, Linden sits as the #14 seed with two very winnable games at hand, they take the short trip down Route 1 to take on Carteret. For the Ramblers, they sit four spots out of playoff position and a win would do wonders for them. Linden's triple-option attack is anchored by [player_tooltip player_id='1031703' first='Joe' last='Boyd']. A converted running back, Boyd now quarterback's the Tiger's attack to the tune of 827 yards rushing and 11 total scores. Boyd has also intercepted a pass and made 20 tackles on defense. A big-play in the making is the situation whenever [player_tooltip player_id='910895' first='Zion' last='Francis'] touches the ball. Francis has rushed 24 times for 218 yards and 4 scores, while also being their best vertical threat with 112 yards receiving and 1 touchdown reception. [player_tooltip player_id='1955316' first='Alan' last='Szurgot'] is providing a lot of production on defense. The linebacker has recorded 36 tackles (7 solo) with a team-leading 4 sacks and 3 tackles for loss. For as dynamic as [player_tooltip player_id='1524429' first='Al-Naiquan' last='Boseman'] has been this season, [player_tooltip player_id='1955319' first='Derrick' last='Boakye'] has been an outstanding complement to their rushing attack. Boakye only trails Boseman with his 58 carries, 439 yards, and 8 touchdowns - also making 18 tackles (13 solo, 2 for a loss) on defense. [player_tooltip player_id='1955322' first='Masihah' last='Long'] looks to continue his disruptive ways to slow down Linden's rushing attack. Long has made 47 tackles (27 solo, 10 for a loss) and recovered a fumble. Where Long shines the brightest is with his team-leading 5 sacks. [player_tooltip player_id='1955325' first='Ronelle' last='Nimneh-Gilbert'] might be the Ramblers' most stout defender. Nimneh-Gilbert has made 59 tackles (41 solo) with 3 sacks and an impressive 15 tackles for a loss. [player_tooltip player_id='1955326' first='Samwel' last='Nyaringo'] adds to the run defense with his 13 tackles for loss as well. </li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Bound Brook (5-2) at New Providence (6-0) In what, theoretically, could be a Group I state final, Bound Brook travels up Route 22 east to visit New Providence. New Providence currently sits as the #3 overall seed in North I, while Bound Brook is a bit further down - currently #14 - in South I. A win would certainly bump Bound Brook up the bracket in a hurry. New Providence's 2025 season has been centered around the play of senior [player_tooltip player_id='1467528' first='AJ' last='Whitehead']. The team's leading rusher has carried the ball a team-leading 83 times for 699 yards and scored 13 times, while also hauling in a touchdown pass. As a linebacker on defense, Whitehead has popped opposing ball carriers 17 times (12 solo) with 2 tackles for loss and matches the team lead in interceptions with 3 - one of which he took back for a score. Lastly, the 2026 graduate also has a punt return score to his name. Joining Whitehead on defense has been [player_tooltip player_id='1556618' first='Jack' last='Fitzgerald']. A monster on defense, Fitzgerald is second on the team with 35 tackles, an impressive 25 of which have been solo stops. A disruptive force, Fitzgerald leads the squad with 5 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, and a safety. Playing for a smaller school he plays both way out of necessity - with strong results. The versatile offensive piece has scored twice on 5 rushing attempts and is second on the team with a 11/168/2 slash line targeted. Lastly, [player_tooltip player_id='1515075' first='James' last='Keneally'] is having an impressive last dance. A Two way lineman, Keneally is credited with 30 stops (20 solo), 3 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, and a safety. Bound Brook is another team that likes to run the ball and, like a typical small school, relies on a handful of prospects for the majority of their production. First up is [player_tooltip player_id='1906677' first='Jake' last='Markey']. Markey, a senior, leads the rushing attack to the tune of 732 yards and 6 touchdowns on 96 carries. Also a leading defender, Markey leads the team in tackles with 50 (28 solo), while also forcing a fumble and recovering another. [player_tooltip player_id='1906679' first='John' last='Archer'] quarterbacks the squad to the tune of 56-93 passing with 788 yards and a 7:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Moreover, Archer finds himself second on the team with 522 yards on 74 carries with a team-leading 8 touchdowns. Defensively, he is second on the team with 2 interceptions, while also tallying 23 tackles (16 solo) 1 fumble recovery, and 1 tackle for loss. Lastly, [player_tooltip player_id='1906681' first='Zahmir' last='Moore'], a junior, might be Bound Brooks' best athlete. A receiver in a run-first attack, Moore sets the pace with 19 receptions for 332 yards and 4 touchdowns, adding a fifth touchdown on the ground. Moore is second on the team with 40 tackles (25 solo), while recording a forced fumble and a recovered fumble, and leads the team with 3 tackles for loss and 3 interceptions - one of which he took back for a score. As if that was not enough, Moore is their leading returner, having scored on both a punt and kickoff return.</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.