Thanksgiving Plate No. 4: The Township Tussle

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dear Thanksgiving,</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Is there any more of an American holiday than you? One day a year, we are joined by family and friends that are overlayed on top of a backdrop of egregious amounts of hearty food and football. All the while, you synergize each of these elements like the ingredients to Grandmama's secret gravy recipe.- creating fun moments that last a lifetime. Only you, my beloved Thanksgiving, unites four of my favorite, fundamental F-words: family, friends, food, fun, and football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Celebrating you in the state of New Jersey, you, my sweet Thanksgiving, represents something akin to an appetizer round - a precursor of sorts - to the main dish of NJSIAA State Championship games played in the immediate days after we celebrate you. However, in many cases people enjoy appetizers more than entrée.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perhaps what makes you so special in some households are what you represent on the gridiron, my dearest Thanksgiving. Bitter rivalries are renewed. Bragging rights are either regained or maintained. Seniors have their last opportunity to leave their inalienable mark on their high school football programs; whereas similarly, underclassman have an opportunity to announce their arrival for the year to come.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To you, wholesome Thanksgiving, I feature a handful of games this year played on your day that I find absolutely delectable - much like the bountiful feast you offer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With all my love and in all sincerity,</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brendan Mankarious</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Township Tussle: Steinert (7-3) at Hamilton (5-4)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a strong football season down in the Trenton suburb of Hamilton township this season. for the first time since I have been covering high school football, the municipalities sister high schools made the playoffs in the same season. For the host Hornets, they made an early exist, bowing out to Manalapan in the first round. As a result, Hamilton will be playing this game nearly a month since they last suited up. It will be interesting to see their roster composition after nearly four weeks off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the visiting Spartans, they faired slightly better in the playoffs, advancing into the second ground with their victory over Red Bank Regional. They were eventually bounced by Brick Memorial in the second round, and have had nearly as much time off as their rival Hornets as they prepare for this local game with significant meaning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In terms of this Thanksgiving Day rivalry, Steinert has won the last 3 contests dating back to 2022 in convincing fashion - shutting out Hamilton out the last three seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Players: Steinert Spartans</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1545714' first='Isaac' last='Pate'], 2026, RB: </strong>205 carries, 1553 yards, 16 TD, 3 receptions, 12 yards, 9 tackles (5 solo, 1 for loss), 0.5 sacks, 1 FF, 1 Int, 2 blocked kicks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1466335' first='Dom' last='DeFrancis'], 2027, LB: </strong>90.5 tackles (37 tackles, 5.5 for loss), 2.5 sacks, 2 FR, 1 Int, 1 blocked kick, 13 carries, 67 yards, 1 TD, 8 receptions, 71 yards</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gabe Pena Bak, 2026, DL: </strong>43 tackles (14 solo, 6 for loss), 4.5 sacks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jomel Kparway, 2027, LB: </strong>45.5 tackles, (10 solo, 8.5 for loss), 2 sacks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jeff DeBreus, 2026, LB: </strong>58.5 tackles (13 solo, 6.5 for loss), 2.5 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR, 45 carries, 238 yards, 2 TD, 1 reception, 17 yards</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Players: Hamilton Hornets</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2004593' first='Brian' last='Boswell'], 2026, RB: </strong>89 carries, 651 yards, 7 TD, 1 reception, 29 yards, 1 TD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2044362' first='Deshawn' last='Jones'], 2027, WR: </strong>26 carries, 394 yards, 4 TD, 17 carries, 120 yards, 1 TD, 11 tackles (4 solo), 0.5 sacks, 3 Int</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1677644' first='Cristian' last='Eagleton'], 2027, LB: </strong>93 tackles (23 solo, 3 for loss), 2 sacks, 1 Int (1 TD), 38 carries, 125 yards, 1 TD, 5 receptions, 58 yards</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Matt Brescio, 2026, LB: </strong>38 tackles (11 solo, 2 for loss), 2.5 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 reception, 12 yards</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brody Hunt, 2026, DL: </strong>22 tackles (5 solo, 4 for loss), 2 sacks, 8 receptions, 91 yards</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->