Garden State Gridiron Game Report: Ghosts vs. Boardwalk Beasts

Despite my strong distain for 7on7, its impact on the sport of football, the culture it is cultivating, and all that surrounds or comes with it, I covered my first 7on7 this weekend on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Prep Redzone produced the Garden State Gridiron tournament, a two-day championship event, hosted at Elizabeth Public School's William's Field and the city's downtown Todd Bowles Stadium. Day 1 of this event was a 10-hour nonstop, gauntlet of a marathon, with games every half-hour, on the half-hour. Nearly 35 U18 teams from as far as Western New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Long Island, as well as local teams alike, fiercely competed against everyone - their competition, the referees, event staff, coaches, spectators, security, and even internally amongst themselves - as nobody was safe.   With a lunch break, I did my best to cover each U18 team that was participating. With as much action as there was, I have decided to release my observations as game performance reports. Unfortunately, not all rosters were made available -neither by teams' managers nor Prep Redzone. As such, I have tried to report with as much fidelity as possible. Final score: Ghosts 35 - Boardwalk Beasts 6   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ghosts</h2>   Unfortunately I was not provided Ghosts' roster by either the team or by Prep Redzone; however, I recorded jersey numbers and corresponding notes for individual player performances.   Jersey # X seems like the type of player that knows the ball is best in his hands. As such, when he runs hitches, this prospect comes back to the ball, actively and aggressively attacking it in order to minimize what could potentially go wrong.   Jersey X $,a quarterback it seems, had some good throws, missed reads, and bad luck. I thought that for the most part his placement was on-target and accurate; however, he was on the short end of several dropped passes by his receiver. I questioned his reads and progression at times. There was an open man who was calling for the ball in the direction that I expected him to go through his progression. He was also capable of throwing gorgeous back shoulder throws, as they appeared to be a staple of his game.   Jersey #5 has a knack for getting open. What makes him such an enticing playmaker is that this tendency seemed to happen deep, over the middle.   Although he was a bit late to react to the ball, jersey #10 has a set of sticky hands. On a back shoulder throw he caught, he was a bit late to get his head behind. As a result, he had to adjust and get his hands up quickly to have a shot at playing it - which he did - and converted the reception.   Perhaps the most impressive play in this contest was made by jersey #2. A safety, I watched him run all the way across the field to hawk an interception. It was a long distance and an impressive play that only outstanding high school athletes make.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Boardwalk Beasts</h2>   Unfortunately the roster provided by the Boardwalk Beasts only listed player names and did not have jersey numbers; however, I recorded jersey numbers and corresponding notes for individual player performances.   Jersey number 1 was a prospect who moved well. He was quick, accelerates, and breaks on routes nicely.   Quarterbacking their team was the prospect in jersey #5. I thought that he did a nice job leading his receiver so they can catch the ball and keep running with it after securing the catch.   When targeted, I thought that jersey #21 did a very nice job of using his hands to catch the ball. Not once when I looked his way did I notice him try to clamp the ball or use his body.   Another target that had good ball skills was in jersey #11. His prospect tracked the ball well, adjusting to it with ease; however, he did not seem to look the ball into his hands all that consistently.   Wearing a t-shirt was jersey #13. I thought that he ran very well, and was especially fast when set in motion. Over the middle, however, he seemed to have a tendency to body catch the ball.   Jersey #4 was a rangey safety. I was blown away by how he got over top on a corner route to make a play on the ball.   Closing out was jersey #1, who appeared to be one of their favorite deep targets. I noticed him run a lot of outs-and-ups and verticals. Unfortunately many of the times they looked his way he was the recipient of bad throws.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Garden State Gridiron U18 Coverage</h2>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/garden-state-gridiron-u18-teams-that-were-the-most">Garden State Gridiron: U18 Teams That Were The Most...</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/garden-state-gridiron-game-report-nj-dream-chasers-vs-ny-hustle">Garden State Gridiron Game Report: NJ Dream Chasers vs. NY Hustle</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/garden-state-gridiron-game-report-new-york-hustle-vs-hype-fam">Garden State Gridiron Game Report: New York Hustle vs. Hype Fam</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/garden-state-gridiron-game-report-hail-mary-vs-black-ops">Garden State Gridiron Game Report: Hail Mary vs. Black Ops</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/garden-state-gridiron-report-ny-hustle-v-rock-hoppers-hustle">Garden State Gridiron Report: NY Hustle v. Rock Hoppers (Hustle)</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/garden-state-gridiron-game-report-new-jersey-rated-v-black-ops">Garden State Gridiron Game Report: New Jersey Rated v. Black Ops</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/garden-state-gridiron-game-report-litm-superstars-v-black-ops">Garden State Gridiron Game Report: LITM Superstars v. Black Ops</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/garden-state-gridiron-game-report-32-sports-vs-nj-rated-red/%E2%86%97">Garden State Gridiron Game Report: 32 Sports vs. NJ Rated (Red)</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/garden-state-gridiron-game-report-litm-blue-vs-nj-rated-red">Garden State Gridiron Game Report: LITM (Blue) vs. NJ Rated (Red)</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/garden-state-gridiron-game-report-asg-metro-vs-team-mars">Garden State Gridiron Game Report: ASG Metro vs. Team Mars</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/garden-state-gridiron-game-report-asg-metro-v-diamond-athletics">Garden State Gridiron Game Report: ASG Metro v. Diamond Athletics</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/garden-state-gridiron-game-report-camboyz-vs-next-level-air">Garden State Gridiron Game Report: Camboyz vs. Next Level Air</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/garden-state-gridiron-game-report-camboyz-vs-4th-quarter-elite">Garden State Gridiron Game Report: Camboyz vs. 4th Quarter Elite</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/garden-state-gridiron-game-report-ghosts-vs-boardwalk-beasts">Garden State Gridiron Game Report: Ghosts vs. Boardwalk Beasts</a>

Despite my strong distain for 7on7, its impact on the sport of football, the culture it is cultivating, and all that surrounds or comes with it, I covered my first 7on7 this weekend on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Prep Redzone produced the Garden State Gridiron tournament, a two-day championship event, hosted at Elizabeth Public School's William's Field and the city's downtown Todd Bowles Stadium. Day 1 of this event was a 10-hour nonstop, gauntlet of a marathon, with games every half-hour, on the half-hour. Nearly 35 U18 teams from as far as Western New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Long Island, as well as local teams alike, fiercely competed against everyone - their competition, the referees, event staff, coaches, spectators, security, and even internally amongst themselves - as nobody was safe.