Garden State Gridiron Game Report: NJ Dream Chasers vs. NY Hustle

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: New York Hustle 25 - Jersey Dream Chasers Elite 11   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">New York Hustle</h2>   For the New York Hustle, the first prospect I noted was #1 [player_tooltip player_id='2170603' first='Juvens' last='Lindor']. Lindor, who happens to share the same surname of my least favorite New York Met right now, did a nice job extending for additional yardage when he possessed the ball. Moreover, he high pointed the ball well. An area I want to see Lindor improve is returning to the ball - getting it into his hands quicker that is - when running comeback routes. Later on Lindor extended, albeit in a different way this time, for a Moss-like catch over a trying defender.   Quarterback #13, [player_tooltip player_id='584989' first='Martin' last='Koppelman'], was a decisive gunslinger. I liked how he got the ball out quickly into his playmakers hands. That gunslinger mentality appeared again, as he pushed the ball into tight windows through traffic. He did struggle, however, overthrowing some targets deep.   In terms of defenders, #14 [player_tooltip player_id='1513250' first='Nate' last='Ellis'] was a linebacker who played trail technique well. Managing to stay within a step of his assignment, not much separation was created and the opposing quarterback did not bother to go Ellis' way.   Out of North Babylon, #10 Dom Prestano was a defensive prospect who was aggressive. I noted how Prestano attacked and ripped at the ball when covering. Should the ball get into his assignment's hands, I watched him claw, scrap, scrape, and swap at it to cause pass break ups. This was highly evident as I remarked this twice in my notes.   The hometown hero, Elizabeth's [player_tooltip player_id='1305209' first='Qua'Yon' last='Williams'] (#16), showcased speed and downfield quickness. Lining up in the slot, Williams applied a great deal of pressure as he split the safeties on a bender. Wide open, his quarterback on that rep was not looking his way unfortunately.   A different #8, quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='344519' first='Anthony' last='Caratelli'], I thought could improve his on-target ball placement. Doing so would allow his targets to accrue more YAC; and how he must do this is working on his lower-half mechanics. That said, Caratelli did throw a total stripe on what was a route between a corner and a flag.   Another talented receiver, #12 [player_tooltip player_id='1355486' first='CJ' last='McCracken'], proved a reliable target with soft hands. In a very fundamental manner, on a ball pitched low to him McCracken got his pinkies together and safely corralled it for an easy conversion.   Taking the short trip over the Goethal's Bridge from Staten island was #15 [player_tooltip player_id='1649122' first='Akai' last='Lewis']. Lewis certainly had some ups. I watched him absolutely sky, high pointing the ball extremely well with both hands, plucking it down for a score.   A few prospects who I did not have roster information on where #18, #2, and #21. Jersey #18 was very physical defending routes, bumping receivers off of their path and interrupting timing; #2 did an awesome job contesting catches that were up high in traffic, getting his hands up to either tip of clog the passing lanes; and #21, a corner, showed a great deal of closing speed to interrupt a pass attempt.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jersey Dream Chasers Elite</h2>   Although I was provided name and biographical information for the Jersey Dream Chasers Elite club, I was not providing jersey numbers to match.   Jersey #? got free on a rub route, springing loose up the sideline. He needs to, however, bow that out just a bit more to create more space and depth, making it harder for the inside defender to close.   Jersey #2 had a key drop on third down. He did not see the ball into his hands.   Jersey #5 did something very subtle that I appreciated. Running a trail concept as the deeper target, the pass was completed underneath. He then set, essentially, a basketball pick to occupy a defender, allowing his underneath route teammate to use that block for additional yardage.   Jersey #10 had a nice stutter release to the outside and the speed to get his route back back around that defender in front of him and get open. Unfortunately the quarterback did not look back his way.   Jersey #6, unfortunately, did not get his head around and look for the ball.   <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>

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.

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Garden State Gridiron Game Report: NJ Dream Chasers vs. NY Hustle

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