The Big Central Conference’s Top Games: Week 6

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this article, we preview some of the Big Central Conference's top games going into Week 6 of football here in the great, Garden State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday, October 10</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hillsborough (3-3) at Bridgewater-Raritan (3-3), 7pm<br><br>By recent Hillsborough standards, a 3-3 record is tough to live with; however, they have a a shot here to win out and stay par to the course finishing with a 6-3 record. It starts Thursday at Bridgewater-Raritan. The Raiders get the groudn game started with [player_tooltip player_id='1005830' first='Jackson' last='Jankowicz']. A prospect I have seen live at camps and in person, Jankowicz is having a stellar campaign having gone for 7 touchdowns and 448 yards on 97 carries - all of which lead the team. A dual-threat of his own, Jankowicz is amongst the team leaders as a receiver, making 18 grabs for 188 yards and 1 score - all good for third on the team. In the trenches seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1524421' first='Xander' last='Borowski'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1068947' first='Garrett' last='Meyer'] team up to form a formidable duo. Borowski actually paces the team in tackles with 42, 2 forced fumbles, and sacks with 4. He has also accrued 7 tackles for loss and 2 fumble recoveries. Meyer is hot on Borowski's tail with 38 tackles, while also accruing 0.5 sacks, 1 tackle for loss, and an interception.<br><br>After leading 28-6 at half last week against Elizabeth, the Panthers held on to win, 28-27. The one-point victory follows a season that features a two point loss, four point victory, and 1 score victory. Many of these victories have been led by the moxie play of [player_tooltip player_id='1524423' first='Declan' last='Kurdyla']. Following in the steps of his older brother from a years ago, Brady, the younger Kurdyla has gone 70-134 for 13 touchdowns to 5 interceptions. Additionally, Kurdyla has rushed for a team-leading 91 carries that have led to 212 yards and 1 touchdown. His two favorite targets, [player_tooltip player_id='1524424' first='Nicholas' last='DiEsso'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1196871' first='Dylan' last='Tierney'], both seniors, have slashed 22/370/4 and 15/282/2 as targets; however, they both are major contributors on defense as well. DiEsso has made 24 tackles (15 solos), 1 tackle for loss, and 1 blocked kick; whereas Tierney has made 37 tackles (25), 2 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Elizabeth (2-4) at Morristown (3-3), 6:30pm<br><br>To say the least it, has been an interesting season for the Elizabeth Minutemen. After a 2-0 start their <em>first </em>head coach John Fiore was let go under circumstances that are undergoing litigation. Their <em>next </em>head coach Austin Holman was hired for a week, before being supplanted at a board meeting by their <em>current </em>head coach Eugene Kline. With three head coaches in thee games that spanned 8-days, the Minutemen look to right on a 4-game losing streak that featured two, 1-point losses along the way. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='857107' first='Nahjae' last='Smith'] is making plays on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Smith is the team's leading receiver with 19 catches for 345 yards and 4 touchdowns. Smith is also second on the team with 29 tackles (16 solo), 1 tackle for loss, and 1 interception. A family affair of sorts, linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1216638' first='Jayden' last='De Rosa'] follows up his older brother Isaiah's outstanding senior finale last year with one of his own. The younger De Rosa currently leads the team with 39 tackles to go along with 1 forced fumble and a team-leading 2 fumble recoveries.<br><br>The host Colonials are no stranger to the playoffs, qualifying the last several seasons under coach Casey Flynn. The Colonial's run-first approach is spearheaded by senior [player_tooltip player_id='1176378' first='Reed' last='Donegan']. Donegan has rushed 85 times for 453 yards and 6 scores - all of which lead the team. A threat you must honor in the passing game, Donegan has slashed 7/83/1 through the air. A key contributor on defense as well, he has been credited for 53 tackles (28 solo) and 1 forced fumble. [player_tooltip player_id='1295599' first='Kenneth' last='Sharperson'] is a current freshman we ought to keep tabs on for years to come since he is contributing early in his career. Sharperson has rushed 17 times (third on the team) for 130 yards (second on the team) and 2 scores (second on the team), while also securing a 31 yard reception, while converting two, 2-point conversions. He has also contributed on defense with 19 tackles (12 solo). Lastly, senior [player_tooltip player_id='1176275' first='Chase' last='Bright'] appears to be their most productive lineman with 46 tackles (17 solo) and 1 forced fumble, while leading Morristown in tackles for loss with 9 and sacks with 2. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Friday, October 11</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hillside (3-3) at Carteret (3-3), 7pm<br><br>Traditionally a favorite out of the mid-size Groups out of the Big Central Conference, Hillside has not rolled teams like they have in years past. They look to use Carteret as a measuring stick this year as they prepare for their inevitable playoff run. The Comets' lead back is sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1524426' first='Mitchell' last='Jenkins']. Jenkins, single-handedly, has nearly outpaced their entire passing attack as he has accrued 559 yards rushing, to the team's 611 yards passing. Mitchell has scored 9 times on 74 attempts as well. Defensively Georgia commit [player_tooltip player_id='846959' first='Darren' last='Ikinnagbon'] has been a terror on defense. Ikinnagbon leads the team in tackles (55), tackles for loss (10), forced fumbles (2), and sacks (3). Ikinnagbon has also recovered a fumble while also scoring 3 offensive touchdowns. <br><br>In a similar breath, Carteret looks to ramp up for the playoffs and play spoiler this year. The Ramblers are paced by the elite play of [player_tooltip player_id='1032187' first='Jakir' last='Thomas']. Thomas is the team's leading offensive producer with 1006 yards rushing, 186 yards passing, 15 yards receiving, and 181 yards returning. In-all, Thomas is responsible for 13 of his team's 15 touchdowns. Thomas also plays a vital role in the defensive secondary, making 38 tackles (23 solo) with 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and a team-high 3 interceptions. A pair of sophomores are yielding early contributions in [player_tooltip player_id='1524429' first='Al-Naiquan' last='Boseman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1524431' first='Nicholas' last='Gomm']. Starting with Gomm, he is one-off the team lead in tackles with 45 (23 solo), and 4 tackles for loss. Boseman, on the other hand, is the Ramblers' second-leading rusher with 54 caries for 218 yards and 1 score. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1524435' first='Chris' last='Prosser'] is the team leader in tackles with 46 (27 solo) and an impressive 12 tackles for loss. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>St. Joseph Metuchen (5-0) at Phillipsburg (4-1), 7pm<br><br>St. Joseph's Metuchen looks to take on their two toughest opponents in the next two weeks as they travel to Phillipsburg on Friday and host fellow Middlesex County non-public St. Thomas Aquinas the subsequent week. Having already discussed the great play of [player_tooltip player_id='1476965' first='Justin' last='Scaramuzzo'], I turn to the defense that will be tasked with slowing down a potent Stateliner's attack. [player_tooltip player_id='1041985' first='Javon' last='Hudson'] burst on the scene last year, single-handedly winning the Falcons a game against Watchung Hills last year, and is back to his old tricks. Hudson leads the team with 49 tackles (29 solo). To boot, he has made 3 sacks, 2 tackles for loss, forced two fumbles, and recovered two fumbles as well. Protecting Hudson's back in the secondary is [player_tooltip player_id='1198277' first='Ashton' last='Irving']. Although he has made just 15 stops on defense, Irving has a gaudy 6 interceptions to his name. As a receiver, Irving actually leads Joe's in receptions with 21 and is tied for the team-lead in touchdown grabs with 4. He has totaled 384 yards as a receiver.<br><br>After avenging a 2023 playoff loss to West Orange, the Stateliners are back to business as usual. Hudson, Irving, and company will have to stop dual-threat quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='855768' first='Jett' last='Genovese'] and is running backs [player_tooltip player_id='1189148' first='Sam' last='Dech'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1189147' first='Jah'quil' last='Dooley']. Now a three-year starter, Genovese has played to an efficient 43-72 at quarterback for 690 yards with 8 passing touchdowns to 2 interceptions. A threat to duck-it-and-boogie, Genovese has called his number 38 times for 242 yards and 3 scores. When I recently completed the ranking, I remember remarking that the play of junior rusher [player_tooltip player_id='1189148' first='Sam' last='Dech'] seems to fire up his team. Thus far Dech has shown to be the main ball carrier, having gone for 315 yards and 4 touchdowns on 42 totes. When Dech needs a spell, look for Dooley to match his production. Dooley has gone for 216 yards on 17 carries with 1 score - good for a 12.7 average. Further, one-of-his-two catches this year has gone for a score. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Saturday, October 12</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Rahway (4-2) at Watchung Hills (5-1), 7pm<br><br>Rahway looks to avoid two-consecutive losses and flush the taste of a 1-point loss to Cranford last week, as they travel to the other side of Route 22 to take on Watchung Hills in a rare, Saturday night game. The Indian's lead chief [player_tooltip player_id='1002386' first='Andrew' last='Avent'] will look to aid Rahway in this pursuit. Clearly their biggest offensive threat, since we last checked on Avent he has only added to his impressive numbers. Avent has now totaled 894 yards and 11 scores on 121 rushes. Also serving as the heartbeat of their defense, Avent has been all over the field: 62 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked kick, 1 two-point conversion, and 1 scoop &amp; score. Two senior linemen who will look to control the trenches against an always-formidable Warriors front is [player_tooltip player_id='1021610' first='Donea' last='Fish'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1054407' first='Kevin' last='Taylor']. Fish is a household name at this point, having contributed his freshman year while also having the opportunity to play with his older brother for a season. Fish has made 48 tackles and 1 fumble recovery, while being tied for the team lead in sacks and tackles for loss, with 3 and 9 respectively. Those numbers are tied with fellow senior defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1054407' first='Kevin' last='Taylor']. After having to sit three games because he transferred ahead of his senior year from Linden, Taylor has been on a tear. In addition to his disruptive plays specified above, Taylor has also made 30 tackles and forced a fumble. <br><br>The Warriors of Watchung Hills have, at least in recent memory, very strong line play. With Fish and Taylor to occupy them, we have to look in the trenches to prospects to win the line of scrimmage. First up is senior [player_tooltip player_id='1181819' first='Jack' last='Martin']. Martin has made 28 tackles so far this season to go along with 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 2 forced fumbles. With similar production, junior [player_tooltip player_id='1524433' first='David' last='Thornbourn'] has made 23 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 6 tackles for loss, and a team-leading 3 sacks.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->