Big Central Conference Games of the Week, Week 6

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">Friday, October 10</h2>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Colonia (4-2) at Plainfield (3-3) With things coming down to the wire, Plainfield is currently on the outside looking in, seeded #17 as the first team out in North V. They host a worthy opponent in Colonia, who is 11th in North Group IV. The host Cardinals are the beneficiaries of clean and efficient quarterback play from senior [player_tooltip player_id='1940823' first='Devin' last='Thomas']. Former a receiver, Thomas finds himself 83-115 for 1339 yards with 18 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions. Furthermore, he is the team leader in rushing yards (249) and touchdowns (3), while sitting second on the team with 30 carries. More times than not, Thomas looks the way of 2027 graduate [player_tooltip player_id='1573573' first='Tymir' last='Huff']. Huff is having a breakthrough season and producing big numbers with Thomas throwing him the ball. Huff's production represents just about half of Plainfield's passing attack. For the season, Huff has a 39/687/9 slash line when targeted. Defensively the Cardinals are led by [player_tooltip player_id='1940825' first='Tylor' last='Hunter']. Hunter his broke through in a big way with 48 tackles (27 solo), 8 sacks, and 1 interception. Hunter has also contributed as a receiver with 9 catches for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns. Colonia, fresh off of a shutout win at Edison, looks to keep things rolling with their two biggest playmakers on offense. [player_tooltip player_id='1703268' first='Rynal' last='Wortman'] is their go-to, big-bodied receiver who garners all the attention. Similar to Huff of Plainfield, Wortman has actually accounted for more than half of Colonia's total receiving production, with a stat line of 44/623/7, as this team has produced 82/1136/12 overall through the air. The benefactor of Wortman's outstanding senior season is none other than quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1535480' first='Dylan' last='Chiera']. Also a senior, Chiera has been highly careful with the ball, throwing 12 touchdowns to just 1 interception with 1176 yards on 87-147 passing. Chiera has also rushed for a score as well. [player_tooltip player_id='1467565' first='Julien' last='Jones'], a name that you ought to be familiar with at this point, is the heartbeat of the Patriots defense. Jones is amongst the state leaders in tackles with 91 (60 solo), which obviously leads the team, while laso producing a team-leading 6 sacks. Jones also as a forced fumble and 6 tackles for loss to his name. [player_tooltip player_id='1538500' first='Harsimran' last='Mann'], a two-way lineman, is also having a breakthrough fall with 46 tackles (24 solo) in this, his senior season. Mann has also sacked the quarterback twice, forced a fumble, and has set a team high with 14 tackles for loss.</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Woodbridge (6-0) at Montgomery (5-1) Keeping the theme going with Woodbridge-based schools, Woodbridge is also out of town this weekend as they head to Motgomery to take on the Cougars. In a potential state-championship preview, teams from opposite brackets link up. Although Woodbridge is technically "favored" by less than a point due to Strength Index spread, I suspect a victory would do wonders for them to surpass their #8 seed in North IV; whereas Montgomery sits at #4 overall in South IV and could see a modest bump with a victory. After successful first year primarily passing the ball, Woodbridge head coach Joe George is back to running the rock - like crazy. The Barron's feature rusher is senior [player_tooltip player_id='1696978' first='Joshua' last='Allen']. Allen has 128 of the team's 225 total carries, producing 1070 of his team's 1582 yards and 15 of their 21 rushing touchdowns. A one-man show on offense, nobody else has more than 226 yards of production. Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='1940826' first='Dylan' last='Mastrola'] has been a terror for offensive lines. Mastrolla is towards the leaderboard in total tackles with 43 (19 solo), but headlines the defensive front with 11 tackles for loss. When defending the pass, look for junior [player_tooltip player_id='1665995' first='Kyle' last='Campos'] to clog passing lanes. The defensive back leads the way with 3 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery in addition to his 36 tackles (16 solo). Campos is also the team's second-leading rusher with 226 yards and a score on 42 carries. Montgomery moves the ball through the play of [player_tooltip player_id='918994' first='Trey' last='McFadden']. With offers at-hand, McFadden continues to produce at a very high level, having 30 more receptions than his next-closest teammate, totaling 39/508/7 as a receiver. Proving to be a two-way player, McFadden is tied for the team lead in fumble recoveries (1) and interceptions (3), while also making 25 tackles (20 solo). [player_tooltip player_id='1940828' first='Damien' last='Perone'] has been a disruptive force on defense when opposing offenses look to drop back to pass. Perone sets the team mark with 4 sacks, also adding a tackle for loss and 8 solo stops amongst his 24 total tackles. In a similar sense, fellow 2027 graduate [player_tooltip player_id='1940829' first='Zach' last='Mutton'] has been slaughtering ball carriers like sheep in the backfield. Mutton has recorded 5 stops behind the line - including one-half sack - while also making 31 total tackles, 25 of which have been solo stops. Additionally, Mutton has scored Montgomery's old defensive touchdown on a scoop & score and their only safety, while also finding the time to block a kick.</li> </ul>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Saturday, October 11</h2>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Phillipsburg (5-0) at St. Joseph Metuchen (5-0) In a game of two of the final unbeaten teams in the state, Phillipsburg takes the early-morning trip on Saturday into Middlesex County to take on the St. Joseph Metuchen Falcons. Phillipsburg is currently #2 in North IV; however, I am unsure how-or-if a victory helps propel to the top spot. St. Joseph is a category D multiplier, meaning Phillipsburg would gains 75% of their Strength Index, but (and a big but) one loss to a non-public school would have the Faclons lose their multiplier status and they would be treated as any ordinary non-public team, with victors over them earning 50% of their Strength Index value. Anyways, enough with the complicated math. For the Falcons, the unorthodox play of quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1476965' first='Justin' last='Scaramuzzo'] has rendered an flawless record. As a passer, Scaramuzzo is 32-56 for 571 yards with 5 touchdowns and 1 interception. In a Wing-T offense, he also finds himself the leading rusher with 395 yards and 10 scores on 54 totes. St. Joseph's top athlete and most explosive player is none other than [player_tooltip player_id='1227819' first='Reggie' last='Bropleh Jr']. Used all over the field, Bropleh has slashed 33/193/1 on the ground, 11/255/3 through the air, and made 7 tackles (5 solo) with 3 interceptions and pick-six. As if that was not enough, Bropleh is also their primary punt and kick returner. [player_tooltip player_id='1575746' first='John' last='Cummings'] is a name on defense that we ought to remember for the next season-and-a-half. Cummings, a junior, has had a strong season on varsity, amassing 3.5 sacks, 3 tackles for loss, and 18.5 tackles (3 solo). The Falcons defensive front has only gotten stronger since the return of [player_tooltip player_id='402201' first='CJ' last='Edwards']. In two games since his return from having to sit out due to senior transfer rules, Edwards has already recorded 11 tackles (4 solo), 2 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks on defense; also adding 4 catches for 72 yards on offense. For Phillipsburg, their brand of football has prevailed to this point of the season. Their rushing attack continues to be led by the play of [player_tooltip player_id='1189148' first='Sam' last='Dech'], who has hit the deck running to the tune of 632 yards and 11 scores on 53 carries. [player_tooltip player_id='1924094' first='Shane' last='Moore'] has also been featured a healthy dose, going 45 times for 304 yards and a score on the ground himself. In a limited role, Jaysen Backnail-Farmer has been highly productive as he encroaches on the team lead in interceptions with 3, adding 10 tackles (5 solo) to his name. Lastly, [player_tooltip player_id='1557919' first='Aedan' last='Hywel'] leads the team in disruptive plays behind the line with 2.5 sacks and 7 tackles for loss amongst his 22 total stops.</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Bernards (6-0) at Summit (5-1) As long as this is a close game, both teams ought to benefit. North II's current #3 seed Bernards rolls into Summit to take on North III's current #2 seed. A matchup that, frankly in a perfect world, would be in the playoffs, we get to see how these two top contenders in their respective Group Sections stack up as they rev up for the post-season. I feel like I have covered Summit a bunch this season - and rightfully so - as they are having another outstanding fall. Led by the work of primary rusher [player_tooltip player_id='1476956' first='Alex' last='Schwark'], he has produced just about half of the team's 1487 yards and 13 touchdowns on a fraction of the carries, going 83 times for 761 yards and 7 scores of his own. [player_tooltip player_id='1476957' first='Matt' last='McKeever'] puts his stamp on the defense during his junior season, leading the way with 48 tackles while also intercepting a pass and making 3 tackles behind the line. For as great as McKeever has been, [player_tooltip player_id='1532333' first='Anthony' last='Trujillo'] has been dominant in the trenches. Trujillo sets the pace with 5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss amongst his 30 total stops. In a somewhat similar way, Bernards wins games by pounding the rock. Their leading ball carrier is senior [player_tooltip player_id='1087578' first='Logan' last='Stevens']. Stevens leads in all three major rushing categories, amassing 73/522/6 on the ground. A two-way threat, Stevens is tied for the team lead with 14 receptions that have rendered 176 yards and 1 score. A baller for real, he also has made big plays on defense with a tackle for loss, forced fumble, interception, and a blocked kick, while also serving as Bernards primary returner.He is complemented by the strong play of [player_tooltip player_id='1557287' first='Patrick' last='Carlisle']. A junior, Carlisle has done more than his part with 56 carries for 253 yards and 3 scores. A bright spot in the trenches as been the breakthrough play of young [player_tooltip player_id='1940832' first='Victor' last='Nina']. Nina, just a sophomore, sets the bar high with a team-leading 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 1 forced fumble amongst his 17 total stops (3 solo). [player_tooltip player_id='1940835' first='Tyce' last='Hanratty'] also headlines the front, making a team-high 46 tackles (7 solo) with 4 behind the line, 1 for a sack, and 1 interception.</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.