GMC Hoops Blogosphere

2010 Hoop Group Headquarters H.S. Fall Showcase Rescheduled

NEPTUNE, NJ–On Friday, GMC Hoops learned from Joe Stein of the Hoop Group that the High School Fall Showcase that was scheduled to take place on Saturday and Sunday this weekend, has been rescheduled. The new dates have not been announced yet. When the site gets updated information on this event, it will post it here.

GMC Gridiron–Video Highlights–Bishop Ahr @ Perth Amboy–October 29, 2010

Good evening everyone. Here are some of the video highlights from Friday night’s game between Bishop Ahr and Perth Amboy from Walters Stadium in Amboy. Fonzie Saucedo led the Panthers to victory by throwing for over 275 yards and two touchdown passes while running for another in a 20-13 victory. These highlights are all from the first half. I do have some highlights from the third quarter, but unfortunately, I began to have some problems with my camera, and couldn’t take anymore video.

GMC Gridiron Picks–Week Eight–Saturday Afternoon–How We Fared

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–All of the Saturday afternoon results are in from Week Eight of action around the Greater Middlesex Conference. There were four contests, two of them were divisional games with both from the GMC White and the other two were crossover games against the Shore Conference. GMC Gridiron went 4-0 in the games on Saturday. Below is how he fared.

Saturday’s record: 4-0
Week Four record: 11-2
This season’s record: 82-22
Last year’s record: 102-32
All time record: 199-65

GMC Gridiron–Week Eight–Results–Saturday Afternoon

Good evening everyone. All the results are in from Saturday afternoon’s games in week eight on the GMC Gridiron. There were four games on tap this week including two contests from the GMC White Division, and two crossovers against the Shore Conference. Not a lot of surprises, but Metuchen won its first game of the season by defeating South River on the road. GMC Gridiron went 4-0 on Saturday, and 11-2 overall on the week. Below are the results from Saturday afternoon’s action:

• Asbury Park 37–South River 12
• North Brunswick 31–J.F. Kennedy 7
• Colonia 42–New Brunswick 7
• Keyport/Henry Hudson 26–Spotswood 7

GMC Hoops will return to the football beat next Friday night with perhaps the game of the year between Sayreville and Piscataway from Ciardi Field.

Showdown Friday Is Set In GMC Red

Top Ranked Sayreville And Second Ranked Piscataway Roll Again To Set Up Battle Of Unbeatens Next Friday Night

PISCATAWAY, NJ–In a game broadcasted live on WCTC 1450 AM from Ciardi Field, the second ranked Piscataway Chiefs scored two second quarter touchdowns, and two more in the second half while keeping fifth ranked East Brunswick off the board in a 28-0 victory. Running back Tevin Shaw, who was held to 15 yards on his first nine carries, ended up with 191 yards on 14 carries along with three touchdowns and two interceptions in the win. Shaw helped seal the victory with a 49 yard TD run, and then a 99 yard score in the second half. Nadir Barnwell threw a touchdown pass to Mubeen Quraishi late in the second period for a 14-0 lead at the intermission.

Meanwhile, over in Sayreville, the top ranked Bombers rolled past Old Bridge in a 41-7 victory to set up a huge showdown with the Chiefs next Friday night at Ciardi Field. The Bombers improved to 8-0 with the win while P-Way is now 7-0. Sayreville has won the last two meetings including a 14-7 victory in week two last season at War Memorial High School. The Bombers have won at least a share of the GMC Red in each of the past two seasons, and four of the last six seasons. The Chiefs have also done the same during that same period. Both teams will enter the contest by averaging 40 points or more on offense, and less than 10 points per game on defense.

GMC Gridiron will be at Piscataway to cover this historic game.

Amboy Knocks Off Bishop Ahr, 20-13

Seventh Ranked Panthers Make Big Plays To Defeat Sixth Ranked Trojans

PERTH AMBOY, NJ–It was the first visit by GMC Gridiron to Albert G. Walters Stadium on the main campus of Perth Amboy High School, and the seventh ranked Panthers didn’t disappoint. Quarterback Faustino Saucedo threw for two touchdowns and ran for another while throwing for over 275 yards passing to led Amboy to one of its biggest wins in school history. Coming into this season, Perth Amboy has only had seven non-losing seasons in the past 30 years. Amboy came close to breaking through last year with a 4-6 mark, but often shot itself in the foot in many of its losses. The Panthers have never qualified for the state tournament since the current format came into effect back in 1974.

However, on this cold and blustery night in Perth Amboy, the Panthers made a huge step toward reaching the playoffs for the first time ever. Seventh ranked Amboy, which will need some help to get into the very tough field of North Jersey Section 2 Group IV, knocked off sixth ranked Bishop Ahr by the score of 20-13. PAHS led by scores of 14-0 at halftime, and 20-7 with just over eight minutes to play in the fourth quarter, and held on by stopping the Trojans on downs after Ahr had pulled to within seven at 20-13 on a Bill DeMato touchdown pass to Kenny Virden with 4:45 remaining.

Bishop Ahr, which was shutout last week at home against North Brunswick, was able to move the ball on the ground with Virden going over 100 yards for the night, but the Trojans weren’t able to get the passing game in sync. Meanwhile, Perth Amboy, which entered the game off a bye week, utilized the return of wideout Robert Brown from injury by making big passing plays on the strength of Saucedo’s arm, and also key plays on defense and special teams. Nigel Hatcher set up the first score with an interception while Umar Amin set up the second touchdown with a block of a Joel Lynch punt. The Trojans, which didn’t score in the final quarter of its 33-7 win over Carteret two weeks ago, was scoreless for nearly eight quarters over the past three games before Virden’s touchdown run with 2:48 remaining in the third.

Several plays after Hatcher’s interception, Saucedo hooked up with Tyler Maisonet for a 35 yard touchdown pass with 9:13 to go in the first half for a 7-0 lead. Amboy had another opportunity to score when Saucedo connected with Brown for a huge gain, but the Panthers weren’t able to cash in. The Panthers were winning the battle of field position though, and it eventually paid off with Amin’s block with under three minutes to go that set up the home team inside Ahr’s 20 yard line. PAHS ran down the clock until there was nine seconds left in the half when Saucedo scored a touchdown from one yard out for the 14-0 lead at the intermission. Bishop Ahr, which tried to use a lot of razzle dazzle with a couple halfback option passes including one on the first play of the game, some wildcat formations with Danny Rasimowicz at QB, and even a hook and ladder early in the third quarter, didn’t get on the board until less than three minutes to go in the period.

Ahr’s defense kept the Trojans in the game though with sacks by Chris Guido, Justin Johnson, and Rasimowicz. Virden then had a nifty run to cut the deficit in half, and Amboy took the 14-7 lead into the fourth. Perth Amboy got the decisive score though when Saucedo hooked up with Robert Almanzar for a 32 yard touchdown with 8:18 remaining. Almanzar had made a spectacular catch for a first down earlier in the drive. BGA wouldn’t go away though as Bill DeMato hooked up with Virden for a 22 yard touchdown pass with 4:45 remaining to draw within seven. However, Amboy blocked the extra point, and then Lynch kicked the ensuing kick off out of bounds. Ahr was able to overcome that, and force Amboy to kick, but Saucedo made a huge special teams play with a quick kick that was downed by the Panthers on the Ahr six yard line. The Trojans were able to move the ball, but were eventually stopped on downs.

Amboy, which improved to 5-2 with the win, ran out the clock from there for the 20-13 final score. Ahr, which will get a bye next week, dropped to 5-3 with the loss, and its chances to make the Non-Public Group III state tournament in two weeks are in jeopardy.

GMC Gridiron Picks–Week Eight–Friday Night–How We Fared

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–All of the Friday night results are in from Week Eight of action around the Greater Middlesex Conference. There were nine contests, and eight of them were divisional games while the other was GMC/Shore crossovers. The GMC went 1-0 tonight against Shore foes. GMC Gridiron went 7-2 in the games. Below is how he fared.

Friday’s record: 7-2
Week Eight record: 7-2
This season’s record: 78-22
Last year’s record: 102-32
All time record: 195-65

GMC Gridiron–Week Eight–Results–Friday Night

Good evening everyone. Still trying to warm up after being out in the wind and cold at Albert G. Walters Stadium on the main campus of Perth Amboy High School to take in the game between the Panthers and Bishop Ahr. Faustino Saucedo threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead seventh ranked Amboy to a 20-13 victory over sixth ranked BGA.

After a scoreless first quarter, Perth Amboy got on the board first as Saucedo threw a pass to Tyler Maisonet for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. The Panthers then took a 14-0 at the half when Saucedo connected with Robert Brown for a huge gain that set up a one yard run by Saucedo. Bishop Ahr tried to get back into the game with a touchdown run by Kenny Virden in the third quarter, but Amboy went back up by two scores when Saucedo connected with Robert Almanzar for a TD pass. Almanzar had another key play on the drive with an outstanding grab for a first down. The Panthers missed the extra point, but still led 20-7 with over seven minutes to play.

The Trojans would get another score as Bill DeMato hit Joel Lynch over the middle for a touchdown with 4:45 to go, but the Panthers got the block on the extra point attempt. BGA eventually got the ball back, but was stopped on downs. Amboy, which improved to 5-2 on the season, then ran out the clock. Ahr dropped its second straight game, and fell to 5-3. Below are the results from tonight’s action:

• Perth Amboy 20–Bishop Ahr 13
• Sayreville 41–Old Bridge 7
• South Brunswick 41–J.P. Stevens 7
• Woodbridge 33–Edison 7
• Piscataway 28–East Brunswick 0
• Carteret 26–South Plainfield 13
• Highland Park 35–Cardinal McCarrick 22
• Dunellen 54–Point Pleasant Beach 27
• Middlesex 34–Metuchen 0

Note: GMC Hoops will return to the football beat next Friday night with the showdown game of the year between two unbeatens, second ranked Piscataway and top ranked Sayreville for the GMC Red Division title.

2010 Hoop Group Headquarters Fall League–Showcase Games–Schedule

NEPTUNE, NJ–On Friday afternoon, GMC Hoops received the latest information concerning the Showcase Games schedule from the Hoop Group Headquarters Fall Boys High School Players League at Rebounds, and here is the breakdown of the contests for this upcoming Monday night. Matchups involving GMC teams are listed in bold.

2010 Hoop Group Headquarters Fall League Showcase Games Schedule

• Ocean Township (2-5) vs. Academy Charter (2-5), 6:00 PM, Sixers Court
• Matawan (5-2) vs. Freehold Township (5-2), 7:00 PM, Knicks Court
• Monsignor Donovan (2-5) vs. Howell (6-1), 7:00 PM, Celtics Court
• St. Rose (3-4) vs. Brick Memorial (5-2), 7:00 PM, Sixers Court
• Red Bank Catholic (5-2) vs. East Brunswick (6-1), 7:00 PM, Nets Court
• Manchester Township (3-4) vs. Jackson Memorial (4-3), 8:00 PM, Knicks Court
• Colts Neck (5-2) vs. Cardinal McCarrick (7-0), 8:00 PM, Celtics Court
• Neptune (4-3) vs. St. John Vianney (5-2), 8:00 PM, Sixers Court
• Central Regional (0-7) vs. Lacey (3-4), 8:00 PM, Nets Court
• Manasquan (2-5) vs. Wall Township (2-5), 9:00 PM, Knicks Court
• Old Bridge (4-3) vs. G-Force (5-2), 9:00 PM, Celtics Court
• Asbury Park (0-7) vs. Toms River North, 9:00 PM, Sixers Court
• Shore Regional (4-3) vs. Middletown South (0-7), 9:00 PM, Nets Court

Note: GMC Hoops will be at the Hoop Group Headquarters on Monday night to see McCarrick and Old Bridge in their Showcase Game matchups.

GMC Gridiron Preview–Week Eight–Bishop Ahr @ Perth Amboy

PERTH AMBOY, NJ–Week eight brings us to Perth Amboy High School for the first time ever as GMC Gridiron will see the seventh ranked Panthers in action tonight against sixth ranked Bishop Ahr. The Trojans are coming off a shutout loss to North Brunswick last week in North Edison while Amboy had a bye. PAHS is seeking its first ever playoff berth, and trying to stay in contention for a share of GMC White Division honors while BGA is looking to stay ahead of North Brunswick in the standings. With a victory tonight, Ahr is more than likely going to qualify for the Non-Public Group III playoffs, which start in two weeks. It would be the 18th time that the Trojans have qualified for the playoffs. Here are the particulars for this game:

Current Weather Conditions–South Plainfield, New Jersey at 12:24 PM on Friday afternoon

• Sky Conditions: Sunny
• Temperature: 55 degrees
• Humidity: 56 percent
• Dew Point: 40 degrees
• Barometer: 29.86 inches of Hg (Mercury) and Steady
• Winds: WNW 3 mph with gusts up to 13 mph
• High Temperature: 55 degrees
• Low Temperature: 45 degrees

Weather Forecast–Perth Amboy at 7:00 PM EDT on Friday night

Things got off to a cloudy start here in the Central Jersey area on Friday morning as another cold front came through, and it is going to be bringing in significant change over the next few hours. Temperatures started to drop last night after an unusually balmy day with temperatures getting up to just over 73 degrees. It was the fourth day in a row where temperatures hovered between 73 and 75 degrees in Northwestern Middlesex County. Changes were in the air though this week as a powerful storm system delivered the lowest barometric pressure (955 millibars or 28.20 inches of Hg) in North America for a non-tropical storm in the upper Midwest. The powerful storm brought all kinds of weather from Blizzard conditions in the Dakotas to Tornadoes in Ohio, Alabama, and Georgia. High winds of 50 to 60 miles per hour were responsible for the death of a Notre Dame student filming football practice. Washington D.C., and parts of Southern Jersey were under a Tornado Watch on Wednesday.

While the storm system didn’t make as big of an impact in terms of wind and rain in our area, it did bring much cooler weather than we have experienced this past week. High temperatures are expected to drop about 15 to 20 degrees from the high temperatures on Thursday. According to the forecast from the National Weather Service Office in Mount Holly, New Jersey, the mercury isn’t going to climb much further today. The high is not even expected to reach 60 degrees this afternoon. Winds from the Northwest between 15 to 20 miles per hour are going to make it feel even colder. Tonight, skies will be clear with temperatures falling to near 40 with a persistent Northwest wind between 10 and 15 miles per hour. So dress warmly for the game.

Weather information provided by Greg’s Weather Center.

Directions to Perth Amboy High School

Address: –300 Eagle Avenue, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861

From Parkway South

• Take the US-9 exit- exit number 129- toward RT-440/WOODBRIDGE/I-287/PERTH AMBOY.
• Keep LEFT at the fork in the ramp
• Keep RIGHT at the fork in the ramp.
• Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto CR-501/KING GEORGES RD. Continue to follow KING GEORGES RD.
• KING GEORGES RD becomes NJ-184.
• Turn SLIGHT LEFT to take the ramp toward AMBOY AVE.
• Stay straight to go onto PFEIFFER BLVD.
• Turn RIGHT onto CR-653/AMBOY AVE.
• Turn LEFT onto EAGLE AVE.

From Parkway North

• Take the RT-9 N/RT-440 exit- exit number 127- toward I-287/WOODBRIDGE/STATEN ISLAND.
• Take the RT-440 S/INDUSTRIAL AVE ramp toward I-287 N
• Take the RT-440 N ramp toward STATEN ISL.
• Merge onto NJ-440 E.
• Take the RT-184 exit toward RT-35/AMBOY AVE/PERTH AMBOY.
• Take the ramp toward AMBOY AVE.
• Stay straight to go onto PFEIFFER BLVD.
• Turn RIGHT onto CR-653/AMBOY AVE.
• Turn LEFT onto EAGLE AVE.

Game Outlook

Tonight’s game is the first one we’ve seen Perth Amboy play in the four seasons of football coverage. The Panthers are still in the hunt for a playoff spot, but it is not very likely in the very tough and competitive North Jersey Section 2 Group IV bracket. However, they still have a shot for a tie in the GMC White. They’ll have to hope for North Brunswick to lose to either J.F. Kennedy or South Plainfield over the next two weeks, and win tonight and on Thanksgiving against Carteret. Meanwhile, Ahr is still in the lead in the GMC White by a tenuous half game over North Brunswick after losing to the Raiders last week. BGA is also still among the teams to qualify in Non-Public Group III if the cutoff were today. However, Ahr needs to win this one before going on a bye next week if they want to secure its playoff spot.

Both of the Trojans losses were shutouts (Neptune in week #1, 62-0 and NBTHS last week, 28-0). Otherwise, Bishop Ahr has outscored its opponents by a margin of 127-43, or an average of about 25 to 9. Amboy has played tough defense this year as well giving up an average of 13 points per game in its six contests. Against the GMC White teams that were in division last year, Bishop Ahr is 1-1 (win over New Brunswick and a loss to North Brunswick). So is Perth Amboy. Meanwhile, versus teams that made up the GMC Blue last year, BGA is a perfect 4-0 while Amboy is 2-1 (lost to Kennedy). Rob Brown returns tonight for Amboy, which is good news for the Panther offense anchored by quarterback Faustino Saucedo and running back Raymond Arce. The Trojans have plenty of firepower as well with Kenny Virden and Roger Kilgore along with Tim Hagerty. Freshman Bill DeMato has done a solid job of running the spread offense. On defense, Ahr is led by Rashad Kilgore, Chris Guido, Justin Johnson, and C.J. Hart while Brown anchors the stingy Amboy defense.

See our pick in the GMC Football Week Eight Capsules for Friday night.