SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–Here is an update on the performance of the Greater Middlesex Conference against teams from the Shore Conference in football this season. Over the first couple weeks of the season, the Shore was 13-9 in 22 games. Since then, the schools from Monmouth and Ocean Counties have won three of the last four against competition from Middlesex county including victories by Wall Township (35-0) and Monmouth Regional (53-14) over South Plainfield, and a win by Red Bank over Dunellen (28-6). The only win by the GMC over the past couple weeks was a 35-21 decision by Metuchen over Shore Regional In these twenty-six games, the GMC has been outscored by the Shore, 561-406 including a 170-71 outscoring in all the games played on September 12th.
Breaking things down by Division, the GMC Red is 3-2 vs. their Shore Conference opponents while the White is 3-4. The Blue Division is now 1-5 after South Plainfield’s two losses while the Gold is 3-5 following Metuchen’s win and Dunellen’s loss. Red Division teams have outscored Shore squads by a combined total of 104-102 while GMC White teams have outscored their Shore counterparts by a 106-89 margin. Despite Bishop Ahr’s manhandling of Monmouth Regional, the GMC Blue has been outscored by the Shore, 184-63 while the conference made of Monmouth and Ocean County schools have outscored GMC Gold opponents by a 186-133 margin. The GMC Blue looks to improve their standing against Shore competition with three games this weekend including Carteret at Red Bank Catholic and Colonia at Ocean Township on Friday night, and Holmdel at J.F. Kennedy on Saturday.
Howell leads the Shore in success with a 2-0 record versus GMC competition after beating Piscataway (26-14) on opening day, and then rolling past Woodbridge on Thursday night (37-7). Keyport/Henry Hudson is also undefeated against GMC foes with a 42-14 win over Metuchen and a 20-12 victory over Highland Park. New Brunswick and South Plainfield are 0-2 against the Shore. Perth Amboy has split against Shore teams by defeating Marlboro 38-0, and then losing to Colts Neck 7-0. Speaking of Marlboro, the Mustangs are 0-2 against the GMC following a defeat on Thursday to J.P. Stevens. Speaking of the Hawks, they are also 1-1 following an opening week loss to Middletown North and their win over Marlboro. Monmouth Regional is 1-1 vs. GMC including a 37-14 loss to Bishop Ahr, and a 53-14 win over South Plainfield. The Falcons play Highland Park in a game that will be covered by GMC Hoops on Friday night. Sayreville, Monroe, and Spotswood are 1-0 against the Shore thanks to victories over Brick Memorial (29-26), Red Bank Catholic (14-3), and Red Bank (14-13) respectively.
Last season in the various state tournament and consolation games, the Shore Conference played the Greater Middlesex Conference 14 times, and went 11-3. The Shore, which went 6-3 in the state tournament meetings, and 5-0 in the consolation game meetings, outscored their GMC opponents by a margin of 348-131. In addition, the Shore won all four Central Jersey sectional championships with Asbury Park becoming the CJ Group I champ, Manasquan winning CJ Group II, Freehold Boro winning in CJ Group III, and Brick Memorial winning in Central Jersey Group IV. Only Piscataway earned a sectional championship for the GMC by winning in North Jersey Section 2 Group IV.