SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–We have a big week on tap for the third week of the 2010 GMC Gridiron season. Action begins tonight around the GMC. There are 12 games on tap this week, and all of them are GMC divisional games. Seven games are on Friday night, and five games are on Saturday afternoon. So, let’s take a look at the matchups on Friday night.
Here is a brief breakdown of the Thursday night matchups:
New Brunswick (0-2) at Bishop Ahr (1-1)–This is the game that the site will be covering tonight. Both teams have stubbed their toes to start the season as Bishop Ahr lost 62-0 in their opener to Neptune while the Zebras have yet to score a point in two games. Ahr rebounded last week with a victory over South Plainfield while New Brunswick was shut out by North Brunswick. NBHS has started the year with two tough opponents in Raritan and NBTHS. The Trojans of BGA are led by the likes of Kenny Virden at running back, Taylor Black at wideout, and Dillon Salva at quarterback. Rashad Kilgore anchors both the offensive and defensive lines while Cody Stier and Matt Guido also help out on defense. Basketball standouts Jaquan Cook and Nyeem Coleman are wideouts for New Brunswick while Shadrach Ford and Meschach Ford lead the team. Bishop Ahr moved up from the Blue where it won the division championship against mostly mediocre competition. Ahr also lost standout players such as QB Robbie Meade, RB Steven Dumchus, and lineman Brandon Vitabile. New Brunswick finished second in the GMC White, but lost some talent from last year’s team including Simuel Williams. The winner of this game has a chance to still contend for the GMC White. Ahr is at home, and gets a slight edge. Prediction: Bishop Ahr wins, 17-14.
Piscataway (2-0) at Woodbridge (2-0)–This, perhaps may be the toughest game of the night to pick. Both teams have started off strong with P-Way winning big at Edison (34-14) opening weekend, and at home against South Brunswick (28-13) while Woodbridge has blown out Old Bridge (41-14) and J.P. Stevens (42-0). P-Way has probably played a tougher schedule, but the Barrons are at home. These two teams met at WHS last season, and Woodbridge surprised the Chiefs en route to a tremendous turnaround season that ended in the semifinals of the North Jersey Section 2 Group IV playoffs. The Barrons moved down to Group III this season. The Chiefs have averaged 31 points per game and outscored their foes by a margin of 17.5 per contest while the Barrons have averaged 41.5 per game, and outscored their opponents by a margin of nearly five touchdowns. Piscataway had some trouble early on against South Brunswick before righting the ship. The Chiefs are led by Tevin Shaw on offense along with Nadir Barnwell at quarterback. Basketball standouts Tajae Sharpe, Kendall Marks, Danny Cole, and Temi Adebayo are also on the squad making contributions. Woodbridge is led by hoop standouts as well with Kyle Anderson at quarterback, Duquan Bailey at running back, and Anthony Nyers at wideout. Praise Martin and Max Issaka lead the defense. This is going to be another close one, but I give the Barrons a slight edge. Prediction: Woodbridge wins, 21-17.
Monroe (1-1) at Sayreville (2-0)–Monroe will have its work cut out for them in this one. The Falcons lost a tough one on the road at Old Bridge (21-14) after opening the season with a close win over EB (21-18). On the other hand, Sayreville is playing its second straight home game. Last Saturday night, the Bombers shut out a potent offense in Toms River East (16-0). Sayreville has given up an average of 3.5 points per game while outscoring their foes by a margin of 18.5 points per contest. The Bomber defense is led by the likes of hoops standouts Daryl Stephenson and Syd Holt along with George Koblentz and Tyler Strauss. On offense, Joe Geiger has a backfield consisting of Delon Stephenson, Davon Jackson, and Dorien Clyne. Delon Stephenson is averaging a little over 100 yards per game and has scored five touchdowns (2 rushing and 3 receiving) while Geiger has thrown for 50 yards per contest. Holt has 1.3 sacks per game while Alex Yanuzzelli is averaging 9 tackles per contest. Monroe is paced by quarterback Alex Vizcaino (191.5 total yards per game) and running back Jahree Williams (9 points per game). Basketball standout Mike Walp, Woo Joo Chan, and Keyshaun Straughn also lead the Falcons. Monroe got a bit of a taste of what its like in the GMC Red these past two weeks. Today will be even more. Prediction: Sayreville wins 24-10.
East Brunswick (1-1) at J.P. Stevens (0-2)–East Brunswick has played very competitively to start the year with a tough opening weekend loss at Monroe, and a victory over Edison. Meanwhile, J.P. Stevens has yet to score a point this season, and have given up an average of 35 points per game. The Hawks moved up to the Red this season after being down in the White last year. In addition, JPS lost a lot to graduation including standout player, Charles Conley. Dahmil Bowles leads the Hawks this year while Jared Lynch leads EB in rushing yards (95.5 per game), tackles per game (6.5) and scoring (18 points per game). Mike Cia leads the Bears option offense this year with 56 total yards per game. Julian Quintin also helps on defense along with Nick Gudzak. The Bears should win this one before taking on a tough schedule over the next four weeks including Woodbridge, Howell, Sayreville, and Piscataway. Prediction: East Brunswick wins 20-7.
South Brunswick (0-2) at Edison (0-2)–This game is a special game since two athletes at SBHS and EHS died suddenly last year due to HCM. Each team is looking for its first win as South Brunswick opened the season with two tough opponents in top ranked Sayreville and second ranked Piscataway. Meanwhile, Edison began the season with Piscataway, and then lost a close one last week at EB. Both teams have given up about the same amount of points so far this season while Edison has scored slightly more. Basketball standouts Jevon Tyree (42 yards per game) and Nick Muha (57 total yards per game) lead the offense at running back and quarterback respectively. Steven Mychalczuk (13.5 tackles per game) and Tyrin Fairman lead the Viking defense. QB Ken McGotty (203 yards passing per contest) and RB Jared Jenkins (95 yards per game) lead the Eagles offense while Steven Gaines (6 tackles per game) helps anchor the defense. Edison has scored more points per game, and has given up just as much on defense, by South Brunswick has played a tougher schedule. Vikings will win in a close one. Prediction: South Brunswick wins 20-13.
J.F. Kennedy (2-0) at Carteret (1-1)–For the first time since 2006 Kennedy is 2-0 on the season. However, that year, the Mustangs finished with seven straight losses. Carteret is looking to build off the momentum it gained after defeating Colonia (25-7) last week. Last year when these two teams played at Carteret, Kennedy won 13-0. The Mustangs enter the contest outscoring their foes by only five points per game while just allowing two touchdowns per game. The Ramblers have been outscored by just a point per contest, and only gave up a touchdown to Colonia last week. JFK defeated Jackson Liberty (21-14) in their opener while CHS lost at Monmouth Regional (41-21). Mark Weber sparks the Kennedy offense (82 rushing yards per game) along with Mike Tenpenny. Nick Hart is not a prolific passer (only 30.5 passing yards per game), but leads the team in scoring with 9.0 points per game. He has a target in basketball standout Dashion Robinson. Another hoops standout, Josh Kamenas helps on defense along with Tenpenny. The Ramblers, meanwhile, Carteret is led by the tandem of Jerod Johnson (150 rushing yards per game) and Naji Johnson in the backfield while Lamont Crews and Tyler Rodriguez (121.5 passing yards per game) are the quarterback duo. Alejandro Rodriguez leads CHS on defense with 7.5 tackles per contest. The key will be which team’s offense will be more effective in moving the ball and score points. This game will be closer than last year, and the Ramblers may win this one. Prediction: J.F. Kennedy wins 16-12.
Perth Amboy (1-1) at South Plainfield (0-2)–Amboy missed a chance to go 2-0 for the first time since 1995 with a tough loss on the road to J.F. Kennedy. South Plainfield played respectably against one of the contenders in the division in Bishop Ahr on the road. The Panthers are led by the quarterback tandem of Rashad Adams (Perth Amboy Tech) and Faustino Saucedo. Saucedo is averaging 170.5 total yards per game including 163.5 in the air. Adams is averaging 65 yards per contest on the ground. Robert Brown (East Brunswick Tech) is averaging 9.0 points per game for the Panthers while Devin Roman and Jeremy Mendez anchor the defense. Troy McNair leads the Tigers run game with 64 yards per contest while Brendan Wilson has also compiled 170.5 total yards per game including 140.0 in the air. Anthony Torchia leads the team in scoring with 6 points per contest while Mike Molinaro and Afu Ufondo help anchor the defense. Coming into this game Perth Amboy is 2-12 on the road since 2007 while South Plainfield is 2-8 at home since 2008. The Tigers have been much more competitive this season losing by an average margin of 7.5 points per game while averaging 10 points per contest. Amboy has outscored their foes by only a margin of a field goal per game, but have yielded just 11.5 per contest. This one will be close, but the Panthers get the edge. Prediction: Perth Amboy wins 20-13.
Last week’s record 10-3
This season’s record 26-4
Last year’s record 102-32
All time record 143-47