SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–On Saturday morning and afternoon, GMC Gridiron will head over to High Point Soutions Stadium on the Busch Campus of Rutgers University to see two sectional championship games. Both involve GMC teams as Piscataway faces off against Elizabeth in the North Jersey Section 2 Group IV Championship Game at 10:00 AM followed by the Central Jersey Group IV title game between Sayreville and Manalapan at 1:00 PM. Both the Chiefs and the Bombers have made tremendous runs to defend their 2010 sectional championships. P-Way is the eighth seed in their tournament while Sayreville is the fifth seed in their bracket. Here are the particulars for this game:
Current Weather Conditions–South Plainfield, New Jersey at 8:18 AM on Friday afternoon
- Sky Conditions: Clear
- Temperature: 34 degrees
- Humidity: 85 percent
- Dew Point: 30 degrees
- Barometer: 30.64 inches of Hg (Mercury) and Rising
- Winds: SSW @ 1 mph with gusts up to 5 mph
- High Temperature: 40 degrees
- Low Temperature: 29 degrees
Weather Forecast–High Point Solutions Stadium at Rutgers University at 10:00 AM EST on Saturday morning
The past several days have brought very nice weather to the Central Jersey area. Clear skies have dominated things, but the temperatures have been on the chilly side. A storm system moved through the region on Tuesday, and left very cold and even windy conditions in its wake on Wednesday morning.
On Friday, temperatures reached the low 50s for highs after a low in the upper 20s. Since November 1st, we have had 18 days where the high temperature reached over 59 degrees. Barometric pressure has skyrocketed as high pressure continues to move in. The mercury is expected to climb into the low 60s again by early next week. The skies will be cloudier by then with a chance of rain by Wednesday. See more details on the latest weather in the GWC Blog and Journal.
The forecast High Point Solutions Stadium at Rutgers University from the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly calls for a nice day with clear and sunny skies with temperatures climbing to near 50. So, no need for rain gear, but dress warmly if you are going to the Piscataway-Elizabeth game since it is going to be chilly at the beginning of the game.
Weather information provided by Greg’s Weather Center.
Directions to Rutgers University
Address: –Sutphen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854
Garden State Parkway Southbound
Turn off at Exit 129 for the New Jersey Turnpike and head south. Turn off at Exit 9, bear right after the tollbooths and follow signs for “Route 18 North – New Brunswick.†Stay to the left to continue on Route 18 North. Proceed along Route 18 North, crossing the Raritan River (approximately 3.7 miles). Continue on Route 18 North. Proceed up Route 18 to the Campus Rd. exit ramp on the right. Follow Campus Rd. and make the first left onto Sutphen Rd. Follow Sutphen Rd. through and the Hale Center and High Point Solutions Stadium will be on your left.
Garden State Parkway Northbound
Turn off at Exit 105 and follow signs for Route 18 North. After approximately 24 miles, you will pass the entrance for the New Jersey Turnpike. Proceed along Route 18 North, crossing the Raritan River (approximately 3.7 miles). Continue on Route 18 North. Proceed up Route 18 to the Campus Rd. exit ramp on the right. Follow Campus Rd. and make the first left onto Sutphen Rd. Follow Sutphen Rd. through and the Hale Center and High Point Solutions Stadium will be on your left.
Interstate 287
Turn off at Exit 9 “Bound Brook/Highland Park.” Proceed East on River Road toward Highland Park. Continue on River Road and you will pass under the overpass for Route 18. Make the next left onto Route 18 North. Proceed up Route 18 to the Campus Rd. exit ramp on the right. Follow Campus Rd. and make the first left onto Sutphen Rd. Follow Sutphen Rd. through and the Hale Center and High Point Solutions Stadium will be on your left.
New Jersey Turnpike
Turn off at Exit 9, bear right after the tollbooths and follow signs for “Route 18 North – New Brunswick.†Stay to the left to continue on Route 18 North. Proceed along Route 18 North, crossing the Raritan River (approximately 3.7 miles). Continue on Route 18 North. Proceed up Route 18 to the Campus Rd. exit ramp on the right. Follow Campus Rd. and make the first left onto Sutphen Rd. Follow Sutphen Rd. through and the Hale Center and High Point Solutions Stadium will be on your left.
US Route 1
Turn off at exit marked “Route 18 North-New Brunswick.” Proceed along Route 18 North, crossing the Raritan River (approximately 3.7 miles). Continue on Route 18 North. Proceed up Route 18 to the Campus Rd. exit ramp on the right. Follow Campus Rd. and make the first left onto Sutphen Rd. Follow Sutphen Rd. through and the Hale Center and High Point Solutions Stadium will be on your left.
Game Outlook–Elizabeth vs. Piscataway
The Chiefs began the season with a 1-2 record after consecutive losses to South Brunswick (28-7) and Woodbridge (28-14). Since then, they have won eight straight including recent victories over Sayrevlle (28-0), Hunterdon Central (34-31 OT), East Orange Campus (7-0), and Franklin (34-19).
Piscataway has talented players on both sides of the ball with RB Tevin Shaw, QB Nadir Barnwell, WRs Tajae Sharpe and Kyle LaPorte, and DE Jonathan Kinslow. Over the past two seasons, P-Way has gone 21-2. The school is going for its third sectional title in the past four years. Meanwhile, Elizabeth is playing in the final for the first time since 2006, and has dramatically improved in just two seasons under the guidance of former New Brunswick head coach, John Quinn.
The Union County school went 9-2 this season with the only two losses coming to Mid-State 39 rivals, Union (43-21) and Immaculata (24-13). Elizabeth avenged that loss to Union in the opening round of this year’s tourney (25-7). EHS went on to defeat Bayonne in the sectional semifinals. This year’s North Jersey Section 2 Group IV bracket has simply loaded this year with the likes of state powerhouse Phillipsburg being on the outside looking in while top seeded Hunterdon Central fell at home in the opening round.
The Minutemen have made 21 appearances in the state playoffs with a record of 20-13 including a 7-0 record in championship games. Piscataway has made 19 playoff appearances with a 29-12 record including 13 championship game appearances. P-Way is 7-6 in finals. The Chiefs will have an advantage because they’ll be essentially playing a home game, and they also have a lot of momentum heading into this title game.
Game Outlook–Manalapan vs. Sayreville
This is actually a rematch of last year’s Central Jersey Group IV tournament opening round where Sayreville defeated the Braves. This year, Manalapan is more improved earning the second seed in this year’s playoffs. However, like Sayreville, the Monmouth County school had a tough road to get here. The Braves had to defeat last year’s finalist and seventh seeded Brick Memorial in the first round (28-21), and then beat West Windsor-Plainsboro South in overtime (21-20) in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, the Bombers have had a great run. In the opening round, Sayreville went on the road to defeat fourth seeded Jackson Memorial (21-13), and then avenged an opening night loss by traveling to top seeded South Brunswick, and winning 22-15 in the sectional semifinals. Delon Stephenson played a huge role with one rushing touchdown and one passing touchdown while also making a number of huge defensive plays in the victory. The Bombers have spread out the Wing-T and have QB Isaiah Cureton running out of the shotgun.
Sayreville has won 9 of its last 10 games since losing its opener. Manalapan, which won the Shore Conference Class A North Championship, enters the game at 10-1 with all ten wins coming after an opening night loss to Jackson Memorial. In addition to both teams playing Jackson Memorial, each team has played Old Bridge with the Braves winning 33-14 while the Bombers won 33-21.
See our pick in the GMC Football Championship Weekend Capsules.