SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–The eighth week of the 2013 Greater Middlesex Conference football season will conclude on Saturday afteroon with three games including a key matchup in the GMC Blue and two more GMC-Shore crossovers. Below are capsules on the three contests:
South River (6-1) @ Spotswood (7-0)–This is for all the marbles in the GMC Blue. A new division winner will be the outcome of this game after Dunellen’s run of division titles came to an end last week. Both the Rams and the Chargers rallied from behind to defeat the Destroyers on the road in wild contests. South River’s only loss of the season was a 45-0 rout at the hands of Shore Regional. Both teams handily defeated Highland Park and Keansburg while the Rams have had an easier time against division foes Metuchen and Middlesex. Spotswood hasn’t won this many games since going 9-2 back in 2003 when it reached the CJ Group II semifinals. Both teams have solid ground games with the Rams sporting Doug Ryan and Cyrus Byrd in its backfield while Jack Dalrymple and Chase Fee lead the Chargers rushing attack. Fee can also hurt you on special teams like he did against Dunellen with an 85 yard kickoff return late in the 29-19 win. Steve Sommer is a big playmaker for Spotswood while Mark Alston can also make big plays on offense and special teams. This one will be close, but the Chargers are at home, and get our edge. Prediction: Â Spotswood wins, 27-20.
Mater Dei (3-4) @ Metuchen (2-5)–After a fine start with three straight wins to open the season including two over GMC teams, the Seraphs of Mater Dei have fallen on hard times losing four straight to division opponents including three by an average margin of 24 points. Meanwhile, Metuchen had been playing well before getting routed last week on the road at Asbury Park (32-0). Mater Dei only lost to Asbury Park by eight two weeks ago (26-18). The Bulldogs had won two of three with the only loss coming at the hands of Spotswood (20-14) thanks to a fourth quarter goal line stand. James Nicolaisen, Steve Walsh, Evan Collier, and Andre Corvil lead Metuchen’s attack. Prediction: Mater Dei wins, 35-21.
Asbury Park (4-2) @ Middlesex (2-5)–Both teams have played Metuchen this season with the Blue Bishops rolling past the Bulldogs last week (32-0) while the Jays lost a heartbreak to the Dogs several weeks ago. Middlesex is coming off another tough loss on the road last week to South River (21-13). The Blue Jays have lost their five games this season by a total of 33 points. Only Bishop Ahr has had worse luck this season in the GMC. Asbury Park has only lost their two games by a total of 13 points to two teams in Shore Regional (5-1) and Point Pleasant Beach (6-1) that are a combined 11-2 on the year. QB Brandon Bollin and RBs Kayshawn Wilson and Kyle Brady lead a talented and athletic, but relatively inexperienced Middlesex squad. Prediction: Asbury Park wins, 27-13.
GMC Gridiron will not be attending any of the games on Saturday, but plans to be at Carteret High School next Friday night to see the Ramblers in action against J.F. Kennedy in a key GMC White matchup. The site also plans to cover a couple more freshmen games including Carteret at J.F. Kennedy next Thursday afternoon and South Plainfield at Perth Amboy next Friday afternoon.