Four Games on Tap for Conclusion to Week Seven
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–On Saturday, week seven action will finish up on the GMC Gridiron with four games. Â Three of the contests involve teams from the GMC Blue, and all four games are crossovers against teams from the Shore Conference. Â Below are game capsules with predictions:
Mater Dei (4-2) at Metuchen (4-1)–Metuchen is coming off a nice win on the road at previously undefeated Middlesex. Â The Bulldogs had their second shutout of the season in the victory. Â Meanwhile, Mater Dei lost to Shore Regional (14-8). Â Both teams have played Asbury Park, Dunellen, Keansburg, and South River. Â Both teams have gone 3-1 against those teams with losses to Dunellen. Â Metuchen outscored those four opponents by a combined margin of 127-36 while Mater Dei has outscored those four teams by a margin of 165-90. Â The Seraphs can score more points, but the Bulldogs have given up less. Â Metuchen is led by Danny Briggs, Evan Collier, and Devin Miller while Mater Dei is led by QB Christian Palmer and RB Tysaun White. Â Mater Dei is 5-1 over the past two seasons against GMC teams. Â GMC Blue is 7-4 against Shore teams. Â GMC Gridiron is 1-4 in games involving Metuchen this year. Â Prediction: Â Mater Dei wins, 28-17.
Middlesex (5-1) at Keansburg (1-5)–This game involves teams going in opposite directions this season. Â Both teams did defeat Highland Park earlier this season, but that’s where the similarities end. Â The Jays suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of Metuchen (7-0). Â Meanwhile, Keansburg was routed by the Dawgs two weeks ago (62-8). Â Middlesex rolled past South River in Ram Country (41-20) while Keansburg lost to the Rams in overtime (22-16). Â The Blue Jays also defeated a Point Beach team (14-6) that defeated Keansburg last week (39-7). Â The Blue Jays should roll here behind the likes of Dennis Broadnax, Anthony Abate, Carran Marks, Anthony Marshall, Kayshawn Wilson, and Matt Hode. Â Prediction: Â Middlesex wins, 40-6.
Keyport (1-5) at Spotswood (3-3)–The Chargers are 3-0 against teams from the GMC Blue including a 39-7 winner over South River last week, but they are 0-3 against teams from the Shore Conference. Â Spotswood should break through at home against a Keyport team that only beat Highland Park (14-12) and lost to South River (28-12). Â Spotswood soundly defeated the Owls (42-6) back in Week #3. Â The Chargers lost to Point Beach (9-6) and Shore Regional (10-0) by a combined margin of 19-6 while Keyport has lost to both those teams by a combined total of 57-25. Â Ryan Smolin leads the Chargers at QB. Â Chase Fee is the work horse at RB, but Ryan Long also contributes in the backfield.. Â Nick Bacskoczky leads the team in receiving. Â Prediction: Â Spotswood wins, 35-6.
East Brunswick (2-3) at Marlboro (0-6)–Coming off a 30-26 victory on the road at J.P. Stevens last week, and getting a forfeit victory from Sayreville next week, East Brunswick is looking to get a win here to have a three game winning streak, and four wins in the last five games. Â Marlboro finishes the season with two games against GMC opponents in the last three weeks. Â The Bears now have a shot to finish the season at .500. Â QB Kevin Hemmings leads the offense, and has Sean O’Sullivan as a favorite target. Â Fullback Sam Walker also contributes out of the EB backfield. Â Bears should get this one on the road. Â Prediction: Â East Brunswick wins, 31-14.