Heavyweight Battle in North Jersey Section 2 Group V Only Game with GMC Team on Saturday
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–On Saturday, the semifinal round of playoff games will conclude around New Jersey. Â Only one game involving a GMC team is on tap for Saturday afternoon, but it is going to be quite a contest. Â For the third time in the last four years, Piscataway and Elizabeth will be hooking up. Â This year will be the first time the two schools are facing each other in a round of the state playoffs other than the finals. Â Below is a game capsule with prediction on the contest:
Elizabeth (8-2) at Piscataway (8-1)–For the third time in the past four seasons, these two powerhouse programs will lock up in the state playoffs. Â The previous two times were in sectional finals with P-Way defeating the Minutemen on a Tevin Shaw touchdown in the final minute at Rutgers in the 2011 North Jersey Section 2 Group IV Championship, and Elizabeth winning on a memorable three play, 99 yard drive in less than 45 seconds after making a goal line stand to defeat the Chiefs in 2012 at Kean University. Â This year, the two teams will meet in the sectional semifinals at Ciardi Field in Piscataway. Â The Chiefs are coming off a 52-6 thrashing of Bayonne of Hudson County in the opening round last week. Â Meanwhile, Elizabeth rolled in its first round game over Barringer (37-6). Â Piscataway’s only loss of the season was to South Brunswick, the top seed in CJ Group V while Elizabeth’s only two losses were to Hillsborough, the second seed in CJ Group V, and Phillipsburg, the second seed in North Jersey Section 2 Group IV. Â In the loss to Hillsborough, the Raiders had to come from behind to win. Â P-Way’s defense has been stellar this year with four shutouts, and three games where only one score was allowed. Â While Elizabeth has given up more points on defense, the Minutemen have had two shutouts and three games where they have only allowed one score. Â Chiefs will be led by QB Danny Haus, RB Elijah Barnwell, RB Elijah Pierson, WR Tyrell Bush, backup QB Kamal Stewart, and Elorm Lumor on defense. Â The past two match-ups have been high scoring affairs. Â This one should be a bit more low scoring, but still a good one. Â P-Way gets the slight edge since they are playing at home, and have given up fewer points on defense. Â Prediction: Â Piscataway wins, 21-14.
GMC Gridiron will not be at this game on Saturday. Â The site will be in Phillipsburg on Friday night for the semifinal round game in North Jersey Section 2 Group IV between the Stateliners and Woodbridge.