GMC FOOTBALL: Week 2 notebook and Top 10 rankings
The biggest story of the young Greater Middlesex Conference high school football season is the resurgence of New Brunswick's program under head coach Don Sofilkanich.
Sofilkanich was an assistant for John Quinn from 2002-06 when the Zebras compiled a 51-7 record and won two sectional titles. Since Quinn left in 2009, the Zebras entered this year having dropped 36 of 38 contests, including 26 in a row.
New Brunswick went 1 -9 last season while getting outscored 408-97 or by an average of 34.6 points per defeat.
Sofilkanich, who has had tremendous success as a head coach at urban schools, winning the first of three consecutive sectional championships (2007-09) at Asbury Park just one year after the Blue Bishops finished 1-9, vowed during the summer to turn around New Brunswick.
After enduring a heartbreaking 24-21 season-opening loss on a field goal with 10 seconds remaining against J.F. Kennedy, the Zebras rebounded with a stunning 21-19 upset of South Plainfield on Friday night.
The Tigers opened the year with an impressive 36-14 victory over defending White Division champion St. Joseph, which went undefeated in the division a year ago.
New Brunswick, which debuts in the Home News Tribune Top 10 at No. 8, its first time being ranked since 2009, travels to Carteret on Friday night.
"I went and saw them (against South Plainfield)," Carteret head coach Matt Yascko said. "What I noticed is they've got a little bit of their swagger back that was missing from the last couple of years. I knew he would turn it around, but I never thought he would do it this fast.
"He's got them playing the same way they played back in their hey-day, and I think he has them believing now. He's got terrific athletes and he's putting them in position to succeed."
Black and Blue Division
Since forming its partnership with the Shore Conference, the GMC Blue Division has struggled in crossover games between the leagues, compiling a 25-47 record (.305 winning percentage) over the last four years.
The division, however, turned the tables on the Shore Conference over the weekend, posting a 4-2 mark with Highland Park and Spotswood falling to Keansburg and Shore, respectively, by a total of 12 points.
Middlesex scored a 14-6 victory over defending Central Group I champion Point Pleasant Beach, while Metuchen defeated perennial power Asbury Park 34-6. South River hung on for a 26-12 win over Keyport, while Dunellen rolled to a 50-32 victory over Mater Dei.
"The last few years we've had a tough time with the Shore," Dunellen head coach Dave DeNapoli said. "It's a great conference with a lot of talent. They play tough football, so it's encouraging to be 4-2 (against the league)."
Running back Rob Young rushed for 240 yards, while Dunellen teammates Nassan Anderson and David Johnson each had more than 100 yards apiece on the ground against the Seraphs.
Mater Dei returned key skill position players from a playoff-qualifying team that defeated the Destroyers last season.
"(Young) was given an opportunity to go to Mater Dei, and we are just happy he decided to stay with his friends and play at Dunellen," DeNapoli said.
The division's worst season against the Shore Conference was 2012, when it went 3-15 in crossover games.
Metuchen snapped an eight-game losing streak against Shore Conference foes with its impressive 34-6 win over Asbury Park.
Linebacker Joe Cammarano anchored the defense with 13 tackles, while end Devin Miller recorded 14 tackles (three for a loss) and two sacks.
"It just shows the level of football that's being played here," Metuchen coach Bob Ulmer said of the division's performance over the weekend. "The Shore typically has great football, and we are just getting better and better in our division.
"I was real happy to see all of us do well."
Highland Park is the only division school not to defeat a Shore Conference opponent since the partnership between the leagues was formed in 2009.
The Owls nearly snapped a 15-game losing skid against Shore foes, but had a potential go-ahead touchdown pass intercepted in the end zone in the closing minute of Saturday's 22-20 defeat to Keansburg.
THE TOP 10
(by Marcus Borden and Greg Tufaro)
1 – Piscataway 2-0
2 – Sayreville 2-0
3 – South Brunswick 2-0
4 – Old Bridge 2-0
5 – Colonia 2-0
6 – Monroe 1-1
7 – J.F. Kennedy 1-1
8 – New Brunswick 1-1
9 – South Plainfield 1-1
10 – Carteret 1-1