Greg Tufaro's Week 1 GMC Pigskin Picks
Friday (all games 7 p.m.)
East Brunswick (0-0) at No.1 Piscataway (0-0): The Chiefs have won 23 straight against the Bears, who enter this season opener a little banged up with Joe Chetta and promising freshman running back Zahir Jackson battling injuries. Sophomore Kyle Wiggins will get the call at tailback for East Brunswick, whose quarterback, Kevin Hemmings, can expect pressure from hard-charging defensive end Elorn Lumor all night. Piscataway simply has too many game-breakers including running backs Elijah Barnwell and Elijah Pierson, as well as return specialist Tyrell Bush. Sophomore quarterback Danny Haus, who showed flashes of brilliance a year ago, works behind a gifted line featuring Charles Mitchell. Piscataway 35-7.
No. 6 Monroe (0-0) at No. 10 Edison (0-0): Hard to imagine the Falcons, with preseason All-Area quarterback Stephen Karoly and preseason All-Area running back Akeer Franklin, were ranked as low as sixth to begin the year. The offensive line, featuring Nick Fromhold and Max Oge, is integral to the team's success. Linebacker Cole Cusanelli, Monroe's top returning tackler, anchors a relatively inexperienced defense. Edison faces a stern test in attempting to contain Franklin and Karoly, who runs a complex system. The Eagles need strong performances from tackle Irvin Childress, linebacker Godwin Asamoah and defensive back Joe Kim (the lone returning defensive starters). Freshman quarterback Haaziq Daniels, whose older brother Aqeel starred for Edison last season, needs to play like an upperclassman. Monroe 23-21.
No. 4 Old Bridge (0-0) at North Brunswick (0-0): The Raiders begin the year without two starting linemen, both lost to season-ending knee injuries. North Brunswick will be much improved from last year's 1-9 finish but has still not closed the gap with the defending Red Division champions. Despite graduating more than 2,400 yards from scrimmage for the second consecutive years, the Knights have much offensive firepower with strong-armed quarterback Mike Gargano, rangy receiver Tyler Hopman and running back Myles Williams. Ed Mish, who handles the kicking and punting chores for Old Bridge, impacts every game with his leg. Old Bridge 28-12.
No. 2 Sayreville (0-0) at J.P. Stevens (0-0): The Hawks have several gifted skill position players to help compensate for the graduation of Chewy Chukwuneke, one of the school's best running backs, but their offensive line is untested. Sayreville counters with running back Myles Williams, a Penn State commit and one of the state's most dynamic players. He runs behind a line featuring three-year starter Dylan Thillet and the Porcaro brothers, Michael and Anthony. Dan Rodriguez and Linwood Crump get their chance to shine on offense, along with sophomore quarterback Jayson DeMild, who succeeds Malik Pressley, a two-year starter. Sayreville's newly installed 4-25 defense is designed to contain spread offenses such as that which the Hawks run. Sayreville 24-15.
No. 5 Colonia (0-0) at Bishop Ahr (0-0): Jim Becker, who many felt should have been a preseason All-Area selection on the offensive line, and who may very likely end up on the All-Area team when it counts at the end of the year, has the pleasure of blocking for the tandem of quarterback Tenny Adewusi and running back Sam Pero. The duo combined for 3,482 yards from scrimmage. Raul Cardona is an incumbent All-Area selection at tight end, but his presence is even greater at linebacker, where he led the team with 121 tackles a year ago. The Patriots also have several gifted wideouts including Pharoah Napolean. Bishop Ahr unveils a spread offense after spending last season working out of the wing-T and triple-option. Quarterback David Holder and running back Tim Howard work behind a relatively inexperienced offensive line. Alex Dawes of Bishop Ahr is a fine all-around performer and the team's leader. Colonia 23-18.
New Brunswick (0-0) at J.F. Kennedy (0-0): In the absence of running back Anthony Roberts, who rushed for 1,512 yards and 20 touchdowns, expect the Mustangs to be more balanced offensively. After spending the first half of last season running the ball, J.F. Kennedy turned to the skills of gifted wideouts Terrence Young (344 receiving yards) and Stepp Oziegbe (231 receiving yards) as quarterback Andrew Roberts developed. Linebacker Mike Hogan anchors a defense that features a rotation up front and a solid secondary. New Brunswick coach Don Sofilkanich, who went 33-3 and won three consecutive sectional titles at Asbury Park after inheriting a 1-9 program, hopes to work the same magic at another urban school. The Zebras will rely heavily on running back Maurice Ffrench out of the newly-installed Wing-T. New Brunswick is better than last year's 1-9 record, but still not at J.F. Kennedy's level. J.F. Kennedy 23-16.
No. 7 St. Joseph (0-0) at No. 9 South Plainfield (0-0): The defending White Division champions, who will play all their games away from home as artificial turf is installed on their field, begin their long road odyssey against a formidable foe. With Jason Lee at quarterback, the Tigers have the league's best receiving tandem in Johnny Chillemi and Kyle Dickerson, who combined for nearly 900 receiving yards last season. Dickerson, however, may play behind center, meaning Lee could play slot receiver. Either way, the Falcons face a defensive challenge. St. Joseph tailback Joe Papa is nursing a high ankle sprain, but the Falcons have a stable of promising backs who can play in his stead. Quarterback Breein Tyree, a dual threat who amassed more than 1,200 yards from scrimmage in his first year of playing organized football last season, has become more comfortable in the pocket. Nick Krimin (scholarship offers from Rutgers, Syracuse and Old Dominion) and Ryan Starace anchor a sizable and skilled offensive line. The Falcons will miss the services of kicker/punter Mike Cintron, now playing at Rutgers. St. Joseph 22-21.
Woodbridge (0-0) at Carteret (0-0): Buoyed by a promising sophomore class which went undefeated on the freshman level a year ago, the Barrons are improved. Zahneer Shuler, who spent some time at quarterback last season, returns to running back with the emergence of Tracy Fudge behind center. Ryan Alcott, who led Woodbridge with 64 tackles and 3.5 sacks, anchors a defense that tailback Rahkeem Bennett, quarterback Nelson Baez and wideout Brandon Gilder will test. Carteret's strength remains on defense, where end Sam Kamara is a rising star and where Sean Hailey returns from a knee injury. Carteret 17-14.
Middlesex (0-0) at Highland Park (0-0): The Blue Jays, with a sizable front line, unveil their triple option under rookie head coach P.J. Jankowicz. Quarterback A.J. Abate, fullback Matt Hode and running back Kayshawn Wilson will prove too much for the Owls to handle. Highland Park running back Dylan Boynton is one of the division's most exciting players. Two-way tackle Jason Griggs is a preseason All-Area selection who recruiting guru Dennis McCarthy rates among the state's 20 best seniors. Rookie quarterback Ryan O'Shea, who was the varsity baseball team's starting shortstop as a freshman last spring, succeeds Andy Powell. Middlesex 21-6.
No. 3 South Brunswick (0-0) at Middletown South (1-0): The Eagles opened the year with a 56-0 drubbing of a rebuilding Marlboro team. Sophomore linebacker/running back James McCarthy had an interception, 81 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the win. Junior running back Cole Rogers contributed three touchdowns to highly respected head coach Steve Antonucci's 150th career victory. South Brunswick features one of the state's best defensive backfields and has plenty of depth in the trenches. Syracuse commit Dontae Strickland has game-breaking speed and quarterback Amir Johnson has the ability to score from anywhere on the field, as well. Linebacker Chris-Jon Summers anchors a solid defense. South Brunswick 19-14.
Middletown North (0-1) at Perth Amboy (0-0): The Panthers, who have lost 18 of their last 19, begin a new era under rookie head coach Brad Bishop, a longtime assistant at the school. With quarterback Albert Thomas, who missed last season with a broken foot, returning, Perth Amboy has a complement to running back Larry Johnson. Thomas has some athletic receivers at his disposal. Middletown North opened the year with a 26-14 loss to Freehold Boro. Perth Amboy must find a way to stop running back Chad Freshnock, who rushed for 250 yards and two scores in last weekend's defeat. Middletown North 18-14.
Saturday (all games 1 p.m.)
Dunellen (0-0) at Spotswood (0-0): The Chargers will unveil their new-look spread Wing-T, designed to maximize the skill of game-breaking running back Chase Fee, who will benefit from the play of Lou Vacca in the trenches. Rookie quarterback Ryan Smolin, who succeeds two-year starter C.J. O'Connor, and fullback Ryan Long, who replaces team-leading rusher Jack Dalrymple, are also integral to the attack. Dunellen will counter with an experienced offensive backfield featuring quarterback David Johnson and wingbacks Nassan Anderson and Rob Young. Look for the Destroyers to sustain time-consuming drives and keep the ball away from the dangerous Fee. Dunellen 21-16.
South River (0-0) at Metuchen (0-0): The defending Blue Division champion Rams begin the year without senior running back Doug Ryan, who broke his leg in a tri-scrimmage last month. In his absence, South River still has plenty of weapons including fullback Cyrus Burd, tight end Sean Darrar, who may now get some carries out of the backfield, and Khaliyl Everett, a transfer from Edison who may now be the feature back. Richie LeoGrande is an imposing two-way lineman. South River's play on special teams – particularly the punting of LeoGrande and the placekicking of Brandon Pacheco – can help the Rams win the field position battle. Metuchen wideout Danny Griggs moves to running back, leaving another gifted receiver, Evan Collier, as the primary target of quarterbacks Jake Lebovits and Trevor Firgau, a couple of dual threats. The Bulldogs are solid up front with Rob Gilman, who has generated interest from Albany and Monmouth, and Bucknell commit Tommy Gorman. Devin Miller, the younger brother of Dorian (now playing offensive line at Rutgers) and Dejuan (former Oklahoma star wide receiver), will be a factor at tight end and defensive end. South River must stuff the run and contain Metuchen's quarterbacks on the bootleg. South River 17-16.
Sussex Tech (0-1) at Cardinal McCarrick (0-1): Sussex Tech opened the year with a 28-19 loss to Pennington, while the Eagles fell 41-6 to Newark Academy, a team the Fighting Mustangs defeated 39-6 a year ago. Cardinal McCarrick relies on quarterback Jaylen Correa, who scored the team's lone touchdown last weekend, and running back Alonzo Green. Sussex Tech 22-8.