Week 9: High school football scoreboard, stories, recaps

CENTRAL JERSEY – Here is your one-stop shop for all our Week 9 high school football coverage from Friday night. It was highlighted by the Courier News Game of the Week: North Hunterdon topping Voorhees, 29-21, in the 39th Milk Can game. Elsewhere, Colonia rolled over South Plainfield, 20-0, to wrap up an unbeaten regular season and secure the top seed in the NJSIAA North 2 Group IV playoffs.

Woodbridge 35, J.F. Kennedy 14

Quarterback Tracy Fudge set the offensive tone on the first two plays from scrimmage, running back Nate Lanier took over with two rushing touchdowns before the intermission and backfield mate Zahneer Shuler sealed the deal with a solid second-half performance.

The trio combined for 266 yards from scrimmage while leading the Woodbridge High School football team to an impressive 35-14 victory over J.F. Kennedy at Louis M. Bartha Stadium on Friday night.

Woodbridge (6-3) showed why it is the Greater Middlesex Conference's most improved team, outgaining the Mustangs 314 to 270 in total yards from scrimmage while reversing last year's 38-0 loss to their crosstown rival.

After opening the year with consecutive losses to Carteret and Bishop Ahr by a total of eight points, the Barrons have rebounded to win six of their last seven with the lone setback during that stretch to undefeated and reigning White Division champion Colonia.

North Hunterdon 29, Voorhees 21

North Hunterdon senior quarterback Ryan McDonald put his legs and arm to great use Friday night and was one of the key reasons the Lions knocked off cross-district rival Voorhes 29-21 in the 39th annual Milk Can Game.

McDonald scrambled out of trouble to hit fullback Brandon Kubik with a conversion pass to give North a 15-14 lead with 26 seconds left until halftime. In the third quarter, he avoided trouble once more and hit senior Matt Schaedel on a 77-yard touchdown pass to make it 22-14 early in the third. The two then hooked up for third time on a 40-yard connection as North (5-4) took a 15-yard lead late in the third quarter.

Franklin 21, Immaculata 15 (OT)

Nile Uzzell delivered the big plays on offense all evening for Franklin, carrying the rock 28 times for 232 yards and three touchdowns.

But when the Warriors needed a big play on defense, the junior stepped up one last time, picking off a pass near the goal line in overtime to secure Franklin's first victory of the season with a 21-15 decision over Immaculata.

The victory was Franklin's first ever over Immaculata after seven losses and was only its second triumph over its last 21 games overall.

Colonia 20, South Plainfield 0

Back in the preseason, the Colonia football team coaching staff approached Solomon Manning regarding a position change.

Manning, who got some reps at defensive end last season, was being pushed back to outside linebacker — a change that the 6-foot-2, 200-pounder welcomed.

"Being on the line, I couldn't see much," Manning said. "Now that I'm at linebacker, I had better vision. Where ever the coaches need me, I'll do it."

The junior had a perfect view midway through the first half when he registered a key interception as Colonia defeated South Plainfield 20-0 to solidify its first undefeated regular season in school history. The Patriots are the top seed in North 2 Group IV and will host a first round game next Friday night at 7 p.m. with an opponent to be determined.

Piscataway 42, Old Bridge 6

The Piscataway defense came well prepared as it faced an option offense that closely resembled the one it faced a week ago against South Brunswick.

Elorm Lumor and Aidan Rosa led a defensive front that seemed to be a step ahead on every play and two-way standout Elijah Barnwell scored four touchdowns to lead Piscataway to a 42-6 victory over Old Bridge last night in a Greater Middlesex Conference-Red Division clash at Dominic Ciardi Field.

The Chiefs defense limited Old Bridge to 22 yards rushing and 108 yards total. Lumor finished with a sack and had two of the team's seven tackles for loss. Barnwell returned an interception for a 38-yard TD in the fourth quarter and Isaiah Ross also intercepted a pass. Charles Mitchell helped lead a stingy defensive line.

Bridgewater-Raritan 35, Ridge 0

The Bridgewater-Raritan High School football team's offense is led by a two-headed monster in the backfield. Seniors Matt Kaiteris and Steve LaMorte continued to be the strength of the Panthers offense during a 35-0 victory over Ridge on Friday night at Lee Field.

The two running backs split the work load each week. Kaiteris and LaMorte rotate in each drive to give the Panthers fresh legs on the field. The two veterans see no competition in the backfield and often cheer each other on during games.

"It gives us a little break," Kaiteris said. "We support each other just as if we were on the field."

Monroe 34, East Brunswick 3

The air was decidedly chilled when the Monroe High School football team took the field in East Brunswick on Friday night. The cold weather didn't seem to have an effect on Monroe's offense though.

While the weather was cool, Akeer Franklin kept the Falcons' offense red hot. Him and the rest of Monroe's offense secured a 34-3 victory over East Brunswick High School in a Greater Middlesex Conference Red division matchup.

J.P. Stevens 38, Marlboro 25

Chris Chukwuneke rushed for 260 yards and four touchdowns as the J.P. Stevens High School football team defeated Marlboro 38-25 for its first win of the season on Friday night in Edison.

Chukwuneke scored on a 66-yard run on the Hawks' (1-7) first play from scrimmage but Marlboro (0-9) would score three straight touchdowns to take an 18-6 halftime lead.

J.P. Stevens responded with two third quarter touchdowns as Chukwuneke's 18-yard rushing score regained the lead, 19-18, for the Hawks.

Jay'von Blacknall hit Rashiek Harvard for a 30-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to extend J.P. Stevens' lead.

With Marlboro trailing by a touchdown and approaching the 50-yard line, Alex Zill sealed the game with a 54-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Perth Amboy 21, Bishop Ahr 19

Deonte McMillan rushed for two touchdowns and Jose Caseras rushed the quarterback and forced an incompletion on a potential game-tying two-point conversion in the fourth quarter as Perth Amboy improved to 2-6. The Panthers led 21-7 heading into the fourth quarter before Thomas Galante scored on a 7-yard rushing touchdown and found Tim Howard on a 25-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter before the two-point attempt failed for Bishop Ahr (3-5).

Albert Thomas rushed for a 26-yard touchdown in the second quarter for Perth Amboy while Dane Lupton ran a kickoff back 80 yards for the Trojans in the first quarter.

St. Joseph 45, New Brunswick 13

Sophomore running back Luke Yakley rushed for 220 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries as St. Joseph (3-5) got back on the winning track.

Quarterback Javon Hicks added 160 yard rushing and two touchdowns on 15 carries while also throwing for 180 yards and a score through the air. Jonathan Sot booted a 37-yard field goal for the Falcons, who will be the No. 8 seed in Non-Public Group IV.

Trevon Blakey threw an 80-yard touchdown pass on a broken-down play in the closing moments of the first half for New Brunswick (3-6), as that score cut the Zebras' halftime deficit to 28-13.

Hillsborough 36, Plainfield 14

Jared Senerchia recovered a fumble for a touchdown in the end zone and Isaac Reeves scored on a one-yard run as Hillsborough (8-1) jumped out to a quick 13-0 lead. Eddie Trimpert completed 16-of-29 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown while he also had a touchdown on the ground for the Raiders, who led 34-6 at the half. Plainfield is 0-8.

Cranford 52, North Plainfield 20

Kyeronn Cole rushed for a one-yard touchdown in the first quarter and Jorge Zavaleta had a 17-yard rushing tocuhdown with 10:36 left in the second quarter as North Plainfield (2-6) jumped out to an early 14-3 lead before Cranford (9-0) scored 49 straight points. The Canucks rushed for 197 yards on 50 attempts in the loss.

Elizabeth 28, Linden 19

Tyree Gutierrez rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns to help Elizabeth (7-2) hand Linden (7-1) its first loss of the season. Linden quarterback Juwan Dolbrice rushed for one touchdown and passed for another in the third quarter as the Tigers closed within 14-13 in the third quarter after falling behind 14-0 early. Gutierrez and Jahmin Muse put the game away late for Elizabeth with fourth quarter touchdowns.

A.L. Johnson 43, Somerville 0

Sophomore quarterback Nick Couzzi was intercepted three times for Somerville, which lost its 21st consecutive game. Steve McTernen and Arthur Akins collected 14 tackles apiece for the Pioneers (0-9).

Roselle Park 38, Manville 22

George Perez rushed for 194 yards and three touchdowns to lift Roselle Park over Manville. Jayson Gonzalez added 153 yards and a touchdown. The Mustangs (0-9) scored twice in the fourth quarter, but couldn't make up the deficit.

Montgomery 42, Watchung Hills 21

Montogmery jumped out early with two touchdown passes from Chris Chugunov to beat Watchung Hills (2-7) and improve to 8-1. Wyatt Colangelo returned a kickoff 81 yards for the Cougars in the third quarter. Warriors' quarterback Joe Giacomo threw two touchdown passes in the loss.

New Providence 31, Brearley 8

Matthew McCann finished with 12 carries for 65 yards and a touchdown, and returned an interception 20 yards for another score to send New Providence. Yamato Ejiri carried 12 times for 87 yards with a touchdown, while Ibn Nash had six carries for 78 yards and a score for the Pioneers (6-2), who secured an NJSIAA North 2 Group I playoff birth with the victory.

Phillipsburg 61, Scotch Plains-Fanwood 0

Joe Maso scored on a six-yard run on Phillipsburg's first drive and they would go on to score on its next two offensive possessions before John Monaghan's fumble return for a touchdown to end the first quarter put the Liners out ahead 27-0 as Scotch Plains-Fanwood fell to 3-6. There's a possibility these two teams could meet again next week in the North 2 Group IV playoffs.

Dayton 20, Pingry 17

John Apicella threw three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to defeat Pingry. The Big Blue (1-8) started strong with a safety by Jake Greenberg. Austin Schmidt hit Thomas Foreman on a 10-yard pass and rushed for a one yard touchdown in the first half. Apicella got hot in the final quarter and pulled off the comeback.

Belvidere 25, Bound Brook 22

The Crusaders jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the second quarter before Belvidere cut it to 14-13 in the third and took a 19-14 advantage early in the fourth quarter on David Harris' 7-yard run. Bound Brook (4-4-1) would jump back ahead 22-14 before another touchdown run from Harris, this one from 50 yards, put Belvidere ahead.