Greg Tufaro's GMC football Week 4 predictions and analysis
FRIDAY
Bishop Ahr (2-1) at Shore Regional (2-1), 7 p.m.: The Trojans, who returned 16 starters and have won five of their last seven dating back to last season, sandwiched victories over Highland Park (34-13) and South River (40-20) around a 20-14 setback to Point Pleasant Beach. In Bishop Ahr’s victories, Andrew Brazicki has rushed for a total of 325 yards and eight touchdowns. He has rushed 61 times for 417 yards and nine scores this season. In its loss, Brazicki amassed 179 yards from scrimmage and two scores. He is clearly the Trojans' workhorse. Bishop Ahr quarterback Ryan O’Leary has completed 11 of 28 passes for 191 yards with one touchdown and one interception. End Marcus Adenyi anchors the Trojans defensively with 14 tackles and three sacks. The perennial Group I power Blue Devils rebounded from a 14-7 setback to Asbury Park with lopsided victories over Barnegat (41-28) and Keansburg (42-0). The loss to Asbury Park snapped Shore Regional’s winning streak at 20 games. The two-time defending Central Group I champions, who have made four consecutive sectional final appearances, finished undefeated for the first time in school history last season. The Blue Devils graduated most of their starters, but an influx of players from undefeated jayvee and freshman teams helped Shore reload. The Blue Devils are balanced offensively with quarterback Matt Pennell and Josh Camp leading a stable of talented running backs. Pick: Shore 27-13.
READ: Marcus Borden's Week 4 GMC football picks
Colonia (1-2) at Red Bank Catholic (2-1), 7 p.m.: The Patriots sandwiched a 33-12 win over North Brunswick between a 19-14 loss to Woodbridge and last weekend’s 41-6 setback to St. Joseph. Colonia southpaw signal caller Tyler Layton has completed 30 of 54 passes for 317 yards and four touchdowns with one interception. Luke Pero is Colonia’s leading rusher with 192 yards and two touchdowns on 53 carries. Taj-Calvin Johnson tops the Patriots with 15 catches. He has 107 receiving yards and is effective running the ball out of the Wildcat formation. Matt Zawacki is Colonia’s leading receiver with 118 yards and two touchdowns. Matt Allardice (27), Alex Reyes (21) and Isaiah Pahopin-Lige (21) are Colonia’s leading tacklers. Colonia’s balanced zone read offense is averaging 256 yards per game. Perennial power Red Bank Catholic, which has posted a 49-7 record over the past five seasons, is coached by Frank Edgerly. He coached the Caseys from 1999-2008 before spending the last seven seasons in the NFL as a pro and collegiate scout for the Patriots and as an outside linebackers and receivers coach with the Browns. Red Bank Catholic, which graduated two-time All-Conference quarterback Eddie Hahn, lacks the star power it had in recent years but remains formidable. The Caseys rebounded from a 29-14 season-opening loss to Middletown South with victories over Middletown North (30-27) and Ocean (20-7). Zack Bair (408 yards and three touchdowns on 56 carries) and Nick Brusco (191 yards on 25 carries) are Red Bank Catholic’s leading rushers. They have accounted for 81 of the team’s 106 carries. Quarterback Tommy Lang has completed 19 of 39 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions. Pick: Red Bank Catholic 21-17.
READ: GMC football notebook and Top 10 rankings
No. 9 Edison (1-1) at No. 3 Old Bridge (2-1), 7 p.m.: Edison’s Justin Turner, a converted wide receiver, has been phenomenal with a 134.3 quarterback rating. He has completed 20 of 31 passes for 344 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. James Stewart, who rushed for more than 1,300 yards last season, carried 11 times for 134 yards and three scores in a 40-14 season-opening win over Monroe. Sincere Williams was among Edison’s top performers in a heartbreaking 18-13 loss to Sayreville. He has carried 20 times for 169 yards. Nick Yanik leads the Eagles with eight catches for 155 yards. An improved defense features lineman Lance Rice (22 tackles), linebacker Steven Roe (19 tackles) and linebacker Reilly Gonzalez (13 tackles). The senior-laden Eagles feature 28 upperclassmen. Edison endured two losses to Old Bridge last season, including a 38-35 opening-round Central Group V playoff loss (the Knights won the 2015 regular-season meeting 45-27). Old Bridge is looking to rebound from a disheartening 41-0 loss to perennial power Manalapan. The Knights opened the season with victories over defending Central Group V champion South Brunswick (31-28) and Monroe (35-14). Highly touted Old Bridge quarterback Artur Sitkowski, who holds a bevy of scholarship offers from major Division I programs, has completed 25 of 50 passes for 253 yards with two touchdown and four interceptions. He has spread the ball to six different receivers including favorite target Anthony Imbimbo (seven catches for 110 yards and a score). Liam Knowles and Jared Meyer have caught six passes apiece for a combined 121 yards. Nick Sodano remains the feature back, amassing 367 yards and five touchdowns on 56 carries. A dangerous return specialist, Sodano has 456 all-purpose yards. He also leads the Knights with 14 tackles, while linebacker Alston Amegbenyo has 13 tackles. Old Bridge has recorded five sacks, five interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Pick: Edison 22-21.
READ: GMC football division standings
J.F. Kennedy (2-1) at J.P. Stevens (0-2), 7 p.m.: After opening the year with a 40-12 loss to Carteret, the Hawks improved in a 29-10 setback to South Plainfield. Quarterback Luke Jacobi has completed 13 of 22 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. Quian Muse is J.P. Stevens’ leading rusher with 108 yards on 19 carries. Under rookie head coach Pete Christathakis, J.F. Kennedy, which finished 1-9 a year ago, has already doubled its win total of last season. The 76 points the Mustangs have scored thus far are just 10 less than they posted all of last year. Quarterback Kyle Heaney has been a big part of the team’s resurgence. He has amassed 392 yards rushing and 80 more passing while totaling eight touchdowns on the ground and through the air. Brian Santana carried 18 times for a career-high 104 yards in last weekend’s 42-7 win over Perth Amboy. The Mustangs are a run-oriented team with 650 of the team’s 730 total yards from scrimmage coming on the ground. J.F. Kennedy’s defense has been stout, allowing just one touchdown in its two victories, including a 27-3 win over Red Bank Regional. The Mustangs held an undefeated Carteret team, which averaged 40 points in its two other victories, to four scores in a 28-7 setback. Pick: J.F. Kennedy 24-13.
READ: East Brunswick tailback Kyle Wiggins is Home News Tribune Player of the Week
Mater Dei (3-0) at Highland Park (2-1), 7 p.m.: The Owls rebounded from a 34-13 season-opening loss to Blue Division newcomer Bishop Ahr (the Trojans dropped down from the White Division) with consecutive victories over Keansburg (33-20) and Dunellen (37-16), both of which are winless. Highland Park is balanced with senior quarterback Ryan O’Shea (30 of 50 for 302 yards and three touchdowns) and running backs Nasir Boykins (27 carries, 239 yards, four touchdowns) and Dylan Boynton (26 carries, 37 yards, two touchdowns). Brian Negron (21 tackles) anchors Highland Park’s defense, while teammates Yuriy Protts and Nasir Boykins have 17 tackles apiece. A senior class, which took its lumps as sophomores, continues to steadily improve, raising Highland Park’s record from 1-9 two years ago to 4-6 last season when the Owls narrowly missed qualifying for the playoffs. Mater Dei defeated the Owls 50-14 in 2014 – the last meeting between the schools – when a transfer-laden squad bested three GMC schools — Highland Park, South River and Metuchen — by a combined 147-41 score. In 2014, the Seraphs tied a school record for wins, set a school record with 419 points scored and won a playoff game in a second consecutive season for the first time in school history. The Seraphs, who finished 3-7 last season, have already equaled their win total of a year ago. Dino Mangiero, who played for Rutgers University and in the NFL, is Mater Dei’s third head coach in as many years. He posted a 110-34 career record at Poly Prep in Brooklyn before taking over the Seraphs. Junior quarterback George Pearson, who led Matawan to a Central Group II championship victory over Carteret as a freshman in 2014, is at his third school in as many years. He transferred from St. Joseph of Montvale to Mater Dei. A tremendous playmaker, Pearson accounted for four touchdowns in last weekend’s 35-7 win over Keyport. He passed for 179 yards and two scores and rushed for 39 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Seraphs have outscored the opposition 112-13 this season including a 42-0 win over Dunellen and a 35-0 win over Keansburg, schools that combined to score 36 points on the Owls. Pick: Mater Dei 35-21.
Metuchen (1-1) at Asbury Park (2-1), 7 p.m.: After snapping two-time defending Central Group I champion Shore’s winning streak at 20 games with a 14-7 season-opening win, the Blue Bishops lost by the same score to Keyport before rebounding with a 26-15 victory over Point Pleasant Beach. Quarterback Ja’King Agostini has completed 24 of 43 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns. Dyquan Young (107 receiving yards) is his favorite target. Paul Reed is Asbury Park’s leading rusher with 307 yards and three touchdowns on 49 carries. Linebacker Cishiume Simms tops the Blue Bishops with 34 tackles including two sacks. Devin Nash-McGhee has intercepted two passes. Asbury Park has won three of the past four meetings between the schools with Metuchen scoring a 34-6 victory two years ago and falling 20-15 last season. After rolling to a 28-7 season-opening win over Middlesex, the Bulldogs suffered a 33-22 loss to Monmouth. Against Monmouth, standout tight end and defense end Devin Miller left the game in the third quarter with an undisclosed injury, according to Greater Media Newspapers' Jimmy Allinder. In his absence, the Bulldogs squandered a 14-0 halftime lead. Miller has reopened his recruitment, according to Scout.com national recruiting analyst Brian Dohn, after de-committing from the University of Houston. Dohn reports that Miller has mutual interest in Penn State and Purdue. Miller is the younger brother of current Rutgers starting offensive lineman Dorian and former Oklahoma star wide receiver DeJuan. Quarterback Will Hronich has completed 13 of 24 passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns for Metuchen, which has also received 273 rushing yards from Willie Rojas and 140 rushing yards from Justin Briggs. Miller leads Metuchen receivers with 58 yards. Pick: Asbury Park 17-16.
New Brunswick (0-3) at Monroe (0-3), 7 p.m.: New Brunswick’s indoctrination into the Red Division as its newest member began inauspiciously with consecutive losses to perennial powers Piscataway, South Brunswick and Sayreville. The Zebras, who were outscored 164-48 in those defeats, played well for the first half of each game before wilting against deeper rosters. New Brunswick got a taste of the Red Division when it lost 26-12 to Old Bridge in last year’s Central Group V semifinals. The Zebras, are of course, without 2015 Home News Tribune Offensive Player of the Year Maurice Ffrench, one of the most dynamic performers the league has seen in years. In last weekend’s 54-28 loss to Sayreville, quarterback Jahbree Jeffrey-Seawright completed 11 of 19 passes for 205 yards, while Kadas Reams had three catches for 105 yards and three touchdowns. New Brunswick features one of the league’s best defensive players in German Pimental. Monroe has been outscored 123-35 in its losses. Monroe signal caller Brian Steigler has completed 11 of 22 passes for 159 yards. Carlton Coleman paces the Falcons on the ground with 295 yards and two touchdowns on 48 carries. Kaylon Bradley complements him in the backfield with 128 yards on 36 carries. Josh Baynes leads Monroe with 77 receiving yards. Russ Van De Sande tops the team with 17 tackles, while teammates Tom Stolte and Mike Chaves have 10 apeice. Pick: New Brunswick 28-23.
No. 2 Sayreville (3-0) at Brick Memorial (0-3), 7 p.m.: The Bombers may feature the league’s best quarterback in Jayson DeMild, whose strong and accurate arm has completed 38 of 63 attempts for 664 yards and nine touchdowns for a 122.6 quarterback rating. Sayreville has tremendous offensive balance thanks to a stellar line (including Michael Porcaro, Tristan Behr, Damian Lupo, Bryan Capric, Gus Delvalle and Christian Platon) and the running of Michael Liberti (428 yards and four touchdowns on 64 carries). DeMild has athletic wideouts at his disposal including Andrew Wille (11 catches, 209 yards, three touchdowns) and Jahsim Floyd (six catches, 169 yards, three touchdowns). Mike Germann (15) and Brandon Cenci (11) anchor the defense. Sayreville has outscored its opponents 118-49 including last weekend’s 54-28 win over New Brunswick. The points were the most Sayreville scored since posting a 56-26 win over Monroe in November 2013. Brick Memorial, the incumbent Central Group IV finalist, is off to a slow start against a challenging schedule. The Mustangs have lost to Brick Township (28-14), Toms River North (40-12) and Toms River South (13-10). Those teams have a combined 7-2 record. Sayreville has beaten teams with a combined 2-6 mark. Brick Memorial quarterback Grant McKelvey is a dual threat. He has completed 16 of 42 passes for 360 yards. Tony Thorpe (177 yards) and McKelvey (152) are the team’s leading rushers. Pick: Sayreville 19-16.
No. 5 South Plainfield (3-0) at North Brunswick (0-3), 7 p.m.: After dropping down from the Red Division to the White Division, the Raiders have been outscored 111-18 with consecutive losses to St. Joseph, Colonia and Carteret, three teams with a combined 7-2 record. The Tigers are undefeated against three foes – Perth Amboy, J.P. Stevens and Woodbridge – who are a combined 1-7. South Plainfield won in dramatic fashion last weekend as Charles Lovett’s 2-yard touchdown run and ensuing two-point conversion pass with 36 seconds remaining capped a 90-yard drive for a thrilling 15-12 comeback victory over Woodbridge. The rush-heavy Tigers have amassed 817 yards on the ground and 147 yards through the air. All nine of their touchdowns have come on the ground. Zach DelVecchio (43 carries, 338 yards), Lovett (38 carries, 291 yards) and Deshai Smith (9 carries, 125 yards) have accounted for 754 rushing yards. Jean Sapini is South Plainfield’s leading receiver with six catches for 58 yards. Dillon Harris (34) and Ryan Marston (22) are the team’s leading tacklers. Austin Fritze has recorded six of South Plainfield’s 12 sacks. Pick: South Plainfield 32-14.
No. 10 Spotswood (3-0) at Dunellen (0-2), 7 p.m.: The two-time defending Blue Division champions are led by Ryan Szatkowski, whose all-around play has sparked the team to another fast start. Szatkowski has caught eight passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns. He has recorded a team-high 21 tackles, intercepted a team-leading three passes and has converted 8 of 8 PATs. In addition, Szatkowski also punts. Quarterback Nick Mohr has completed 24 of 36 passes for 399 yards and five touchdowns without an interception. Jack Keenan (193 yards on 42 carries) and Nick Vincelli (121 yards on 36 carries) have each scored twice and create a formidable backfield tandem. Aidan Vroom (19) and Michael Leroy (14) are the team’s leading tacklers. Dunellen opened the year with a 42-6 loss to Mater Dei and a 37-16 defeat to Highland Park. Against the Owls last weekend, Jason Watung, who scored on a 16-yard run, paced the Destroyers with 88 rushing yards. Alain Diaz had 59 yards on seven carries and backfield mate Jibril Hagood-Henry scored on an 8-yard run. Pick: Spotswood 30-15.
No. 6 St. Joseph (3-0) at No. 8 Woodbridge (1-2), 7 p.m.: The Falcons have offensive balance with gifted quarterback Paul Cocozziello and the running tandem of Manny Resto and bruising fullback Luke Yakely. The trio benefit from the play of an outstanding offensive line that features Bucknell commit P.J. Barr and John Olmstead, both of whom stand 6-foot-4 and weigh 270 pounds. The Falcons have several outstanding skill position players including A.J. Murray, Jordan Davis and Jon Sot. The latter’s biggest contribution to the team, however, is in the placekicking department, where Sot has already booted field goals of 55 and 45 yards. He also routinely booms kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks. St. Joseph has outscored three opponents who have combined for a 1-8 record 122-27. Roderic Carson is one of the league’s best defensive ends. Woodbridge is coming off a heartbreaking 15-12 loss to South Plainfield, which scored the winning touchdown in the game’s final minute. Woodbridge fell 7-6 to Manasquan the previous week. The Barrons opened the year with a 19-14 win over Colonia, which fell 41-6 to St. Joseph last weekend. Woodbridge quarterback Donovan Tabon has completed 22 of 39 passes for 209 yards. Da’Avian Ellington, a transfer from Carteret, has rushed 47 times for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Quaasim Glover remains one of the league’s top receivers with 14 catches for 136 yards. Nick Nyers, son of former head coach Bill and younger brother of Woodbridge’s all-time leading receiver Anthony, paces the defense with 33 tackles. Antoine Hall (22 tackles), Dylan Leone (19 tackles) and Alex LaGrippo (19 tackles) also shine on defense. The Barrons dealt St. Joseph a heartbreaking 27-25 loss last year. Pick: St. Joseph 24-17.
SATURDAY
Keyport at South River (1-2), 2 p.m.: Sophomore quarterback Michael DeSantis, a three-sport athlete and a starter on the Rams’ 2016 sectional championship baseball team, has completed 27 of 61 passes for 325 yards and one touchdown. He has spread the ball around to eight receivers including Kyle Baszak (86 yards) and Travis Thomas (84 yards). Jimmy Stewart leads the Rams with 19 tackles, while teammates Billy Drum and Baszak have 15 apiece. Drum is also South River’s rushing leader with 170 yards. South River’s losses are to Spotswood (31-6) and Bishop Ahr (40-20). Keyport won last year’s meeting between the schools 27-12. The Red Raiders opened the year with wins over Point Plesant Beach (10-7) and Asbury Park (14-7) before falling to Mater Dei (35-7). Keyport 21-18.
Point Pleasant Beach (1-2) at Middlesex (0-3), 3 p.m.: Owners of a deceptive record, the Blue Jays have lost to Metuchen (28-7), South River (6-0) and two-time defending Blue Division champion Spotswood (14-3). Quarterback Mike Cresitello has completed 13 of 31 passes for 143 yards. He has also rushed for 80 more. Anthony Mason is the team’s leading ground gainer and Zach Godfrey is Middlesex’s top receiver. Tom Schweyer leads the Blue Jays with 25 tackles, while teammate Naeem Morgan has added 22 more. Point Pleasant Beach has sandwiched a 20-14 win over Bishop Ahr around a 10-7 loss to Keyport and a 26-15 defeat to Asbury Park. Pick: Point Pleasant Beach 20-8.