Greg Tufaro's GMC football Week One predictions and analysis

Following are MyCentralJerey.com and Home News Tribune high school football beat writer Greg Tufaro's picks for Week One games involving Greater Middlesex Conference teams.

FRIDAY

South Brunswick at Old Bridge, 7 p.m.: South Brunswick’s Felix Quinones and Old Bridge’s Anthony Imbimbo move from wideout to quarterback to operate triple option offenses. Each is replacing a two-year starter. Imbimbo, who quarterbacked Old Bridge’s freshman team in 2014, returns behind center after leading the Knights in receiving yards last season. Quinones was the Vikings’ second-leading receiver behind Penn State University commit Justin Shorter, a senior who is one of the nation’s top players. South Brunswick has an experienced backfield. Jaylan Lawson, Dylan Kriz and Jayvon Palmer combined for 876 rushing yards last season. Old Bridge lost two players – quarterback Artur Sitkowski (transfer) and running back Nick Sodano (graduation) – who combined for 5,539 yards the past two seasons. The last time the Knights entered a season having lost that much offensive production (2013), all they did was win the school’s first Red Division title. Each team returns just one starter on the offensive line. South Brunswick’s strength on defense is at linebacker and in the secondary. Old Bridge’s Liam Knowles and South Brunswick’s Xavier Cargile are among the league’s best two-way players. South Brunswick 27-20.

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St. Joseph at North Brunswick, 7 p.m.: The game marks the debut of rookie head coach Mike Cipot, who brings a new level of enthusiasm and a new spread offense to his alma mater. The Raiders appear vastly improved from the team that dropped a 38-6 decision to defending White Division champion St. Joseph last season. Quarterback Christian “Chich” Petrillo is a dual threat with deceptive speed who sophomore running back Myles Bailey complements. Kwenah Dolo, a transfer from Newark Central, will also be featured in the backfield. The Raiders boast a sizable offensive line that includes center David Strzeminski, who has generated interest from Ivy League schools. Perhaps he will end up at Harvard University, to which St. Joseph kicker Jon Sot has committed. The best punter and placekicker in the state, Sot is a difference-maker who helps St. Joseph win the field position battle and whose 50-plus yard range can convert unsustained drives into three points. Paul Cocozziello, who missed the final two thirds of last season with a broken leg after throwing for more than 1,200 yards two years ago, may be the conference’s best quarterback. He has a multitude of offensive weapons at his disposal and a veteran offensive line protecting him. Two-way tackle John Olmstead, a North Brunswick resident, is among the nation’s most coveted recruits with offers from every major Division I program. Fellow offensive lineman David Barattucci is a three-year starter. Linebacker Brian Reilly, the team’s leading tackler a year ago, anchors St. Joseph’s defense. St. Joseph mentor Rich Hilliard, a longtime assistant under predecessor Casey Ransone, is making his head coaching debut with the Falcons. St. Joseph 28-12.

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South Plainfield at Perth Amboy, 7 p.m.: The Tigers will look to establish their vaunted running game early. Junior Zach DelVecchio rushed for 1,172 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Charles Lovett joins him in the backfield at quarterback. The athleticism of Luke Niemeyer, listed as a guard, makes him a versatile performer. Dondre Tate, the successor to Deshai Smith (1,128 all-purpose yards last season), has the potential to be as stellar on offense as he was on defense a year ago, becoming a lock-down cornerback. South Plainfield graduated 21 players including middle linebacker Dillon Harris, an outstanding run blocker whose presence will be missed. Perth Amboy has three of the division’s top skill players in wideout Tyler Jack, receiver Jeremiah Stevens and quarterback Tahjmere O’Neal. The signal caller is a three-year starter who passed for 1,387 yards last season. Stevens has state championship sprinter’s speed. Jack is among the conference’s most versatile players. Perth Amboy, not unlike any other team, will only be as good as its offensive line, which head coach Brad Bishop said is “shaping up really well.” South Plainfield 19-14.

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Sayreville at East Brunswick, 7 p.m.: A vast majority of Red Division schools are inexperienced up front, so East Brunswick head coach Bob Molarz might as well have been speaking for virtually every division member when he said, “We’re only going to go as far as those linemen progress.” East Brunswick has plenty of talented skill position players including dual-threat quarterback James Schuld, who set a single-season school record with 2,024 yards from scrimmage last season, and running back Zahir Jackson. Defending North 2 Group IV champion Sayreville replaces quarterback Jayson DeMild, the Home News Tribune’s 2016 Offensive Player of the Year who passed for more than 3,400 yards the past three seasons, with sophomore Mark Whitford. The Bombers feature two outstanding linemen in Damian Lupo and Tristan Behr. Sayreville’s Elijah Clark, a Temple University commit, and Jacari Carter are dangerous playmakers on offense and anchor an outstanding defensive backfield. The Bombers graduated 338 of their 394 carries. Running backs Connor Holmes, Zuriel Wright and Savon Kirksey are ready to succeed 1,000-yard rusher Michael Liberti. Sayreville 28-10.

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Colonia at Woodbridge, 7 p.m.: Dual threat Taj-Calvin Johnson transitions from receiver to quarterback, Luke Pero (1,000-yard rusher) returns as one of the conference’s best running backs, and leading receiver Matt Zawacki (452 yards) is also back. Add several other talented skill position players and an offensive line that features three returning starters and Colonia projects to be tough to stop. The Barrons boast just three senior starters but Woodbridge head coach Kevin Coleman believes the future is now for his young team. Quarterback Donovan Tabon, who dislocated his shoulder in late October, has fully recovered from the injury. He completed 69 of 112 passes for 989 yards with 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions for a 115.5 quarterback rating before the injury. Nick Nyers, who moves from offensive line to fullback, joins Tabon in the backfield. The Barrons return just 37 of their 265 carries. Nyers, who led the conference with more than 100 tackles last season, anchors a defense whose athleticism will be put to the test. Colonia 23-15.

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Red Bank at J.F. Kennedy, 7 p.m.: The Mustangs won last year’s meeting between the schools in the first game Red Bank played after falling to Rumson in the 2015 Central Group III final. Red Bank finished 4-6 in what was a rebuilding year last season. Quarterback Steve Navitsky returns to direct Red Bank’s shotgun wing-T offense. Among his favorite targets is Quaran Malloy. Senior defensive back and running back Noah Mickens and his younger brother Makai, a sophomore cornerback and tailback, are among Red Bank’s other top players. J.F. Kennedy ended last season with a deceptive 4-6 record that included narrow losses to playoff qualifiers Colonia (13-10) and South Plainfield (16-13). Quarterback Kyle Heaney has graduated and junior David Lee takes over behind center. Lee made a name for himself as a defensive back with a team-leading 80-plus tackles. Returning linemen Bernardo Abreu, Lou Truppa and Damon Washington are integral to J.F. Kennedy’s fortunes. J.F. Kennedy 24-17.

Cateret at J.P. Stevens, 7 p.m.: The Ramblers will rely on rookie quarterback Zamar Brake, fullback Dwayne Sharpe, tailback Antoran Chandler and a veteran offensive line that features the gifted David Pierre. A drop-back passer, Brake fits Carteret’s multiple I offense. His father, Vincent, played tight end on Carteret’s 1996 sectional championship team. The Hawks counter with team captains Chad Opoku (two-way lineman), Jared Martinez (offensive line/linebacker) and Kasi Hazzard (athlete). Dual threat Joey Young replaces two-year starter Luke Jacobi at quarterback. Senior tailback Quian Muse is an elusive scatback with speed. Carteret 27-23.

New Brunswick at Piscataway, 7 p.m.: The defending Central Group V champions graduated Elijah Barnwell, a four-year starter who holds all of the storied program’s career rushing records, but return Juwon Jackson, who rushed for 719 yards last season. The Chiefs have plenty of size and depth on the offensive line, which means their power running game should once again be dominant. Receivers Nahjir Woods and Keshawn Grant, who has an impressive vertical leap, project as quarterback Joseph Hatcher’s primary targets. Hatcher succeeds two-year starter Danny Haus. Piscataway’s strength on defense will once again be at linebacker, where Jevon Buckmire and Michael Petite return as starters. New Brunswick graduated three key performers who each started at least two seasons. They are quarterback Jahbree Jeffrey-Seawright (1,547 passing yards), wideout Kadas Reams (839 receiving yards) and tight end German Pimentel (now on scholarship at Monmouth University). Senior X-Zavier Brazziel and sophomore Ny'Dir Harmon will likely split time at quarterback. New Brunswick’s veteran line features left guard Roman Aparicio, center Xavion Blount, left tackle Ramiro Osuna and right guard Keshon Davila. Explosive junior running back Dylan Johnson rushed for 1,074 yards on 138 carries and 11 touchdowns last season. Piscataway 29-14.

Edison at Monroe, 7 p.m.: The Eagles graduated 24 players – nine of whom are playing in college – and were beset with injuries in the preseason. Edison replaces Justin Turner, the conference’s second-leading passer, with rookie Dean Escobar, who has impressed in the preseason. A transfer from Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia, Donavan Benoit is a hard-nosed running back who is difficult to bring down. Edison’s strength rests with a sizable and experienced offensive line. Monroe is not as big up front, but the Falcons have an abundance of skill position players, all of whom are difference-makers. Quarterback Fritz Frage, wideout Mason Shipp and running back Kaylon Bradley give Monroe a multitude of weapons. Shipp's uncle, Marcel, played in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals and is currently the New York Jets running backs coach. Edison won last year’s meeting 40-14 but the Falcons have closed the gap. The Eagles impressed in a recent scrimmage against Carteret, giving them confidence going into the season opener. Edison 25-24.

SATURDAY

South River at Spotswood, 1 p.m.: The three-time defending Blue Division champions open the season for a fifth straight year with a new starting quarterback. Eddie Rogers, who made two starts behind center last fall, will run the offense. Running back Shane Obado, a starter who broke his ankle on the first play from scrimmage in the 2016 campaign, is back along with three-year starter Nick Vincelli in the backfield. Spotswood must replace 1,013 of its 1,579 rushing yards from a year ago. Mike LeRoy and Mike Izzo anchor a young offensive line. Wide receivers Chance Fee and Justin Dalrymple – whose older brothers were Spotswood stars – bring skill and pedigree to the position. South River’s veteran lineup features Mike DeSantis, who is among the conference’s top three-sport athletes, at quarterback. He passed for 1,427 yards and 13 touchdowns last fall. Billy Drum returns to lead a deep stable of running backs. The Rams return all but three of their 898 rushing yards from last season. South River also returns four receivers. Kenny Cross, one of the conference’s best two-way linemen, leads the Rams in the trenches. South River 20-19.

Middlesex at Metuchen, 1 p.m.: Rookie head coach Mike Warnock, who never played a down of organized football, takes over the Bulldogs after serving as an assistant at Highland Park the past seven years and at Metuchen from 2004-09. Jaden Rojas takes over at running back for his brother Willi, who graduated after rushing for 1,171 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Dan Kindler and Jarred Manley will also be featured in the backfield. The Bulldogs will utilize a spread offense under incumbent signal caller Will Hronich. Middlesex’s John Kressbach projects to be one of the conference’s most improved players. He has been utilized as a signal caller and running back, but will exclusively play quarterback this season. Expect Middlesex, which will still run the option, to be more balanced offensively. The Blue Jays feature 20 upperclassmen and return three offensive linemen – Alex Bollin, Jeff Jacobus, Matt Semon – who are integral to the team’s success. Middlesex 18-16.