Rules keep Bishop Ahr from division title consideration
Despite remaining undefeated in the Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division with a 34-0 victory over Metuchen on Friday night, the Bishop Ahr High School football team is ineligible to win the division title under league rules.
Carl Buffalino, past president of the conference, said under a newly approved rule, which the league’s membership adopted earlier this year, any team seeking relief, such as Bishop Ahr, that drops down a division is ineligible to win a title in that division during the two-year cycle in which it is competing as a new division member.
Bishop Ahr successfully appealed to drop from the White Division, where the league initially placed the Trojans for the 2016 and 2017 campaigns, to the Blue Division for the current two-year cycle, which commenced before the start of this academic year.
The league approved Bishop Ahr’s maneuver – along with J.P. Stevens’ and North Brunswick’s request to drop from the Red Division to the White Division – as part of its 2016-17 realignment.
J.P. Stevens and North Brunswick are similarly ineligible to win a White Division title this year and next, but the Raiders and Hawks already have been eliminated from this year’s division race.
The Trojans, who improved to 4-2 overall and 4-0 in the division, moved into a first-place tie with two-time defending Blue Division champion Spotswood, which is 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the division.
Metuchen is the last Blue Division member with a chance to win the division title. If the Bulldogs win their three remaining games -- against Spotswood, Dunellen and Highland Park -- and Spotswood loses to Bishop Ahr and Metuchen, the Bulldogs would win the division title by virtue of their head-to-head win over Spotswood and because both clubs would finish with identical 4-2 division records.
Spotswood head coach Andy Cammarano said on Friday night that he was unfamiliar with the league rule prohibiting Bishop Ahr from winning a division title. The veteran mentor, who is in his 10th season, said the Chargers, who will host the Trojans on Oct. 22 and the Bulldogs on Nov. 5, still want to win the championship on the field.
"Our guys want to (win a title) on the field," said Cammarano, whose team can clinch the division title with a win over Bishop Ahr or Metuchen. "I respect the bylaws of the conference, and they have rules for a reason. The idea of (schools like Bishop Ahr wanting) relief, I get it.
"I know if I told my kids they were champions, they wouldn’t exactly jump through the roof because they want to defeat everybody in the (division). It (winning three consecutive titles) is a credit to the program, the kids and the coaches, but we really won’t be happy unless we do it on the field, and we want to do it (win the title) outright. If it’s us and Ahr next weekend, it will be a big game for our team and our program.”
Asked to react to the league rule which prevents the Trojans from being able to contend for the division crown, Bishop Ahr Athletics Director Mike Wolfthal, alluding to the Oct. 22 battle of division unbeatens, said: “The field of play will answer all questions. When we play Spotswood, the better team will win. and the team that wins will be that team that has dominated the division.”
Bishop Ahr compiled a 21-26 record in the White Division from 2010-15. The Trojans last competed in the Blue Division in 2009, a year during which the conference was broken into four divisions (Red, White, Blue and Gold).
Wolfthal said “people that want to scrutinize us” for dropping to the Blue Division only have to “look at our numbers.”
Bishop Ahr has 12 freshmen in its football program and just 40 freshmen boys in the entire school, according to Wolfthal, who noted the first criterion for aligning the league’s divisions is enrollment.
“Our numbers dictate that we would be in the Blue Division,” he said. “We may be a Non-Public 3 classification, but are a Group II equivalent (public) school. The Blue Division is made up of Group I and Group II schools, and we belong there.”
Spotswood is the conference’s lone Group II school. Metuchen was a Group II program last year, but it was reclassified as a Group I school this season.
GMC FOOTBALL TOP 10 RANKINGS
1. Old Bridge (3-1-1): The Knights remained the only Red Division team without a division loss following a thrilling 24-20 comeback victory over Piscataway. Nick Sodano scored three touchdowns – a 6-yard run, a 44-yard fumble return and a 42-yard run – in the final five minutes to help Old Bridge erase deficits of 10 points and three points. Sodano finished with 127 rushing yards on 21 carries. Quarterback Artur Sitkowski completed 19 of 35 passes for 233 yards. Anthony Imbimbo had nine receptions for 93 yards. Old Bridge’s blemishes are a lopsided loss to undefeated Manalapan, which leads Central Group V with 91.5 power points, and a draw with Edison. Old Bridge can win the division title with victories over New Brunswick (2-4), Sayreville (5-1) and East Brunswick (1-4). Next: at New Brunswick, Friday, 7 p.m.
2. Piscataway (4-1): The Chiefs squandered leads of 10 and three points in the final five minutes of a heartbreaking 24-20 loss to Old Bridge. Running back Elijah Barnwell carried 32 times for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Safety Brevin Donerson recorded a game-high 14 tackles and returned an interception 87 yards for his second defensive touchdown of the year. He also had a forced fumble and a fumble return. Jevon Buckmire (13) and Barnwell (10) were Piscataway’s other top defensive players. Ibn Robinson recorded his sixth sack. Next: at Monroe, Friday, 7 p.m.
3. Sayreville (5-1): The Bombers scored on five of their first six possessions, converting four turnovers along the way into touchdowns, in a 49-7 win over Monroe. Michael Liberti had rushing touchdowns of 18, 2 and 1 yards. Andrew Wille, JaQuae Roberts, Connor Holmes and Colton Redding each had a touchdown for the Bombers, who rebounded from a heartbreaking 27-21 loss to Piscataway. Sayreville’s defense, which pitched a shutout earlier this month in a 28-0 win over Brick Memorial, was once again stout against another triple-option foe. Next: at South Brunswick, Friday, 7 p.m.
4. South Brunswick (3-2): The Vikings, who have held opponents to a touchdown or less in all three of their victories, blanked East Brunswick 21-0. The win was the 200th of head coach Joe Goerge's career. Xavier Carlisle anchored the defense with 10 tackles, while Justin Shorter and Darius Tisdale each recorded six tackles. Marcus Cerminaro and Felix Quinones each had an interception. In extending its winning streak over the Bears to six games, South Brunswick received a balanced offensive effort. Quarterback Josh Liao completed 11 of 17 passes for 104 yards. He threw a scoring pass to Thomas Joe-Kamara and also rushed for a touchdown. Jaylan Lawson led all rushers with 77 yards and one score on eight carries. South Brunswick has won three of its last four. The Vikings’ only losses were to Old Bridge (28-25) and Piscataway (26-14). Next: vs. Sayreville, 7 p.m.
5. St. Joseph (6-0): The Falcons extended their shutout streak to 11 quarters, blanking their second consecutive opponent with a 42-0 victory over winless Donovan Catholic. Quarterback Mitchel Epstein had three touchdown passes, completing two scoring strikes to Jon Sot and another to A.J. Murray. Luke Yakely had two rushing touchdowns and Jordan Davis also scored on the ground. Next: at J.F. Kennedy, Friday, 7 p.m.
6. Carteret (5-0): The Ramblers continued to display offensive balance and stout defense in a resounding 29-14 victory over Woodbridge, which fell two points shy of a single-game school record in a 52-20 victory over J.F. Kennedy the previous week. Running back Quartius Byrd amassed 234 yards on 11 carries. He had scoring runs of 76 and 49 yards. Quarterback Angelo Golino completed 5 of 9 passes for 97 yards including a 65-yard scoring strike to Jalen Harris and a 16-yard touchdown pass to Dwayne Sharpe. With the victory, Carteret moved into a first-place deadlock with St. Joseph atop the White Division. Next: South Plainfield, Friday, 7 p.m.
7. South Plainfield (4-2): Playing without offensive star Charles Lovett (high ankle sprain) and defensive end Austin Fritze (concussion), the Tigers endured their second consecutive defeat, a 28-20 setback to Colonia. In the absence of Lovett (562 all-purpose yards) and Fritze (team-leading six sacks), quarterback Ryan Marston completed 13 of 18 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns. Jean Sapini and Deshai Smith each had 100 receiving yards. The Tigers rushed for 143 yards. They had a touchdown nullified via penalty and failed to score from Colonia’s 2 yard line. Next: at Carteret, Friday 7 p.m.
8. Bishop Ahr (4-2): Andrew Brazicki raised his conference-leading rushing total to 739 yards in a 34-0 win over Metuchen, but the Trojans found a new offensive hero against the Bulldogs in Reminiss Funderburk, who rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Funderburk scored on runs of 94 and 54 yards to complement Brazicki, who was Bishop Ahr’s second-leading rusher with 71 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. Brazicki also returned an interception 80 yards for a touchdown, while Funderburk also picked off a pass. Marcus Adeniyi continued to anchor the defense, making 11 tackles, three for a loss. Luke Vizzoni contributed 10 tackles – including a pair of sacks – to the win. The Trojans improved to 4-0 in the division behind 294 yards rushing. Next: at Spotswood, Saturday, 1 p.m.
9. Spotswood (5-1): The Chargers endured their third consecutive loss to Point Pleasant Beach, dropping a 31-12 decision to the Gulls. Spotswood trailed by just five points early in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Nick Mohr completed 11 of 18 passes for 102 yards. He also scored a rushing touchdown. Paul Toth was credited for a safety and Ryan Szatkowski booted a field goal. Spotswood can clinch its third consecutive Blue Division title with a victory over Bishop Ahr on Saturday. Next: Bishop Ahr, Saturday, 1 p.m.
10. New Brunswick (2-4): After opening the season – its first as a Red Division member – with consecutive losses to perennial powers Piscataway (4-1 with a loss to Old Bridge), South Brunswick (3-2 with losses to Piscataway and Old Bridge) and Sayreville (5-1 with a loss to Piscataway), New Brunswick rebounded to win its next two division games including an impressive 39-14 victory over Edison. New Brunswick’s only other loss is to Middletown South (4-1 with a loss to Red Bank Catholic). The teams that defeated New Brunswick own a combined 16-5 record. Against Edison, quarterback Jah’Bree Seawright-Jeffery completed 12 of 20 passes for 351 yards and five touchdowns. Kadas Reams caught six passes for 175 yards and four scores. Curtis Revan had three receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown. Dylan Johnson amassed 115 yards on the ground, most of which came on an 82-yard scoring jaunt. Seawright-Jeffrey also starred on defense, recording 11 tackles and an interception. German Pimental posted a game-high 12 tackles. Next: Old Bridge, Friday, 7 p.m.
GMC FOOTBALL STANDINGS
Red Division
Sayreville (5-1) 4-1
Piscataway (4-1) 4-1
Old Bridge (3-1-1) 3-0-1
South Brunswick (3-2) 3-2
New Brunswick (2-4) 2-3
Edison (1-3-1) 1-3-1
East Brunswick (1-4) 1-3
Monroe (0-6) 0-5
White Division
St. Joseph (6-0) 5-0
Carteret (5-0) 5-0
South Plainfield (4-2) 4-2
J.F. Kennedy (4-2) 3-2
Woodbridge (2-4) 2-3
Colonia (2-4) 2-3
Perth Amboy (1-4) 1-3
J.P. Stevens (1-4) 1-4
North Brunswick (0-6) 0-6
Blue Division
Spotswood (5-1) 4-0
Bishop Ahr (4-2) 4-0
Highland Park (3-3) 2-2
South River (2-4) 2-3
Metuchen (1-4) 1-2
Dunellen (0-5) 0-3
Middlesex (0-6) 0-3
GMC FOOTBALL WEEK 7 SCHEDULE
Friday, Oct. 21
Asbury Park at Dunellen, 7 p.m.
Colonia at J.P. Stevens, 7 p.m.
East Brunswick at Edison, 7 p.m.
Old Bridge at New Brunswick, 7 p.m.
Piscataway at Monroe, 7 p.m.
Sayreville at South Brunswick, 7 p.m.
South Plainfield at Carteret, 7 p.m.
St. Joseph at J.F. Kennedy, 7 p.m.
Middlesex at Highland Park, 7 p.m.
Woodbridge at Perth Amboy, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 22
Bishop Ahr at Spotswood, 1 p.m.
Keansburg at South River, 1 p.m.
Keyport at Metuchen, 1 p.m.