Greg Tufaro's Week 11 GMC football analysis and predictions

NORTH 2 GROUP IV SEMIFINAL

No. 6 Sayreville (6-4) at No. 2 North Hunterdon (9-1), Friday, 7 p.m.: Quarterback Matt Busher, a dual threat, engineers a balanced North Hunterdon offense that has accumulated 3,507 yards. Busher has completed 122 of 228 passes for 2,003 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has also rushed 85 times for 805 yards and eight scores. Leading receivers Jared McMahon (731 yards) and Griffin Honthy (488 yards) have combined for 13 receiving touchdowns. Luke Wain is North Hunterdon’s leading rusher with 816 yards and nine touchdowns on 168 carries. Kyle Henster (106), Erik Dehkes (95) and Stanley Derry (88) are the team’s leading tacklers. Noah Qeuntal (seven sacks) is North Hunterdon’s best pass rusher. Colin Lavigne (four interceptions) anchors the secondary. North Hunterdon has registered 27 sacks, 13 interceptions and six fumble recoveries. The Lions own a plus-4 advantage in the turnover department. McMahon and Honthy are return specialists. John Spies (32 of 36 PATs and 4 of 4 on FG attempts) is a reliable kicker. The Lions’ lone loss was a 20-7 setback to undefeated Phillipsburg. Sayreville has played a challenging schedule that includes overtime losses to Brick Memorial and Old Bridge and setbacks to defending sectional champion Piscataway and perennial state power South Brunswick. Sayreville’s four losses are by a total of 21 points. Quarterback Mark Whitford has completed 67 of 111 passes for 802 yards and eight touchdowns. Connor Holmes is Sayreville’s leading rusher with 1,079 yards and 13 touchdowns on 160 carries. Zuriel Wright has contributed 344 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Jacari Carter (289 yards) and Temple University commit Elijah Clark (165 yards) are Sayreville’s leading receivers with three touchdowns apiece. Colton Redding (82), Mike Germann (70), Damian Lupo (61), Tristan Behr (59) and Antwan Golson (56) are the Bombers’ leading tacklers. Sayreville has recorded 23 sacks, nine fumble recoveries and five interceptions. Placekicker Nick Milewski has converted 34 of 38 PATs and 3 of 4 field goal attempts. Prediction: Sayreville 24-21.

CENTRAL GROUP I SEMIFINAL

No. 4 Middlesex (8-1) at No. 1 Burlington City (8-1), Friday 7 p.m.: The Blue Jays’ only loss was a 26-20 overtime setback to South River. Middlesex has since reeled off seven consecutive victories. The Blue Jays have relied on a stellar running game out of the triple option and a solid defense to advance. Quarterback John Kressbach (789 yards), halfback Devin Lanza (767 yards) and fullback Tom Rau (588 yards) have combined for 21 rushing touchdowns. Kressbach also keeps opponents honest with the pass, although he has only attempted 26 this season. Jose Andujar (69) and Lanza (60) are Middlesex’s leading tacklers. Burlington City’s only loss was a 32-8 setback to Gateway on Oct. 27. The Blue Devils won the West Jersey Football League’s Freedom Division. Burlington City has averaged 41.8 points in its eight victories. Quarterback Thomas Roach has completed 58 of 117 passes for 970 yards and seven touchdowns to complement running back Jimmy Browne, who has amassed 1,887 yards and 25 touchdowns on 212 carries. DJ Woodbury and D’Andre Thurmond have combined for 806 receiving yards. Prediction: Middlesex 28-27.

CENTRAL GROUP V SEMIFINAL

No. 3 Old Bridge (7-2) at No. 2 South Brunswick (8-1), Friday, 7 p.m.: The Knights are a vastly improved team compared to that which fell 35-6 in the season-opener to South Brunswick. Old Bridge enters the contest on a six-game winning streak including victories over defending sectional champions Piscataway and Sayreville. The string of victories commenced with a 34-13 loss to undefeated Manalapan, which only led 20-13 with just over five minutes remaining. South Brunswick has reeled off six straight wins since falling 28-14 to Piscataway. The Vikings are also vastly improved since the first week of the season. Quarterback Felix Quinones continues to operate the triple-option with machine-like precision. He has rushed for 749 yards and 13 touchdowns and kept opponents honest through the air, completing 39 of 64 passes for 542 yards and nine scores. Penn State University commit Justin Shorter has caught 35 passes for 500 yards and seven touchdowns. The Vikings have a stable of running backs including Jaylan Lawson, Dylan Kriz and Jayvon Palmer. South Brunswick has not allowed more than two touchdowns in any of its eight victories and has limited five opponents to a single score. Old Bridge quarterback Anthony Imbimbo has rushed for a team-leading 631 yards and four touchdowns. He has also completed 15 of 33 passes for 349 yards and eight scores. The Knights also feature a stable of gifted backs including Chancellor Cooper, Julian Rivera, Liam Knowles and Tyler Haughney. Knowles and Manny Wheager have combined for 340 receiving yards. Old Bridge’s defense has been stellar, allowing 9.5 points per game in its victories. Prediction: South Brunswick 27-24.

NORTH 2 GROUP V SEMIFINAL

No. 3 Bridgewater-Raritan (8-2) at No. 2 Piscataway (7-2), Saturday, 1 p.m.: The Chiefs’ lone losses are 24-20 to Old Bridge, which returned two interceptions for scores, and 28-0 to undefeated Manalapan. Juwon Jackson is Piscataway’s leading rusher with 1,619 yards and 21 touchdowns on 167 carries. Nasir Best has contributed 380 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. Quarterback Joseph Hatcher has completed 62 of 113 passes for 784 yards and 10 touchdowns. Najjir Woods leads Piscataway with 274 receiving yards. Kamille Pryor, Khristian Hernandez and Woods are dangerous return specialists. Brijon Artis has three of Piscataway’s 11 sacks. Pryor has four of the Chiefs’ nine interceptions. Piscataway has converted on 21 of 27 red zone scoring opportunities. The Chiefs are averaging 245 rushing yards per game. Nick Recine (61), Jevon Buckmire (59) and Michael Petite (50) are Piscataway’s leading tacklers. The Panthers’ lone losses are to undefeated Phillipsburg and sectional semifinalist North Hunterdon. Bridgewater-Raritan is looking to reach its third straight sectional final. The Panthers’ experienced defense features Nick Celli and Allen Choy on the line. Middle linebackers Justin Bryant and Chike Nwankwo are stellar. Sophomore running back Anthony Goffe has performed exceptionally well since taking over for injured star David Usewick (ACL tear). Quarterback Greg Verano, a first-year starter, manages the offense well. Bryant (fullback) and Brandon Myers (tight end) are keys on offense. Prediction: Piscataway 21-20.