Football results: Big Central Conference and area roundup for Week 8

CHECK BACK OFTEN THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND. THIS ROUNDUP WILL BE UPDATED AS GAMES ARE REPORTED!

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

Plainfield 41, Franklin 7: Al-Khabir Bethune caught three touchdown passes, while E.J. Brown recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown and later returned a kickoff 75 yards for a score and Plainfield clinched the program’s first winning season since 2005 with a dominant victory at Hub Stine Field.

The Cardinals (6-2) have also qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2010, and will likely host a postseason game for the first time since 2002.

Ala-Meen Watkins threw two touchdown passes and ran in a score for Plainfield, which also got a TD pass from Kamai Lowery.

Franklin (2-7) scored on a second-quarter touchdown pass to Amir Glover.

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Bernards 42, Governor Livingston 7: Conner Laverty threw two touchdown passes and Terrance Hanratty ran in two scores and Bernards wrapped up an undefeated regular season in Berkeley Heights. Aiden Gribben and Max Austin caught TD passes for the Mountaineers (9-0), while Logan Stevens got things going with a six-yard score in the first period. Backup QB Casey Hoeckele hit Sean Arcelay with a 28-yard scoring strike to cap it for Bernards. The Highlanders fell to 6-3.

Spotswood 22, J.P. Stevens 14: Trey Lazar’s long kickoff return late in the fourth quarter led to Quin Esser’s second touchdown run of the day with 1:21 left in regulation, this one from six yards out, snapping a 14-14 tie and lifting Spotswood (8-1) to the win. Esser added the 2-point conversion run on the play for the final margin, sending J.P. Stevens 0-9 and its 40th straight loss. Esser opened the scoring with a three-yard TD run in the first quarter, and the game remained 7-0 until the third period when Marquise Webb hit Hoven Biffot with a Hawks TD pass. The conversion failed, and Spotswood’s lead was 7-6, until Lazar scored from six yards out, and the kick made it 14-6 with 4:08 left in the third quarter. But J.P. Stevens found the equalizer with 2:50 remaining in regulation, as Webb ran in from the 7-yard line, then hitting Naz Kimbrough for the 2-point conversion to tie it 14-14.

Metuchen 35, Dayton 0: Cody Cardillo ran in two first-quarter touchdowns, and Matt Flood and John Bolesta pitched in rushing scores and Metuchen won its second straight, improving to 3-5 with its second consecutive shutout. Cam Hayes-Durina connected with Kyle McPartian on a 15-yard touchdown pass to give Metuchen a 28-0 lead at halftime. The Middlesex-County Bulldogs also tallied a third-quarter safety. Dayton fell to 1-7.

OTHER SATURDAY SCORES

Newark Academy 20, Roselle Park 6:

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

Delaware Valley 41, North Plainfield 7: Luke Brogan threw three touchdown passes and Stoy Fohring ran in a pair of scores and Delaware Valley rolled in the regular-season finale at Bridgewater-Raritan High School. Brogan also added a TD run, with Michael Holzworth, Jared Leeds and Will Fritsche all caught scoring passes for the Terriers (5-3). North Plainfield is 1-8.

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Somerville 42, South Brunswick 14: Josh Rodriguez opened the game returning the kickoff 85 yards for a score, later catching a 60-yard touchdown pass from Brenden Pacheco, and Somerville cruised to 5-4. Terrell Mitchell ran in three touchdowns for the Pioneers, while Pacheco also scored on the ground. Jaylon Billups scored on a two-yard run, before Braden Paulman hit Shawn Schneider with a scoring pass for South Brunswick (5-4).

Phillipsburg 49, East Brunswick 7: Sam Dech ran 14 times for 131 yards and two touchdowns, and Matt Scherbo caught two touchdown passes, totaling 83 receiving yards and Phillipsburg improved to 7-1. Kevin Burgess returned an interception 32 yards for the Stateliners, who also got a TD run from Jah’Quill Dooley. Jett Genovese and Nick Stettner each threw touchdown passes in the win. The Bears fell to 0-9.

Montgomery 42, Linden 42: Michael Schmelzer completed 12-of-25 passes for 221 yards and five touchdowns, adding a rushing score, and Matt D’Avino notched eight catches for 130 yards and four TDs, plus a key interception in overtime, and Montgomery erased a 21-0 second-quarter deficit to force overtime and escape with a tie.

By rule, games end in a tie if it’s still knotted after each team has had their three overtime possessions. Montgomery (8-0-1) and Linden (6-2-1) exchanged TD on their respective first chances of OT, each connecting on an extra point. D’Avino nabbed an INT on Linden’s second chance, but a would-be game-winning field goal missed from 37 yards.

Linden then got a 14-yard TD run from Devon Chavis, who scored four times Friday, but the Tigers’ lead was 42-36 when the PAT went awry. Montgomery followed with a 16-yard Schmelzer-to-D’Avino connection to tie it, but, since it was the Cougars’ third possession of overtime, by rule, they were forced to go for the 2-point conversion and the run failed, ending the game in a draw. Trey McFadden caught a TD pass and was 5-for-5 kicking extra points for Montgomery, while Tequan Thomas threw a touchdown pass and ran on in for Linden.

Hunterdon Central 32, Perth Amboy 6: Jakob Saus busted through with 301 rushing yards on 39 carries and three touchdowns, adding a 41-yard reception, and Hunterdon Central surged to 6-3. RJ Hart threw for 126 yards and a touchdown to Connor Gray, who also grabbed an interception in the win. Shakir Price made an acrobatic catch of a Lavion Balthazar touchdown pass in the end zone to get the Panthers (2-7) on the board last in the second quarter.

Ridge 26, Union 7: Ryan Olivo, Ryan Tucker and Will Deady scored rushing touchdowns, and Ryan Silva booted a pair of field goals and Ridge prevailed at home. The Red Devils improved to 7-1, while the Farmers fell to 4-5.

A.L. Johnson 49, South River 0: Ryan George rushed for 85 yards and four touchdowns, while Jack Kalikas added two more rushing scores and A.L. Johnson had no trouble improving to 6-2. Robert Gallagher threw for 160 yards and a score, with Carlos Pina catching the TD. Nick Carlucci grabbed an interception and Zander Cistaro recovered a fumble in the win. South River is 0-8.

Bridgewater-Raritan 49, Old Bridge 21: Dane Sorenson caught two touchdown passes from Jack Bray after opening the game’s scoring with a 60-yard punt return for a score, later adding a capper for his fourth trip to the end zone on the night and Bridgewater-Raritan surged late for the lopsided win. Bray hit Sorenson with TD strikes of 20 and 69 yards, with the quarterback adding another score on a keeper. Drew Davies scored two rushing TDs in the win – his first two scores of the season, helping the Panthers improve to 3-6. Brody Nugent rushed for 98 yards and touchdowns for Old Bridge (3-6), which also got 113 rushing yards and one touchdown from Stephen Davies.

Roselle 35, Belvidere 0: Brandon Puryear threw two touchdown passes and grabbed an interception and Roselle notched the shutout win, its fourth straight victory. Ajani Phillips, Farrell Castel and Timohy Porter all ran in touchdowns for the Rams (4-4), while Nazir Baker and Michael Monnsammy caught TDs in the win. Hervinho Vilaire finished 5-for-5 kicking extra points for Roselle.

Rye Country Day 26, Pingry 24: Raffery Harris caught two Mike Hollomon touchdown passes, and the quarterback hit Matt Galusha with another, put Pingry (6-1) was edged at home, suffering its first loss of the season. Josh Woodford opened the Big Blue scoring with a rushing score.

Weequahic 16, Immaculata 7: Joe Fleming rushed for 45 yards and a score, giving Immaculata the early lead, but undefeated Weequahic scored 16 unanswered to send the Spartans to 5-2.

Middlesex 9, New Providence 7: Jax Jarvis’ third-quarter touchdown erased a 7-2 deficit and it proved to be the game winner, as Middlesex won a defensive battle to improve to 7-1. New Providence (4-5) got on the board first, as Ben Gulla scored on a 15-yard first-quarter run to cap a 60-yard opening drive. Middlesex broke through with a safety later in the period when the Pioneers were flagged for intentional grounding in their own end zone, and it remained a five-point game until third quarter. Dom Parenti kept a Middlesex drive going with a first down on a fake punt, before the Blue Jays continued the drive than ended with a 12-yard Jarvis scoring jaunt with 7:44 left in the period.

North Brunswick 44, Cranford 14: Samaad Hicks had over 300 yards of total offense and Tamir Gladden-Boone rushed for over 100 yards as the Raiders (8-0) finished the regular season undefeated. Hicks had two catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns and added 101 rushing yards on five carries with a score and a two-point conversion. He chipped in eight tackles on defense. Gladden-Boone added 106 yards on the ground on seven carries with two scores. Jack Garbolino and Jahir Dawud each had a two-point conversion. At quarterback, Al Trevelise threw for 110 yards and a score and Semir Tolbert threw a 42-yard touchdown. On defense, Logan Margulies had six tackles and Garbolino had six tackles with an interception, a tackle for a loss and a touchdown. Anthony Walker and Dawud each contributed five tackles and Juwel Hoagland and Abdul Kargbo had four tackles apiece. Dylan Jones and Luciano Fiorenza ran in touchdowns for Cranford (4-4).

Watchung Hills 20, Elizabeth 13: Alex Sitkowski ran for two touchdowns, Luis Garcia added another, and Watchung Hills’ defense forced four turnovers, grabbing a big win to improve to 7-2 and likely locking up a Top 2 seed in the North 5 playoffs. Bryce Arch, Byron McCann and Brayden Kelly grabbed interceptions for the Warriors, while Scott Drews recovered a fumble in the win. Arique Flemming three for 154 yards and a touchdown and ran one in, adding a rushing score, but Elizabeth slid to 1-8. Ibn McDaniels was on the receiving end of the passing TD for the Minutemen. Watchung Hills improved to 7-2.

Westfield 17, Hillsborough 0: Max Cho completed 18-of-26 passes for 200 yards, including two touchdowns to Enzo Ferreo, and Westfield’s defense did the rest, blanking the third-ranked Raiders (7-2). Nikolas Lukis added a 28-yard field goal for the Blue Devils (4-4), who should earn a big jump in the playoff seeding with the win over state-ranked Boro. Ferreo finished with nine catches for 133 yards in the victory. Julian Montez and Zac Wragg each picked up two sacks in the win, as Westfield notched six of them on the evening.

South Hunterdon 14, New Hope-Solebury 0: Anthony Venettone threw two touchdown passes and the South Hunterdon defense pitched its first shutout, moving the Eagles to 8-1. Aaron Salescik and Ruder Manfready caught TDs in the win.

Voorhees 35, North Hunterdon 14: Isaac Levitan ran in Voorhees’ first two touchdowns and then connected with Waylon Jowiaszas on a pass for another, and Matteo Tramutola and Brandon Kurzeja added second-half scoring runs and Voorhees snapped an 11-game losing streak against its rival, winning the Milk Can Game for the first time since 2011. The Vikings improved to 6-3. Tyler Anderson tossed two touchdown passes for North Hunterdon (0-9), both to Brennan Zundel.

St. Thomas Aquinas 48, Edison 8: Elijah Abass-Shereef and Chase Young each rushed for over 100 yards as the Trojans remained undefeated (9-0). STA led 14-0 after the first quarter and 24-0 at halftime. Abass-Shereef rushed for three 20-yard touchdowns and finished with 120 yards on 11 carries. Young rambled for 106 yards on 14 carries with a 41-yard TD run. Jack Joyce went 6-for-6 in extra points and kicked field goals of 23 and 40 yards. Chukwuma Odoh also rushed for a 9-yard score. Roman Blanks led the offense and was 10-of-17 and 125 passing yards. Defensively, Zacai Manigo had two interceptions, including a 34-yard return for a score and Christian Magliacano had 13 tackles. For Edison (3-6), Remy Bethea returned a fumble 25 yards for a score.

Sayreville 22, Woodbridge 20: Aaron Losada kicked a 41-yard field goal to give Sayreville a 22-13 lead in the fourth quarter as the Bombers improved to 7-2. Nick Nunez and Zaimer Wright each accounted for touchdowns. The quarterback Nunez threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to Wright and scored on a 1-yard run. Wright added a 2-yard run for a score. For Woodbridge (6-3), A.J. Bosch scored on a 72-yard un and caught a 55-yard pass from Derek Anderson.

FRIDAY’S OTHER SCORES

Hillside 20, Carteret 12

Monroe 47, South Plainfield 14

Newark Central 54, Highland Park 14

Piscataway 41, New Brunswick 6

Scotch Plains-Fanwood 39, J.F. Kennedy 0

THURSDAY'S RESULTS

Dunellen 34, Brearley 28: Chiekezie Ogbuewu exploded for 314 rushing yards on 34 carries with five touchdowns as Dunellen prevailed after a 14-14 tie at halftime. The win boosted the Destroyers' playoff chances ahead of this weekend's bracket release. Dunellen (5-3) entered the week at No. 17 in the South Group 1 United Power Rankings. The top 16 earn berths. Ogbuewu’s touchdown runs included scores from 9, 4, 1, 35 and 42 yards. Gavin Marranca led Brearley with 196 rushing yards on 26 carries. Ryan Obiedzinski threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Michael Kollarik and the quarterback also rushed for scores from 5 and 8 yards. Carter Stein added a 2-yard run for the Bears (3-5).

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Football results: Big Central Conference, area roundup for Week 8