Central Jersey Sports Radio

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3 weeks ago

Heady Montgomery point guard Ethan Lin repeats as CJSR Somerset County Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year Basketball is a team sport, but without Ethan Lin, it's highly likely Montgomery isn't Central Jersey Group 4 champions three years running. The smart, skilled, and unflappable point guard was the Central Jersey Sports Radio Somerset County Boys' Basketball Player of the Year in 2024-25, and now he's repeated the feat in 2025-26. Last season, he was coming off a horiffic broken leg injury that truncated his sophomore season.

NEW: Heady #Montgomery point guard Ethan #Lin repeats as CJSR #SomersetCounty Boys' Basketball #PlayeroftheYear! Plus HMs from #Gill #RutgersPrep #Immaculata #Hillsborough and #Manville! #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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3 weeks ago

Four titles earns Gill St. Bernard’s No. 1 ranking in final Bellamy & Son Paving Boys’ Basketball Top Ten When high school basketball teams open their preseason, hitting the gym in earnest for the first time, they can set all kinds of different goals. For most with high-end aspirations, there are four main ones: win the division, win the county, win a sectional, win a state championship. In 2025-26, it was check, check, check, and check one more time for…

NEW! Four titles earns #Gill St. Bernard's No. 1 ranking in final Bellamy & Son Paving Boys' Basketball #TopTen. See where the rest landed: #Colonia #EastBrunswick #Hillsborough #Immaculata #Manville #Montgomery #PerthAmboy #Piscataway #RutgersPrep #StJoseph #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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1 month ago

NJSIAA State Tourney Roundup: Colonia boys clinch 6th straight trip to sectional finals; Bound Brook girls overcome early abyss to reach finals; South Plainfield, Manville boys, Somerville girls bow out What a run by Colonia. The four-time defending North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 boys' basketball champions are back looking for a fifth straight state title, after a win in the sectional semis Wednesday night, while the Bound Brook girls came back from a disastrous start at home against Roselle Park to reach the Central Jersey Group 1 final, its first since the 2020 season, which came to an end in the midst of the state playoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wednesday #NJSIAA State Tourney Roundup: #Colonia boys clinch 6th straight trip to sectional finals; #BoundBrook girls overcome early abyss to reach finals; #SouthPlainfield, #Manville boys, #Somerville girls bow out. Recaps, links, audio, schedule at the link! #NJHoops #statetournament

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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1 month ago

Boys’ Basketball Roundup: Colonia, South Plainfield careen toward each other in North 2, Group 3; Manville rallies to win thriller; St. Joseph, Gill St. Bernard’s, Rutgers Prep all advance to sectional semis It was a 6-4 Monday night for the ten boys' basketball teams fromthe Central Jersey Sports Radio coverage area in action in the NJSIAA high school basketball tournament. Colonia and South Plainfield both moved on to sectional semifinal play in separate sides of the bracket in North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3, while Manville overcame a big second-half deficit to surge past stunned Middlesex in Central Jersey Group 1.

Boys' Basketball Roundup: #Colonia, #SouthPlainfield careen toward each other in North 2, Group 3; #Manville rallies to win thriller; #StJoseph, #Gill St. Bernard's, #RutgersPrep all advance to sectional semis. Scores, recaps, interviews, skeds at the link! #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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1 month ago

Boys’ Basketball Roundup: Top-seed Colonia cruises, while Somerville, South Plainfield, Middlesex, Manville, Timothy Christian all win first round games in state tourney play Six of 14 boys' basketball teams in the Central Jersey Sports Radio coverage area won their opening round NJSIAA state tournament games Friday night, after waiting two days to play due to the aftermath of this weekend's blizzard. (We're still waiting on a Non-Public North B score from the Wardlaw-Hartridge game against Pioneer Academy, which was a 4:30 pm tip.)

Boys' Basketball #Roundup: Top-seed #Colonia cruises, while #Somerville, #SouthPlainfield, #Middlesex, #Manville, #TimothyChristian all win first round games in state tourney play! Recaps, scores and upcoming sked all at the link! #GMC #Skyland #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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1 month ago

Girls’ Power Points Update in Central Jersey sections: Franklin appears to have locked down No. 1 seed in CJ4 with upset of Gill in SCT; Bound Brook looks like 2-seed in CJ 2 With playoff qualification in high school basketball closing Saturday at the NJSIAA cutoff, Franklin's big win over Gill St. Bernard's in the Somerset County Tournament semifinals may have been enough to help the Warriors claim the top-seed in Central Jersey Group 4, the only section to be lead by a CJSR-area team. Below is a look at all the area teams in the Central Jersey playoff brackets, based on NJ.com power point standings as of 2 pm on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

Girls' #PowerPoints in #CentralJersey: #Franklin appears to be No. 1 in CJ4 with upset of #Gill; #BoundBrook looks like 2-seed in CJ 2. Plus #EastBrunswick #Hillsborough #Monroe #NewBrunswick #OldBridge #Montgomery #Sayreville #Metuchen #SouthRiver #Spotswood #HighlandPark #Manville and more!

Steven Rodas

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1 month ago

One 38-year-old mother saw engineers milling about her #Manville house this past summer. She assumed things were progressing well after her family of 6 was told they were a “primary candidate” to elevate.

But FEMA changed who qualifies for $$.

“We were pretty shocked,” she told me.

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 months ago

Manville girls’ coach Mike Knitowski wins 100th game as Mustangs defeat College Achieve Central The Manville girls' basketball program is having one of its best seasons in years, with a shot at its first winning record in well over a decade. Senior Sadie Fleming not only joined the 1,000 point club, but also reached that milestone in the rebounding category, no small feat. Now, head coach Mike Knitowski has his 100th career win.

NEW: #Manville girls' coach Mike #Knitowski wins 100th game as #Mustangs defeat #CollegeAchieve Central. Story and interview at the link! #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 months ago

In final few weeks of the regular season, most GMC, Skyland boys’ division titles are settled The Somerset County Tournament was seeded Monday night, and the Greater Middlesex Conference will take its turn one week from today. But there are still division titles up for grabs in both leagues. So, who already has hardware, and who's still fighting for a banner? Here's a look at the GMC and Skyland Conference division races as we hurtle toward the postseason.

NEW: In final few weeks of the regular season, most #GMC, #Skyland boys' division titles are settled. A look at winners, with one to be decided! #StJoseph #EastBrunswick #PerthAmboy #Metuchen #SouthAmboy #PiscatawayMagnet #AmboyMagnet #Gill #Manville #Pingry #Franklin #Immaculata

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 months ago

INSTANT REPLAY – BOYS: Manville 58, Bound Brook 41 Manville used a 21-0 run to erase an eight-point third-quarter deficit, pulling away in the fourth to beat visiting Bound Brook 58-41 in a Skyland Conference Mountain Division game, behind 15 points from Jimmy Cuadra and 12 from Josh D'Ambrosio. Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko And Alec Crouthamel call all the play-by-play from Manville High School on January 16, 2026.

INSTANT REPLAY - BOYS: #Manville 58, #BoundBrook 41. Listen back to the #Mustangs' wild comeback against the #Crusaders at the link! #Skyland #NJHoops #boysbasketball

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 months ago

Big third quarter run, masterful defense, send Manville past Bound Brook a second time, 58-41 After a game, win or lose, coaches will show their team the game film to look at all the things they can improve upon and the things they need to work on. So, if at any other point this season, Manville is struggling defensively, head coach Bill Rooney will want to put on the tape of Thursday night's home game against Bound Brook, starting with about five minutes left in the third quarter.

BIG RALLY! Big third quarter run, masterful defense, send #Manville past #BoundBrook a second time, 58-41. Finished the game on a 37-12 run. Postgame w/ senior Collin Shimp and HC Bill Rooney presented by #Sportsplex at Metuchen at the link! #NJHoops #Crusaders #Mustangs

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 months ago

After first win over rival Bound Brook in 20 years, Manville seeks season sweep at home Friday nite Hard to believe that two similar-size schools don't play each other every year in every sport, but that was the case for the past decade, as Manville and Bound Brook hadn't played each other in basketball for a decade. Maybe it had something to do with the Crusaders winning all 25 matchups between then from 2005 through 2015, by wide margins in the later years of that stretch.

PREVIEW: After first win over rival #BoundBrook in 20 years, #Manville seeks season sweep at home Friday nite. LIVE at 6 PM on CJSR! We talk to both HCs at the link! #NJHoops #Crusaders #Mustangs #Skyland

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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3 months ago

Some holiday tournament games get in, but others aren’t so lucky due to winter storm The Manville Holiday Basketball Tournament got all four games in, but the Butch Kowal Holiday Tournament up at Rahway was not so lucky. Manville's activities got started early, with North Plainfield's boys beating Dunellen in the opening game, which tipped off at 9 am, while the host Mustang boys followed it up with a tense win over Highland Park. You can read our recap of the Manville game here…

NEW: Some holiday tournament games get in, but others aren't so lucky due to winter storm. More on what was moved, and what got played at the link! #Manville #Middlesex #NorthPlainfield #Immaculata #Franklin #NJHoops #GMC #Skyland

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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3 months ago

Manville hangs on for 48-46 win over Highland Park in opening round of Mustangs’ Holiday Tournament, will meet North Plainfield Tuesday After a big 15-0 run to break a 26-all tie and end the third quarter, Manville had to sweat one out, as the Mustangs hung on to beat Highland Park 48-46 in the opener of their own holiday tournament Friday afternoon. Manville (3-2) got 12 points apiece from junior Jonathon Gosk and sophomore Owen Kenyon, the second of whom scored six straight points in that third-quarter run, with and and-one followed by a triple.

GAMER w/ AUDIO: #Manville hangs on for 48-46 win over #HighlandPark in opening round of Mustangs' #HolidayTournament, will meet #NorthPlainfield Tuesday for the championship. Story and audio with #Mustangs HC Bill #Rooney at the link! #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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3 months ago

Mid-Week Boys Basketball Update: It’s early, but here are some GMC, Somerset schools getting off on the right foot The season is not even a week old yet, but many teams have already played two or three games, and some are off to better starts than others. Sure, division play hasn't really kicked in yet for some, and the schedule will get more difficult for many, but many teams won their opening games and some are 2-0 already. JP Stevens grabs a couple wins early...

NEW: Mid-Week #BoysBasketball Update: It's early, but here are some #GMC, #Somerset schools getting off on the right foot! #JPStevens #Piscataway #Carteret #SouthAmboy #Manville #Montgomery #Gill #Bridgewater and more!

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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3 months ago

In split award, South Plainfield’s Dominic Massaro is CJSR Special Teams Returner of the Year, while Cooper Smoragiewicz of Summit’s clutch boots win him Kicker of the Year Sometimes, we just can't decide. Here we were, four members of the Central Jersey Sports Radio staff, gathered at a local watering hole to determine all our Player of the Year honorees, and we had an easier time picking appetizers. Then again, maybe that should have been a sign: We eventually settled on three of them. For the 2025 CJSR Special Teams award, we hemmed and hawed, then just decided to heck with it.

NEW! In split award, #SouthPlainfield's Dominic #Massaro is CJSR Special Teams #Returner of the Year, while Cooper #Smoragiewicz of #Summit's clutch boots win him #Kicker of the Year! Interviews and HMs from #Bernards #Manville #Montgomery #Spotswood and #Union at the link! #BigCentral

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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4 months ago

It’s been a while since these teams have lost a Big Central football game, and they’ll go into 2026 with long winning streaks The Bernards football team began the 2025 season with a 23-game winning streak against the Big Central Conference. After winning the North 2, Group 2 title in 2023, then reaching the finals in 2024, this year's team suffered a first-round exit, falling to Madison at home, 22-21. These things happen, but Bernards will ride a 32-game win streak against league competition into the 2026 season, with a chance to set the Big Central record.

WRAPPING UP: It's been a while since these teams have lost a #BigCentral football game, and they'll go into 2026 with long winning streaks. More at the link! #Bernards #NewProvidence #Manville #StJoseph And whay about #Glassboro? #NJFootball

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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5 months ago

Big Central guaranteed finalists – and title in North 2, Group 4 – but who else will play for trophies next weekend? A look at the semis There are eleven Big Central Conference public schools left in the state playoffs, less than half of the 25 teams that initially qualified. But of those that remain, there are some good opportunities for the league to win championships, and there's even a guarantee it will in North 2, Group 4, where all four teams playing in semifinals Friday are from the BCC.

ROUND 2! #BigCentral guaranteed finalists - and title in North 2, Group 4 - but who else will play for trophies next weekend? A look at the semis! #BridgewaterRaritan #Piscataway #Sayreville #OldBridge #Montgomery #Woodbridge #Colonia #Phillipsburg #Summit #NewProvidence #Manville #Aquinas

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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5 months ago

Carteret’s junior Al-Naiquan Boseman, with 300-plus yards and six TDs, honored as Higgins Speed Lab “Speedster of the Week” for Week 9 As we've been doing all season long, Central Jersey Sports Radio is highlighting the high school football "Speedster of the Week" presented by Higgins Speed Lab in South Brunswick, recognizing the top runningbacks in the Big Central Conference every week. And the Week Nine winner is Carteret's Al-Naiquan Boseman! In a breakout season for the Ramblers, with 1,397 yards and 14 touchdowns, Boseman saved the best for last.

NEW! #Carteret's junior Al-Naiquan #Boseman, with 300-plus yards and six TDs, honored as #HigginsSpeedLab "#Speedster of the Week" for Week 9! Plus HMs from #OldBridge #Edison #Union #SouthPlainfield #SouthRiver #Summit #NorthPlainfield #Manville #GovernorLivingston

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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5 months ago

“The Big Central in 2 Minutes” – More Playoffs! The playoffs are here, and Mike Pavlichko takes a quick look on this week's edition of "The Big Central in 2 Minutes!" On this week's episode, a thought about playoff upsets for Somerville and Bernards, a look at a guaranteed champ in North 2 Group 4, congrats the Manville on its first playoff win, we look at the unbeatens and celebrate the end of a 32-game losing streak!

"The #BigCentral in 2 Minutes" - More #Playoffs! Mike takes a look at who's left, who's out, gives kudos to #Manville, #NewProvidence, NewBrunswick and more! #NJFootball

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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5 months ago

INSTANT REPLAY – Central Jersey Group 1 First Round: (4) Manville 35, (5) Asbury Park 0 Isaiah Bennett scored two touchdowns, while Josh D'Ambrosio threw for one and ran for another as fourth-seeded Manville earned its first-ever playoff victory, a 35-0 win over fifth-seed ASbury Park in the opening round of the Central Jersey Group 1 playoffs. Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel call all the play-by-play live from Ned Panfile Stadium in Manville, NJ, on October 31, 2025: 1st Half 2nd Half

INSTANT REPLAY - Central Jersey Group 1 First Round: (4) #Manville 35, (5) #AsburyPark 0. Listen to every play of the #Mustangs' historic win!

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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5 months ago

Friday Night Big Central Playoff Roundup: Phillipsburg, Bridgewater-Raritan win big; Somerville, Bernards upset; seven BCC teams move on to sectional semifinals next week The Big Central went 7-9 in opening round NJSIAA playoff action Friday night, with the two top-seeds - Phillipsburg and Bridgewater-Raritan - winning big, while high seeds Bernards and Somerville both were upset, each by just one point. The Stateliners rolled past eight-seed Newark Central, 55-14, at Maloney Stadium in North 2, Group 4 action, while the Panthers were 35-6 winners over eighth-seeded Linden in North 2, Group 5.

Friday Night #BigCentral #Playoff Roundup: #Phillipsburg, #BridgewaterRaritan win big; #Somerville, #Bernards upset; seven BCC teams move on to sectional semifinals next week including #Sayreville #Colonia #Montgomery #Woodbridge and #Manville! Details at the link! #NJSIAA #NJFootball

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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5 months ago

Manville makes history! Mustangs trounce Asbury Park, 35-0, for first-ever playoff win The Manville football team had only made the playoffs five times prior to this season, which has been a dominant one against Big Central competition any way you slice it. Turns out, after coming up empty in all five previous appearances, the sixth time was the charm. The fourth-seeded Mustangs got two touchdowns from Isaiah Bennett, two from Sam Echeverri - one on a run and one on a pass from Josh D'Ambrosio - and a run from D'Ambrosio himself en route to a 35-0 dismantling of fifth-seed Asbury Park Friday night in the Central Jersey Group 1 first round, to give Manville its first playoff win in program history.

WOW! #Manville makes history! #Mustangs trounce #AsburyPark, 35-0, for first-ever playoff win! Postgame VIDEO with Josh D'Ambrosio, Evan Canica, Isaiah Bennett, and more at the link!! #NJFootball #BigCentral

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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5 months ago

The playoffs are here! Part Two of our first round, Big Central postseason preview, with a look at Groups 1 through 3 It's time for the playoffs! We got through opening weekend in the sweltering heat of the late dog days of August. We didn't really have much of a fall, but the weather mostly nice. And Cutoff Weekend last weekend saw some teams sweating it out, some disappointed, and others rewarded for their play during the season. Now, it's time to get it all going!

The #playoffs are here! Part Two of our first round, #BigCentral postseason #preview, with a look at Groups 1 through 3! Including #Cranford #Summit #Somerville #Bernards #Voorhees #Johnson #Brearley #NewProvidence #BoundBrook and #Manville! #NJFootball #NJSIAA

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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5 months ago

Manville seeks first-ever playoff win as unbeaten Mustangs host Asbury Park in CJ1 1st round The last time Manville had a perfect season, there were no playoffs. The year was 1968, and the Mustangs went a perfect 9-0. They were denied a Central Jersey Group 1 championship, when Highland Park and Bound Brook, both 8-1, finished ahead of them, despite the fact Manville beat the Crusaders during the season. Gee, a playoff controversy? That never happens.

PREVIEW! #Manville seeks first-ever #playoff win as unbeaten #Mustangs host #AsburyPark in #CJ1 1st round Friday night. Mike Pavlichko has a preview with HC Dave Markowitch, at the link! #NJSIAA #BigCentral

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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5 months ago

St. Joseph-Metuchen, Phillipsburg remain atop Big Central Power Rankings, now closer in state Top 25, which finds Don Bosco, Winslow at top For a third straight week, St. Joseph-Metuchen leads the Big Central Power Rankings, with Phillipsburg right behind them, while Don Bosco Prep and Winslow Twp. are 1-2 on the statewide list. New Providence - still unbeaten - has now moved into third, with Old Bridge pulling up to four and Somerville down one to fifth as the Knights and 'Ville flip flop.

NEW! #StJoseph-Metuchen, #Phillipsburg remain atop #BigCentral Power Rankings, now closer in state #Top25, which finds #DonBosco, #Winslow at top. Plus #NewProvidence #OldBRidge #Somerville #Bernards #Rahway #Manville #Piscataway #Woodbridge and more! #NJFootball

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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5 months ago

Perfection! Manville caps first undefeated regular season since 1968 with 49-7 win at Bound Brook; Mustangs claim Freedom Silver title It was all there laid out for the Manville football team this week. A chance to clinch their first perfect regular season since 1968, and a chance to win the Freedom Silver Division title in the Big Central Conference. They took those chances, and ran with it. And threw it. And scored a bunch in a 49-7 road win at Bound Brook, which has put together a nice five-win regular season, and may still have a chance at making the playoffs with some help.

Perfection! #Manville caps first #undefeated regular season since 1968 with 49-7 win at #BoundBrook; #Mustangs claim Freedom Silver title in the BCC. Marcus #Borden has postgame at the link, presented by #Sportsplex at Metuchen! #NJFootball #BigCentral

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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5 months ago

Clean Sweep! Somerville’s Vesuvio-Bush takes Week 7 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the Week award on dominating performance When debating who to choose for the Week 7 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of the week, I asked by broadcast partner for that game, Justin Sontupe, for his take. "No doubt in my mind Somerville loses without him. He did everything." Surely, it takes a whole team to win. He doesn't do what he did without the offensive line. Or the defense - which he had to be a part of when a cornerback went down - holding a talented Plainfield team in check.

Clean Sweep! #Somerville's #VesuvioBush takes Week 7 #Bellamy & Son Paving #PlayeroftheWeek award on dominating performance! Plus HMs from #Manville #Montgomery #OldBridge #PerthAmboy and #Rahway and other nominees! #NJFootball #BigCentral

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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5 months ago

Cutoff Weekend Group 1 Playoff Update: New Providence still has good shot at No. 1 seed, but may need help; can Brearley make it with a win? It's Cutoff Weekend in New Jersey high school football, and we're taking a look at the playoff scenarios for every Big Central team in contention. This week, Strength Index values are locked in, and out-of-state opponent SI values also have been updated by Gridiron New Jersey, which does all the official calculations of the NJ UPR formula for the NJSIAA. And we've double- and triple-checked our own standings to make sure they match with Gridiron's.

Cutoff Weekend Group 1 #Playoff Update: #NewProvidence still has good shot at No. 1 seed, but may need help; can #Brearley make it with a win? Plus #Belvidere #BoundBrook #HighlandPark #Manville

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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5 months ago

Group 1 Playoff Chase for Week 7: New Providence in running for a top seed, Manville is in, while Bound Brook and Highland Park try to make their push With the NJSIAA's Cutoff Weekend for high school football next week in New Jersey, Central Jersey Sports Radio is taking a closer look at the race for the playoffs, including who's in the running for top seeds, who's in, who's jockeying for position, and who has some work to do just to get in, or stay in the hunt. We'll break down each supersection, with individual team analysis for all Big Central Conference schools.

Group 1 #Playoff Chase for Week 7: #NewProvidence in running for a top seed, #Manville is in, while #Brearley, #BoundBrook and #HighlandPark try to make their push. We break it down at the link! #NJFootball #NJSIAA #BigCentral