Last year’s #1 team in Public Groups 3/4/5, Wall is now 0-2, losing to Rumson-Fair Haven and Red Bank Catholic. They could easily be the best 0-2 team in the state. Phillipsburg can also make a case, losing in a competitive game to St. Joe’s (Montvale) and then a good Hillsborough squad in overtime….Rumson-Fair Haven, by the way, has 42 seniors on their roster of 101 players. There are schools that would kill to have 42 players, period. And there aren’t any freshmen on that 101….LaQuint Allen of Millville had himself a game last week against Shawnee. He rushed for 304 yards on five touchdowns on 35 carries. Allen is a verbal commitment to Syracuse….I noticed recently that long-time Group 2 schools are now Group 3: Manasquan, Cedar Creek, and Lincoln….Pet Peeves: I hate being stuck behind a slow driver and I can’t get around him. Then the light turns yellow and he squeaks his way through the light. Meanwhile, I am stuck on red because he was so slow….And another thing: I can’t stand obnoxious PA announcers who make fools of themselves. It gets on my nerves when one says “and it’s another (school) FIRST DOWN!!!” all game long….Another fabulous performance came from North Brunswick’s Marquis Perry, who caught six passes for 291 yards and four touchdowns, while scoring another one running off a bobbled snap in punt formation against Old Bridge. Check out the Hudl video from that game; it’s worth it….DePaul is 2-0 and having big performances out of defensive lineman Qyaeir Price, another Syracuse verbal…. Another DePaul player worth mentioning is senior quarterback AJ Rodriguez. In this day and age, he waited his turn to play. While many transfer when they don’t instantly get their way, Rodriguez stuck it out and appears to be on his way to having a good year….In the past three years, Seton Hall Prep has beaten Bosco, St. Peter’s Prep, and St. Joe’s (Montvale)….Ridge had the ball for 27 plays and did not punt in their 45-7 win over Franklin….A player worth watching is linebacker Thomas Widawsky of Jackson. Watch his Hudl video and one can see he has a nose for the ball, takes very good angles, and slips through the cracks at the line of scrimmage to make a play. Best of all, he can tackle and is a willing tackler. He may not have the size the Alabama’s look for, he can make a D2 or D3 school very happy….Last week I noticed the Clifton band “only” had 63 members. They were still very good, but I remember when they would get around 100. Nonetheless, they are still one of the state’s best bands, if not the best….The Cranford-North Hunterdon game, won by Cranford in overtime by a 43-37 score, featured 300-yard passing performances by Cranford’s Shane VanDam and and North Huinterdon’s Luke Martini….In addition to LaQuint Allen’s big game for Millville, quarterback Nate Robbins was 23 of 26 for 253 yards and two touchdowns passing for the Thunderbolts….Monroe quarterback Riley Piscitelli was a perfect 10 of 10 for 173 yards and five touchdowns….Other big running performances came from Steve Burkhardt of Gloucester running for 272 yards and five touchdowns on 24 carries, Shawn Purcell of Manville rushing for 165 yards and three touchdowns on five carries, and Hunter Van Zant of Boonton gaining 149 and two scores on four carries….Last week’s Giant game saw all my fears come true. Let’s hope they can beat Washington….Another big came from Isaiah Allen of Woodbridge, scoring five touchdowns – three running and two receiving – in their 42-28 win over Sayreville.. He ran for 78 yards and had seven receptions for 196 yards, while having 95 yards on returns….That’s all for this week, I will return next week with some more bull!
Stats from nj.com