Another big week for local gridiron stars

PHOTOS BY JEFFGRANIT staff Above, Sayreville’s Vinnie Otero finds his way into the end zone from six yards out during the Bombers’ dramatic win over the Barrons in Woodbridge on Friday. At left, Shaune Thomas picks off a Woodbridge pass, which set up the Bombers’ second touchdown of the game.

This week’s high school football schedule includes some important games between teams that are very familiar with each other.

Leading the list is the contest between Sayreville and East Brunswick, scheduled for Friday night in Sayreville.

The Bears continue to gain respectability with each passing week. Just one week after turning heads with an inspired effort against the Greater Middlesex Conference’s top team, Piscataway, head coach Marcus Borden’s club dominated a solid North Brunswick squad in East Brunswick on Friday, en route to a 28-7 victory.

Spotswood’s other score came on an 85-yard kick-off return by John Dubovick. Meanwhile, Monroe played well against Perth Amboy, but eventually lost in overtime. Monroe had a 21-7 lead at one point following a pair of touchdown runs (from 4 and 3 yards out, respectively) from QB Jarred Jiminez and a 7-yard TD pass in the second quarter. But the Panthers came storming back in the second half, and eventually tied the game, before winning it in OT on a 25-yard scoring run from Sean Atkins. The loss dropped the Falcons to 1-3 on the year, and in need of a win to regain their confidence. A victory over South River would go a long way towards doing just that. Game time is 2 p.m. As for the 2-2 Spotswood Chargers, they will head to South Plainfield Friday night to take on a 2-2 Tiger team coming off an impressive 35-14 win over a solid Colonia team. Game time is 7 p.m.

The Bears were in control from the start in this one, as they engineered a nine-play, 62-yard scoring drive on their first possession — capped with a 5-yard TD pass from QB Matt Mariano to Danny Fessel. The Bears added another score in the second on a second TD pass from Mariano to Fessel (this one from 24 yards out).

Meanwhile, the E.B. defense was simply dominant, allowing just two first downs in the first half. And one of those came as the result of an E.B. penalty.

East Brunswick added three mores scores (a Rob Ayala 11-yard run, a Mariano 27-yard field goal and a 2-yard scamper from James McCloskey) before North Brunswick got on the board late in the fourth.

In other words, another tough game, another excellent effort from an East Brunswick team that is gaining confidence with each week.

They will need another big effort on Friday when they host the third-ranked Bombers, who are coming off a hard-fought 17-14 over Woodbridge.

Sayreville got a clutch 29-yard field goal from kicker Matt Kenny to seal the win, but not before receiving a bit of a gift from the Barrons. Kenny’s initial attempt from 44 yards was short, but a Woodbridge player nipped Kenny’s leg, leading to a 15-yard penalty. The result was the 29-yard game-winner.

Offensively, the Bombers got another strong showing from Shaune Thomas, who set up both Sayreville touchdowns with big plays. In the first quarter, he ran 30 yards to the Woodbridge six, where Vinnie Otero took it from there for the score. Then, in the second, Thomas picked off Woodbridge QB Joseph Skibar from his defensive back position, then found John Monaco with a 29-yard pass play to set up Scott Monestine’s 11-yard TD run.

The Sayreville defense struggled a bit against the high-powered Barron running game, allowing Garret Mozolic to rush for 131 yards on 22 carries. However, they were opportunistic, picking off Skibar three times, and holding a mistake-laden Woodbridge offense to just 14 points.

Friday night’s game with East Brunswick features a pair of teams who can play with anyone in the GMC, and have proven it. It promises t be a heavyweight battle. Game time is 7 p.m.

The Bears’ latest victim, North Brunswick, needs to bounce back from Friday’s demoralizing loss. Having No. 4 Old Bridge come to town probably isn’t exactly what the doctor ordered.

The Knights are coming off their bye week, and are hungry to get back on the winning track. Game time is 7 p.m. in North Brunswick.

The South River Rams and Monroe Falcons come into their game on Saturday as two teams that just experienced the opposite ends of the spectrum.

The Rams recorded their 500th win as a program with a 35-13 win over rival Spotswood on Saturday, while the Falcons lost a heart-breaking 27-21 overtime game to Piscataway.

South River’s game with Spotswood was actually closer than the final score indicates, as the Chargers actually had the lead, 7-0, at halftime following a Mike Dubovick 6-yard scoring run.

But head coach Rich Marchesi’s Rams came out of the break a different team, and proved it from the start, as Eric McDaniel scampered 38 yards just 26 seconds into the second half to tie the score at 7-7. It was all South River from there, as the Rams reeled off 28 straight points to earn its third win of the year in impressive fashion.

In doing so, the Rams got a pair of touchdown receptions (from 22 and 60 yards, respectively) from Thomas Lefever, another scoring run from McDaniel (from 5 yards) and a 15-yard TD from the dangerous Zyhair Dotson — while the South River defense shut down the Charger attack, limiting the Spotswood offense to less than 50 yards of offense.

BY DOUG McKENZIE

Staff Writer