Linden football reaches first state championship game since 1985; Tigers hold on to defeat Westfield 14-6 in North 2, Group 5 semifinals

Phipps, Dolbrice score TDs in second quarter

LINDEN – With playmakers such as Kyle Phipps and Juwan Dolbrice, Linden can score from anywhere on the field at any time. Sometimes it’s all that’s needed. In a weird way it was Friday night at Cooper Field. Led by touchdown runs of 58 yards by Phipps and 41 by Dolbrice in the second quarter, […]

Linden, Cranford, Summit, Roselle will host sectional semifinals; All are 1 win away from playing for a championship

Seniors Dolbrice, Zanelli become their school's all-time leading rusher

For the first time in awhile, four Union County football teams are one home win away from playing for championships. Those schools will be Linden and Cranford on Nov. 21 and Summit and Roselle on Nov. 22. All total, six Union County teams are still alive and playing in sectional semifinals, including Westfield on Nov. […]

Summit football comes back twice to thwart playoff upset bid by 4-5 Morris Hills; Option pass thrown by Helmer to Bonomo is game-winning TD

Zanelli scores 2 second-half TDs for Hilltoppers, who will next host Parsippany Hills

SUMMIT – Just because a team comes to town with a record under .500 it doesn’t mean that the game will be easy. Summit found that out Saturday at Tatlock Field, with visiting Morris Hills giving the Hilltoppers all they could handle in a North 2, Group 3 quarterfinal. As a matter of fact, Morris […]

Linden football trims North Hunterdon for first home playoff win since 1985; Dolbrice passes for 2 scores, rushes for 1 TD, while Phipps and Guillaume score twice

Tigers will host a N2, G5 semifinal next

LINDEN – When North Hunterdon played at Linden a month ago, the game was still up for grabs in the second half, with the visiting Lions leading by a touchdown before the host Tigers came back to grab the Mid-State 38 Conference-Watchung Division clinching victory. When the teams met a second time Friday night in […]

First-time division winners Linden, Cranford and Roselle are top seeds; 10 Union County teams qualify for football playoffs

Summit - the second seed and two-time defending champion in North 2, Group 3 - is 64-3 since start of 2009 season

Of the 10 Union County schools that made the state playoffs, four of them are two home wins away – without needing help from anyone – from playing for a championship. Those teams include first-time Mid-State 38 Conference division champions Linden, Cranford and Roselle and also Summit, which captured Mid-State division titles the first five […]

Roselle football comes back twice to top 7-0 Bernards, win Mountain Division; Hairston III scores winning TD with 11 seconds left

Rams also clinch top seed for Central Jersey, Group 2 playoffs

ROSELLE – Should I stay or should I go? That was the decision first-year quarterback Gerald Hairston III was faced with after he took the snap at the Bernards 2 with just 17 seconds left. With the game tied and it being only moments away from possibly being decided in overtime, Hairston dropped back for […]

Johnson football evens record for first time this season; Playoffs loom next weekend

Crusaders score 6 TDs in 43-0 home win over Somerville

CLARK – A month ago Johnson found itself in overtime against non-division foe Governor Livingston. The Crusaders were 0-3 at the time and against GL they were ahead by two touchdowns at the half. After the host Highlanders came back to tie the game, Johnson senior running back Matt Pedicine scored in overtime. Then the […]

Johnson football didn’t panic after 0-3 start; Crusaders will make CJ, G2 playoffs

The Johnson Crusaders did not panic after a 0-3 start included two losses by exactly one touchdown and another by a single point. The Crusaders, guided by first-year head coach and 2006 ALJ graduate Anthony DelConte, bounced back to win three of their next four to clinch a playoff berth in Central Jersey, Group 2. Presently, […]

Union County football schedule for this weekend; Dayton, Johnson, Westfield win; Brearley ties

Here is the Union County football schedule for this weekend, last week’s results, my picks and my Top 10. The  playoffs commence in two weeks.   UNION COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL   THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE: Friday, Oct. 31 (6 games) Ridge at Union, 7 p.m. Johnson at Belvidere, 7 p.m. Hillside at Delaware Valley, 7 […]

Union girls’ soccer to play in first UCT championship game; Will face 4-time defending champion Scotch Plains

Farmers blanked GL 2-0 in semifinals behind goals from forwards Natalie Caggiano and Nneka Moneme; senior goalie Rivero made 5 saves for shutout

For the Union Farmers this is unchartered territory. For their opponent – the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Raiders – the total opposite can be said. Scotch Plains will be playing in its 10th consecutive championship game. Union is preparing to make its debut in the final. Despite that disparity, these teams know each other well, having faced […]