Hillside football tops host Johnson 19-16 in CJ, G2 semifinals; Advances to program’s 3rd state championship game and first since 1985

Comets receive 2 touchdowns from sophomore RB Louis

CLARK – A week ago Hillside had just one road win on its playoff resume. Now the Comets have three. As a result, Hillside will be playing in a state championship game for the first time in 32 years. Nahree Biggins made the game-saving tackle. Then Boris Nicolas-Paul – with just over a minute remaining […]

Westfield football defeats Elizabeth 13-6 to advance to 3rd straight N2, G5 state championship game; The opponent – once again – will be Bridgewater-Raritan

Alliegro - on a pass from Shapiro - and House score touchdowns for 2-time defending champions; Elizabeth closes its season at 5-6

WESTFIELD – The Westfield Blue Devils have not only proven that defense wins championships, but a solid, consistent, better-than-average defense also gets you to a third straight state championship game. For the ninth time in 10 games Westfield held its opponent to exactly one touchdown and – offensively – the Blue Devils once again scored […]

Rahway football had 2 leads, but ultimately fell to host West Essex in North 2, Group 3 semifinals; Pendleton, Moore score TDs

Indians will wrap season home on Thanksgiving vs. Johnson

NORTH CALDWELL – West Essex took Rahway’s first punch and came right back. West Essex took Rahway’s second punch and this time came back to take the lead for good. After visiting Rahway looked like it might be on its way to another road playoff victory, host West Essex had other ideas. One of them […]

Dayton boys’ soccer falls in Group 1 semifinals; Repeat N2, G1 state champion Bulldogs still turned in solid 18-4-1 campaign

OAKLAND – The first half went to Dayton, with the Bulldogs producing three quality shots that had to be turned away by Pompton Lakes senior goalkeeper Jason Dubrovich. Unfortunately for the North 2 champs they couldn’t put one in. The second half not only went to a swarming, more confident Pompton Lakes unit, but the […]

Hillside at Johnson FB playoff game moved to Saturday, Nov. 18 because of production of “A Streetcar Named Desire” taking place at Johnson Nov. 16 and 17

The two best football teams from the Valley Division of the Mid-State 38 Conference – first-time champion Johnson (5-0) and second-place Hillside (4-1) – will now clash Saturday (Nov. 18) night at 7 at Nolan Field in Clark in their Central Jersey, Group 2 playoff semifinal. The reason why is because Johnson’s production of the play […]

MONDAY EVENING QUARTERBACK: 2 Union County teams guaranteed of reaching state championship games

A banner 5-1 first-round playoff day last Saturday has produced two Union County vs. Union County semifinal matchups this weekend. That means Union County will have at least two teams playing in championship games the first weekend in December. Six of Union County’s 10 playoff qualifiers advanced to this weekend’s semifinal action, which is a […]

Roselle Park football wins first road playoff game in 25 years; Hillside captures first road playoff triumph since 1985

Westfield, Elizabeth and Rahway also victorious as 5 Union County teams advance to sectional semifinal contests

Roselle Park played to its ball-control strength early on to build a two-touchdown lead and then after Glen Ridge came back to tie the game the Panthers made a big play in the third quarter that led to a go-ahead touchdown which put Roselle Park in front for good. Visiting Roselle Park then added to […]

Repeat North 2, Group 1 state champion Dayton boys’ soccer team seeks to advance past Group 1 semis this time; Bulldogs to face North 1 state champ Pompton Lakes

Match will be played Nov. 14 at Indian Hills in Oakland

The next goal for the repeat North 2, Group 1 state champion Dayton boys’ soccer team is to win its Group 1 semifinal this time to reach the Group 1 state championship match for the first time since 2009. Last year the Bulldogs – after winning at Glen Ridge 2-1 in double overtime to win […]

Johnson football advances to Central Jersey, Group 2 semifinals for 2nd time in 3 years; Linden, Cranford, Roselle fall on first night of playoffs

Remember when “official” practice commenced back in August, with players having to put on helmets and pads during near 100 degree temperatures. Well Friday night, as the playoffs commenced, it was time to search for extra clothing. Temperatures in the 30s and as low as the 20s in some places made for a very frosty […]

Legendary New Providence football coach Frank Bottone passes at age 86; Winningest gridiron coach in Union County

He guided Pioneers to 8 state championships

Legendary New Providence football coach Frank Bottone has passed at the age of 86. He will truly be missed by not only his family and the New Providence community, but by a New Jersey football community that came to know him over the past 50 years. Bottone went out a winner, the last game he coached […]

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