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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
5 first-round games set for Friday night, Nov. 10 and 4 more for Saturday afternoon, Nov. 11
Of the nine games involving the 10 teams from Union County that qualified for the playoffs, seven of them are playoff rematches. The only two that have no history are first round Central Jersey, Group 2 encounters. They include third-seeded Johnson hosting sixth-seeded Holmdel tomorrow night and seventh-seeded Hillside at second-seeded South River Saturday. Those […]
SUMMIT – Now the games really matter. Let the playoffs commence! In Union County 10 of its 17 teams qualified, including Westfield, which for the first time is the top seed in North 2, Group 5. The two-time defending champion Blue Devils are 8-0 for the third straight year and have the state’s longest winning […]
9 Union County teams in playoffs with 1 week to go; 2 are on outside at seed 9 looking in
Cranford is not ready to settle for a consolation game. Last week the Cougars were on the outside looking in, ninth in the power point standings in North 2, Group 3. This week – after a convincing 34-21 home win over Hillside and a big 21-13 victory by Mountain Lakes over Newark West Side – […]
UNION COUNTY TOURNAMENTS BOYS’ SOCCER: FINAL Saturday, Oct. 28 at Johnson’s Nolan Field 2-Elizabeth vs. 1-Westfield, 7 p.m. SEMIFINALS Saturday, Oct. 21 at Johnson’s Nolan Field Elizabeth 2, Cranford 1 Westfield 3, Summit 1 GIRLS’ SOCCER: FINAL Saturday, Oct. 28 at Johnson’s Nolan Field 2-Scotch Plains vs. 1-Westfield, 5 p.m. SEMIFINALS Sunday, Oct. 22 at […]
The last time Hillside was in the playoffs the Comets were coming off a one-point mud-filled regular season setback to arch rival Roselle. That was the 2008 season, with the Comets – despite the 14-13 loss to Roselle – earning the second seed in North 2, Group 2. Hillside ended up playing both of its […]