Summit has won 27 straight games.
The Hilltoppers have also won 48 consecutive regular season matchups.
Cranford is out to end both streaks this week.
Both are off to strong 3-0 starts, with defending champion Summit leading the Mid-State 38 Conference’s Raritan Division at 3-0. Cranford is tied for second in the division with Voorhees at 2-0.
The Cougars, who will host the Hilltoppers Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. at Memorial Field, have wanted to beat Summit and end its regular season success for some time now and came very close the last time the teams played at Memorial Field two years ago.
The squads also clashed in last year’s North 2, Group 3 semifinals, with Summit also coming out on top in that affair.
Cranford is coming off a 35-27 win at Roselle in a battle of 2-0 squads, Roselle the leader of the conference’s Mountain Division.
Summit so far:
Summit 26, North Plainfield 0 – at Summit
Summit 31, Gov. Livingston 7 – at GL
Summit 22, Warren Hills 3 – at Summit
Cranford so far:
Cranford 45, Warren Hills 6 – at Cranford
Cranford 48, Somerville 12 – at Somerville
Cranford 35, Roselle 27 – at Roselle
Summit last loss a regular season game on Nov. 7, 2008 at West Essex 37-12, which was its final game as a member of the Hills Division of the Iron Hills Conference. Summit played in the IHC for 13 seasons from 1996-2008.
Cranford is seeking its first 4-0 start since the 2011 team – which went on to capture North 2, Group 3 and a playoff title for the first time – began 7-0 before it fell at home to Summit 52-21. That was Cranford’s only loss three years ago in a program-best 10-1 campaign.
Summit vs. Cranford since first year of Mid-State in 2009:
2009: Summit 49, Cranford 7 – at Cranford
2010: Summit 17, Cranford 13 – at Summit
2011: Summit 52, Cranford 21 – at Cranford
2012: Summit 30 Cranford 27 – at Cranford
2013: Summit 48, Cranford 14 – at Summit
2013 N2, G3 semifinal: Summit 35, Cranford 14 – at Summit
More to come.
UNION COUNTY
FOOTBALL
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE:
Thursday, Oct. 2 (7 games)
Hillside at Pingry, 3:30 p.m.
Manville at New Providence, 5 p.m.
Elizabeth at Union, 7 p.m.
Westfield at Linden, 7 p.m.
Scotch Plains at North Hunterdon, 7 p.m.
Summit at Cranford, 7 p.m.
Dayton at Belvidere, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 3 (5 games)
Bernards at Rahway, 2:30 p.m.
Johnson at Gov. Livingston, 3 p.m.
Plainfield at Immaculata, 7 p.m.
Roselle at Delaware Valley, 7 p.m.
Roselle Park at Brearley, 7 p.m.
Off: None.
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS:
Friday, Sept. 26 (7 games)
B-Raritan 34, Union 21
Elizabeth 34, Franklin 0
Linden 34, Montgomery 20
Scotch Plains 51, Ridge 48
Delaware Valley 21, Johnson 20
GL 19, North Plainfield 7
Bound Brook 23, Roselle Park 21
Saturday, Sept. 27 (5 games)
Cranford 35, Roselle 27
Summit 22, Warren Hills 3
Rahway 35, Hillside 12
Brearley 50, Dayton 41
New Providence 34, Pingry 20
Off: Westfield, Plainfield.
THIS WEEK’S PICKS (12):
Hillside over Pingry
New Providence over Manville
Elizabeth over Union
Linden over Westfield
North Hunterdon over Scotch Plains
Cranford over Summit
Belvidere over Dayton
Rahway over Bernards
Johnson over Gov. Livingston
Immaculata over Plainfield
Delaware Valley over Roselle
Brearley over Roselle Park
Best bet: New Providence
Upset special: Rahway
Last week: 6-6
This year: 23-15 (.605)
Best bets: 3-0
Upset specials: 2-1
JR’S
UNION COUNTY TOP 10:
1-Elizabeth (3-0)
2-Linden (3-0)
3-Cranford (3-0)
4-Summit (3-0)
5-Roselle (2-1)
6-Westfield (1-1)
7-Scotch Plains (2-1)
8-Rahway (1-2)
9-Hillside (1-2)
10-Union (1-2)
Others: New Providence (2-1),
Gov. Livingston (1-2), Brearley (2-1),
Roselle Park (1-1), Dayton (1-2),
Plainfield (0-2), Johnson (0-3).