Shabazz 7 Weequahic 6

The Bulldogs and Indians clash on the gridiron every Thanksgiving for the annual “Soul Bowl” – it’s a game with decades of tradition in Newark.

Now that girls’ flag football has permeated New Jersey, the Soul Bowl also takes place in the spring.

Shabazz (5-0) continued their perfect season with a gritty 7-6 win over Weequahic. Madison Jacobs’ 15-yard touchdown pass and subsequent one-point conversion late in the first half proved to be the go-ahead score in a close game. Shabazz’s defense made a number of fourth down stops, including one in the final seconds of the game, to secure the win. Akasha Freeman’s touchdown run early in the first half was the lone score for Weequahic (4-1) in the loss.

JSZ’s Jay Cook has highlights + reaction from Weequahic Park in Newark:

Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Shabazz and Weequahic is brought to you by Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.