The NJSIAA’s introduction of new regional bowl games to close out the high school football season adds another layer to playoff football in the Garden State. Over the next two weekends, Jersey Sports Zone will bring you extensive highlights and coverage of the 10 bowl games along with the three Non-Public sectional championships, all hosted at MetLife Stadium. 

Friday’s schedule features:

North Group 2 Bowl: Kittatinny vs. Rutherford, 1 p.m.

North Group 1. Bowl: Butler vs. Hasbrouck Heights, 4:05 p.m.

South Group 5 Bowl: Sayreville vs. Williamstown,  7:05 p.m.

Rutherford 62 Kittatinny 14 | North Group 2 Bowl

It was the game of their careers and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Abellany Mendez and Kyle Russell were nearly unstoppable as they powered the Bulldogs with a combined nine total touchdowns to win the first ever bowl game championship in New Jersey high school football history. JSZ’s Jay Cook has the highlights from MetLife Stadium:

Hasbrouck Heights 41 Butler 7 | North Group 1 Bowl

Jasiah Purdie scored five touchdowns in an electrifying performance as the Aviators close out a perfect 12-0 season and an incredible 32-1 run over the past three years.  Purdie had 19 carries for 138 yards and four scores on the ground and added five catches for 68 yards highlighted by a 42 yard TD catch to start the second half.  Hasbrouck Heights opened the game with a 19 yard TD from Michael Robertson on a hook and lateral and put the game away with three Purdie TD runs in the second quarter.  JSZ has the highlights and post-game reaction from MetLife Stadium:

Sayreville 14 Williamstown 7 | South Group 5 Bowl

After trailing 7-6 for nearly 48 minutes, the Sayreville Bombers made a play when they needed it most. With only 47 seconds left on the clock, Sayreville’s Connor Holmes recovered a botched punt snap in Williamstown’s end zone and the Bombers completed a two-point conversion to win the first ever South Group 5 bowl game. What an absolutely thrilling game from MetLife Stadium — JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the great highlights: