High school football is back! JSZ has you covered with opening day highlights from all over the Garden State, including the highly-anticipated showdown between Bergen Catholic and IMG Academy in Ocean City. Check back as the highlights are posted throughout the night!
Somerville 21 Hillsborough 20
Somerville appeared to be running away with a victory after senior Terrell Mitchell went off for two touchdowns early. Thanks to a Somerville fumble and an 83 yd, 19 carries, and 1 touchdown by Hillsborough RB Jackson Jankowicz the Raiders made it a 21-20 game with 1:43 left in the game. Instead of kicking the extra point to tie the game, Hillsborough went for a 2-point conversion for the win. Somerville senior Brady Scheier made an unbelievable defensive play, swatting the ball away in the end zone to prevent the winning touchdown from Hillsborough. Scheier had a touchdown of his own from his QB Brendan Pacheco who threw for 111 yds, 2 touchdowns and 14 completions. Somerville beats the number 13 ranked new jersey pre-season polled team without their star edge Jayden Loftin. Loftin, the University of Tennessee commit tore his ACL just prior to the first game of the season and is out for it’s entirety.
JSZ’s Mackenzie Bruno has the highlights and reaction from Somerville:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Somerville is brought to you by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Somerset.
Manchester Twp. 26 West Deptford 21 | 2024 Battle at the Beach Football Classic
The Hawks saw their lead slip away in the third, but righted the ship in the fourth to pick up a thrilling win in the first high school football game of the 2024 season in the state of New Jersey. MJ Goins set things up with a big screen play for Manchester before Aidan Lunn found Ny’Zyr Battle for the go-ahead touchdown. Malik Pharmes added a pair of rushing touchdowns in the victory. West Deptford’s Brady Cobb and Cole Paskiewicz connected for the highlight of the day on a 97-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter.
JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights and reaction from Ocean City:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Manchester Township is made possible by Community Medical Center in Toms River.
Mainland 30 Atlantic City 18 | 2024 Battle at the Beach Football Classic
Jake Blum caught a touchdown pass and rushed for a touchdown, as the Mustangs outlasted the rival Vikings in Ocean City. Chase Hoag and Rocco DeBiaso also found the end zone in the win for Mainland. Peaky Roseborough threw two touchdown passes to Rutgers commit Sah’nye Degraffenreidt and rushed for a score in the loss for AC.
JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the highlights and interviews from OC:
IMG Academy (FL) 27 Bergen Catholic 14 | 2024 Battle at the Beach Football Classic
QB Ty Hawkins, an SMU commit, scored four touchdowns (one passing, three rushing) to lead his Ascenders to a bound-back win. IMG Academy (1-1) features a roster loaded with elite talent from top to bottom and they showed it in the second half where they pulled away from the Crusaders. Ohio State commit Quincy Porter had the highlight of the night for Bergen Catholic (1-0) with a 90-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.
JSZ’s Jay Cook has the highlights from Ocean City:
Ocean Township 10 Red Bank Regional 6
Alex Staten had an 82-yard touchdown run in the first half and Joe Bercovicz added a 30 yard field goal in the third to give head coach Chad King his first career win at his alma mater. Red Bank Regional had a chance to win the game and completed a Hail Mary pass from Quinn Neisz to Ari Fraser but fell just short at the 8-yard line.
JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the second half highlights from Little Silver:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Ocean Township and Red Bank Regional is made possible by Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch.
Bernards 35 Monmouth Regional 6
Logan Stevens had three touchdowns and the Mountaineers raced out to a 28-0 first half lead on the way to a convincing road win in the opener. Stevens returned the opening kickoff to the 28 yard line and scored from 18 yards out to give Bernards a 7-0 lead just 53 seconds in. Patrick Carlisle scored from two yards out and Max Austin’s 36 yard touchdown catch made it a 21-0 game. Stevens had a 58 yard touchdown in the second on a short pass before wrapping up the scoring for Bernards with his third touchdown of the game in the third quarter.
JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from Tinton Falls:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Monmouth Regional is made possible by Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch
