Week 1 has arrived! For the majority of teams around the state, this is the weekend that everyone has waited for. We’ve got five great games on Thursday night to whet your football appetite.
Clifton 21 East Orange 0 | Zone6ix High School Football Kickoff
The 2021 North Group 5 Regional Championship game was the last time Clifton and East Orange met. The contest, a triple overtime affair, was decided by a controversial 100-yard touchdown scored by the Jags. Clifton sat on that loss for nine months and finally got their revenge on Thursday night. Trumain Lawson was a one man wrecking crew for the defense who held East Orange’s offense scoreless. Sophomore QB Romelo Tables tossed a pair of touchdowns and RB Devon Stroble toted the rock 27 times for 123 yards, while also catching a touchdown.
JSZ’s Jay Cook has the highlights from Clifton Stadium:
North Brunswick 19 South Brunswick 0
North Brunswick opens the 2022 season at 1-0 following a 19-0 win over rival South Brunswick. The story before kick-off was three-time State Champion Coach Joe Goerge returning to South Brunswick after a three year hiatus, but the focus quickly shifted to Raiders’ quarterback Frankie Garbolino. Garbolino, in his fourth year starting, scored the first touchdown of the game with 1:13 left in the second quarter. Garbolino would hit Zahmir Dawud for a 19 yard score in the third as he finished with 229 yards of total offense.
JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights:
Ocean City 21 Mainland 20
The Red Raiders trailed the Mustangs 20-7 late in the third quarter, but got rolling late to beat their rivals. Riley Gunnels threw two touchdown passes to Jack Hoag, while Duke Guenther rushed for the game-tying TD for OC (1-1). Villanova commit Jabriel Mace rushed for two touchdowns for Mainland (1-1) in the loss.
JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the thrilling highlights and interviews from Carey Stadium:
Ocean Township 28 Holmdel 14
Tyler Douglas is doing his thing in Oakhurst on the Field that Kenny Pickett Built. Douglas, a Temple recruit, accounted for two touchdown passes and two touchdown runs in the Spartans’ season-opening win against Holmdel.
JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights + reaction:
Shawnee 48 Camden Eastside 14
The Renegades looked to be locked in so far during the 2022 season. Shawnee (2-0) ransacked Camden Eastside (0-1) behind an incredible performance from Joe Papa. Papa handled 23 carries for 185 yards and four touchdown runs and also tossed a touchdown pass to Tyler Nickles in the win. The Tigers’ highlight of the night came from a Makhi Brunson 69-yard touchdown pass to Korey Williams.
JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights:
