South Brunswick High School quarterback Dan Gorzynski (9) finds some open room to run during the Vikings’ NJSIAA Group IV semifinal against Sayreville played Nov. 18 in Monmouth Junction. The visiting Bombers handed the Vikings their first loss of the season, 22-15. South Brunswick came back to end the season on a high note, defeating North Brunswick, 28-18, in the Thanksgiving Day rivalry game. The Vikings won a school-record 10 games this season, finishing the year at 10-1. PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff The South Brunswick High School football team bounced back from its NJSIAA Central Group IV semifinal loss to Sayreville with a solid 28-18 win over North Brunswick in the teams’ annual Thanksgiving Day game.
With the victory, the Vikings end the campaign with a 10-1 mark, the best record in team history, and the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Red Division championship. Along the way, coach Rick Mantz’s team bested long-time Red Division powers Sayreville and Piscataway, as well as upstart Woodbridge, during the regular season.
South Brunswick High School’s Darrell Harper (3) gives a stiff-arm to Sayreville’s Isaiah Cureton during the Nov. 18 NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV semifinal game played in Monmouth Junction. Visiting Sayreville avenged its opening-game regular-season loss to South Brunswick by beating the Vikings, 22-15. More photos www.gmnews.com. The annual rivalry will take on added significance next season when North Brunswick joins the GMC Red Division. South Brunswick has won three of the last four meetings between the teams, but North Brunswick holds the overall edge, 23-13-1.
South Brunswick fell in the Central Group IVsemifinal to Sayreville in an exciting contest that featured a slew of big plays and good coaching decisions on both sides. The Bombers jumped to a 15-0 first-half lead, but Mantz’s team battled back and seemed to have stolen the momentum in the third period. Sayreville finally scored the winner late in the fourth period on a 64-yard pass play on second down and one.
“Our kids had a great season, and anytime you put up 10 wins you have accomplished something,” Mantz said. “We’re very proud of what we were able to do this year, and it’s always good to end the season with a win. North Brunswick, meanwhile, ends the season with a 5-5 record, but the Raiders did qualify for the NJSIAA Central Group IV playoffs for the second successive season. Although the youthful Raiders fell to West Windsor-Plainsboro South, 30-7, in the first playoff round, North Brunswick earned its postseason berth with a big 62-32 triumph over South Plainfield.
In the Thanksgiving Day game, the host Vikings drew first blood against the Raiders on Azim Blakey’s 17-yard first-quarter TD run. The teams swapped scores during the second period, and South Brunswick went into the half with a 14-12 edge.
Tim Parson connected with Busairi Savage for 15 yards and North Brunswick’s first touchdown, but South Brunswick answered right back when Jevon Tyree scored on a 59- yard run to put his team back on top. Tyree ended the afternoon with 143 yards on 16 carries. He also caught one pass for 23 yards.
The Raiders got on the board again before the half ended when Parson found Devin Clark with a 13-yard pass that narrowed the Raiders’ deficit to 14-12.
The visitors then took the lead in the third period. Ron Nazaro picked up a Dan Gorzynski fumble eight minutes into the quarter and went 58 yards into the end zone to shock the crowd and give visiting North Brunswick an 18-14 lead. The Vikings quickly righted the ship, scoring just three minutes later on an eight-yard run by Dahrae Ford.
South Brunswick added some insurance late in the fourth quarter when Darrell Harper ran for a 30-yard touchdown to complete the scoring.