The annual Thanksgiving morning football game between East Brunswick and Old Bridge high schools certainly doesn’t match the Army-Navy game in terms of longevity and pageantry. However, there are some similarities.
The storied series between the Midshipmen and Cadets has been played 114 times, with Navy currently riding a 12-game winning streak. In the Battle for Route 18, the Knights from Old Bridge hold a 17-3 advantage over the Bears since 1994, when Cedar Ridge and Madison Central were combined to become one high school.
Here are some interesting historical facts surrounding the rivalry. Despite the Bears’ ineptitude against their Thanksgiving rivals, they have won two NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV titles during their series. In 2004, East Brunswick knocked off Jackson Memorial High School, 17-14. In 2009, it defeated Brick Memorial High School, 9-0. Old Bridge has yet to win a sectional crown, although the Knights did make it to the 2001 championship game, losing to J.P. Stevens High School, 14-7. Old Bridge’s predecessor schools — Madison Central and Cedar Ridge — have won championships, however. Before the NJSIAA added playoffs in 1974, the 1972 Cougars from Cedar Ridge were crowned unofficial state champions, according to state media rankings, by registering a 9-0 record and punctuating the season by converting a last-second victory against crosstown rival Madison Central.
The Spartans of Madison Central had their most dominant seasons in 1987 and 1988 when they captured sectional champions, beginning with a 21-0 victory over Neptune High School and following that with a 20-6 victory against Middletown High School South.
The judgment is purely subjective, but many media members who covered New Jersey high school football during that period were of the opinion that the 1988 team was among the best in state history.
Outgoing East Brunswick Supervisor of Athletics Frank Noppenberger has been on the sidelines for every game between East Brunswick and Old Bridge.
“The 2007 game was most memorable to me,” he said. “It was the first game played on our newly dedicated track oval and turf field. I remember it being a beautiful day with an overflow crowd. Of course, what made it even better was the fact the Bears won (35-14).”
Despite East Brunswick and Old Bridge’s rich history, each program has traveled in different directions since the last time the Bears won in 2010 by a 34-6 score. East Brunswick has struggled through 1-9, 2-7-1 and 1-9 campaigns, and last year’s game ended with a 35-6 loss to the Knights.
East Brunswick is coached by Bob Molarz, who is in his second season after taking over for longtime coach Marcus Borden. Under his guidance, the Bears are making progress toward once again becoming a winning team. Their record is 4-5, and East Brunswick would like nothing better than to stop its losing streak against Old Bridge and finish with its first nonlosing season since it last defeated the Knights.
The Bears have been quarterbacked by Kevin Hemmings, who possesses good scrambling ability and an accurate arm. His running backs include Kyle Wiggins, Brandon Tomori, Sam Walker and Zahir Jackson.
Joe Chetta has been a solid tight end, and Sean O’Sullivan is capable of hauling in Hemmings’ deep passes.
Although the usual big crowd is expected to show up at Old Bridge, which is where the game will be played this year, fans will be able to listen to portions of the contest on WCTC (1450 AM) radio. The rivalry is included in the station’s round-robin broadcast, which resumes after a 20-year hiatus.