SPOTSWOOD
The Spotswood High School football team had played the first four games on its schedule, and it looked for all the world like it would turn out to be a tale of two seasons.
The Chargers scored convincing victories against Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Blue Division opponents Dunellen High School, 37-6, and Highland Park High School, 54-28. However, against Shore Conference teams Shore Regional High School and Point Pleasant Beach High School, the Chargers lost by 7-3 and 17-7 scores, respectively.
The losing streak against Shore Conference teams was finally halted Oct. 10 when Spotswood (2-0, division, 3-2 overall) eked by winless Holmdel High School (0-4) by a 14-13 margin.
The game was essentially even with the Chargers prevailing because the Hornets missed an extra point.
In the eyes of Spotswood coach Andy Cammarano, the close games with Shore Regional and Point Pleasant Beach may have ultimately helped his team get past Holmdel.
“They play good football [in the Shore Conference], and we lost some tough games,” Cammarano said. “But in some respects, the closeness of the games was good for us. Maybe we don’t win [against Holmdel] if we hadn’t gone through those experiences.”
The coach hopes the momentum his team gained by prevailing against Holmdel continues when the Chargers travel to South River High School (0-2 division, 0-5 overall) Oct. 17 for their third Blue Division contest.
“It’s always a big game,” Cammarano said, speaking about the rivalry with the Rams. “Last year, we beat them (39-7) and that started us on a roll. We’re hoping this game serves as a springboard for doing what we did a year ago.”
Following the South River victory, Spotswood knocked off Middlesex High School and Metuchen High School — and Keyport High School in between — to capture its first Blue Division championship in 14 years. If the Chargers get past winless South River, they host the Bulldogs and Blue Jays in what will most likely determine if they can successfully defend their crown. Metuchen (2-0 division, 4-1 overall) and Middlesex (2-0, 4-1) represent teams in the Blue Division with the best records Spotswood will face the remainder of this season.
Victories against these teams will also result in valuable power points the Chargers need to have a chance of qualifying for one of the eight spots in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II tournament.
With three games remaining, Spotswood is currently 10th.
SOUTH RIVER
As a result of its current record, South River is in jeopardy of missing the Central Jersey Group I playoffs for the second year in a row. The Rams are currently tied with Manville High School (0-5) for 15th and last place in the bracket.
After finishing 8-2 in 2013, South River was poised for a run at the Blue Division and Central Jersey Group I titles. However, allstate running back Doug Ryan went down with a preseason injury that shelved him for the entire campaign, and the Rams simply couldn’t recover, ending with a 4-6 record.
South River’s difficulties this season are not due to a lack of heart on the players’ part. Since their 42-0 loss to Metuchen in the season opener, the Rams have been more competitive in all their games as evidenced by the opponents’ margin of victory.
South River lost to Keyport, 27-12, Middlesex, 26-18, Keansburg High School, 18- 13, and Mater Dei Prep, 34-12.
Following the Spotswood game, the Rams host Shore Regional (4-0) Oct. 24 and Dunellen (0-2 division, 0-4 overall) Oct. 31. They close out the regular season at Highland Park High School (0-2 division, 1-3 overall) Nov. 6.
Other area teams
The records for other area teams Monroe Township High School (2-3 division and overall) and East Brunswick High School (1-3 division and overall) are more a reflection of the rugged competition in the Red Division — one of the toughest in the state. Both compete in Central Jersey Group V and could still edge into the playoffs if they finish strong.
Monroe is currently ranked eighth, while East Brunswick is the 14th seed.
However, two things favor the Bears at this point. First, they have played one less game than every other team in the section. Second, the next two games are against winless opponents — at J.P. Stevens High School Oct. 16 and at home against Marlboro High School Oct. 23. East Brunswick pays a visit to Sayreville War Memorial High School (3-1 division, 3-2 overall) Oct. 30 and visits Monroe Nov. 6 in what could be a pivotal game for the Bears.
Monroe’s road to the playoffs is considerably tougher.
The Falcons face South Brunswick High School (4-0 division, 4-1 overall) Oct. 16, host Shore Conference opponent Howell High School (2-3) Oct. 23 and visit Old Bridge (3-1 division, 3-2 overall) Oct. 30. Monroe’s game with East Brunswick represents the ninth and final game of the regular season and will not count toward playoff consideration for the Falcons.