The autumn scholastic season is breezing along but there are still plenty of exciting games and events that are featured on the agenda.
Get out and visit our local high schools to watch these upcoming showdowns.
The Football Game of the Year in the Shore Conference has finally arrived.
The date of Friday, Oct. 21, has been circled on the calendar all season.
It is on this day, when the two heavyweights, Toms River North and Middletown South, enter the ring to slug it out to determine supremacy not only in the Shore Conference but among the leaders in the state rankings, too.
Middletown South will serve as the host to this 7 p.m. encounter. The home side stands waiting at 5-0 and the owner of a 17-game winning streak. Toms River North drives north from Ocean County with its own winning streak —16 games— and a 6-0 record.
Don’t miss this showdown if you can.
But, there are other notable matchups on the football field in the area as well this weekend.
South Brunswick is 3-2 and eager to claim some valuable power points in its quest t retain the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 5 playoff championship that it won last fall. The Vikings can ring up a slew of points if they can stop a sturdy Sayreville team., which is 5-1 and thirsty to achieve its own collection of power points.
These two Greater Middlesex Conference rivals will meet on the South Brunswick turf at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 21.
St. John Vianney is fresh off its 28-3 victory over Rumson-Fair Haven of a week ago. On Friday night, Oct. 21, at 7, the Lancers will bid to improve on their 6-0 record when they play as the host to Red Bank Catholic, which comes to Holmdel at 4-2.
Another 6-0 team, Freehold Township, is anxious to remain undefeated when it plays on its home field against a Howell team that is 3-3 but very dangerous. Game time on Friday, Oct. 21, is at 7 p.m.
Old Bridge is riding high after the Silver Knights dealt Piscataway its first loss of the season, a 24-20 result last week. Old Bridge will seek to improve on its 3-1-1 record when it visits a 2-4 but solid New Brunswick team. The games kicks off at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 21.
Once you get done with Friday, Saturday afternoon, Oct. 22, presents some fine football matchups.
Bishop Ahr takes its 4-2 record and heads from Edison to meet up with Spotswood, which awaits with a 5-1 record. This game goes off at 1 p.m.
Allentown has its sights on a state playoff berth and will bring its 4-2 record to Hamilton, where a Steinert team could prove to be an unfriendly host despite having just a 2-3 record. This game begins at 1 p.m.
Move off the football field and to the running paths….
The Greater Middlesex Conference Cross-Country Championship race is slated for this Saturday, Oct. 22, at Thompson Park in Jamesburg.
The boys’ high school varsity will run first at 9 a.m., followed by the girls’ varsity race at 9:30 a.m. The JV and freshman races will then be run.
On to the soccer pitches…..
Staying in the Greater Middlesex Conference, the opening round of the GMC tournament will be held over the coming days. The top seed in the boys’ soccer tournament, Monroe, which is 14-1-1, will be home to 16th-seeded Sayreville on Friday, Oct. 21, at 4 p.m.
In field hockey…..
Jackson Memorial has its sights set on the upcoming Group 4 state tournament. So it will prepare for the tournament with an away game on Friday, Oct. 21, at Toms River South.