The autumn athletic season is winding down with just football remaining on the agenda.
New Jersey scholastic football will take a holiday break for traditional Thanksgiving Day rivalry games and then the focus will be on NJSIAA sectional playoff finals to be played Dec. 2-4.
The area takes this time to honor the New Jersey king of the cross-country paths.
Elliot Gindi of Ocean Township claimed the NJSIAA Meet of Champions boys’ cross-country state title when he finished first in a clocking of 15:45 at Holmdel Park’s course this past Saturday, Nov. 19.
His finish provided Ocean Township with its first Meet of Champions winner.
Coming in second in that race was Colts Neck’s Jordan Brannan, who was timed in 15:51.
In the Meet of Champions girls’ cross-country race also run at Holmdel Park on Nov. 19, Howell’s Niamh Hayes crossed in sixth place with a time of 18:55.
There were plenty of stars shining on the football fields this past weekend when the semifinal round of the state playoffs were staged.
Four players were chiefly responsible for the elimination of three 2016 state sectional playoff champions.
Quarterback Jayson DeMild clicked for 345 yards and four touchdown passes and ran for a score when he guided Sayreville past Middletown South, 42-28, in North Jersey, Section II, Group IV on Nov. 18 in Middletown.
DeMild’s favorite target that evening was Jacari Carter, who took in seven passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns.
Middletown South was seeking to retain the North Jersey, Section Ii, Group IV state title.
Jackson Memorial’s bid to repeat as the Central Jersey, Group IV state champion was halted when Allentown posted a 41-15 victory in Allentown on Nov. 18. The culprit to Jackson Memorial’s exit was Allentown back Joe Mannino, who rushed for 234 yards on 21 carries and scored four TDs.
An all-Mddletown final in North Jersey, Section II, Group IV was denied when Sayreville knocked out Middletown South, but Middletown North did advance to th title game.
Leading Middletown North to the playoff championship was quarterback Donald Glenn, who connected on 16 of his 27 passes for 238 yards and ran for a touchdown in a 20-0 victory over visiting Summit on Nov. 18.
South Brunswick was thwarted in its attempt to win a second straight Central Jersey, Group V championship when Manalapan stormed to a 34-20 victory on Nov. 18 in Manalapan.
The key weapon for Manalapan was runner Naim Mayfield, who gained 231 yards on 24 rushes and scored three touchdowns.
Keyport earned a ticket to the Central Jersey, Group I final behind back Devin Wallner, who rushed for 228 yards on 30 carries and scored one TD in a 27-14 victory over Point Pleasant Beach on Nov. 18.
Over to the girls’ soccer field, where Shore Regional was crowned the NJSIAA Group 1 state champion.
Juila Eichenbaum, who is just a freshman, fired in two goals to steer Shore to a 3-2 victory over Glen Ridge in the Group I state title game on Nov., 19 at Kean University in Union.