NJ football: All of Friday's Week 6 GMC game stories

EDITOR'S NOTE: We'll provide readers with stories from all of Friday night's Greater Middlesex Conference Week 6 action right here. This page will be updated throughout the night as game stories are filed, so please consider revisiting or refreshing this page. Thanks for following our high school football coverage.

WOODBRIDGE 27, J.F. KENNEDY 21

Epitomizing his team’s resiliency and refusal to be denied, Jose Leon bulled his way into the end zone with nine seconds remaining to lead Woodbridge High School to a stunning 27-21 football victory over border rival J.F. Kennedy on Friday night.

Leon’s 16-yard touchdown reception on fourth-and-goal from quarterback Anthony Santino erased a one-point deficit and kept alive Woodbridge’s hopes for a postseason berth in what amounted to a must-win game.

Playing for injured tailback Ali Lee, Leon caught Santino’s pass in the middle of the field at the 4 yard line in front of a defender and, using Houdini-like skill, somehow managed to escape a slew of would-be tacklers to break the plane of the goal line.

The game officials waited nearly 10 seconds before a member of the crew raised both hands in the air to signal a touchdown.

“Jose has a done a great job his senior year,” Woodbridge head coach Joe LaSala said. “He’s done everything the coaches have asked. I’m so happy for Jose and the seniors to come away with this victory because they really deserve it.”

LaSala addressed his team, which had to erase a 13-0 deficit, in the locker room at halftime, challenging the Barrons (3-4) to salvage their season.

“It was as bad as it could get going into halftime,” LaSala said. “We were at a low point. We had some guys out of the game. I challenged the seniors and the leaders. I put it on them. 'How do you want these next 24 minutes to go?' We made some quick adjustments with some of the things we had to do offensively.”

Santino connected with Chance Modica on a 73-yard scoring strike, closing the deficit to 13-7. Leon followed with a 12-yard touchdown run, after which the PAT failed, knotting the contest at 13-13.

Modica scored on a 12-yard scamper as the Barrons took a 20-13 advantage. The Mustangs answered with a touchdown pass and ensuing two-point conversion to retake the lead 21-20 with just over four minutes remaining.

On the winning touchdown drive, which went 60 yards, Woodbridge converted three fourth downs and was aided by a late-hit penalty.

LaSala said he and his staff contemplated attempting a field goal on the Barrons’ final offensive play, but the 33-yard attempt was not comfortably in his kicker’s range.

“We talked about believing in each other and that we could win the game,” LaSala said of his halftime remarks. “The seniors on both sides of the football stepped up and made plays, especially Chance and Leon. They are guys that have been working every day. They never made it about themselves, and it got paid forward today.”

Modica was used as a decoy on the winning touchdown pass. He drew the attention of a safety, which allowed Leon to beat a lone defender in the middle of the field to catch the pass. Leon’s work, however was hardly done.

A sea of green jerseys converged on Leon, but he still somehow managed to squirm his way into the end zone, setting off a wild celebration on the home team’s sideline.

The defeat was the second heartbreaker of the season for the Mustangs (2-4), who lost 28-27 to Carteret in the closing minute of their opener.

J.P. STEVENS 14, BISHOP AHR 10

Kasi Hazzard’s 42-yard touchdown reception from Joey Young in the fourth quarter erased a three-point deficit and lifted the J.P. Stevens High School football team to a 14-10 victory over Bishop Ahr on Friday night.

Hazzard carried 10 times for 103 yards and caught three passes for 52 yards. Young rushed for 102 yards on nine attempts and completed 4 of 12 passes for 76 yards.

After Young gave the Hawks a 7-0 lead on a 26-yard scoring jaunt in the first quarter, Bishop Ahr recorded a safety in the second quarter and took a 10-7 lead on a Jalen Brooks touchdown run in the third quarter.

Brooks finished with 76 yards on 18 carries. Quarterback Alejandro Santiago completed 10 of 19 passes for 101 yards and also rushed 10 times for 41 yards. Kyle Orta was the game’s leading receiver with five catches for 64 yards.

Darrel Dorrah, Elijah Johnson and Santiago had six tackles and one sack apiece for Bishop Ahr.

J.P. Stevens evened its record at 3-3. Bishop Ahr fell to 4-3.

EDISON 31, EAST BRUNSWICK 14

Special teams played a huge role in the final frenetic six minutes of the Edison High School football team’s 31-14 victory over East Brunswick on Friday night.

After the Bears closed the deficit to 19-14 with six minutes remaining, they attempted an onside kick, which Frank Vega recovered and returned 49 yards for a touchdown to give Edison a 25-14 lead.

On East Brunswick’s ensuing possession, the Bears had a bad snap on a punt, which the Eagles recovered inside the red zone.

Lucas Loffredo then threw his third touchdown pass of the night, connecting for the second time with Darius Floyd as Edison took a 31-14 advantage on the 14-yard scoring strike.

Loffredo completed 7 of 13 passes for 139 yards. Tylor Montford scored on a 3-yard run and on a 54-yard screen pass for the Eagles, who improved to 4-2.

After Montford scored on his short scamper, Tim Gudzak threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Carlos Tapia to give the Bears a 7-6 lead.

Montford’s catch-and-run to pay dirt on the screen pass gave Edison a 13-7 advantage just before the half.

Floyd’s second touchdown grab of the night – an 18-yard reception – put Edison up 19-7 in the third quarter.

Gudzak set up a Joe Deguida 2-yard touchdown run with a 70-yard pass in the fourth quarter that closed the deficit to 19-14.

Montford finished with 29 rushing yards on six carries, while backfield mate Armani Bell had 28 yards on seven attempts.

Noah Stansbury was Edison’s leading receiver with three catches for 48 yards. Floyd finished with 32 receiving yards.

The Bears, who are much better than their record suggests, fell to 0-6.

SAYREVILLE 30, OLD BRIDGE 7

The Sayreville High School football team scored three unanswered touchdowns and a field goal to erase a one-point second-quarter deficit on the way to a 30-7 victory over Old Bridge at Lombardi Field on Friday night.

The Bombers (6-0), ranked No. 11 in USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey’s statewide Top 20, will now set their sights on Piscataway (6-0), which is ranked No. 8 in the state, as the longtime rivals square off in a battle of unbeatens next weekend.

Connor Holmes carried 19 times for 175 yards including a 21-yard scoring run to pace a Sayreville offense that amassed 319 yards from scrimmage, 243 of which came on the ground.

Holmes also anchored the defense with a team-high five tackles. Old Bridge converted just two of nine third-down attempts.

Zacari Carter, who split time at quarterback and in the wildcat formation with Mark Whitford, completed a 52-yard scoring strike to Cameron Davis that gave the Bombers a 6-0 lead.

Old Bridge quarterback Bryson Corbett responded with a 1-yard touchdown run and Andrew Vera added the extra point as the Knights claimed a short-lived 7-6 edge.

Zuriel Wright answered with a 2-yard run as Sayreville took a 13-7 lead at the half it would not relinquish. Wright scored another touchdown on a 5-yard run in the second half to give his team a 27-7 lead.

Tino Sacasa had 87 of Old Bridge’s 144 total yards from scrimmage. Carter finished with 102 yards from scrimmage, 50 of which came on the ground.

Nick Milewski closed out the scoring with a 27-yard field goal.

Old Bridge fell to 2-4.

NORTH BRUNSWICK 49, CARTERET 7

The North Brunswick High School football team scored on its first seven possessions and extended its winning streak to five games with a 49-7 victory over Carteret at Walter Overholt Stadium on Friday night.

According to North Brunswick play-by-play announcer Korbid Thompson, the Raiders, who improved to 6-1 after finishing 6-4 a year ago, are assured of posting consecutive six-wins seasons for the first time since 1979 and 1980.

After Bailey scored on a 5-yard run, the Raiders recovered a fumble deep inside Carteret territory, setting up Chris Arnold for a 15-yard scoring scamper as North Brunswick took a 13-0 lead just two minutes into the contest.

Brandon Outlaw returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown and Aaron Ahr followed with a 15-yard scoring reception – his third touchdown catch of the season – to help the Raiders mount a 27-0 advantage with just over four minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Bailey followed with his second touchdown run. Asaru Napier then returned a fumble 13 yards for a score and Sean Breheny had a touchdown catch to give North Brunswick a 47-0 lead.

Arnold closed out the first-half scoring with a sack of quarterback Zaire Crutchfield in the end zone.

With the safety, interception return for a score and fumble return for a touchdown, North Brunswick’s defense put 14 points on the board.

Outlaw’s touchdown was the first North Brunswick interception return for a score since 2012, according to Thompson.

Stephon Kelley-Gordon broke off a 54-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to help Carteret avert a shutout.

The Raiders limited Carteret (2-4), which has dropped four straight games, to five yards in the opening half.

PISCATAWAY 47, BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN 0

The Piscataway High School football team avenged last year’s playoff loss to Bridgewater-Raritan with a 47-0 victory over the undermanned and injury riddled Panthers at Ciardi Stadium on Friday night.

The Chiefs, ranked No. 8 in USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey’s statewide Top 20, will now set their sights on Sayreville, which is ranked No. 11 in the state, as the longtime rivals square off in a battle of unbeatens next weekend.

Bridgewater-Raritan was outgained 455 to 99 in total yards from scrimmage. The Chiefs rushed for 333 yards.

uarterback Joseph Hatcher threw three touchdown passes in the first half and running back Juwon Jackson rushed for 181 yards on eight carries before the intermission, as Piscataway raced out to a 41-0 halftime lead.

Jackson opened the scoring with a 68-yard run. After Hatcher scored on a quarterback sneak for a 14-0 lead, the Panthers failed to convert a fourth-and-goal from the 9 yard line. Hatcher responded with a 91-yard scoring drive on which he completed consecutive passes of 47 yards to Jackson, 37 yards to Lord Jones and 7 yards for a score to Nasir Best for a 21-0 advantage.

Recine returned an interception for a touchdown before Hatcher connected with Joey Bellamy and Isaiah Mahaley on consecutive scoring strikes of 9 and 31 yards, respectively, as Piscataway built its 41-0 halftime advantage.

Jackson broke off a 50-yard touchdown run with 11 minutes left in the third quarter to produce the final margin. He amassed 235 yards on nine carries. Hatcher completed 7 of 9 passes for 122 yards.

Piscataway (6-0) has scored 34 or more points in each of its victories and limited five opponents to a touchdown or less.

The shutout was the fourth of the season for the Chiefs, who entered Week 6 action with the top United Power Ranking in North Group 5.

MIDDLESEX 42, DAYTON 0

The Middlesex High School football team continues to receive a huge boost from Immaculata transfer Josh Irvin, who made a big impact for the second straight game after becoming eligible under NJSIAA transfer rules two weeks ago.

Irvin scored on runs of 65 and 28 yards while staking the Blue Jays to a five-touchdown halftime lead on the way to a 42-0 nonconference victory over Dayton on Friday night.

The victory was the third straight for Middlesex, which has scored six or more touchdowns in each win during the streak.

Middlesex (3-3) opened the season with a challenging three-game stretch, losing consecutive games to three schools – New Providence, Hillside and South River – who entered Week 6 action with a combined 14-2 record.

The defending Central Group I champion Blue Jays can climb back into the Greater Middlesex Conference Gold Division title race with a victory over Bishop Ahr next weekend.

The Trojans lead the division with a 3-0 division record, while Dunellen (3-1), South River (2-1) and Middlesex (1-1) each have one loss in the division.

After Irvin opened the scoring against Dayton with his 65-yard run, quarterback Cary Hamrah connected with Steven Young on a 58-yard touchdown pass to give the Blue Jays a 14-0 lead midway through the opening quarter.

Irvin followed with his second scoring run of the night before backfield mates Jose Andujar (4-yard touchdown jaunt), Mike Schweyher (13-yard scoring scamper) and Mark Geist (7-yard touchdown run) helped Middlesex build a 42-0 lead.

In last weekend’s 47-7 victory over Spotswood, Irvin scored on a 60-yard punt return, a 56-yard interception return, rushed for a 46-yard touchdown, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and finished with 72 rushing yards.

Middlesex entered Week 6 ranked 14th in South Group I according to the latest United Power Rankings. The Top 16 teams in South Group I will qualify for the postseason at the time of the Oct. 27 state cutoff.

Dayton, which fell to 2-4, has not won a game on the field. The Bulldogs received forfeit victories over Belvidere and Highland Park.

PERTH AMBOY 27, MONROE 7

Kenneth Carrillo rushed nine times for 121 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Perth Amboy High School football team to a 27-7 win over Monroe on Friday night.

Tahjmere O’Neal completed 4 of 6 passes for 55 yards, while Erick Rivera rushed 14 times for 76 yards and a score.

The Panthers amassed 300 total yards, 57 of which came on a Carrillo touchdown run. Brandon Seijo had eight catches for 88 yards.

Jeremey Fernandez anchored the defense with eight tackles and a forced fumble. Kayzon Kazime had six tackles and one and a half sacks. Mario Luna recorded five tackles.

Tony Saucedo completed 4 of 10 passes for 39 yards and a touchdown.

COLONIA 42, NEW BRUNSWICK 21

Matt Croteau rushed for three touchdowns and Eric Hamilton-Moreno had two scores on the ground to lead the Colonia High School football team to a 42-21 win over New Brunswick on Friday night.

Dahvey Hicks had a 60-yard scoring reception and returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown for New Brunswick. Teammate Nydir Ha.mon threw to scoring strikes.

Justice Harris scored on a 1-yard run for the Patriots.