Conference Preview: HCIAA

Let’s face it—Hudson County football is not very good—at least not based on recent history. Last season, just four of the 14 teams in the county finished .500 or above record. As a matter of fact, those three teams—St. Peter’s Prep, Lincoln and North Bergen—had more wins (28) than the other ten squads had put together (21). Of course, that was in the North Jersey Tri-County Conference, where schedules were structured a bit differently.




Conference Preview: GMC

If anyone needs proof of just how competitive the Greater Middlesex Conference was last year, they need look no further than 2009’s Red Division standings. At the top, you had champion Sayreville, who went undefeated in divisional play, and seemed nearly unstoppable in the early part of the season. Then way down in fifth place, you had East Brunswick, who despite a second-to-last-place finish in the Red, took care of business when it counted most, going on a memorable run to the Central, Group 4 title, defeating the Bombers on the way.




Conference Preview: Colonial Conference

While seemingly every other league was causing some sort of commotion this offseason, the Colonial Conference was nice and quiet down in Camden and Gloucester Counties. One of the few leagues left with any formal history, the Colonial moves into 2010 with not only some always exciting league rivalries, but also a very juicy collision waiting in the wings in the Patriot Division—that being the one between Woodbury and Paulsboro.




Conference Preview: Cape-Atlantic League

From the Big North to the deep South, we move on to the Cape-Atlantic League. While there isn’t quite as much fanfare around the CAL’s 2010 realignment as is the case in other areas of the state, it is certainly worth mentioning, as the shakeups could have a profound effect on the balance of power on New Jersey’s southern tip.




Conference Preview: Big North

Finally, the preseason is upon us. And once again, the popular topic of discussion seems to be realignment. With that in mind, it only makes sense to kick off our league previews with the region of the state that started this whole ordeal—that of course being the area encompassing the brand new Big North.




Surprise Teams in 2010

Every year, it seems, there is a team or two that jumps out of nowhere and goes on a Cinderella ride to — and sometimes through — the postseason. Last year, Butler, Nutley and Lincoln experienced unexpected success, with the former making it all the way to the North 1, Group 1 championship game at Giants Stadium.




McEvoy & BC Ready for '10

The last time Bergen Catholic defeated archrival Don Bosco Prep (in the 2004 Non-Public, Group 4 final), Tanner McEvoy was in the 6th grade, playing running back for his Pop Warner football team. Obviously, a lot has changed since then. McEvoy ultimately switched positions, and evolved into the go-to wide receiver for the Crusaders, pulling in 70 catches for 976 yards and 13 touchdowns during his sophomore and junior campaigns.




12 Nominated for All-America

Shakim Phillips looked a little bit lonely on NBC back in January. The Boston College-bound receiver from DePaul was the only New Jersey player in San Antonio for the 10th annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl, leaving the Garden State a bit underrepresented in the nation’s premier prep all-star game.




All Eyes on Timber Creek's Damiere Byrd

This offseason, Timber Creek wide receiver Damiere Byrd had competed against some of the best in the state, region and country at the TEST Sports Clubs Premier Showcase and the U.S. Army National Combine. While he was busy impressing the competition with his blazing speed and uncanny athleticism, he was being impressed by the caliber of players around him.




Paterson Catholic Closing Its Doors

It seems December's Non-Public, Group 1 final will go down in history for all the wrong reasons. Seven-time state sectional champion Paterson Catholic announced Wednesday that it would be shutting its doors at the end of this school year, bringing an end to a dynasty that could not be vanquished by opposition on the gridiron.




Woodbury's Gibson Looking to Repeat

There aren’t many players in the state of New Jersey with the same physical gifts as Karon Gibson.  A burly 247-pound defensive tackle for the defending South, Group 1 champion Woodbury Thundering Herd, Gibson is an imposing physical presence, no doubt.




North/South Rosters Released

Most class of 2010 football players suited up for their respective high schools for the final time in November or December. However, a select group of 79 standouts will get one more chance to represent their prep squads, as they will participate in the 32nd Investors Savings Bank North-South All-Star Football Classic on June 28 at Kean University.