It may be turning a bit cooler outside, but still enjoy the autumn season while watching these intriguing athletic matchups at our local scholastic fields.
Grab that extra sweatshirt if you plan on heading out to explore the football landscapes on Friday night, Oct. 14, which features a slew of heated showdowns.
Rumson-Fair Haven stands at 3-1 and will entertain St. John Vianney, which comes to town with a 5-0 record. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Middletown North has the same intentions of Rumson-Fair Haven — knock off a 5-0 team. Middletown North’s target is Wall. Middletown North brings its 3-1 record to Wall for a 7 p.m. start.
Another 5-0 club, Manalapan, will put its undefeated record on the line when it takes the short ride to rival Howell, which awaits with upset plans and a 3-2 record. The game will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Piscataway was able to remain undefeated —barely—last week when it held off Sayreville, 27-21. Friday night Piscataway hits the road and must be prepared to thwart another upset bid when it faces Old Bridge, which is 2-1-1. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
An undefeated record is not at stake but local bragging rights certainly will be when South Brunswick, which is 2-2, visits a 1-3 East Brunswick team. The game starts at 7 p.m.
If you prefer to enjoy the sunshine while watching your local football games, then there are some worthy matchups on Saturday, Oct. 15.
Both Colts Neck and Freehold are 1-4 but these rivals will be going after each other all afternoon in a game that starts at 1 p.m. in Freehold.
At noon, Red Bank brings its 1-2 record to Tinton Falls, where Monmouth Regional stands waiting at 2-4.
The girls’ soccer schedule is filled with some interested showdowns.
Two crucial games will take place on Thursday, Oct. 13.
Freehold Township has won seven straight and boasts a 9-1-2 record while Manalapan has won five consecutive games, is 10-1 and has revenge as a motive. These rivals will clash at 4 p.m., when Manalapan seeks to reverse a 3-0 loss to Freehold Township that came on Sept. 23.
Two of the top teams in the Greater Middlesex Conference’s White Division, Sayreville and Bisop Ahr, will play today at 3:45 in Edison.
The action continues on Friday, Oct. 14, when two more Grater Middlesex Conferene powers, East Brunswick and Piscataway, collide at 4 p.m. in Piscataway.
On Saturday in boys’ soccer action, St. Joseph of Metuchen can clinch the Grater Middlesex Conference’s Red Division title if it can defeat the host club, Monroe, at 10 a.m.
Looking to next week, the Monmouth County Cross-Championships for both boys and girls will be run on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at Holmdel Park in Holmdel.
