Bloomfield's Star Athlete Ready
For 2026 Simms All-Star Classic

Whether he’s running the 200-meter dash and 400-hurdles for the Bloomfield track team or had been starring in the backfield for the Bengals football squad last fall, Jeremy Tejada can always rely on his elite athleticism to continue to win events on the track circuit or run past, around and through opposing defenses.

He has received track scholarship offers from both Fairleigh Dickinson University and St. Peter’s University, while schools such as Post (Conn.) University and Monroe (N.Y.) have shown strong interest on the football side.

If he elected to play the gridiron game at the next level, the Bloomfield senior would most likely be listed as an ‘athlete’ on most college football rosters although his best chance to gain a full scholarship at this point could be in track and field, which could mean that his presence as a member of the North squad in the upcoming48th Phil Simms N.J. North-South All-Star Classic set for 7 p.m., Saturday, June 20, at The College of New Jersey might be his final football game.

Regardless of what the next several weeks hold as he nears a decision on what sport he will elect to pursue at the next level, the quick and strong 6-foot-1, 188-pound Bengals standout, who starred at quarterback last fall, is looking forward to playing wide receiver for the North in the upcoming Simms Classic.

“It’s crazy how many great athletes will be on our North team,” said Tejada, who had the No. 7 best New Jersey time (7.4 seconds) and No. 37th nationally in the 55-meter dash this past winter indoor track season. “It’s going to be exciting to be able to play wide receiver, show off my speed, and play with some really good teammates in my final high school football game.

“The Simms Classic has such great tradition and I’m thrilled to be part of this year’s game!”

A 2-year starting QB for Bloomfield, who also started at linebacker as a sophomore, rushed for 1,058 yards and 20 touchdown last fall while helping the Bengals to a 5-5 season that ended with a North 1, Group 5 quarterfinal playoff loss at East Orange Campus.

“Jeremy is a tremendous athlete, a terrific team leader, and just a great kid who helps our high school teams in all three seasons,” said veteran Bloomfield Head Football Coach Mike Carter. “The younger kids on our team look up to him and he is very good at helping out those younger teammates while always leading the entire team by example.”

Tejada has had a number of big-time performances last season, beginning in the season opener when the Bengals survived for a 26-20 overtime victory vs. Newark Central and their talented QB had 27 carries for 136 yards and 4 TDs, including the game-winner in OT.

The next week, in a hard-fought 21-14 loss at neighboring rival Nutley, he had 12 carries for 135 yards, and in the next week, in a 46-21 triumph at Montclair, he had 18 carries for a season-high 223 yards and 5 TDs as Bloomfield defeated the Mounties for the first time in 10 years with a 46-21 victory.

Tejada said that he likes to watch the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson when the NFL veteran QB is seeing action. The 2-time MVP has missed his team’s last two games due to a hamstring injury. 

“I like the way Lamar can control the game, and be so effective as both a passer and runner,” said the veteran Bloomfield star. “I continued to run the ball well and I kept working on different areas of the position like remaining comfortable in the pocket and being able to read defenses to our advantage in the passing game.

“I’ve enjoyed playing quarterback the past two seasons, and my coaching staff did a tremendous job preparing our offense each week.

NOTES- Tejada’s family roots stem from their Dominican Republic heritage and he also has a strong baseball background as both a center fielder and shortstop before concentrating on football in high school having played for his diamond squad in the Nike RBI World Series in Florida before his freshman year in the summer of 2022…He enjoys playing video games when time permits. His favorite foods include different types of seafood…Tejada finished first in the 110-meter hurdles to help lead Bloomfield to the 2025 Essex County Meet championship last May at Schools Stadium in Newark. It marked the Bengals’ first Essex County team track and field team title since 2001, and the second in program history.     

NORTH-SOUTH SCOREBOARD
SERIES TIED AT 21-21-2
2025: South 19, North 18 - at Kean University
2024: North 20, South 18 – at Kean University
2023: North 10, South 6 – at Kean University
2022: North 21, South 16 – at Kean University
2021: No game because of the COVID-19 pandemic
2020: No game because of the COVID-19 pandemic
2019: North 24, South 23 – at Kean University
2018: South 38, North 16 - at Kean University
2017: South 30, North 22 - at Kean University
2016: North 7, South 0 - at Kean University
2015: South 23, North 21 - at Kean University
2014: South 20, North 14 - at Piscataway High School
2013: North 54, South 8 - at Kean University
2012: North 14, South 7 - at Kean University
2011: South 21, North 14 - at Kean University
2010: North 17, South 3 - at Kean University
2009: South 7, North 0 - at Kean University
2008: North 31, South 25 - at Rutgers Stadium
2007: South 14, North 7 - at Rutgers Stadium
2006: North 31, South 16 - at Rutgers Stadium
2005: North 9, South 7 - at Rutgers Stadium
2004: North 26, South 21 - at Rutgers Stadium
2003: South 3, North 0 - at Rutgers Stadium
2002: No game was played at Rutgers
because of inclement weather before kickoff.
2001: North 24, South 0 - at Rutgers Stadium
2000: South 20, North 5 - at Rutgers Stadium
1999: South 22, North 19 - at Rutgers Stadium
1998: North 33, South 31 - at Rutgers Stadium
1997: South 28, North 24 - at The College of New Jersey
1996: South 32, North 23 - at Rutgers Stadium
1995: North 37, South 15 - at Rutgers Stadium
1994: South 21, North 16 - at Trenton State College
1993: South 9, North 8 - at Giants Stadium
1992: North 7, South 7 (tie) - at Giants Stadium
1991: North 26, South 12 - at Giants Stadium
1990: North 14, South 10 - at Rutgers Stadium
1989: South 24, North 0 - at Rutgers Stadium
1988: South 12, North 9 - at Rutgers Stadium
1987: North 21, South 10 - at Rutgers Stadium
1986: North 20, South 17 - at Rutgers Stadium
1985: North 10, South 10 (tie) - at Rutgers Stadium
1984: North 7, South 0 - at Rutgers Stadium
1983: South 41, North 7 - at Rutgers Stadium
1982: South 16, North 7 - at Rutgers Stadium
1981: South 32, North 0 - at Rutgers Stadium
1980: North 13, South 6 - at Rutgers Stadium
1979: South 34, North 13 - at Rutgers Stadium