Cedar Grove and Shabazz, the same two Essex County football teams that were there last year are back for another go at it in the NJSIAA group state finals, although there are some different faces factoring in for both teams this fall in terms of looking at who might be converting any one of the big plays for their respective teams.
And, talking about déjà vu as far as repeat matchups are concerned, it will once again be Cedar Grove (10-3) taking on small-school juggernaut Glassboro (13-0) in the Group 1 final, although this year’s championship game is slated for noon this Sunday (Nov. 30) at Rutgers SHI Stadium in Piscataway and not at MetLife Stadium where the Bulldogs broke open what had been a close game with a 42-0 run over the final three quarters for a 56-14 triumph to complete a perfect 13-0 season last fall.
Shabazz (12-1) faces Camden (10-2), which will be making its first group state final appearance, when the two city-based gridiron squads clash 5 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 3, also at Rutgers.
Coincidentally, in both contests involving Essex teams it will be the Panthers (Cedar Grove and Camden) facing the Bulldogs (Glassboro and Shabazz).
Glassboro, which was ranked No. 9 in in this week’s nj.com statewide Top 20, will take a 26-game winning streak into Sunday’s 2025 Group 1 final, while Cedar Grove, with its revamped lineup this fall that includes a bevy of superb athletes all over the field just like the Bulldogs, is on a more modest 5-game win skein, but has been playing superb football the past month coming at the perfect time, and has taken down undefeated teams the past two weekends on the road in cruising past New Providence (in the North 2, Group 1 sectional final) and then edging Butler 24-21 on kicker Sebastian Kovacs’ dramatic 48-yard field goal as time expired in last Friday night’s (Nov. 21) Group 1 semifinals.
Senior Pierce Asfalg (167-of-251 for 2,383 yards, 18 TDs, 7 Int.), who was predominantly a defensive secondary performer last year, has blossomed in his first season as the Cedar Grove QB and has a number of talented receivers to choose from including seniors Xavier Andujar (64 receptions for 837 yards, 6 TDs) and Michael Ruggiano (36-763-6).
Asfalg (136 carries for 767 yards, 13 TDs) is also the Panthers’ leading rusher, while standout senior two-way performer Thomas Cannataro (100 carries for 545 yards, 9 TDs), who also shines at linebacker on defense, has also boosted the ground game this season for what has been a more balanced pass-run offense than last fall when Group 1 all-state QB Stephen Paradiso went to the air on virtually every play.
Glassboro, under the direction of enthusiastic third-year coach Timmy Breaker, is coming off an impressive 44-8 thrashing of Burlington City in its Group 2 semifinal.
The Bulldogs return senior QB Jack O’Connell (127 of 218, 2,266 yards, 33 TDs, 7 Int.) and quite the receiving corps to throw to led by senior Amari Saab (42 receptions for 747 yards, 10 TDs), junior Xavier Saab (45-742, 11 TDs) and sophomore Mehki Parker (33-776, 12 TDs).
Junior RB Jo Jo DeLece (701 yards, 11 TDs) leads the ground attack and the stingy Glassboro defense is led by veteran junior linebacker Ta’Sheen Butler (108 tackles, 29 TFL) and senior D-lineman Brandon Simmons (21 sacks).
Shabazz, which rolled past Westwood, 36-6, in the Group 2 semis last Friday night in Washington Township, and then defeated city rival Weequahic, 20-6, in Thursday's (Nov. 27) Thanksgiving Day annual 'Soul Bowl', will face Camden (10-2) at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 3, also at Rutgers in a single-game showcase that night for the two remaining teams who are coming off Thanksgiving Day contests.
