Cedar Grove, which finished a sparkling 13-1 in 2024 and a solid 10-4 last fall in reaching the state final at MetLife Stadium both seasons vs. eventual Group 1 champion Glassboro, was hit fairly hard by graduation last June, including standout QB Pierce Asfalg who threw for 3,015 yards and 21 TDs in 2025 following the brilliant career of 3-year starter Stephen Paradiso (now a sophomore at Salve Regina), who had a record-breaking senior season in 2024 for the Panthers with 3,713 yards passing and 41 TDs.

Still, with a precocious, up-and-coming sophomore QB who started the season with gusto now sidelined, a very versatile converted junior wide receiver has risen up to do a solid job manning the ever-important role as the team’s field general and Cedar Grove (5-1) remains a Group 1 title contender to watch while entering this week atop the power index numbers in North, Group 1 ahead of 2-Newton (7-0) and 3-Boonton (6-1).   

“Coach Gogs’s message all season has been that we’re not rebuilding or reloading and to just continue to play fast and play aggressive no matter who we are facing,” said Loftus. “We believe that we can be successful no matter who we wind up playing in Group 1, and we continue to be a team with great chemistry and confidence in our abilities to keep winning big games.”    

Loftus is a somewhat surprising success story in high school football despite his athleticism and smarts. While he had played for the Cedar Grove Panthers junior football program from grades 3-8, he said he actually felt a bit burnt out in the sport at that point and did not even play at all during his freshman year at the high school.

“Then I saw how great a time my friends were having on the team and learning more about just how great a football program Cedar Grove High School is just inspired me to come back out for the team the next season.”

However, his sophomore year was then basically wiped out as he absorbed a clean fracture of his leg in his second JV game of the season, and although the injury did not require surgery, he was not able to return until playoff time last fall when his main role was as a member of the scout team for the starting varsity.

Still, his passion for football had returned with gusto. And, he made it a point to learn as much as he could about Cedar Grove’s playbook this past summer although he still figured his probable role this fall was still going to be as one of the team’s receivers.

“I hadn’t played quarterback since the sixth grade, but coach ‘Gogs ‘encouraged me to learn the playbook and also said that I might be needed to play some QB at some point in the future.

“One great thing about learning the playbook during the summer is that it helps build your leadership role and that’s especially good while working with the younger players on our team.

“I’m thankful that my coaches have turned to me to take on this demanding position, and I look forward each day to preparing with everyone else for our next opponent.”

Next up for Cedar Grove is this Friday night’s  (Oct. 16) annual showdown vs. neighborhood rival Verona (2-4), which is trying to nail down a playoff berth (Hillbillies are currently 12th in the 16-team North, Group 1 field) before the Panthers hit the road for a very challenging task when they take on Group 2 power Caldwell (6-0) on Friday night, Oct. 23, at the Chiefs’ Bonnel Field in West Caldwell.

Loftus, who keeps growing into the position, has helped his coaching staff feel quite comfortable with now counting on his abilities at the position, even with the disappointment of seeing a very talented, young up-and-coming QB be sidelined indefinitely.

“Losing your QB, especially a player like Danny, is always so tough for a small school team like ourselves,” said Gogerty.  “I am proud of the way our guys have responded and have taken a winning approach.

“We have talked about that a lot over the last few weeks about everyone in our program doing what it takes to get a win each week no matter what it looks like or where the stats come from.

“One of the reasons we asked Andrew to learn the position this past summer was his knowledge of the playbook and our offense.  He is a smart young man and he took it in stride while also competing and playing for us as a wide receiver and outside linebacker where he has become a very good football player.

“With more and more reps hopefully comes more and more comfort for him at that position when we need it and Andrew is putting in the time and getting better while getting more reps both in practice and in the games.

“He is gamer who loves to compete and the most impressive part is his unselfishness. He will do whatever it takes to try and get wins.”  

NOTES- Cedar Grove’s superb O-Line  is led by 3-year starter Evan Skabich at left tackle, sophomore Tommy Rogalski at left guard, and other seniors Matt Giordano at center, Michel Verga at right guard and Bruce Kent at right tackle…Loftus is also a member of Cedar Grove’s successful basketball and baseball programs and was a backup catcher and valuable pinch-runner on the Panthers’ North 2, Group 1 state sectional championship diamond squad last June… Andrew has two sisters, including Kate, a former volleyball player who attends Marist College, and a younger brother Matthew, who is a freshman WR-LB for the Panthers…Their dad Mark works in finance and is a former high school baseball and volleyball player from New York. Mom Jennifer is originally from Long Island, N.Y…Andrew’s favorite subject at Cedar Grove High School is history.    

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This Week’s Sideline Chatter Essex County Top 10:
1-West Orange (5-1)- Mountaineers had bye week after 6 straight games
2-Shabazz (5-1)- Bulldogs defense has been dominant
3-Caldwell (6-0)- Andrew Sepe aerial show continues
4-Seton Hall Prep (2-4)- Strong St. Joe’s (Mont.) coming to town
5-West Essex (6-1)- Major upcoming test vs. West Morris
6-Cedar Grove (5-1)- Panthers roll behind new starting QB
7-East Orange Campus (4-2)- Jaguars now on a roll
8-Irvington (5-1)- Blue Knights defense is formidable
9-Weequahic (4-2)- Indians ran into a strong Hoboken
10-Livingston (4-3)- Tough upcoming task vs. PCTI

This Week’s Schedule Involving Essex Teams; Pick To Win In Boldface:
Thursday, Oct. 15:
Lincoln at West Side (Untermann Field), 6
Millburn at North Bergen, 6:30
Fort Lee at Belleville, 7

Friday, Oct. 16:
West Morris at West Essex, 6:30
Montclair at Nutley, 6:30
Verona at Cedar Grove, 7
Passaic Tech at Livingston, 7
MKA at Pingry, 7
Snyder at Shabazz, 7
Union City at Columbia, 7
Chatham at Weequahic, 7

Saturday, Oct. 17:
Bloomfield at Bayonne, noon
St. Joe’s (Mont.)  at Seton Hall Prep, 1
Irvington at East Orange Campus, 1
Orange at Parsippany Hills, 1
West Orange at Barringer (Schools Stadium), 1
Caldwell at Madison, 1

Bye week: Newark Central

Record on picks last week: 11-4; for the season: 82-27 (75%)