Homecoming Just Another Football Game, Coach Says

With a current team record of 3-3, the Bridgewater-Raritan High School football team is preparing for Friday’s Homecoming game against North Hunterdon—but without any special fanfare.

And according to head coach Scott Bray, the team will do what’s it’s always done, working hard to play well in every game.

“We came in this year with the goal of competing in every game we played, and at this point we have met that expectation,” he said. “The players have worked extremely hard and have stayed focused on the goal of competing.”

“Because of that, they have given themselves the opportunity to win football games,” he said.

Bray said that preparation is based on what the team needs to do more than what the other team is doing.

“The players come to work every day and put forth a great effort,” he said.

And each week, Bray said, different team members step up to make the big plays, including Michael Pennella, Tommy Goodberlet, Donny Stires, Josh Robins, Matt Eichhorn and Chris Carter.

These students, Bray said, have been consistent, all making big plays and having impact performances.

“We just take it one game at a time,” Bray said, adding that the team doesn’t do anything special to prepare for a Homecoming game. “We have been fortunate to get a couple of nice wins under our belt early, but we preach to the players that the most important game is the next.”

The Homecoming game will be played against North Hunterdon at 6 p.m. at Basilone Field.

This year’s team includes:

• Anthony Balliro, sophomore
• Brandon Weidenfeld, senior
• Randall Ramirez, junior
• Eric Pernini, junior
• Michael Pennella, senior
• Kyle Lutz, junior
• Matt Picciurro, junior
• Donny Stires, senior
• Michael Alesandro, junior
• Michael Fair, junior
• John Robbins, junior
• Nick Fabiano, senior
• Jared Kaden, senior
• Kevin Li, junior
• Daniel Renna, junior
• Darnell Thigpen, junior
• Karl Szymanski, senior
• Keith Schroeder, junior
• Zack Tiano, senior
• Eric Shugan, senior
• Erick Acosta
• Tyshon Murdock
• Cedre Small
• Anthony Stavrakis
• Julian Dorsey