Bridgewater-Raritan Football Drops First Game of Season

Panthers lose 38-10 to powerhouse Immaculata, now 4-1 on year.

The Bridgewater-Raritan High School football team believed it could defeat mighty Immaculata Friday at Brooks Field in Somerville. For a scant moment in the first quarter, it appeared the game would come down to the wire. But with one swing of momentum, the Bridgewater team was dealt with a mountain too tough to climb, and eventually dropped its first game of the season, a 38-10 setback. The loss drops Bridgewater-Raritan to 4-1 on the season, while Immaculata moves to 5-0. Despite the setback, the Panthers will jump back into Mid-State 39 West League play next Saturday at Franklin. They are 3-0 in the league. "I told the team I understood their feelings, but we're a good team and we'll learn how to deal with a loss," Panthers head coach …

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Bridgewater-Raritan Defeats N. Hunterdon

Panthers score all 27 points in first half, improve to 4-0.

It wasn't supposed to be this easy—the North Hunterdon football team is a good one. But as has been the case thus far in the young season, Bridgewater-Raritan displayed an overall dominating game in all three facets—offense, defense and special teams—to roll over the Lions 27-7 Friday at John Basilone Field. The Panthers are now 4-0 on the season and 3-0 in the Mid-State 39-West A League. Next up is powerhouse Immaculata, which is also 4-0 on the season, on Oct. 8. "They are Immaculata, it's as simple as that," Bridgewater-Raritan head coach Scott Bray said. "We're a public school going over there, and we're going to put our best against their best, but they are a quality team and it's going to be a fight." The Panthers used the game …

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Today's Athletes, Tomorrow's Stars

Former Bridgewater Quarterback Facing Injury Test

Once on fast track to getting playing time at Salisbury, Clifford derailed by injury.

Former Bridgewater-Raritan High School quarterback Collin Clifford was making an impact as a freshman at Salisbury University, a Division III school in Maryland. Clifford, who led the Panthers to the state playoffs last year, was on the fast track to getting immediate playing time for the Sea Gulls. But in the blink of an eye, he's dealing with adversity. During a preseason scrimmage three weeks ago, Clifford sustained a broken left ankle after getting tackled with the ball. For Clifford, the injury was a major setback after having had just one impact injury—a dislocated elbow—while playing with Bridgewater. "It's really frustrating, and kind of put a damper on my entire year," Clifford said. "I was looking forward to trying to get some …

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Bridgewater-Raritan Routs Hillsborough in Opener

Mastroianni has strong debut at quarterback as Panthers cruise.

If Bridgewater-Raritan High School junior Ray Mastroianni was nervous in his first career start, he didn't show it, and neither did his team.   The 6-foot-2 newly minted, strong-armed starting quarterback tossed three touchdown passes in Bridgewater-Raritan High School's 26-8 victory over Hillsborough High School Friday at Basilone Field. The Panthers (1-0) next play at Westfield Friday at 3 p.m. "For his first career start, I think he did an outstanding job," Panthers head coach Scott Bray said. "He made great decisions, and he did everything we asked him to do." "I asked the quarterback to make throws, be accurate and be a leader," Bray added. "That's what Ray did tonight." The Panthers led 13-0 at halftime, and Ray, who threw for 130 …

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Panthers Football Players Determined To Become Contenders

Bridgewater-Raritan High School's football team is working through intense practices, eying tough teams on the schedule.

Despite the discomfort of the sweltering heat and the perspiration dripping at John Basilone Memorial Field, the Bridgewater-Raritan Panthers don't rest. They know what's at stake. The team members know their football coach, Scott Bray, and his staff demand hard work and, most of all, teamwork. They know what lies ahead this season with encounters with Westfield, Immaculata, Phillipsburg and many others on the schedule. So with every push-up, sprint and mistake corrected, it's about the big picture as the season closes in, with the Panthers beginning the year with an at-home game against Hillsborough Sept. 10. "We're looking to replace what happened last year," said senior linebacker Kyle Paustian. "It's a big step and we started off at a …

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Bridgewater-Raritan Football Welcomes New Players, Maintains Old Motto

Despite losing 12 starters, fourth-year Panthers' football coach Scott Bray is confident team will pick up the pieces and build upon last year's successes.

Most—if not all—sports teams have a unifying phrase that is the embodiment of their programs. For Bridgewater-Raritan High School's football team, its "happy, not satisfied" message will be played out by a new cast of stars. Last year, the Panthers made it to the playoffs, but lost to powerhouse Basking Ridge, 14-13 in the first round. The Bridgewater team finished with a 6-4 mark and, despite having to replace 29 seniors with 12 of them being starters, fourth-year coach Scott Bray is looking to push the crescendo of success. "At the end of the everyday, you have to attack," Bray said. "Last year, we had a nice run, but we can't be happy and just stop there." Bray said it is about being happy with the work put in, but always knowing that …

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