NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 Football Sectional Final Preview: Brick Memorial vs. Millville
CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 4 CHAMPIONSHIP
WHO: 2-Brick Memorial (9-2) at 1-Millville (8-2)
WHEN: Friday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m.
WHERE: Wheaton Field – John Barbose Stadium at Millville High School; 200 North Wade Boulevard.
BRICK MEMORIAL’S ROAD TO THE FINAL: Defeated Northern Burlington 56-0 in the quarterfinals; defeated Jackson Memorial 41-21 in the semifinals
MILLVILLE’S ROAD TO THE FINAL: Defeated Red Bank 49-7 in the quarterfinals; defeated Marlboro 53-0 in the semifinals.
BRICK MEMORIAL’S BEST WINS: 34-14 over Howell; 34-27 over Donovan Catholic; 37-0 and 41-21 over Jackson Memorial.
MILLVILLE’S BEST WINS: 35-0 over Holy Spirit; 49-6 over Central Jersey Group 5 finalist Atlantic City; 40-7 over South Jersey Group 3 finalist Mainland; 36-7 over Central Jersey Group 5 finalist Washington Township; 23-7 over Central Jersey Group 3 finalist Delsea.
PLAYOFF HISTORY: Brick Memorial is appearing in its first sectional final since 2016 and looking to secure the program’s third sectional title and first since 2008. This will be the Mustangs’ eighth finals appearance across 21 playoff appearances since 1974. They have a 20-18 postseason record…Millville will also be playing in its eighth sectional final in its 21st playoff appearance. The Thunderbolts have four sectional titles in program history, including in 2022 when they won the inaugural Group 4 title and in 2021 and 2016. They are 26-16 all-time in the NJSIAA playoffs.
Analysis: One year after its undefeated season ended in the first round of the NJSIAA Tournament, the Mustangs earned redemption with two convincing playoff victories to advance to their first sectional final since 2016. Before the brackets were announced, everyone in the South Group 4 super section knew a Group 4 sectional title would go through either Winslow or Millville. For Brick Memorial, that means heading into the depths of South Jersey to take on a juggernaut making its fourth straight appearance in a sectional final.
The first name that likely comes to mind when mentioning Millville High School’s football team is senior wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks. The Alabama commit holds the New Jersey career records for receiving yards and receiving touchdowns with 4,514 yards and 54 touchdowns. This season, he has 48 catches for 1,159 yards and 14 touchdowns. Brooks is the tip of the spear for an offense that is averaging 37 points per game and has scored at least 23 points in every game other than a 35-7 loss to undefeated Winslow. Sophomore quarterback Robert O’Connor helms the Thunderbolts’ big-play offense (19.3 yards per completion) with 1,971 yards passing, 23 touchdowns and just 5 interceptions. After Brooks, sophomores Jaden Days (21 rec., 343 yards, 4 TDs) and Reginald Holey (21-310-2) are O’Connor’s secondary targets.
Millville’s rushing attack averages six yards per carry and does enough to keep teams from loading up the back seven to stop Brooks and company. Senior Jamal Wallace is the team’s leading rusher with 663 yards and 9 touchdowns while senior Demere White (350 yards, 4 TDs) is their second option out of the backfield. O’Connor is a pure pocket passer so Brick Memorial won’t have to worry about him burning them with his legs.
One of the reasons Brick Memorial has a chance in this matchup is that it can, theoretically, match Millville’s speed and skill. The Mustangs have an athletic secondary that has produced 10 interceptions and three pick-6s this season with sophomore Shawn Fowler and junior Nyzier Matthews with a team-high three interceptions each. Whether that plays out on the field against a player the caliber of Brooks is another story, but they won’t be wide-eyed considering they’ve played Toms River North with Cam Thomas and Nasir Jackson, Donovan Catholic with Rutgers recruit Michael Thomas, and Jackson Memorial with Eric Zebrowski.
The passing game is Millville’s strength but it would still be beneficial for the Mustangs to make the Thunderbolts one-dimensional by shutting down the ground game and turning up the heat on O’Connor. Junior linebacker Trey Tallmadge is the leader of the defense and is back playing at a high level after missing three games with an injury. Senior linebacker AJ Ehrmantraut is also having a great year with a team-high 86 tackles and 4 sacks. Those two along with seniors Jaxon Figueroa and Ben Szuba and juniors Mike Pappas, Erik Pedre and Elijah Webb will have to be in top form if the Mustangs have any shot at limiting a Millville offense that is averaging 51 points per game in the playoffs.
Brick Memorial junior quarterback Jason Lajara. (Bob Badders | rpbphotography.com).
Another reason Brick Memorial can pull the upset is that it has an offense that can score in the 30s. Junior quarterback Jason Lajara leads a dynamic Mustangs offense that is averaging 31.2 points per game and has scored 97 points in two playoff games. After record-setting quarterback Connor Dietz graduated, Lajara has taken the reins and played at a high level all year with 1,799 yards passing, 17 touchdowns, and just 4 interceptions while rushing for a team-high 861 yards and 17 touchdowns on an average of 7.8 yards per carry. He is the engine of an offense and that surrounds him with a bevy of game-breaking playmakers.
The chemistry between Lajara and Matthews has produced one of the best quarterback/wide receiver duos in the Shore. Matthews has caught 27 passes for 745 yards and 9 touchdowns (25.7 yards per catch) and became Brick Memorial’s record holder for receiving touchdowns in a season when he caught two scores in the playoff win over Jackson last week. He is one of five players with over 100 yards receiving and one of three with 200 yards or more. Fowler has 387 yards and 3 touchdowns and Tallmadge and senior Matt Hillin have proven to reliable targets for Lajara as tight ends.
Lajara’s counterpart in the backfield is senior running back Kevin Andrews, a 2000-yard rusher for his career. He missed the final three games of the regular season but returned for the playoffs and has 167 yards rushing and two touchdowns over the last two weeks. Brick Memorial also has junior Nazeer Whittaker, who filled in for Andrews with 333 yards and three touchdowns in three starts.
Millville’s defense has been excellent in allowing just 10.9 points per game this season. The Thunderbolts have held opponents to 5.9 points per game in their eight wins and recorded two shutouts. Junior Shermar Collins is Millville’s leading tackler with 83 tackles plus 2 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and an interception. Senior Darien Blachewicz (52 tackles, 5 sacks, 8 TFL), junior Jayden Jones (57 tackles, 4 sacks, 14 TFL) and junior Octavion Spence (6.5 sacks, 8 TFL) lead a formidable front that Brick Memorial will have to find a way to neutralize.
On special teams, Millville senior Lorenzo Lewis has made 43 of 49 extra points and kicked a 35-yard field goal. Brick Memorial sophomore Jack Marotta has converted 34 of 39 extra points and kicked three field goals with a long of 32 yards.
Brick Memorial is a decided underdog in this game, but the matchup isn’t as lopsided as some may think. If the Mustangs can prevent Brooks from taking over and keep Millville on its toes with a mix of Lajara and Andrews on the ground and hit some big plays in the passing game, Brick Memorial could put itself in position to shock the state.
The pick: Millville, 28-21
