NJSIAA North Jersey 2 Group 4 Football Final Preview: Chatham at Middletown North
2026 NORTH JERSEY 2 GROUP 4 CHAMPIONSHIP
WHO: (3) Chatham (8-3) at (1) Middletown North (8-1)
WHEN: Friday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Arnie Truex Stadium at Middletown North High School, 63 Tindall Road, Middletown Township NJ 07748
MIDDLETOWN NORTH’s ROAD TO THE FINAL: Defeated Watchung Hills 42-7 in the quarterfinals; defeated Teaneck 47-21 in the semifinals.
CHATHAM’s ROAD TO THE FINAL: Defeated Montgomery 41-20 in the quarterfinals; defeated Mount Olive 31-7 in the semifinals.
MIDDLETOWN NORTH’S BEST WINS: 21-20 over South Jersey Group 5 quarterfinalist Southern; 21-14 over Central Jersey Group 2 semifinalist Manasquan; 47-21 over North Jersey 2 Group 4 semifinalist Teaneck
CHATHAM’S BEST WINS: 7-3 over North Jersey 1 Group 4 semifinalist Roxbury; 28-21 over North Jersey 1 Group 4 semifinalist Morris Knolls
PLAYOFF HISTORY:
Middletown North is looking to capture their fourth sectional title in program history, having won in 1983, 1986, and 1996.
Chatham is seeking their second sectional title in program history, with their other title coming back in 1984.
ANALYSIS:
Thirty years after winning its last sectional championship, Middletown North is one victory away from ending the drought.
The Lions enter Friday night’s North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 championship game as the favorite against Chatham, with an opportunity to capture their first sectional title since 1996 and complete a journey that began with last season’s heartbreaking loss to Brick Memorial in the sectional championship game.
Head coach Steve Bush has guided Middletown North to an 8-1 record behind a balanced offense and a defense that has delivered in crucial moments. After opening the season with six consecutive victories, the Lions suffered their only loss in a 43-42 shootout against Freehold Township before responding with convincing playoff wins over Watchung Hills and Teaneck.
Middletown North has outscored its first two postseason opponents 89-28, including a dominant 47-21 victory over Teaneck in the semifinals.
Senior running back Matt Belenko has been the centerpiece of the Lions’ offense, rushing for 1,275 yards and 16 touchdowns on 166 carries. Belenko averages 7.7 yards per attempt and has provided big-play ability.
Middletown North running back Matt Belenko (Photo by Patrick Olivero)
Junior quarterback Derek Grasso gives the Lions another dimension through the air. Grasso has completed 90 of 139 passes for 1,635 yards and 15 touchdowns against six interceptions.
His primary target has been junior wide receiver Anthony Christiani, who leads the team with 36 receptions for 739 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior Danny Sigler has added 27 receptions for 550 yards and six touchdowns, giving Middletown North multiple threats in the passing game.
The Lions have also received contributions from senior Patrick Jacques, who has rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns, while Christiani has added two rushing scores.
Defensively, senior linebacker Kade Little leads Middletown North with 79 total tackles, including 30 solo stops and five tackles for loss. Christiani has contributed 51 tackles and three interceptions, while senior MJ Parulis has recorded 35 tackles, five tackles for loss, and an interception.
Middletown North tight end Kade Little (Photo by Patrick Olivero)
Standing between Middletown North and its long-awaited championship is a Chatham team that has overcome a difficult start to reach the sectional final.
The Cougars opened the season 2-3 but have won six consecutive games to improve to 8-3. Their postseason run includes a 41-20 quarterfinal victory over Montgomery and a 31-7 semifinal win against Mount Olive, avenging a 21-14 regular-season loss.
Chatham is led by senior quarterback Ryan Hogan, who has thrown for 2,423 yards and 20 touchdowns while completing 168 of 260 passes. Hogan is also the Cougars’ leading rusher with 583 yards and 13 touchdowns, making him a dual-threat challenge for Middletown North’s defense.
Senior wide receiver Nick Lagunowich has been Hogan’s favorite target, catching 55 passes for 872 yards and seven touchdowns. Junior tight end Milo Semioli has added 28 receptions for 466 yards and seven scores, while senior Owen Coletta has contributed 480 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Chatham’s defense features senior linebacker Will Richie, who leads the team with 109 tackles, and Semioli, who has recorded 83 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss. Sophomore defensive lineman George Pijut has been disruptive up front with 18 tackles for loss.
The matchup features two productive passing attacks, but Middletown North’s advantage could come on the ground. Belenko gives the Lions an established feature back capable of controlling the tempo, while Chatham relies more heavily on Hogan to generate offense both through the air and with his legs.
The Lions will need to contain Hogan’s scrambling ability and prevent the Cougars from producing explosive passing plays. Chatham, meanwhile, must find a way to slow Belenko without leaving its secondary vulnerable to Grasso and Middletown North’s talented receiving corps.
With home-field advantage, an explosive offense, and a defense that has played some of its best football in the postseason, Middletown North has positioned itself to bring a sectional championship back to the program for the first time in three decades.
