As summer bleeds into fall, the thrill of high school football is in full swing, especially for Bridgewater-Raritan High School.
The Panthers kicked off their season on August 30 at Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville following a summer’s worth of intense preparation.
Before the 2023-2024 school year had ended, the Panthers were on the turf at Basilone Field on June 10 for their first practice of the season, albeit without pads. The team practiced through finals up until the week before July 4, which they were given off.
The team returned to organized team activities (OTAs) on July 8 as the new freshmen joined their practices. Nearly a month later, the team went to Stevenson College in Maryland in the first week of August for their annual team camp. The team then returned to Bridgewater and was given the following week off before beginning their mandatory training camp on August 12.
The Panthers looked to have an improved season from last year, where the 3-8 squad struggled to close out games; all but two games last year were within one score or less. Additionally, they look to make a deeper run in the playoffs, hoping to surpass the first round of playoffs for the first time since 2017, when the Panthers went to the North Jersey, Section 2 Group 5 playoff championship game.
However, Bridgewater-Raritan faced a tough schedule: the team started the year with four straight away games, and faced Notre Dame (a 9-1 team last year) to open their season. Despite the odds not being in their favor, the Panthers almost knocked off the Irish, losing by a score of 40-38 on a blocked field goal on the game’s final play.
With a chip on their shoulders, Bridgewater-Raritan went on the road again to Piscataway High School, and prevailed in a 52-48 shootout. Bridgewater-Raritan’s I will schedule some time for us to connect. star junior quarterback and Rutgers lacrosse commit Declan Kurdyla led the line, throwing for 2 touchdowns and 135 yards, and also running one in from a yard out. Bridgewater-Raritan also enjoyed steady contributions from junior running backs Denzel Amoafo and Nick DiEsso. Amoafo scored 2 rushing touchdowns whilst also rushing for 122 yards, while DiEsso, a Manhattan lacrosse commit, used his speed to return a kick 92 yards to the house, while also scoring a rushing touchdown. The Panthers were also aided by junior receiver Mikey Bratus, who caught four passes for 46 yards, and senior receiver Dylan Tierney, who caught three for 63 yards.
Feeling energized, the Panthers went on the road again, this time to Morris Knolls High School for a sunny Saturday matinee game in Denville. However, they were soundly defeated, 34-14. The Panthers offense could hardly get anything going: Amoafo and DiEsso only ran for 84 yards total while Kurdyla threw for an astounding 166 yards, but 3 interceptions. DiEsso shined in this game, scoring a receiving and rushing touchdowns respectively, whilst also getting three receptions for 74 yards. The passing game also highlighted breakout sophomore James Locrotondo, who had three catches and went for 47 yards. When asked about the game, his first varsity start, Locrotondo described it as one of his favorite moments of the season.
“It was pretty cool. The result didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to, but it was a pretty cool moment,” he said.
The Panthers now had the better half of their road trip behind them; they traveled to Flemington to clash with Hunterdon Central, Regional High School hoping to bounce back. The game acted as a near home game for the Panthers, as a massive student section turned out to see Bridgewater-Raritan knock off Hunterdon Central, 28-21. The Panthers were propelled forward by Kurdyla and Tierney yet again, as Kurdyla threw for over 160 yards for the second straight game and Tierney caught two 45 and 73 yard passes, each for touchdowns.
Locrotondo, who entered the game primarily on defense and kick return, attributed the team’s readiness in games to the tireless efforts to understand their opponents in the weeks before a game.
“You play how you practice. The coaches put in so much time and effort, just watching film for us. We use all the scouting reports and tools they give us in order to be a better team, win the week, and be better than our opponent,” Locrotondo mentioned.
Additionally, the sophomore cited the culture of the team as a huge proponent of their success.
“It’s all Coach (DJ) Catalano ever talks about; but it’s true. It influences our team by helping us go out there each day and playing together and embracing the E.A.T. culture; Effort, Attitude, Toughness,” he said.
Finally, Bridgewater-Raritan played its first of three home games last week against Ridge High School, ranked No.19 in the state. Unfortunately, in the Panthers homecoming game, they were taken down, 47-10, largely thanks to the six-touchdown game from Ridge’s standout running back, junior Ryan Turner.
As of today, the Panthers sit in third place of the American Silver division of the Big Central Conference, with a 1-1 record in conference play and 2-3 record overall. The Panthers head on the road again on October 4 to Elizabeth High School to face the 2-3 Minutemen, who have lost their last three games. With a victory, Bridgewater-Raritan can likely clinch a state playoff berth or, at the very least, come within one of two games for a spot.
“I definitely see us being a 5-4 team. Getting a home playoff game would be cool, in front of our home crowd with our fans because we bring in a lot of students and they support us well,” Locrotondo added.
This sentiment is echoed not only around the locker room, but throughout the halls of Bridgewater-Raritan High School.
Bridgewater-Raritan is due for another era of football success, and this is the team that can lead the school to the promised land.
