“Sebastian, in my opinion, is the best kicker in the state,” added Gogerty. “He has improved since last year and outside of the field goals he does a great job of setting up field positions and trying to switch the field for us to succeed.

“We are working hard each week to continue to try and utilize him as a weapon to end a half and gain points throughout the game.

Cedar Grove hosts a longtime local rival in Caldwell (1-3) this Friday night (Oct. 3) at 7 p.m. The Chiefs are looking rebound from this past Friday night’s 35-0 shutout loss at undefeated Wayne Hills (5-0), while the Panthers routed Newark Collegiate, 48-0, on Saturday (Sept. 27).

Cedar Grove, which always looks to have an eventful Week 0 opener for the program, began this year’s gridiron campaign taking on Group 4 power Wayne Valley at West Point Prep in New York.

Although the Indians of first-year head coach Chris Benacquista came from behind to defeat the Panthers, 37-31, and although it was disappointing not to come home with a victory, it was a terrific learning experience for the 2025 Cedar Grove squad.

“Our week 0 week has always been a big week for us,” said Gogerty. “We look to challenge ourselves right off the bat in a different event or situation each year.  I think we learned a lot about ourselves in the Week 0 loss, but I know our guys aren't about any moral victories, and I was happy with the way we worked to improve upon things during the next week.”

Cedar Grove proceeded to bounce back right away after the setback to Wayne Valley when it notched a solid week 1 victory over an always challenging Weequahic (3-1) at Untermann Field in Newark followed by a 41-7 rout of neighboring rival Verona at the Hillbillies’ Sellitto Field, and then another solid triumph, 40-21, vs. Madison, before rolling past Newark Collegiate at Schools Stadium this past weekend.  

This Week’s Sideline Chatter Essex County Top 10:
1-East Orange Campus (4-0)- Jaguars posted fourth consecutive shutout  
2-Cedar Grove (4-1)- Panthers have scored 40 or more for 3 straight weeks
3-Shabazz (3-1)- Bulldogs impressed with solid win over Immaculata
4-West Orange (4-1)- Mountaineers face formidable challenge at P-Burg
5-Seton Hall Prep (1-3)- Pirates seek to bounce back vs. red-hot St. Peter’s Prep
6-Weequahic (4-1)- Indians have stern road test at Westwood Friday night
7-West Essex (3-2)- Knights offense is sparking current 3-game win streak
8-Bloomfield (4-1)- Biggest test to date for Bengals Saturday at EOC
9-Irvington (3-2)- Blue Knights will be favored again vs. Livingston
10-Nutley (3-2)- Raiders hope to bounce back after loss to West Essex

This Weekend’s Games Involving Essex Teams. Pick To Win In Boldface:

Thursday, Oct. 2:
Snyder at Shabazz, 7

Friday, Oct. 3:
Passaic Valley at West Essex, 6:30
Millburn at Nutley, 6:30
West Orange at Phillipsburg, 7
West Side at Lincoln, 7
Hoboken at Verona, 7
Central at Orange, 7
Caldwell at Cedar Grove, 7
Weequahic at Westwood, 7
MKA at Columbia, 7
Paterson Kennedy at Barringer, 7
Belleville at Dickinson, 7
Bloomfield at East Orange Campus, 7

Saturday, Oct. 4:
Livingston at Irvington, 1
Union City at Montclair, 1
Newark Collegiate at Glen Ridge, 2
St. Peter’s Prep at Seton Hall Prep, 2

Record on picks last week: 16-1; for the season: 61-16, 79 %