Unfortunately, it will not be a home game at Jay Doyle Field in East Brunswick. Rather, it will be an away game. And, due to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association's desire to eliminate Thanksgiving Day games in favor of their Playoffs, that day's neighborhood rivalry games have been moved back to the opening week. So we open away to our nastiest rivals, Old Bridge.
In honor of the 60th Anniversary of the Bears' varsity football debut, I present the complete record. Starting with the first decade.
As Ken Burns might have put it:
East Brunswick football has been played in 42 places. In Carteret, Highland Park, South River, Sayreville, Somerville, Middlesex, Bridgewater, Union Township, Piscataway, Hamilton, Millville, Perth Amboy, Woodbridge, Edison, Princeton, Elizabeth, Newark, Brick, Evesham, Bayonne, West Windsor, Monroe, Manalapan, Marlboro, Flemington, Jackson, Ewing, Howell, Plainsboro, Montgomery, Hillsborough, Old Bridge, New Brunswick, North Brunswick, and South Brunswick. And, of course, in East Brunswick.
Mostly, in Middlesex County. But also in Somerset County, Union County, Essex County, Ocean County, Burlington County, Hudson County, Monmouth County, Hunterdon County, and as far away as Cumberland County. But, always, in New Jersey.
In the chart below, "H" means a home game, "A" means away. Each time an opponent is played for the 1st time, I mention their municipality and County.
1961: 4-4 (Won 4, Lost 4, for a winning percentage of) .500
September 23, away to Carteret of Carteret, Middlesex County: Won 7-0.
October 7, home to Middlesex of Middlesex, Middlesex County: Won 32-0.
October 14, home to Bridgewater-Raritan of Bridgewater, Somerset County: Lost 0-14.
October 21, away to Highland Park of Highland Park, Middlesex County: Lost 0-25.
October 28, home to Union of Union. Union County: Lost 6-28.
November 4, away to South River of South River, Middlesex County: Lost 0-26.
November 11, home to Piscataway of Piscataway, Middlesex County: Won 19-0.
November 18, away to Sayreville War Memorial of Sayreville, Middlesex County: Won 27-0
For the 1st 2 seasons, the football coach was James F. "Jay" Doyle, who was also the school's first athletic director and its first wrestling coach.
The 1st game was won in the last 4 minutes, on a 2-yard quarterback sneak by Bill Gruver. For the 1st 5 seasons, EBHS played on a field at the high school, which had opened in 1958, located behind the gym, where what my generation of EBHS students knew as "the practice field," but after renovations is no longer.
Between the September 23 and October 7 games, Roger Maris of the nearby New York Yankees broke the single-season home run record with 61. The week of the October 14 game, the Yankees won the World Series, beating the Cincinnati Reds. In the following off-season, the nearby New York Mets made their debut.
At the time, EBHS was a Group III school, and was playing schools that were, at the time, roughly the same size in terms of enrollment. Some of these schools, like EBHS, got bigger; others got smaller, and as a result were regrouped into leagues, some later into Divisions of the Greater Middlesex Conference, where they faced mostly schools in their same Group.
South River had been the school to which most high school students from East Brunswick had been sent, and became our first arch-rival.
October 7, home to Middlesex of Middlesex, Middlesex County: Won 32-0.
October 14, home to Bridgewater-Raritan of Bridgewater, Somerset County: Lost 0-14.
October 21, away to Highland Park of Highland Park, Middlesex County: Lost 0-25.
October 28, home to Union of Union. Union County: Lost 6-28.
November 4, away to South River of South River, Middlesex County: Lost 0-26.
November 11, home to Piscataway of Piscataway, Middlesex County: Won 19-0.
November 18, away to Sayreville War Memorial of Sayreville, Middlesex County: Won 27-0
For the 1st 2 seasons, the football coach was James F. "Jay" Doyle, who was also the school's first athletic director and its first wrestling coach.
The 1st game was won in the last 4 minutes, on a 2-yard quarterback sneak by Bill Gruver. For the 1st 5 seasons, EBHS played on a field at the high school, which had opened in 1958, located behind the gym, where what my generation of EBHS students knew as "the practice field," but after renovations is no longer.
Between the September 23 and October 7 games, Roger Maris of the nearby New York Yankees broke the single-season home run record with 61. The week of the October 14 game, the Yankees won the World Series, beating the Cincinnati Reds. In the following off-season, the nearby New York Mets made their debut.
At the time, EBHS was a Group III school, and was playing schools that were, at the time, roughly the same size in terms of enrollment. Some of these schools, like EBHS, got bigger; others got smaller, and as a result were regrouped into leagues, some later into Divisions of the Greater Middlesex Conference, where they faced mostly schools in their same Group.
South River had been the school to which most high school students from East Brunswick had been sent, and became our first arch-rival.
In 1966, Bridgewater-Raritan became Bridgewater-Raritan West, or "B-R West," when B-R East was formed. B-R East was the school that hosted the 1986 Central Jersey Group IV basketball championship game, which EB won, beating Franklin. The two schools were reconsolidated in 1995, as B-R West, the old BRHS, the Golden Falcons, became the new BRHS, with new colors and a new mascot, the Panthers. B-R East, the Minutemen, became a middle school.
For simplicity's sake, hereafter, Sayreville War Memorial High School will be listed as simply "Sayreville."
1962: 2-7, .222
September 15, home to Carteret: Lost 0-13.
September 22, away to Somerville of Somerville, Somerset County: Lost 7-28.
October 6, away to Middlesex: Lost 6-8.
October 13, away to Bridgewater-Raritan: Won 12-7.
October 20, home to Highland Park: Lost 6-7.
October 27, away to Union: Lost 7-27.
November 3, home to South River: Lost 13-32.
November 10, away to Piscataway: Lost 0-19.
November 17, home to Sayreville: Won 13-12.
September 15, home to Carteret: Lost 0-13.
September 22, away to Somerville of Somerville, Somerset County: Lost 7-28.
October 6, away to Middlesex: Lost 6-8.
October 13, away to Bridgewater-Raritan: Won 12-7.
October 20, home to Highland Park: Lost 6-7.
October 27, away to Union: Lost 7-27.
November 3, home to South River: Lost 13-32.
November 10, away to Piscataway: Lost 0-19.
November 17, home to Sayreville: Won 13-12.
The Yankees won the World Series the week of the October 20 game, beating the San Francisco Giants. The October 27 game was played during the Cuban Missile Crisis. As bad as it was, the team was 2 field goals away from being 4-5.
1963: 5-2-2, .667
September 28, home to Union: Tied 0-0.
October 5, home to Somerville: Lost 13-33.
October 12, away to Hamilton of Hamilton, Mercer County: Won 20-6.
October 19, home to Bridgewater-Raritan: Won 27-21.
October 26, away to Millville of Millville, Cumberland County: Lost 20-24.
November 2, home to Woodbridge of Woodbridge, Middlesex County: Won 26-12.
1963: 5-2-2, .667
September 28, home to Union: Tied 0-0.
October 5, home to Somerville: Lost 13-33.
October 12, away to Hamilton of Hamilton, Mercer County: Won 20-6.
October 19, home to Bridgewater-Raritan: Won 27-21.
October 26, away to Millville of Millville, Cumberland County: Lost 20-24.
November 2, home to Woodbridge of Woodbridge, Middlesex County: Won 26-12.
November 9, away to South River: Tied 6-6.
November 16, away to Madison Township of Madison, Middlesex County: Won 41-15.
November 28, home to Sayreville: Won 13-12.
Ron "Rock" Gonier became the EBHS football coach, as Doyle cut back to being just AD and wrestling coach. The team was a touchdown against Millville and a field goal each against Union and South River from being 8-1, in only their 3rd season of play.
Hamilton, to the east of Trenton, is also known as Hamilton West. The town now has 3 high schools, the others being Steinert, a.k.a. Hamilton East; and Nottingham, a.k.a. Hamilton North.
Millville remains EBHS' longest-ever football roadtrip: 95 miles. EBHS has never played a team from outside the State of new Jersey. The same day that this game was played, Madison Township High School, the forerunner of the school now known as Old Bridge, was in its first season of varsity football, and played Edison at EBHS, due to their own field not being ready.
The November 28 game had been scheduled for November 23, but was postponed due to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy the day before. As a result, for the first time, EBHS played football on Thanksgiving Day. A native of Long Island, where Thanksgiving Day football had never taken hold, Jay Doyle was against the idea.
Ron "Rock" Gonier became the EBHS football coach, as Doyle cut back to being just AD and wrestling coach. The team was a touchdown against Millville and a field goal each against Union and South River from being 8-1, in only their 3rd season of play.
Hamilton, to the east of Trenton, is also known as Hamilton West. The town now has 3 high schools, the others being Steinert, a.k.a. Hamilton East; and Nottingham, a.k.a. Hamilton North.
Millville remains EBHS' longest-ever football roadtrip: 95 miles. EBHS has never played a team from outside the State of new Jersey. The same day that this game was played, Madison Township High School, the forerunner of the school now known as Old Bridge, was in its first season of varsity football, and played Edison at EBHS, due to their own field not being ready.
The November 28 game had been scheduled for November 23, but was postponed due to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy the day before. As a result, for the first time, EBHS played football on Thanksgiving Day. A native of Long Island, where Thanksgiving Day football had never taken hold, Jay Doyle was against the idea.
1964: 6-3, .667
September 26, away to Woodbridge: Won 20-6.
September 26, away to Woodbridge: Won 20-6.
October 3, away to Perth Amboy of Perth Amboy, Middlesex County: Lost 0-14.
October 10, home to Ewing of Ewing, Mercer County: Won 12-8.
October 17, away to Bridgewater-Raritan: Won 34-0.
October 24, home to Madison: Lost 14-20.
October 31, home to Edison of Edison, Middlesex County: Won 29-0.
November 7, home to South River: Won 14-7.
November 14, home to New Brunswick of New Brunswick, Middlesex County: Lost 0-19.
November 21, away to Sayreville: Won 19-7.
October 10, home to Ewing of Ewing, Mercer County: Won 12-8.
October 17, away to Bridgewater-Raritan: Won 34-0.
October 24, home to Madison: Lost 14-20.
October 31, home to Edison of Edison, Middlesex County: Won 29-0.
November 7, home to South River: Won 14-7.
November 14, home to New Brunswick of New Brunswick, Middlesex County: Lost 0-19.
November 21, away to Sayreville: Won 19-7.
The EBHS football schedule begins to resemble the kind we're used to, as Perth Amboy and Edison appear for the first time, as Woodbridge and Madison/Old Bridge did the year before.
The October 31 game was the first time that EB played on Halloween. The next game, the first time that we beat South River, was played the week that President Lyndon B. Johnson was elected to a full term.
The October 31 game was the first time that EB played on Halloween. The next game, the first time that we beat South River, was played the week that President Lyndon B. Johnson was elected to a full term.
A touchdown against Madison away from being 7-2.
1965: 6-3
September 25, away to Steinert of Hamilton, Mercer County: Lost 12-13.
October 2, home to Perth Amboy: Lost 6-14.
October 9, away to John F. Kennedy of Woodbridge: Won 21-13.
October 16, home to Bridgewater-Raritan: Won 13-6.
October 23, away to Madison: Won 13-20.
October 30, away to Edison: Won 28-13.
November 6, away to South River: Won 21-12.
1965: 6-3
September 25, away to Steinert of Hamilton, Mercer County: Lost 12-13.
October 2, home to Perth Amboy: Lost 6-14.
October 9, away to John F. Kennedy of Woodbridge: Won 21-13.
October 16, home to Bridgewater-Raritan: Won 13-6.
October 23, away to Madison: Won 13-20.
October 30, away to Edison: Won 28-13.
November 6, away to South River: Won 21-12.
November 13, home to New Brunswick: Lost 7-33.
November 20, away to Sayreville: Won 27-13.
November 20, away to Sayreville: Won 27-13.
Now a Group IV school, EBHS is placed in what is then known as the Greater Jersey Group IV Conference, Central Division II, and wins its first Conference Championship.
The November 13 game was played the week of the Great Northeast Blackout, a.k.a. The Night the Lights Went Out. Of course, in those days, no Middlesex County high school had lights at their football field except for Memorial Stadium in New Brunswick, and the blackout happened on a Tuesday night, so by the weekend it wasn't going to be a problem.
Woodbridge was in the process of building its 2nd high school when JFK was killed, and so they named it after him, much as EB was building its first junior high school in 1961 when United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld was killed in a plane crash, and named it after him. So JFKHS in Woodbridge didn't have a name before JFK was assassinated.
The November 13 game was played the week of the Great Northeast Blackout, a.k.a. The Night the Lights Went Out. Of course, in those days, no Middlesex County high school had lights at their football field except for Memorial Stadium in New Brunswick, and the blackout happened on a Tuesday night, so by the weekend it wasn't going to be a problem.
Woodbridge was in the process of building its 2nd high school when JFK was killed, and so they named it after him, much as EB was building its first junior high school in 1961 when United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld was killed in a plane crash, and named it after him. So JFKHS in Woodbridge didn't have a name before JFK was assassinated.
Had we made our extra points against Steinert, we would have been 7-2.
1966: 7-1-1, .833
September 24, home to Madison: Won 35-6.
October 1, away to Woodbridge: Tied 0-0.
1966: 7-1-1, .833
September 24, home to Madison: Won 35-6.
October 1, away to Woodbridge: Tied 0-0.
October 8, home to South River: Lost 0-27.
October 15, away to Edison: Won 34-12.
October 22, away to Perth Amboy: Won 13-6.
October 29, home to Essex Catholic of Newark, Essex County: Won 32-14.
November 5, home to John F. Kennedy: Won 26-0.
October 22, away to Perth Amboy: Won 13-6.
October 29, home to Essex Catholic of Newark, Essex County: Won 32-14.
November 5, home to John F. Kennedy: Won 26-0.
November 12, away to New Brunswick: Won 31-21.
November 19, home to Sayreville Won 33-0.
A 4,000-seat stadium opened for this season, and in the first game, EB beat Madison. Interestingly, when that stadium, later renamed Jay Doyle Field, got its lights, the first night game was against the same school, by then named Madison Central; and when it got its artificial surface, the first game was against the same school, by then named Old Bridge.
I talked to Wayne Beck Jr., an EBHS baseball player, whose father Wayne Beck Sr. played in the October 1 game. Wayne Jr. said his father told him that it poured that day, and that Woodbridge Stadium (now Nicholas A. Priscoe Stadium) was practically a field of soup.
The next game was a foreshadowing. EB had Dave Wohl at quarterback, and he would go on to become the first (and still only) EBHS graduate to play in the NBA. South River's quarterback was senior Joe Theismann (then pronounced "THEEZE-man," it was at Notre Dame where it was changed to "THIGHS-man" to rhyme with the Heisman Trophy he ended up not winning), and his top receiver was sophomore Drew Pearson, who succeeded him as SRHS quarterback, and then opposed Theismann in some classic Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys games.
In spite of this rough start, EB won the rest of their games, winning the Conference Championship and, due to their record, winning a share of their 1st Central Jersey Group IV Championship. Our first "State Championship." That November 19 clincher against Sayreville was played the same day as the Michigan State-Notre Dame Number 1 vs. Number 2 tie game that was labeled "The Game of the Century."
November 19, home to Sayreville Won 33-0.
A 4,000-seat stadium opened for this season, and in the first game, EB beat Madison. Interestingly, when that stadium, later renamed Jay Doyle Field, got its lights, the first night game was against the same school, by then named Madison Central; and when it got its artificial surface, the first game was against the same school, by then named Old Bridge.
I talked to Wayne Beck Jr., an EBHS baseball player, whose father Wayne Beck Sr. played in the October 1 game. Wayne Jr. said his father told him that it poured that day, and that Woodbridge Stadium (now Nicholas A. Priscoe Stadium) was practically a field of soup.
The next game was a foreshadowing. EB had Dave Wohl at quarterback, and he would go on to become the first (and still only) EBHS graduate to play in the NBA. South River's quarterback was senior Joe Theismann (then pronounced "THEEZE-man," it was at Notre Dame where it was changed to "THIGHS-man" to rhyme with the Heisman Trophy he ended up not winning), and his top receiver was sophomore Drew Pearson, who succeeded him as SRHS quarterback, and then opposed Theismann in some classic Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys games.
In spite of this rough start, EB won the rest of their games, winning the Conference Championship and, due to their record, winning a share of their 1st Central Jersey Group IV Championship. Our first "State Championship." That November 19 clincher against Sayreville was played the same day as the Michigan State-Notre Dame Number 1 vs. Number 2 tie game that was labeled "The Game of the Century."
Essex Catholic was established in Newark in 1957, moved to East Orange in 1980, and was closed due to declining enrollment in 2003.
1967: 6-3, .667
September 23, away to Madison: Won 27-0.
September 30, home to Woodbridge: Won 14-0.
October 7, away to South River: Lost 14-25.
October 14, home to Edison: Won 9-8.
October 21, home to Perth Amboy: Won 18-13.
October 28, away to Princeton of Princeton, Mercer County: Lost 13-20.
November 4, away to John F. Kennedy: Lost 14-18.
November 11, away to New Brunswick: Won 20-6
November 18, away to Sayreville: Won 41-0.
September 23, away to Madison: Won 27-0.
September 30, home to Woodbridge: Won 14-0.
October 7, away to South River: Lost 14-25.
October 14, home to Edison: Won 9-8.
October 21, home to Perth Amboy: Won 18-13.
October 28, away to Princeton of Princeton, Mercer County: Lost 13-20.
November 4, away to John F. Kennedy: Lost 14-18.
November 11, away to New Brunswick: Won 20-6
November 18, away to Sayreville: Won 41-0.
This season made it three straight Conference Championships. The October 21 game was played on the day of a major antiwar demonstration in Washington that included the supposed "levitation" of the Pentagon. It was also the day of the famous photo of the man in the sweater sticking a flower down the barrel of a soldier's rifle.
1968: 6-3, .667
September 28, home to Madison: Won 18-6.
October 5, away to Woodbridge: Won 19-13.
October 12, home to South River: Lost 14-48.
October 19, away to Edison: Won 26-7.
October 26, away to Perth Amboy: Won 35-14.
November 2, home to Princeton: Won 20-13.
November 9, away to John F. Kennedy: Lost 14-18.
November 16, away to New Brunswick: Won 20-6.
November 23, away to Sayreville: Won 41-0.
Ron Gonier resigned as coach to concentrate on teaching (math), and assistant coach Mel Caseiro (who also taught science, and whose brother John was a vice principal) became head coach. He kept the program strong, winning a fourth straight Conference Championship. He also gave us our first helmet design, putting green stickers with the player's uniform number on each side. Previously, the helmets were blank white with a green stripe down the middle.
1968: 6-3, .667
September 28, home to Madison: Won 18-6.
October 5, away to Woodbridge: Won 19-13.
October 12, home to South River: Lost 14-48.
October 19, away to Edison: Won 26-7.
October 26, away to Perth Amboy: Won 35-14.
November 2, home to Princeton: Won 20-13.
November 9, away to John F. Kennedy: Lost 14-18.
November 16, away to New Brunswick: Won 20-6.
November 23, away to Sayreville: Won 41-0.
Ron Gonier resigned as coach to concentrate on teaching (math), and assistant coach Mel Caseiro (who also taught science, and whose brother John was a vice principal) became head coach. He kept the program strong, winning a fourth straight Conference Championship. He also gave us our first helmet design, putting green stickers with the player's uniform number on each side. Previously, the helmets were blank white with a green stripe down the middle.
Between the October 12 and 19 games, the Olympics in Mexico City featured the raised-fist protest of Tommie Smith and John Carlos, Bob Beamon's record-breaking long jump, Al Oerter winning a 4th straight Gold Medal in the discus throw, Dick Fosbury revolutionizing the high jump with "the Fosbury Flop," and George Foreman winning the Gold Medal in heavyweight boxing. The November 9 game was played the week that Richard Nixon was elected President.
A touchdown vs. JFK away from being 7-2.
1969: 6-3, .667
September 27, away to Madison: Won 30-13.
October 4, home to Woodbridge: Lost 8-14.
October 11, away to South River: Lost 6-24.
October 18, home to John P. Stevens of Edison: Lost 20-27.
October 25, home to Perth Amboy: Won 33-8.
November 1, away to Cedar Ridge of Madison: Won 64-0.
November 8, home to John F. Kennedy: Won 19-0.
November 15, away to New Brunswick: Won 42-8.
November 22, home to Sayreville: Won 37-0.
EB was now the winner of five straight Conference Championships. With the addition of John P. Stevens H.S., a 2nd school for Edison, and Cedar Ridge, a 2nd school for Old Bridge, the EBHS football schedule begins to look even more familiar to those who attended in the 1970s and (in my case) '80s. Cedar Ridge never built its own field, instead groundsharing at Madison.
Stevens was President of the Edison Board of Education, and as such his name appears on the dedication plaques of both the school named for him and crosstown Edison H.S. For simplicity's sake, from here on out, the school's name will be listed the way its people usually list it: "J.P. Stevens."
The October 11 game was played the day of Game 1 of the World Series between the Mets and the Baltimore Orioles. The Mets won the Series on October 16.
The November 1 game remains both the most points EB have ever scored in a football game, and also their win with the biggest margin. The November 15 game was played on Mobilization Day, when 500,000 people attended an antiwar demonstration in Washington.
A touchdown vs. Woodbridge away from being 7-2.
Part II will follow later today.