As Ken Burns might have put it:
East Brunswick football has been played in 42 places. Off Route 1, Route 9, Route 26, Route 27, Route 28, Route 31, Route 33, Route 35, Route 49, Route 70, Route 73, Route 79, Route 82, Route 130, Route 195, Route 206, Route 287, Route 440, the New Jersey Turnpike, and the Garden State Parkway. And, of course, off Route 18.
September 26, home to Madison: Tied 14-14.
October 3, away to Woodbridge: Lost 7-32.
October 10, home to South River: Won 39-0.
October 17, away to J.P. Stevens: Lost 14-29.
October 24, away to Perth Amboy: Won 24-6.
October 31, away to Cedar Ridge: Won 29-0.
November 7, away to John F. Kennedy: Won 28-9.
November 14, home to New Brunswick: Won 18-10.
November 21, away to Sayreville: Won 24-6.
This season made it six straight Conference Championships. And a 2nd Halloween Bowl. We were 1 field goal away from 7-2.
October 2, home to Woodbridge: Lost 12-14.
October 9, away to Cedar Ridge: Won 33-0.
October 16, home to J.P. Stevens: Won 27-6.
1971: 5-3-1, .611
September 25, away to Madison: Tied 14-14.October 2, home to Woodbridge: Lost 12-14.
October 9, away to Cedar Ridge: Won 33-0.
October 16, home to J.P. Stevens: Won 27-6.
October 23, home to Carteret: Lost 6-27.
October 30, away to Thomas Jefferson of Elizabeth, Union County: Won 22-18.
November 6, away to South River: Won 27-0.
November 13, away to New Brunswick: Won 58-0.
November 20, home to Sayreville: Lost 20-22.
November 6, away to South River: Won 27-0.
November 13, away to New Brunswick: Won 58-0.
November 20, home to Sayreville: Lost 20-22.
This was the first season of the Middlesex County Athletic Conference (MCAC). JFK won the first Conference Title. We were 3 field goals away from 8-1.
The Conference Championship streak ended in ignominious fashion. My sophomore English teacher was Bill Munyan, who was the longtime EBHS football statistician. He told me that the first time we ever lost to Sayreville -- and it would be the only time we would lose to them in our first 30 seasons of football -- was on a safety caused by a bad snap on a punt attempt.
The all-boys Thomas Jefferson High School and the all-girls Battin High School were consolidated into a new Elizabeth High School in 1977, making it the New Jersey high school with the largest enrollment. After a 2009 restructuring by their Board of Education, EHS was split up into campuses, and the former TJHS building has been converted into their arts and performing arts campus.
The Conference Championship streak ended in ignominious fashion. My sophomore English teacher was Bill Munyan, who was the longtime EBHS football statistician. He told me that the first time we ever lost to Sayreville -- and it would be the only time we would lose to them in our first 30 seasons of football -- was on a safety caused by a bad snap on a punt attempt.
The all-boys Thomas Jefferson High School and the all-girls Battin High School were consolidated into a new Elizabeth High School in 1977, making it the New Jersey high school with the largest enrollment. After a 2009 restructuring by their Board of Education, EHS was split up into campuses, and the former TJHS building has been converted into their arts and performing arts campus.
This was the only season in which South River had a winning record but was beaten by East Brunswick. Oddly, their leading receiver was Frank Noppenberger, who became East Brunswick's most successful boys basketball coach, and then its athletic director.
1972: 7-1-1, .833
September 30, home to Madison: Won 37-6.
October 7, away to Woodbridge: Won 19-13.
October 14, home to Cedar Ridge: Won 27-11.
October 21, away to J.P. Stevens: Won 27-7.
October 28, away to Carteret: Won 46-6.
November 4, away to Thomas Jefferson: Won 20-6.
November 11, home to South River: Lost 14-35.
October 7, away to Woodbridge: Won 19-13.
October 14, home to Cedar Ridge: Won 27-11.
October 21, away to J.P. Stevens: Won 27-7.
October 28, away to Carteret: Won 46-6.
November 4, away to Thomas Jefferson: Won 20-6.
November 11, home to South River: Lost 14-35.
November 18, home to New Brunswick: Tied 0-0.
November 25, away to Sayreville: Won 41-14.
This was the first season that the block EB logo appeared on our helmets. The November 11 game was played the week that President Nixon was re-elected. The November 25 game clinched EB's 1st MCAC Championship and 2nd Central Jersey Group IV Co-Championship. We were a field goal away from 8-1.
November 25, away to Sayreville: Won 41-14.
This was the first season that the block EB logo appeared on our helmets. The November 11 game was played the week that President Nixon was re-elected. The November 25 game clinched EB's 1st MCAC Championship and 2nd Central Jersey Group IV Co-Championship. We were a field goal away from 8-1.
It would be a long, agonizing, gut-wrenching wait for another. Students and graduates of schools that won "State Championships" from 1974 onward would remind EB people that, "You've never won a State Championship." What they meant was, we'd never won a State Championship under the Playoff format.
Athletic director and wrestling coach Jay Doyle died at the end of the calendar year. When the new season began, the stadium was named in his memory.
1973: 6-3, .667
September 22, home to Perth Amboy: Won 39-8.
September 29, home to John F. Kennedy: Lost 14-18.
October 5, away to Cedar Ridge: Lost 0-21.
October 13, home to J.P. Stevens: Lost 23-28.
October 20, away to New Brunswick: Won 41-0.
October 27, away to Madison: Won 6-0.
November 3, away to Essex Catholic: Won 20-0.
November 10, away to South River: Won 13-6.
November 17, home to Sayreville: Won 33-0.
A strange season on the field. The October 5 game was the first time we ever lost to Cedar Ridge, which took an undefeated season into their final game, on Thanksgiving, against Madison at Madison's stadium, by now renamed Vince Lombardi Field for the legendary Packer coach. (Not sure why: Although he coached a high school team in Kearny, his wife was from Red Bank and they are buried in Middletown, he appears to have had no connection to the town now known as Old Bridge.) But Cedar Ridge needed a last-minute field goal to win 17-15 to clinch their undefeated season, the MCAC Title, and the last Central Jersey Group IV Championship before the Playoff system was put into place. It was a little embarrassing, as Madison, the older school, had not yet won any championship. Nor had they had an undefeated season. (Then again, we still haven't.)
Further strangeness: Within 2 weeks of each other, on October 13, EB set a school record (which we have since broken) for most points scored, but still losing; and then, on October 27, we set a school record (which still stands) for fewest points scored, but still winning.
Athletic director and wrestling coach Jay Doyle died at the end of the calendar year. When the new season began, the stadium was named in his memory.
1973: 6-3, .667
September 22, home to Perth Amboy: Won 39-8.
September 29, home to John F. Kennedy: Lost 14-18.
October 5, away to Cedar Ridge: Lost 0-21.
October 13, home to J.P. Stevens: Lost 23-28.
October 20, away to New Brunswick: Won 41-0.
October 27, away to Madison: Won 6-0.
November 3, away to Essex Catholic: Won 20-0.
November 10, away to South River: Won 13-6.
November 17, home to Sayreville: Won 33-0.
A strange season on the field. The October 5 game was the first time we ever lost to Cedar Ridge, which took an undefeated season into their final game, on Thanksgiving, against Madison at Madison's stadium, by now renamed Vince Lombardi Field for the legendary Packer coach. (Not sure why: Although he coached a high school team in Kearny, his wife was from Red Bank and they are buried in Middletown, he appears to have had no connection to the town now known as Old Bridge.) But Cedar Ridge needed a last-minute field goal to win 17-15 to clinch their undefeated season, the MCAC Title, and the last Central Jersey Group IV Championship before the Playoff system was put into place. It was a little embarrassing, as Madison, the older school, had not yet won any championship. Nor had they had an undefeated season. (Then again, we still haven't.)
Further strangeness: Within 2 weeks of each other, on October 13, EB set a school record (which we have since broken) for most points scored, but still losing; and then, on October 27, we set a school record (which still stands) for fewest points scored, but still winning.
The game against Essex Catholic, at the old Newark City Schools Stadium, remains the only game we have ever played in Essex County.
It was also a strange season off the field. Due to East Brunswick's large Jewish community, observing Yom Kippur, the game scheduled for October 6 was moved to October 5; and on October 6, Egypt began the Yom Kippur War that took up much of the month before Israel won.
On October 10, Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned due to a criminal conviction. On the same day, the Mets won the National League Pennant, beating the Cincinnati Reds in the NL Championship Series.
On October 20, President Nixon ordered what became known as the Saturday Night Massacre. On November 17, at a press conference during a "working vacation" at Disney World, Nixon told the media, asking him about Watergate, "I welcome this sort of an examination, because people have gotta know whether or not their President is a crook! Well, I am not a crook!" By the time EBHS played another varsity football game, Gerald Ford would be President.
We were 2 touchdowns away from 8-1.
1974: 6-3, .667
September 28, away to Perth Amboy: Won 39-7.
October 5, away to John F. Kennedy: Lost 14-16.
October 12, home to Cedar Ridge: Won 21-20.
October 19, away to J.P. Stevens: Lost 22-28.
October 26, home to New Brunswick: Won 27-8.
November 2, home to Madison: Won 26-21.
November 9, away to Brick Township of Brick, Ocean County: Lost 8-21.
November 16, home to South River: Won 8-7.
November 23, away to Sayreville: Won 13-12.
This was the first season that the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) held Playoffs to determine State Sectional Champions. EB's loss to Brick was no fluke: In the first high school playoff game ever held in New Jersey, on a shortened field at what's now called Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, Brick came from behind to beat Camden and finish a 12-0 season.
1974: 6-3, .667
September 28, away to Perth Amboy: Won 39-7.
October 5, away to John F. Kennedy: Lost 14-16.
October 12, home to Cedar Ridge: Won 21-20.
October 19, away to J.P. Stevens: Lost 22-28.
October 26, home to New Brunswick: Won 27-8.
November 2, home to Madison: Won 26-21.
November 9, away to Brick Township of Brick, Ocean County: Lost 8-21.
November 16, home to South River: Won 8-7.
November 23, away to Sayreville: Won 13-12.
This was the first season that the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) held Playoffs to determine State Sectional Champions. EB's loss to Brick was no fluke: In the first high school playoff game ever held in New Jersey, on a shortened field at what's now called Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, Brick came from behind to beat Camden and finish a 12-0 season.
We were a field goal against JFK and a touchdown against Stevens from being 8-1.
1975: 4-5, .444
September 20 , home to Sayreville: Won 12-6.
September 27, away to Cedar Ridge: Lost 14-22.
October 4, away to Madison: Lost 13-19.
October 11, home to Colonia of Woodbridge: Lost 13-14.
October 18, away to South River: Won 39-14.
October 25, away to Edison: Won 14-6.
November 1, home to Brick Township: Lost 10-14.
November 8, home to Perth Amboy: Won 28-0.
November 15, away to John F. Kennedy: Lost 11-15.
1975: 4-5, .444
September 20 , home to Sayreville: Won 12-6.
September 27, away to Cedar Ridge: Lost 14-22.
October 4, away to Madison: Lost 13-19.
October 11, home to Colonia of Woodbridge: Lost 13-14.
October 18, away to South River: Won 39-14.
October 25, away to Edison: Won 14-6.
November 1, home to Brick Township: Lost 10-14.
November 8, home to Perth Amboy: Won 28-0.
November 15, away to John F. Kennedy: Lost 11-15.
This was the Bears' first losing season in 13 years, since EBHS football was still effectively an "expansion team." We were 1 touchdown each against Madison, Brick and JFK, and a field goal against Colonia, away from being 8-1.
This was the year the NJSIAA expanded its Playoff system to include the top 4 teams in each section: North Jersey Section I (the Counties of Sussex, Passaic, Bergen and Hudson), North Jersey Section II (Warren, Morris, Essex and Union), Central Jersey (Hunterdon, Somerset, Mercer, Middlesex and Monmouth) and South Jersey (Ocean, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, Atlantic and Cape May). These sectional boundaries would later be redrawn.
On November 5, after EB played Madison, the Township of Madison, tired of being confused with Madison Borough in Morris County, changed the name of the town to the Township of Old Bridge. But instead of making their original high school "Old Bridge High School" at this time, they made it "Madison Central High School." At any rate, this was the only season that both Old Bridge high schools beat EB in the same season. It was also the only season, besides, 1973, that Cedar Ridge ever beat Madison on Thanksgiving.
The October 11 game was played a few hours before the series premiere of Saturday Night Live. The October 25 game was played the week the classic 1975 World Series ended, with Carlton Fisk waving his arms in the hopes that his drive down the left field line would stay fair, and it hit the foul pole to win Game 6 for the Boston Red Sox, before the Cincinnati Reds won Game 7 the next night.
The November 1 game was played the week of 2 weird events in New York City: President Ford refused a federal bailout of the City's desperate finances, leading the Daily News to print its most famous headline: FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD. After the City government made some concessions, Ford decided they were serious, and he changed his mind, but the headline stuck in people's minds, and Ford lost the State of New York a year later, one of several things that cost him a very close election.
A few days later, the New York Rangers made 2 big trades: Sending Jean Ratelle and Brad Park to the Boston Bruins for Phil Esposito, and sending goalie Eddie Giacomin to the Detroit Red Wings. As fate would have it, the Rangers' next game was at home against Detroit, and fans chanted Eddie's name during pregame introductions and cheered his every save and the Wings' win.
1976: 2-6-1, .278
September 18, away to Colonia: Lost 8-20.
September 25, home to Madison Central of Old Bridge: Lost 0-12.
October 2, home to Edison: Lost 6-17.
October 9, home to Cedar Ridge: Won 17-6.
October 16, home to John F. Kennedy: Tied 6-6.
October 23, away to Woodbridge: Lost 0-38.
October 30, away to Brick Township: Lost 0-29.
November 6, away to J.P. Stevens: Lost 14-27.
November 13, away to Sayreville: Won 25-6.
On November 5, after EB played Madison, the Township of Madison, tired of being confused with Madison Borough in Morris County, changed the name of the town to the Township of Old Bridge. But instead of making their original high school "Old Bridge High School" at this time, they made it "Madison Central High School." At any rate, this was the only season that both Old Bridge high schools beat EB in the same season. It was also the only season, besides, 1973, that Cedar Ridge ever beat Madison on Thanksgiving.
The October 11 game was played a few hours before the series premiere of Saturday Night Live. The October 25 game was played the week the classic 1975 World Series ended, with Carlton Fisk waving his arms in the hopes that his drive down the left field line would stay fair, and it hit the foul pole to win Game 6 for the Boston Red Sox, before the Cincinnati Reds won Game 7 the next night.
The November 1 game was played the week of 2 weird events in New York City: President Ford refused a federal bailout of the City's desperate finances, leading the Daily News to print its most famous headline: FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD. After the City government made some concessions, Ford decided they were serious, and he changed his mind, but the headline stuck in people's minds, and Ford lost the State of New York a year later, one of several things that cost him a very close election.
A few days later, the New York Rangers made 2 big trades: Sending Jean Ratelle and Brad Park to the Boston Bruins for Phil Esposito, and sending goalie Eddie Giacomin to the Detroit Red Wings. As fate would have it, the Rangers' next game was at home against Detroit, and fans chanted Eddie's name during pregame introductions and cheered his every save and the Wings' win.
1976: 2-6-1, .278
September 18, away to Colonia: Lost 8-20.
September 25, home to Madison Central of Old Bridge: Lost 0-12.
October 2, home to Edison: Lost 6-17.
October 9, home to Cedar Ridge: Won 17-6.
October 16, home to John F. Kennedy: Tied 6-6.
October 23, away to Woodbridge: Lost 0-38.
October 30, away to Brick Township: Lost 0-29.
November 6, away to J.P. Stevens: Lost 14-27.
November 13, away to Sayreville: Won 25-6.
EB's worst season yet, not counting its "expansion" years. Coach Mel Caseiro took the fall, and was fired, although he remained a science teacher at EBHS until retiring, and was hired to coach the linebackers at Rutgers University.
This was also the year that the MCAC's smaller schools broke away and formed a new league with other similarly-sized schools. Because it was America's 200th Anniversary, the league became known as the Bicentennial Athletic Conference (BAC). Never again would EB play former arch-rival South River -- not in football, anyway; there would be meetings in other sports, and even then mainly in County Tournament play. Nor would we play New Brunswick again for many years.
This was also the year that the MCAC's smaller schools broke away and formed a new league with other similarly-sized schools. Because it was America's 200th Anniversary, the league became known as the Bicentennial Athletic Conference (BAC). Never again would EB play former arch-rival South River -- not in football, anyway; there would be meetings in other sports, and even then mainly in County Tournament play. Nor would we play New Brunswick again for many years.
The November 6 game was played the week that Jimmy Carter was elected President.
1977: 5-2-2, .667
September 17, home to Sayreville: Won 35-0.
September 24, home to Colonia: Won 14-8.
October 1, away to Madison Central: Won 28-0.
October 8, away to Edison: Won 20-0.
October 15, away to Cedar Ridge: Won 41-7.
October 22, away to John F. Kennedy: Tied 6-6.
October 29, away to Woodbridge: Tied 0-0.
November 5, home to Brick Township: Lost 7-13.
November 12, away to J.P. Stevens: Lost 0-14.
George Tardiff was hired as head coach, and it looked like a great hire: The team won its 1st 5 games, and was undefeated in its 1st 7. The failure to kick an extra point against JFK, get any kind of score against Woodbridge, find a 2nd touchdown against mighty Brick, or beat a Stevens team that ended up winning the MCAC and Central Jersey Group IV Championships, doomed EB to miss the Playoffs. So we were not that far away from an 8-0 start. Had the current system, with 8 teams making it from each section, been in place, we would have made it.
The October 15 game was played the day of Game 4 of the World Series, in which the Yankees would beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, to win World Series for the first time in 15 years, thanks to Reggie Jackson's 3 home runs in Game 6.
1978: 7-2, .778
September 23, away Perth Amboy: Lost 0-8.
September 30, home to Madison Central: Won 9-0.
October 7, home to Cedar Ridge: Won 9-0.
October 14, away to Woodbridge: Won 14-6.
October 21, home to Carteret: Won 21-6.
October 28, home to Edison: Won 20-0.
November 4, away to Brick Township: Won 14-7.
November 11, home to J.P. Stevens: Lost 13-31.
November 23, away to Colonia: Won 15-10.
This was the first season of EB's best-ever helmet design, with the bear-paw prints. It was also the first time we played a regularly-scheduled Thanksgiving game, and we won it. Why Colonia? Just about everybody else in the MCAC already had a Thanksgiving rival, including the other 2 Woodbridge schools, Woodbridge and JFK, who played each other. That left Colonia with nobody to play with, so we filled the gap.
1977: 5-2-2, .667
September 17, home to Sayreville: Won 35-0.
September 24, home to Colonia: Won 14-8.
October 1, away to Madison Central: Won 28-0.
October 8, away to Edison: Won 20-0.
October 15, away to Cedar Ridge: Won 41-7.
October 22, away to John F. Kennedy: Tied 6-6.
October 29, away to Woodbridge: Tied 0-0.
November 5, home to Brick Township: Lost 7-13.
November 12, away to J.P. Stevens: Lost 0-14.
George Tardiff was hired as head coach, and it looked like a great hire: The team won its 1st 5 games, and was undefeated in its 1st 7. The failure to kick an extra point against JFK, get any kind of score against Woodbridge, find a 2nd touchdown against mighty Brick, or beat a Stevens team that ended up winning the MCAC and Central Jersey Group IV Championships, doomed EB to miss the Playoffs. So we were not that far away from an 8-0 start. Had the current system, with 8 teams making it from each section, been in place, we would have made it.
The October 15 game was played the day of Game 4 of the World Series, in which the Yankees would beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, to win World Series for the first time in 15 years, thanks to Reggie Jackson's 3 home runs in Game 6.
1978: 7-2, .778
September 23, away Perth Amboy: Lost 0-8.
September 30, home to Madison Central: Won 9-0.
October 7, home to Cedar Ridge: Won 9-0.
October 14, away to Woodbridge: Won 14-6.
October 21, home to Carteret: Won 21-6.
October 28, home to Edison: Won 20-0.
November 4, away to Brick Township: Won 14-7.
November 11, home to J.P. Stevens: Lost 13-31.
November 23, away to Colonia: Won 15-10.
This was the first season of EB's best-ever helmet design, with the bear-paw prints. It was also the first time we played a regularly-scheduled Thanksgiving game, and we won it. Why Colonia? Just about everybody else in the MCAC already had a Thanksgiving rival, including the other 2 Woodbridge schools, Woodbridge and JFK, who played each other. That left Colonia with nobody to play with, so we filled the gap.
Unfortunately, it was our last game of the season, because our loss to Stevens (who again won the MCAC and Central Jersey Group IV titles) left us on the outside looking in as far as Playoff qualification was concerned. Again, had the current system been in place, we would have made it.
At the time, in addition to Woodbridge-JFK, the rivalries were: Perth Amboy vs. Carteret, Highland Park vs. Metuchen, Edison vs. Stevens, St. Thomas Aquinas of Edison (which became Bishop George Ahr in 1984 and changed their name back in 2019) vs. St. Pius X of Piscataway (which was closed in 1991), North Brunswick vs. South Brunswick, South River vs. Sayreville (SR's former T-Day rivalry with New Brunswick having been ended) and Madison Central vs. Cedar Ridge.
The September 30 game was played 3 days before the Yankees and Red Sox played the Playoff game remembered for Bucky Dent's home run. The October 14 game was played on the day of Game 4 of the World Series, and the Yanks would win the Series over the Dodgers in Game 6.
1979: 3-5-1, .389
September 22, home to Perth Amboy: Lost 6-8.
September 29, away to Madison Central: Lost 0-31.
October 6, away to Cedar Ridge: Won 18-6.
October 13, home to Woodbridge: Won 24-7.
October 20, away to Carteret: Tied 7-7.
October 27, away to Edison: Lost 17-26.
November 3, home to Brick Township: Lost 0-21.
November 10, home to J.P. Stevens: Won 7-2.
November 22, home to Colonia: Lost 14-20.
September 22, home to Perth Amboy: Lost 6-8.
September 29, away to Madison Central: Lost 0-31.
October 6, away to Cedar Ridge: Won 18-6.
October 13, home to Woodbridge: Won 24-7.
October 20, away to Carteret: Tied 7-7.
October 27, away to Edison: Lost 17-26.
November 3, home to Brick Township: Lost 0-21.
November 10, home to J.P. Stevens: Won 7-2.
November 22, home to Colonia: Lost 14-20.
The November 3 game was played the day before Iranian revolutionaries stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took hostages. We were field goals against Amboy and Carteret, and a touchdown against Colonia, away from being 6-3.