BY ANALISE SAINVIL
The football team powered through the second half of its season with steady defense, explosive scoring, and relentless determination, carrying the Knights into the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV Tournament Finals. They shut out opponents, grinded out close wins against rivals, and completed a historic playoff run before falling to Washington Township.
The team opened October with a 24–0 shutout over Morristown, as the Knights held the Colonials scoreless and dominated every snap. “Both sides of the ball relied on each other to win the game and shut out Morristown 24-0,” said senior linebacker Justin Valinotti, who tallied a total of 158 tackles this season to lead the team.
A week later, the team rolled through Monroe 35–0, recording a third straight shutout. “It felt good to beat Monroe.” stated senior linebacker Thomas Kasoff, who led the team in solo tackles with 113. “It just kept our winning streak going and our will to win higher.”
The Knights erupted for 45 points in a road victory over Hunterdon Central, marking their second-highest scoring total of the season. “We played fast and never let up,” said senior quarterback Brody Nugent, who passed for two touchdowns and ran for three more during this competitive game.
The team followed with a 42–22 win over Colonia to close out the regular season, scoring five first-half touchdowns and executing a balanced team effort. “One of our best games, in my opinion, was Colonia because it was a true team win,” said Amari Alsbrook, who caught ten touchdowns this season. “Both offense and defense played perfectly off of each other.”
In their playoff opener, the Knights edged Freehold Township 38–31, securing the win after a tough fight. “That was personally one of my favorite wins. The ups and downs of that game really made it all that much better when we finally came out with the win,” stated Chase Rizzo, who totaled 1,112 yards from scrimmage and ten touchdowns.
Next, the team faced Sayreville in a tight 28–27 victory, stopping a late two-point attempt to advance. “Beating Sayreville within the last few seconds of the game to move on to the Sectional Final stands out the most for me,” said Valinotti. “Winning this game made it the furthest Old Bridge has made it in nearly 10 years.”
The semifinal matchup tested the Knights under pressure, but they responded with poise and teamwork to punch their ticket to the State Finals. “That game showed us at our best in a tight situation,” said senior linebacker Jayden Endaz, who recorded a total of 104 tackles this season. “Offense and defense had each other’s back, and everyone delivered when it mattered.”
Throughout the season, the team relied on its defense, anchored by Valinotti and senior leaders who fostered a tight team bond. “I’m always going to credit our defense. We were a group of mainly seniors who had been together our entire lives playing with each other,” said Zachary Florio, who led the team with five and a half sacks.
The offense thrived under Nugent, who orchestrated big plays and guided the underclassmen to contribute consistently. “Brody really took over this year,” said Rizzo. “He worked extremely hard this offseason and stepped up as a leader.”
Special teams delivered steady contributions all season, adding crucial field goals and clutch kicks. “Our kicker and field goal unit were near perfect all season long and showed up big during Sayreville,” said Florio.
Despite a 38–7 loss to Washington Township in the finals, the team finished the season with a 10–2 stretch in October and November onward, cementing their place among the state’s toughest teams. “Breaking the school record for most wins in a season put our names in history and showed that our hard work was worth it,” said Alsbrook.
Posted on December 2, 2025
Photos by Jamie Hazel
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