Falling Short in Playoffs, Vikings Eye Thanksgiving 'Battle of the Brunswicks'

The South Brunswick High School football team's quest for back-to-back Group 5 State Championships fell short last weekend, as the Vikings fell to a tough Hunterdon Central squad at home.

The defending champs fell behind early and were never able to get it going, eventually losing in the state semi-finals by a score of 42-7 to Hunterdon (7-4), who will face Manalapan in the Group 5 state finals. Jason Cabinda ran roughshod in the contest, collecting 212 yards and three touchdowns for Hunterdon.

SBHS fell behind early, as Hunterdon roared to a 28-0 lead in the second quarter.

Dontae Strickland recorded the lone bright spot for SBHS on the day, with a 53-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Hunterdon would increase their lead with two touchdowns in the fourth.

SBHS was coming off a dominant performance against Trenton last week, with a 28-8 win in the opening round of the NJSIAA/Atlantic Health Central Jersey Group 5 playoffs.

The Vikings will close out the season by renewing a Thanksgiving tradition with the annual "Battle of the Brunswicks" against North Brunswick High School on Thursday morning.

The rivalry between SBHS and NBHS dates back to 1975, with the inception of the North-South trophy, after the creation of the Bicentennial Athletic Conference. South Brunswick won the trophy that year under the leadership of the late Mike Elko, and finished the season with a total of six wins and three losses.

The trophy was later re-named the Mike Elko Memorial Trophy after the passing of Coach Elko in the Spring of 1977. 

North Brunswick has come out on top throughout the years, with a 37-year record of 23-12-1 against the Vikings, however South Brunswick has dominated the showdown in recent years.

SBHS will battle NBHS at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving at South Brunswick High School, at 750 Ridge Road in Monmouth Junction.