SPORTS WRAP
BY WILLIAM HATHAWAY, JR.
The New Jersey high school season is going to be in full swing next week, with local area teams starting their 2022 seasons. First, the defending Group 4 regional champions Irvington Blue Knights will open on the road against Woodbridge. The Knights are coming off a state championship season under head coach Ashley “Smoke” Pierre, where they went 11-2 on the year.
Of course, the powerhouse of Essex County has to be the East Orange Jaguars who had a historic season under former head coach Rae Oliver. The Jags defeated Clifton on a walk-off defensive TD at Rutgers SHI football stadium 30-24 in overtime, to take the Group 5 title and cap off a 13-0 year. Now, John Jacobs has taken over the football program, with a roster full of talented stars.
One of the sleeper teams this season is expected to be the Orange Tornadoes, who now have new head coach Khalfani Allen at the helm full time. He took over the Orange. job in the middle of last year, after former head coach Randy Daniels stepped down due to retirement. The Tornadoes beat Morristown in a scrimmage at Bell Stadium 28-14. Junior quarterback Maurice Williams and Khyron Hill are among the key players who look to bounce back with a winning season. Orange will open its season on the road against Paterson Kennedy on the road next Thursday night.
Other area teams looking to do big things include the Bloomfield Bengals, who finished 3-7 in 2021, and the West Orange football program, led by Darnell Grant. West Orange finished last year at 7-4 record, and lost to rival East Orange in the semifinal round of the state playoffs. The Mountaineers will open the new season on the road in the Zone Six Football Classic against rival Montclair High next Friday at 8 pm.
Finally, in NBA news, Kevin Durant and the Nets have come to an agreement where he would not demand a trade. Whatever agreement that was made is in question, as Durant has four years left on his contract and the Nets pretty much don’t have to agree to anything he wants.
