Defending Group 2 champion Westwood will open up its 2024 season onThursday, August 29 in the second game of the two-day, two-site Jim Grasso Classic presented by the Super Football Conference.
Westwood will host rival Mahwah at 7 p.m., after Memorial (West New York) faces Fort Lee in an Ivy Division clash at 3 p.m. Both games will be played at Westwood.
The next day, there are a pair of games scheduled at Paramus, with Ridgewood taking on Clifton in a Group 5 battle of contenders at 2 p.m., followed by the Spartans hosting West Milford.
“The SFC is proud to host an event that honors Jim Grasso,” SFC Executive Director John Fraraccio said. “The SFC would not be around if it wasn’t for him. We have two amazing venues this year with some great games. It’s the perfect way to start the season.”
Jim Grasso was an athletic director at Ridgewood, Paramus, Demarest and Ramsey who was one of the key figures in the creation of the Super Football Conference. He died in 2018 from pancreatic cancer.
The SFC started the Grasso Classic last year to keep his memory alive and also to connect all of the different schools and programs he touched.
“Jim was a great friend and colleague,” Mahwah athletic director Roger Pelletier said. “His impact and legacy on Bergen County athletics is vast in so many facets. Mahwah is honored and thrilled to be taking part in the Grasso Classic.”
Ticket information will be posted online. Tickets will be good for both games each day.
Here’s a closer look at the four match-ups:
Memorial vs. Fort Lee, Aug. 29 at 3 p.m.
The Bridgemen will have a new coach in former Bergen Catholic standout Mike Gerst. He inherits a program that has been near the top of the Ivy Division recently, winning the league title in 2022 and finishing 7-2 last season.
Memorial went 2-7 in 2023 and has been shut out by Fort Lee in each of their last two meetings.
Mahwah at Westwood, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.
Westwood is coming off a dream 13-0 state championship season, which ended by knocking off Rumson-Fair Haven 21-20 in overtime in the state final. Coach Bobby Guy is back on the Cardinals sidelines for his second year and has to find replacements for first-team All-New Jersey quarterback Robbie Carcich (Monmouth commit) and two-way standout Joe Klein (Cortland State).
Mahwah was one of the big surprises of the 2023 season, finishing 6-3 and reaching the Group 2 playoffs before getting upset by Sussex Tech in the first round. Rising senior running back Preston Duffy ran for more than 400 yards and three scores last year.
Ridgewood vs. Clifton, Aug. 30 at 2 p.m.
These two contenders are coming off rare down years in 2023. After starting 2-1, Clifton lost its last four games and was knocked out in the first round of the Group 5 playoffs. Mustangs quarterback Romelo Tables transferred to Shabazz.
Ridgewood dealt with injuries (and a flooded field situation ) all season and finished 4-5 under first-year coach Torre Watson. They bring back plenty of players with experience, including leading rusher Colin Burns and quarterback Will Yates.
West Milford at Paramus, Aug. 30 at 6 p.m.
The young Highlanders seem like a team on the rise behind quarterback Aydin Deane and running back Chase Tyburczy, who will each be juniors next season. West Milford finished 4-6 in 2023 and shut out Nutley, 37-0, in last year's season opener in the 2023 Grasso Classic.
Paramus went 6-4 in 2023 and returns quarterback Cormac O’Hara, but will have to replace outstanding two-way lineman Daniel Elyash (Davidson for wrestling) and 1,000 yard rusher Adrian Caba, who have graduated.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Football: Matchups announced for Jim Grasso Classic to open the 2024 season
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