Cranford Football Hosts Matawan in Cranford, NJ — October 2026

Cranford High School football fans will get one more home game, and it comes with playoff stakes. The Cougars finished the regular season 7-1 and earned the No. 2 seed in their NJSIAA Group 3 section.

Cranford hosts seventh seeded Matawan (4-5) in the first round on Friday, Oct. 30. Union County Life has the details on how the Cougars got here and what comes next.

A first loss to close the regular season

Cranford won its first seven games before falling 14-3 to Hillside at home last Friday night. The loss ended the unbeaten run but did not cost the Cougars a home playoff game.

The record is a big turnaround from last season, when Cranford finished 4-6.

Defense leads the way

Defense has carried Cranford this fall. The Cougars held each of their last seven opponents to 14 points or fewer and posted two shutouts in that stretch.

Senior defensive end Patrick Bendert had a team high 10 sacks going into the Hillside game. Senior safety Jared Acinapura leads the team in tackles and has two interceptions.

Stepping up after an injury

The defense also helped Cranford keep winning after senior running back Gabe Worrell hurt his knee against Rahway last month. Worrell ran for 148 yards and two touchdowns in that win before he was injured late in the game.

Junior Logan Murray has taken on much of the running game since then. He leads the Cougars with more than 700 rushing yards this season. Senior quarterback Aiden Capizzi has thrown for more than 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns.

A playoff ready résumé

Cranford enters the postseason with wins over several playoff teams, including Bernards (7-2), Summit (6-3) and Rahway (8-1).

Matawan comes in with a losing record, but the team has pulled off playoff upsets before. In 2025, Matawan entered the playoffs after losing two straight games, then won 14-13 at Somerville in the first round.

What comes next

If Cranford beats Matawan, the Cougars will host the winner of Wayne Valley (4-5) and Shabazz (7-1) in the second round the following weekend.

Find more Cranford sports, school news and local updates on Union County Life.

FAQ

When does Cranford football play in the state playoffs?
Cranford hosts Matawan in the first round of the NJSIAA Group 3 playoffs on Friday, Oct. 30.

What was Cranford football’s record this season?
The Cougars finished the regular season 7-1. Their only loss was 14-3 to Hillside.

What seed is Cranford in the 2026 football playoffs?
Cranford is the No. 2 seed in its Group 3 section. Matawan is the No. 7 seed.

Who is Cranford’s leading rusher?
Junior Logan Murray leads the Cougars with more than 700 rushing yards. He took on most of the running game after senior Gabe Worrell’s knee injury.

Who would Cranford play in the second round?
If Cranford wins, it will host the winner of Wayne Valley and Shabazz the following weekend.