Stay calm and keep going.
Those attributes are as good as any for a quarterback to live by, and Brody Nugent has certainly owned those traits in his Old Bridge career.
“I think I’ve done a good job of learning to just stay relaxed and just completely believe in what I’m capable of and what my team is capable of,” he said. “I mean, it really all just happens in the blink of an eye, but I said at all times, just try and stay relaxed and play my game.”
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That game has been pretty good.
Nugent is the MyCentralJersey Big Central Conference Offensive Player of the Year after an outstanding senior season leading the Knights (10-2) to the Central Group 5 title game. The dual-threat QB threw for 2,276 yards (19 TDs/7 INTs) and rushed for 1,262 yards and 20 TDs, while snagging two interceptions on defense.
He set program records for most career TDs accounted for with 86 total ? 42 passing, 43 rushing and a punt return, as well as the most passing yards in a game. He threw for 302 yards (15-of-22 passing attempts) in a 45-7 win over South Brunswick with five touchdowns.
The elusive Nugent often scrambled out of trouble and created gains from seemingly sure-fire tackles. Take the 38-31 sectional quarterfinal win over Freehold Township, in which he rushed for 309 yards on 27 carries with four TDs on the ground.
“He’s a great leader because sometimes everybody’s not open, he makes plays for himself,” sophomore receiver Amari Alsbrook said. “At the end of the day, he helps us through everything. … He gives everybody confidence. He exudes confidence. He’s a great leader to everybody.”
Another needed attribute ? having a short memory.
Example A: Nugent threw an interception that Sayreville returned for a 76-yard touchdown in the sectional semifinal that tied it 21-21 with 9:33 remaining. Sayreville later went ahead 27-21, but Nugent cooly led a late drive that culminated with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Alsbrook with 1:33 left. Michael Firetto’s extra point gave Old Bridge the lead in the 28-27 win.
Nugent said that win was one of the craziest games he's played in. Not that he gloats, mind you, he simply likes competing.
“He’s just as humble as they come,” his father Chris said. “He doesn’t like the adulation. He doesn’t really like the interviews just because he’s a quiet kid, but on the field, he’s got ice in his veins. He threw the interception (against Sayreville) and I looked at my brother and I was like he’s going to be ok, like he’s fine. Like he made a mistake.
“… He knows how to move on. He knows how to just put it behind him and move on and just do what he’s got to do. It’s the one super quality he has. He’s so even keeled. You don’t get too up, and you don’t get too down.”
The 6-foot, 180-pounder has been mostly up ever since he cracked the lineup as a sophomore, throwing for 1,217 yards and rushing for 814 with accounting for 18 touchdowns. Nugent continued to steadily improve and said among his biggest improvements has been learning how to read defenses.
“For me, it was definitely a slower process but once I figured it out it definitely changed the game for me and made it so much easier,” Nugent said. “I mean, obviously I knew coverages but I would never really read them like pre-snap and then I would say junior year it definitely came easier and by senior year I read it instantly.”
What made his time wearing the purple, black and white even more special is that he played with several of his teammates since they were in Pop Warner. Additionally, he played with his junior brother Griffin and has had family members play in town, including his dad and uncle who competed for Madison Central in the 1980s (Madison Central and Cedar Ridge merged in 1994 to form Old Bridge High School).
“Our team is just a brotherhood, so every game was just so exciting to play in, especially this past season,” Nugent said. “I definitely enjoyed it. I have a ton of great memories, and it was definitely a career to remember.”
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