2025 NJIC Football Championship - Butler's David Smith — Butler's David Smith celebrates winning the 2025 NJIC Championship (Photo by Christopher Shannon/OnNJ Sports)

October 24, 2025

IMAGES: Butler Football Repeats as NJIC Champions

Butler , football , high school football , high school sports , NJ sports , NJIC , Rutherford

2025 NJIC Football Championship - Rutherford vs. Butler

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Action from the 2025 NJIC Football Championship between Rutherford and Butler. (Photo by Christopher Shannon/OnNJ Sports)

Butler scored 28 second-half points to pull away from Rutherford, 41-20, to repeat as North Jersey Interscholastic Conference (NJIC) champions on Oct. 24, 2025.

David Smith led the Butler offense, going 10 of 17 passing for 171 yards and two touchdowns, along with 21 carries for 61 yards and another two TDs. C.J. Bentley added another 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while Evan Croker made three catches for 109 yards and a TD.

Jayden DiNatale had nine total tackles, Peyton Kibburz had two tackles for a loss, and Croker corralled two interceptions to lead the Butler defense.

Myles Balchan led the way offensively for Rutherford. Balchan was 21 of 37 for 221 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also led the way on the ground for Rutherford, carrying the ball 15 times for 93 yards and an additional TD. A.J. Nunziato and Quinn Weber were Balchan’s top targets with six receptions each and 76 and 75 yards receiving, respectively. Nunziato also hauled in a TD reception.

Defensively, John Kozlik and Weber led the way for Rutherford with seven tackles apiece. Leo Kim had the only tackle for a loss for Rutherford.

About the Author

Christopher Shannon

Photo Editor

Christopher is the Photo Editor at OnNJ Sports. You can often find Christopher along the sidelines at sporting events in Northern Jersey, or at West Point photographing athletic, and other, events there. Christopher’s favorite events that he has had the opportunity to cover, so far in his career, include Penn State football White Out games and Army-Navy football games. While Christopher enjoys photographing a wide variety of sports, his favorite to cover include football, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, and lacrosse.