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By Tom Szieber
Posted: Thursday, November 7, 2013 6:00 pm
Week nine is finally upon us, and the playoffs will be all set up by weekend’s end. But there are still some highly important regular season games left to be played, and a bunch of teams vying for higher seeds and home games in the postseason. And even some of the games that are “meaningless,” still have a lot of pride (and potential late-round playoff implications) at stake. Let’s get to some picks.
Ridgewood (7-0) @ Passaic County Tech (7-1)
This one could be a preview of North 1, Group 5 semifinal matchup we see this postseason. The Maroons have won their last four games by a combined score of 203-6.
The Pick: Ridgewood
Hasbrouck Heights (8-0) @ Pompton Lakes (7-1)
The Aviators and Cardinals may well see each other in the North 1, Group 1 final, and neither has played a truly close game since September. Pompton has beaten Heights in each of the last two seasons.
The Pick: Hasbrouck Heights
Notre Dame (4-3) @ Trenton (7-1)
Notre Dame quarterback Rob Bacovin went down during last week’s game against West Windsor-Plainsboro South, but the Irish showed that their offense didn’t slow down even when Joe Abdo stepped in. Trenton has beaten some good public schools like Allentown and Nottingham, but a win over a perennial parochial playoff team would give them some major credibility going into the Central, Group 5 tourney.
The Pick: Trenton
Sayreville (6-2) @ Monroe (6-2)
A win by Old Bridge over J.P. Stevens means that the loser of this game is eliminated from the GMC Red race. The Falcons haven’t been able to compete with the powerful Bombers, losing to them in three straight seasons, but this Monroe team seems much better than those squads.
The Pick: Sayreville
Paramus (5-2) @ Wayne Hills (5-3)
A win by Wayne Hills would be of greater impact on Passaic Valley’s playoff hopes than the Pats themselves (PV, by the way, needs victories by both Wayne Hills and Teaneck this weekend). The winner of this one clinches the third seed in North 1, Group 4, while the loser will end up in the four spot.
The Pick: Paramus
Haddonfield (5-2) @ Paulsboro (7-0)
Haddonfield should be safe as far as the South, Group 2 playoffs go, but they can improve their seeding a bit with a big win over the Red Raiders. Paulsboro needs to get a victory to avoid the possibility of playing on the road in the first round.
The Pick: Paulsboro
#16 Delbarton (7-1) @ #8 Pope John (8-0)
The result won’t effect either team’s playoff seeding, but it will give an up-close-and-personal scouting opportunity for the Non-Public, Group 3 semis. Pope John has yet to take on a fellow parochial school squad this year.
The Pick: Delbarton
Manasquan (6-1) @ Rumson-Fair Haven (7-0)
A win would clinch the top seed in South, Group 3 for the Warriors. Rumson may be able to do the same in Central, Group 2, but they’ll likely need some help from Cedar Grove and Roselle, as well.
The Pick: Manasquan
CLOSEST CALL
Weequahic (7-0) @ Cedar Grove (7-1)
It will be a tough task for the Panthers to move the ball on an Indians defense that hasn’t surrendered a touchdown since opening day. They won’t meet in the postseason this year, but Cedar Grove has defeated Weequahic two years in a row, including in the 2011 North 2, Group 1 final.
The Pick: Weequahic
UPSET SPECIAL
Monsignor Donovan (3-4) @ Jackson Liberty (3-4)
If not for the absolutely absurd playoff format now used in New Jersey, this game would have great meaning for both teams. But since (barring a disqualification) Mon Don cannot be eliminated from postseason contention, all eyes will be on Jackson Liberty, as a win and some help could push them past West Windsor-Plainsboro North in the Central, Group 4 standings.
The Pick: Jackson Liberty
Tom Szieber can be reached by emailing tom@gridironnewjersey.com.