By Tom Szieber
Posted: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 9:00 am
NORTH 1
Overview: North 1, Group 2 is a section with a great deal of balance, but also a lot of mediocrity at the moment. Three teams -- Newton, Lenape Valley and Kittatiny -- are all under .500, and the championship race seems to be a three-horse race at the top. Top-seeded Westwood has shut out three opponents in a row, and is 8-0 in games in which it surrenders less than 20 points. North Warren is short in the area of quality wins, but still appear capable of making some noise. One notable absence from the bracket is last year’s champ, Kinnelon, who has lost four straight to drop to 3-6.
Picks:
(1) Westwood over (8) Elmwood Park
(5) Lenape Valley over (4) Newton
(3) Waldwick over (6) Glen Rock
(2) North Warren over (7) Kittatiny
NORTH 2
Overview: Madison has won three titles in a row, but the Dodgers have actually lost two games this season, something that couldn’t be said since 2009. Mountain Lakes looks as dangerous as they have in several years, with wins over Butler, North Warren and Hopatcong to their credit. While we’re on the subject, Lincoln has several wins over non-HCIL opponents like Dover and Passaic Valley, giving the Lions confidence that they can make some noise against the section’s better teams. After failing to get over .500 for the past three years, Lodi is a wild card in the section as an undefeated four-seed. Caldwell and Newark West Side are an interesting #1 vs. #8 matchup after playing a 21-19 game earlier this season.
Picks:
(1) Caldwell over (8) Newark West Side
(4) Lodi over (5) Hanover Park
(3) Lincoln over (6) Madison
(2) Mountain Lakes over (7) Dover
CENTRAL
Overview: There is some depth in this section, but Rumson-Fair Haven and Weequahic seem destined for a march through the bracket. Both teams sport defenses that sometimes bend, but never break, and each unit has allowed double-digit scoring in a game just once. Spotswood is an interesting team, having run hot and cold all year, but have still found ways to squeeze out victories. However, they’re now on a two-game skid after losses to South River and Mater Dei, and will need to get back on track to beat a Rahway squad that has some valuable close-game experience against some good teams. Bordentown, another team on a two-game losing streak, is making just its fourth-ever playoff appearance.
Picks:
(1) Rumson-Fair Haven over (8) Bordentown
(4) Rahway over (5) Spotswood
(3) Delran over (6) Lakewood
(2) Weequahic over (7) Delaware Valley
SOUTH
Overview: With the last two titles and a run game led by the terrific Gerald Owens, West Deptford has to be the most dangerous four-seed that we’ve seen in a while. Still, if the Eagles win a third straight crown, it won’t be without having earned it. This section has eight teams at 6-2 or better, and was competitive enough to keep six-win Collingswood watching from home. In just two seasons, coach Dwayne Savage has transformed Camden from a 1-9 football team to the top seed in the section, though Cedar Creek -- a third-year program -- will be aiming to reach its second final in a row and will be a formidable opponent as an 8-seed. Sterling, similarly, could easily do damage at #7, and has already shown its might with wins over Haddonfield and Woodbury this season.
Picks:
(1) Camden over (8) Cedar Creek
(4) West Deptford over (5) Haddonfield
(3) Cinnaminson over (6) Bridgeton
(7) Sterling over (2) Woodstown
NON-PUBLIC
Overview: It seems unlikely that anyone can stop the collision between Holy Spirit and DePaul in this season’s final. Spirit has won three straight finals (and two in this section), while DePaul is looking to make a run at its first championship since 1992. The Spartans from Wayne (as opposed to their counterparts from Absecon) have picked up several huge wins over Don Bosco Prep and Bergen Catholic this season, and have an experienced leader in quarterback Zach Bednarczyk. Holy Spirit can beat a team in a number of ways, one of which is on the legs of one of the CAL’s top running backs in Taalib Gerald.
Picks:
(1) Holy Spirit over (8) Pingry
(4) Camden Catholic over (5) Bishop Eustace
(3) Holy Cross over (6) Hudson Catholic
(2) DePaul over (7) Gloucester Catholic
Tom Szieber can be reached by emailing tom@gridironnewjersey.com.