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By Tom Szieber
Posted: Tuesday, November 11, 2014 7:30 pm
The playoffs are finally here, and there is a lot to get to. Let’s take a look at Groups 1, 2 and 3.
GROUP 1
North 1
(6) Bogota (6-3) @ (3) Becton (7-2)
Becton has improved each season under head coach Chuck Kalendar, and seem to be a team that is ready to bust through in the postseason. Bogota’s recent performances against playoff-quality opposition are a cause for concern for the Bucs—who lost convincingly to St. Mary and Cresskill over the past three weeks.
The Pick: Becton
Quick Picks:
(1) Cresskill over (8) Saddle Brook
(4) Boonton over (5) Hasbrouck Heights
(2) Verona over (7) Pompton Lakes
North 2
#7 Brearley (5-3-1) @ #2 Belvidere (7-2)
The Bears will need to take care of the football to avoid giving extra possessions to a Belvidere squad that has 14 interceptions on the year. Quarterback Sebastian Montesdeoca ran for 102 yards and two touchdowns in Brearley’s 27-22 win over the County Seaters in the season opener on Sept. 12.
The Pick: Belvidere
Quick Picks:
(1) Dunellen over (8) Bound Brook
(5) Glen Ridge over (4) Hoboken
(3) New Providence over (6) Shabazz
Central
(8) Point Pleasant Beach (5-4) @ (1) Shore (7-1)
These rivals played twice last season, with Shore winning on Thanksgiving weekend, but the Gulls getting revenge in the sectional title game. It was just two weeks ago that the Blue Devils won their most recent meeting, 17-0.
The Pick: Shore
Quick Picks:
(4) Middlesex over (5) New Egypt
(6) South Hunterdon over (6) Metuchen
(2) Palmyra over (7) Florence
South
(5) Penns Grove (4-4) @ (4) Salem (5-3)
Since getting dominated by Glassboro in their second game, the Rams are 4-2 with their only losses coming by a combined eight points. Salem already beat the Red Devils once this year, but they still want revenge for last year’s playoff ouster—when Penns Grove knocked it out of the South, Group 1 semis.
The Pick: Salem
Quick Picks:
(1) Pennsville over (8) Haddon Heights
(3) Gloucester City over (6) Woodbury
(2) Paulsboro over (7) Clayton
Non-Public
(5) Mater Dei (7-2) @ (4) Morristown-Beard (6-3)
Mo-Beard running back Matt McFadden has a ton of big-play potential, as shown by his 155 yards and two touchdowns on his only two touches last week against Newark Academy. The Seraphs and Crimson know each other somewhat well for teams situated so far apart—Mater Dei won their first round matchup last season, 12-7.
The Pick: Morristown-Beard
Quick Picks:
(3) St. Anthony over (6) Marist
(2) St. Mary over (7) Morris Catholic
GROUP 2
North 1
(6) Glen Rock (7-2) @ (3) Lenape Valley (7-2)
The Panthers’ only losses are to Garfield and Waldwick, who both look championship-caliber as the playoffs begin. The Patriots have been knocked out of the playoffs in the first round in each of the last two seasons.
The Pick: Glen Rock
Quick Picks:
(1) Waldwick over (8) North Warren
(5) Elmwood Park over (4) Pequannock
(2) Westwood over (7) Pascack Hills
North 2
(8) Caldwell (5-3) @ (1) Mountain Lakes (9-0)
The Herd are obviously very good, but the question is whether they’ve been battle-tested in a relatively weak NJAC Independence Division this year. Caldwell defensive end Joe Testa must be accounted for if they expect their Wing-T offense to run smoothly.
The Pick: Caldwell
Quick Picks:
(5) Hanover Park over (4) Ridgefield Park
(3) Lincoln over (6) Bernards
(2) Madison over (7) Newark Central
Central
(7) Johnson (4-4) @ (2) Rumson-Fair Haven (6-2)
The Johnson “D” will need to slow down Rumson running back Charlie Volker to have a chance to move on. Johnson has been one of the section’s hottest teams over the last few weeks, and have now won three of their last four games.
The Pick: Rumson-Fair Haven
Quick Picks:
(1) Roselle over (8) Lakewood
(5) Delaware Valley over (4) Spotswood
(3) Cinnaminson over (6) Bordentown
South
(5) West Deptford (7-1) @ (4) Glassboro (7-1)
Glassboro may not be the top seed, but they may still be the section’s most dangerous squad thanks to wide out Juwan Johnson and running back Ronnie James, who are as good at their respective positions as anyone in South, Group 2. West Deptford’s only two losses in its past 39 games have come at the hands of the bracket’s defending champ, Haddonfield.
The Pick: Glassboro
Quick Picks:
(1) Camden over (8) Collingswood
(3) Haddonfield over (6) Woodstown
(2) Buena over (7) Barnegat
Non-Public
(5) Holy Spirit (3-5) @ (4) Montclair-Kimberley (6-3)
Holy Spirit is in the postseason because, well, everyone makes the postseason thanks to the NJSIAA’s abolition of the old requirement that teams be .500-or-above. The Spartans’ three wins are over three teams with a combined three victories, and they will get a challenge from a tough MKA backfield led by running back Ethan Fusco and Dan Yanes.
The Pick: Montclair-Kimberley
Quick Picks:
(1) Holy Cross over (8) Pingry
(3) Hudson Catholic over (6) Immaculata
(2) DePaul over (7) Gloucester Catholic
GROUP 3
North 1
(7) Bergenfield (4-5) @ (2) Ramapo (7-2)
Matt Del Duca and Keith Woetzel each took interceptions to the house when the Raiders downed the Bears, 38-7, on opening day. Bergenfield’s brother duo of quarterback Jovani and wide receiver D.J. Haskins is downright dangerous, and the Bears’ win over Paramus showed that when they’re on, they can compete with anyone.
The Pick: Ramapo
Quick Picks:
(1) Sparta over (8) West Milford
(4) Garfield over (5) Mahwah
(3) River Dell over (6) Lodi
North 2
(6) Orange (5-3) @ (3) Parsippany Hills (7-2)
We knew the Vikings were good, but their stock shot up with their 21-16 victory over Roxbury last week. Orange is tough to get a read on, as they held their own against undefeated Verona on Nov. 1, but dropped a game to struggling Cedar Grove just a week before.
The Pick: Parsippany Hills
Quick Picks:
(1) Cranford over (8) North Plainfield
(4) Voorhees over (5) West Essex
(2) Summit over (7) Morris Hills
Central
(8) Ocean Township (3-5) @ (1) Hopewell Valley (7-1)
Running back Lorenzo Bryant and the Bulldogs run game have held Hopewell together, but they are still not the same team without quarterback Kevin Coleman (who may finally return this week from a knee injury). All of the Spartans’ three wins have been relatively close—by nine, eight and seven points, respectively.
The Pick: Hopewell Valley
Quick Picks:
(4) Raritan over (5) Matawan
(3) Carteret over (6) Nottingham
(2) Long Branch over (7) Hamilton
South
(5) Oakcrest (5-3) @ (4) Central (6-2)
The Golden Eagles bounced back in a big way after a 1-2 start, and now possess a five-game win streak and tons of momentum. The Falcons are 5-0 against teams with losing records, but 0-3 against those above .500.
The Pick: Central
Quick Picks:
(1) Allentown over (8) Cumberland
(6) Manasquan over (3) Bridgeton
(2) Delsea over (7) Wall
Non-Public
(5) Pope John (5-4) @ (4) St. John Vianney (9-0)
The Lions are extremely talented, but their loss to Vernon last week was a head-scratcher. Quarterback Anthony Brown and the Lancers’ offense has been steamrolling opponents all year.
The Pick: St. John Vianney
Quick Picks:
(3) St. Joseph (Mont.) over (6) Camden Catholic
(2) Red Bank Catholic over (7) Bishop Eustace
Tom Szieber can be reached by emailing tom@gridironnewjersey.com.