Check out more outstanding high school sports photos from Brian Carr.
By Tom Szieber
Posted: Friday, November 14, 2014 2:00 pm
GROUP 4
North 1
(5) Demarest (8-1) @ (4) Old Tappan (7-2)
Old Tappan bottled up Norsemen running back Alex Wasserman last time these rivals met, but it’s hard to believe the star workhorse will be stymied again. Still, the Golden Knights are a program with a wealth of playoff experience that could prove valuable in what is sure to be an emotional contest.
The Pick: Old Tappan
Quick Picks:
(1) Pascack Valley over (8) Passaic Valley
(3) Paramus over (6) Nutley
(2) Roxbury over (7) Randolph
North 2
(6) Woodbridge (6-3) @ (3) Irvington (7-2)
The Blue Knights have a ton of close game experience, as they’re 3-2 in games decided by eight points or less (and 2-1 in games decided by three or less). After an 0-2 start, Woodbridge has now won six of its last seven heading into the playoffs.
The Pick: Irvington
Quick Picks:
(1) Colonia over (8) Scotch Plains-Fanwood
(5) West Morris over (4) (JFK) Iselin
(2) Phillipsburg over (7) Mendham
Central
(8) Burlington Township (6-2) @ (1) Middletown South (6-2)
Falcons quarterback Aaron Rogers is a capable passer who can also beat teams with his legs. South’s offense runs through running back Cole Rogers, who is averaging 8.4 yards per carry this season.
The Pick: Middletown South
Quick Picks:
(4) Neptune over (5) Freehold Boro
(3) Jackson over (6) Middletown North
(2) Brick Township over (7) Princeton
South
(7) Mainland (3-5) @ (2) Shawnee (8-0)
The defending champion Renegades have one of the WJFL’s top backs in Jake Parola, who can take over a game all by himself. The Mustangs’ three wins are over teams with a combined five wins.
The Pick: Shawnee
Quick Picks:
(1) Timber Creek over (8) Winslow Township
(5) Clearview over (4) Kingsway
(6) Triton over (3) Hammonton
Non-Public
(5) St. Augustine Prep (7-1) @ (4) Don Bosco Prep (6-2)
The Bosco defense is impressive, but it’ll have a tough challenge in Hermits running back Lamont Harris. Even against the toughest competition, though, the Ironmen still haven’t yielded more than 21 points this year—and that was against Paramus Catholic.
The Pick: Don Bosco Prep
Quick Picks:
(3) Bergen Catholic over (6) Paul VI
(2) St. Peter’s Prep over (7) Seton Hall Prep
GROUP 5
North 1
(6) West Orange (5-4) @ (3) Passaic County Tech (8-1)
The Bulldogs have one of the most feared defenses in the section, and will be tough for Mountaineers quarterback Eric Oden to pick apart. It won’t be much easier for the West Orange run game with linebacker Drew Lindsay roaming.
The Pick: Passaic County Tech
Quick Picks:
(1) Montclair over (8) Livingston
(5) Hackensack over (4) North Bergen
(2) Union City over (7) Ridgewood
North 2
(8) North Hunterdon (5-4) @ (1) Linden (7-1)
North Hunterdon showed it could compete with the Tigers last time they locked up, but the Lions’ defense will need to step up big time to slow running back Kyle Phipps. Linden may be more vulnerable than some think, as their Mid-State 38 schedule hasn’t been as strong as in recent years, but should still have an edge in this one.
The Pick: Linden
Quick Picks:
(5) Bridgewater-Raritan over (4) Westfield
(3) Elizabeth over (6) Barringer
(2) Piscataway over (7) Bayonne
Central
(7) Monroe (6-3) @ (2) Hillsborough (8-1)
This isn’t your typical 2 vs. 7 matchup, as the Falcons have the artillery on offense to last in a shootout with the Raiders. Keep an eye on Hillsborough wide receiver Scot Levonaitis, who could be a game changer in a contest like this one.
The Pick: Hillsborough
Quick Picks:
(1) South Brunswick over (8) East Brunswick
(4) Montgomery over (5) Trenton
(3) Manalapan over (6) Old Bridge
South
(5) Brick Memorial (6-3) @ (4) Cherokee (5-3)
The Chiefs’ last three games—which included a win over a very good Rancocas Valley squad and a competitive loss to perhaps the state’s best public school team in Shawnee—have them believing they can win a second-straight sectional title and fourth since 2009. Brick Memorial’s most demonstrative performances may have been in defeat, as they hung close with Jackson and Middletown South.
The Pick: Cherokee
Quick Picks:
(1) Lenape over (8) Toms River North
(3) Williamstown over (6) Atlantic City
(2) Rancocas Valley over (7) Millville
Tom Szieber can be reached by emailing tom@gridironnewjersey.com.