By Tom Szieber
Posted: Thursday, December 4, 11:00 am
Check out more outstanding high school sports photos from Brian Carr.
GROUP 1
North 1
(2) Verona (10-0) vs. (1) Cresskill (9-2)
The Hillbillies have turned it up at the right time, as they’ve throttled quality opposition in Becton, Pompton Lakes and the struggling-but-traditionally-strong Cedar Grove over their last three games. The Cougars are not only looking for their first championship in 17 years, but for revenge for last year’s 30-28 first round defeat.
The Pick: Verona
North 2
(6) Shabazz (7-4) vs. (1) Dunellen (9-2)
Dunellen running back Nassan Anderson has rushed for 1,120 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, leading an offense that has churned out over 3,000. Shabazz is a deceptive six seed, as all of its four losses have come by eight points or less.
The Pick: Shabazz
Central
(3) South Hunterdon (9-2) vs. (1) Shore (10-1)
The Blue Devils have allowed just 49 points all year while posting six shutouts, and boast a terrific backfield which sports three backs that are right around the 500-yard mark: Tyreek McClain (506), Mike Moore (497) and Doug Goldsmith (525). The Eagles, who last won the Central, Group 1 title in 1979, have a dual threat in quarterback Tyler Frazee, who has thrown for 1,440 pass yards and 15 touchdowns and amassed 869 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground.
The Pick: Shore
South
(4) Salem (8-3) vs. (2) Paulsboro (9-2)
The Rams, looking for their first title since 1983, have won six straight games following a 2-3 start. Paulsboro quarterback Carlton Aiken threw 53 passes against West Deptford on Thanksgiving (302 yards, two TD), and the Red Raiders rallied from 17-0 deficit to win 36-33 in overtime.
The Pick: Paulsboro
Non-Public
(3) St. Anthony (8-3) vs. (1) St. Joseph (Hamm.) (10-0)
The Wildcats look as unstoppable as ever as they go for a sixth straight title (fifth in Non-Public, Group 1). St. Anthony has some impressive wins over the likes of Hoboken and St. Mary, but it will be a challenge of a whole different magnitude to stop a program that also won six in a row from 1999-2006.
The Pick: St. Joseph (Hamm.)
GROUP 2
North 1
(2) Westwood (11-0) vs. (1) Waldwick (11-0)
The Warriors seem built for late-season football, with a ferocious run game led by fullback Nick Dragonetti. The Waldwick “D” will need to be disciplined to avoid letting Cardinals record-setting wide out Nolan Borgersen (80 receptions, 1,208 yards, 18 TD) from torching it.
The Pick: Westwood
North 2
(3) Lincoln (10-1) vs. (1) Mountain Lakes (11-0)
Lincoln running back Devell Jones needs just 60 yards to break Lincoln’s career rushing record (currently at 3,444 yards), but will face a stiff test against a Herd team that hasn’t allowed more than 15 points in a single game. The Lions ground game will need to be the focus, because throwing on cornerback Ryan Decker (8 INT) and the Herd secondary will be a tall task.
The Pick: Mountain Lakes
Central
(5) Delaware Valley (7-3) vs. (2) Rumson-Fair Haven (8-3)
It’s obviously a new batch of players, but Rumson shut down the Terriers in this section’s semifinal three seasons ago. Still, Del Val will have a chance as long as its got a healthy offensive line, which has steered the ship in spite of a host of injuries to skill position players this year.
The Pick: Rumson-Fair Haven
South
(5) West Deptford (9-2) vs. (2) Haddonfield (11-0)
The Eagles’ only two losses have been three-point overtime games, the first, 28-25, to the Bulldawgs on Oct. 2. Haddonfield has a pair of two-way stud running back/linebackers in Kevin DeCaesar and Luke Cornelius, who are good enough to control the game on both sides of the ball.
The Pick: Haddonfield
Non-Public
(5) Holy Spirit (5-6) vs. (2) DePaul (7-4)
Holy Spirit will have its hands full with junior running back Kareem Walker, who has rushed for 1,493 yards and 23 touchdowns this season. Highlighting the absurdity of the NJSIAA’s playoff structure is the fact that If DePaul wins this game, they will have beaten Gloucester Catholic (0-10), Immaculata (3-8) and Holy Spirit (5-7 if they lose) in the playoffs to win the title.
The Pick: DePaul
GROUP 3
North 1
(3) River Dell (8-3) vs. (1) Sparta (10-1)
This matchup wasn’t much of a contest in last season’s final, when the Spartans dominated River Dell, 40-0. With a 37-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio and completing over 70% of his passes, Sparta quarterback Anthony Argula is a big reason why his team often plays mistake-free offense.
The Pick: Sparta
North 2
(3) Parsippany Hills (9-2) vs. (1) Cranford (11-0)
The Cougars have one of the state’s most exciting receivers in Luke Christiano, who has 34 catches for 962 yards and 12 touchdowns—not to mention five rushing touchdowns—this season. Junior linebacker Jared Salgado’s eye-popping 156 tackles demonstrate why Cranford will need to work to keep the Vikings guessing with their play selection.
The Pick: Cranford
Central
(5) Matawan (7-4) vs. (3) Carteret (8-3)
Carteret has a diverse offense that boasts a good offensive line, a star back in Ra’keem Bennett and a passing game with big-play potential. Matawan has a player we could be talking about for three more years in freshman quarterback George Pearson, who has thrown for 12 touchdowns and over 1,700 yards in his first high school season.
The Pick: Carteret
South
(2) Delsea (7-4) vs. (1) Allentown (9-2)
The Crusaders have showed resiliency all year, rebounding from an 0-3 start to earn a shot at a third-straight sectional championship. The Redbirds will rely on physical linebackers Ricky Mottram and Dean Apostolico to slow up Delsea’s two-headed monster backfield of Isaiah Spencer and Rashaad Washington (2,169 combined rushing yards).
The Pick: Delsea
Non-Public
(2) Red Bank Catholic (10-1) vs. (1) Delbarton (9-1)
Red Bank Catholic’s utter destruction of St. Joseph (Mont.) in the second half of the sectional semifinal was an indicator that the Caseys may be even better than anyone thought. Delbarton hasn’t won a sectional crown since 1998, but it’s been even longer for RBC, who is in pursuit of its first championship since it won the Parochial, South A title in 1976.
The Pick: Red Bank Catholic
GROUP 4
North 1
(3) Paramus (10-1) vs. (1) Pascack Valley (9-2)
The dual-threat of quarterback Tyler Smith will be a challenge for the Indians’ defense, but linebacker Greg Collier (8.5 sacks) will likely have him on the run. With a win, the Indians can be the first team to repeat in North 1, Group 4 since the 2003 and 2004 Ridgewood Maroons.
The Pick: Pascack Valley
North 2
(2) Phillipsburg (10-1) vs. (1) Colonia (11-0)
P-Burg’s dominant run game is well-documented, with quarterback Anthony Guarino and running back Joe Maso providing a solid combo of speed and power. Colonia has a similar duo in Tenny Adewusi and Sam Pero, but the Stateliners are riding high after a Thanksgiving win over rival Easton (Pa.).
The Pick: Phillipsburg
Central
(3) Jackson (10-1) vs. (1) Middletown South (9-2)
Eagles running back Cole Rogers has had a breakout year (1,702 yards, 26 TD), and is one of the main reasons South is back in the finals. Jackson has surged since an upset of Red Bank Catholic on Nov. 7, as they reeled off two blowouts by a combined 89-7 since.
The Pick: Jackson
South
(2) Shawnee (10-1) vs. (1) Timber Creek (11-0)
Last season’s final saw the Renegades spoil Timber Creek’s quest for a third-straight championship. Shawnee running back Jake Parola has rushed for 1,280 yards (7.6 yards per carry) and 24 touchdowns this season.
The Pick: Shawnee
Non-Public
(2) St. Peter’s Prep (10-1) vs. (1) Paramus Catholic (9-1)
Marauders quarterback Brandon Wimbush has been simply unstoppable all year, having thrown for 22 touchdowns to just a single interception and completing nearly 77% of his passes. The Paladins have looked a bit less dominant over its past two games, getting throttled by St. Joseph (Mont.), 27-0, and squeaking by Don Bosco Prep in the sectional semis, 18-17, in the game’s final minute.
The Pick: St. Peter’s Prep
GROUP 5
North 1
(3) Passaic County Tech (10-1) vs. (1) Montclair (10-1)
The Bulldogs defense can be downright suffocating, starting with linebacker Drew Lindsay (106 tackles) and cornerback Jacquese Johnson (3 INT, 1 FF). If anyone can solve it, it may be Mounties quarterback Elijah Robinson, who has passed for 1,638 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, while rushing 1,585 and 23.
The Pick: Montclair
North 2
(3) Elizabeth (9-2) vs. (1) Linden (9-2)
Linden was very much capable of beating the Minutemen in their first meeting this year, but simply couldn’t slow down an Elizabeth running game that racked up over 300 yards. The Tigers will certainly be focused on stopping a repeat occurrence, so this one could come down to what quarterback Tyree Gutierrez can do with his arm.
The Pick: Elizabeth
Central
(3) Manalapan (10-1) vs. (1) South Brunswick (11-0)
The Braves hope they can break a streak of three straight losses in sectional final games, including a loss to these Vikings in the 2012 Central, Group 5 title game. To do so, they will have to stop a lethal South Brunswick running game led by Dontae Strickland, who has rushed for 1,274 yards and 18 touchdowns this season.
The Pick: South Brunswick
South
(4) Cherokee (8-3) vs. (2) Rancocas Valley (9-2)
Sloppiness with the ball doomed the Red Devils in the first meeting between these teams this season, which ended in a 24-6 Chiefs victory. A win would give Cherokee back-to-back sectional championships for the third time in program history (the Chiefs accomplished said feat in 1981 an 1982, as well as in 2009 and 2010).
The Pick: Cherokee
Tom Szieber can be reached by emailing tom@gridironnewjersey.com.