By Tom Szieber
Posted: Wednesday, November 25, 2015 8:30 am
We here at Gridiron New Jersey would like to wish all our readers and fellow high school football fans a very happy Thanksgiving. Here are our picks for some of the most historic rivalry games across the state.
Montclair (5-5) @ Bloomfield (5-4)
Montclair leads all-time series, 63-24-1
Following a heartbreaking semifinal overtime loss to Ridgewood, the Mounties are hoping to avoid their first sub-.500 year since 2009. After a hot start to their season, the Bengals have now lost four of five, and are just 1-3 against SEC American Division opponents.
The Pick: Montclair
Passaic (1-7) @ Clifton (3-5-1)
Clifton leads all-time series, 45-36-5
The Clifton running game, led by tailback Saadiq Pitts (6.2 yards per carry), should have a chance to shine against a Passaic D that has allowed 39.8 points per game. A potential 4-5-1 season doesn’t quite do justice to the job first-year head coach Ralph Cinque has done with a Mustang team that made the North 1, Group 5 playoffs for the first time since the 2008 season.
The Pick: Clifton
Holy Spirit (4-5) @ Atlantic City (3-6)
Atlantic City leads all-time series, 50-32-4
The Vikings have averaged 30.5 points per game over their past two tilts, after having cracked the 20-point barrier just twice in their first seven. Atlantic City may have to rely on its run game, as Spirit showed how dangerous its pass rush can be against St. Joseph (Hamm.) in their Non-Public, Group 2 playoff opener, sacking quarterback Salaam Horne six times in the first half alone.
The Pick: Holy Spirit
Phillipsburg (9-1) @ Easton (PA) (8-4)
Easton (PA) leads all-time series, 57-40-5
The Stateliners need to stay healthy with the North 2, Group 4 sectional final on December 5, but this type of fierce rivalry game is as good a tune-up for Middletown South as they could ask for. After getting soundly beaten, 37-0, by Parkland (PA) in the Pennsylvania Districts 2-4-11 Class 4A football semifinals, the Red Rovers would like north more than to send P-Burg to its sectional final on a low note.
The Pick: Phillipsburg
Plainfield (2-7) @ Westfield (10-0)
Westfield leads all-time series, 57-45-7
Westfield’s ferocious defense should be on display with the likes of linebackers Steven Barmakian, Jacob Kurstedt and Owen Colwell roaming. Plainfield snapped a seven-game skid with its 27-10 win over Perth Amboy on Nov. 14.
The Pick: Westfield
Vineland (3-6) @ Millville (5-4)
Vineland leads all-time series, 63-58-19
The Thunderbolts continue to inch closer to evening the series record in the state’s oldest rivalry, and have now won six straight meetings. Vineland has lost six of its last seven games, and will have a tough time trying to stop Millville quarterback Will Polhamus, who has passed for 1,167 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Pick: Millville
Eastside (4-4-1) @ Kennedy (4-5)
Eastside leads all-time series, 42-41-7
A victory would lock up the Ghosts’ first winning season since 2006. The Knights have now won three out of four after a four-game skid derailed their season.
The Pick: Eastside
Palmyra (9-1) @ Burlington City (3-6)
Palmyra leads all-time series, 54-36-17
Quarterback Max Smyth’s 2,600+ yards and 26 touchdowns have guided the Panthers to the Central, Group 1 final on Dec. 5 against Shore. Burlington City has lost 15 of its past 18 games, and two straight in this rivalry.
The Pick: Palmyra
Perth Amboy (1-8) @ Carteret (1-8)
Perth Amboy leads all-time series, 45-41-2
It hasn’t been an easy year for either team, but both have players under center that are capable of having big days. For the Ramblers, Angelo Golino has passed for 909 yards and seven touchdowns this year, while Perth Amboy’s Tahjmere O’Neal has shown elusiveness and versatility throughout his freshman campaign.
The Pick: Carteret
Neptune (3-6) @ Asbury Park (6-3)
Neptune leads all-time series, 49-37-4
Asbury Park is chomping at the bit to finish the year with a win after its upset loss to Keyport in the Central, Group 1 tourney. The Scarlet Fliers have averaged 27.8 points per game over its past five contest after putting up just 2.3 points per game in their preceding three contests against some of Shore Conference’s best.
The Pick: Asbury Park
Tom Szieber can be reached by emailing tom@gridironnewjersey.com.