By Gridiron New Jersey Staff
Posted: Saturday, December 12, 2015 8:45 am
Gridiron New
Jersey will be unveiling our
final Top 20 in three parts, beginning with teams that missed the final
cut, but were under consideration. We'll follow with numbers 20 through 11 on Friday and numbers 10 through 1 on Saturday.
Top 20: Others Getting Consideration
Top 20: Numbers 20-11
Top 20: Numbers 10-1
10. Ramapo (11-1)
Keith Woetzel and the
Raiders capped off a magical year with a North 1, Group 3 title, beating
a good River Dell squad in the finals, 45-15. Ramapo was the only team
to beat the Golden Hawks this year, doing it once on Nov. 6 and once in
the title game. Woetzel was a threat in both phases of the offensive
game plan, throwing for 1,479 yards and 15 touchdowns and contributing
895 and 11 on the ground. Woetzel also nabbed 77 tackles from his spot
in the secondary. Running back/strong safety Joe O’Hagan was just as
valuable for the Big North Independence Division champions, rushing for
1,076 yards and 21 touchdowns and also registering 63 tackles.
9. Delsea (11-1)
The Crusaders won the
South, Group 3 title for the fourth time in as many seasons, defeating
Camden, 21-12, in the final. It was the second time Delsea took down the
talented Panthers, having won their week two meeting, 25-19. The
multi-faceted backfield of Chris Bascomb, Rashaad Williams, Charles
Walker and quarterback Quinn Collins made the difference in the final,
and was the engine for the Crusaders in a year that saw them beat the
likes of Paul VI and South, Group 4 champion Timber Creek. Its only
setback was to Hammonton, which kept them from winning their first
division title since 2012.
8. St. Peter's Prep (8-3)
The Marauders
are a tough team to assess. On one hand, they had another successful
year, making it to the Non-Public, Group 4 semifinals, beating Notre
Dame in the first round. On the other, Peter’s was 0-2 against Big North
United teams this year, including a 37-27 loss to St. Joseph (Mont.)
that ultimately ended its season. It was drubbed, 56-14, by St. John
Bosco (CA) in its biggest out-of-state test. Still, they predictably won
the HCIL Red Division, and quarterback Johnathan Lewis threw for 1,669
yards and 19 touchdowns, and ran for 501 yards and eight scores.
7. South Brunswick (11-1)
After blowing a
21-3 lead against Middletown South on opening day, South Brunswick
could have entered a downward spiral. Instead, the Vikings went on an
11-game tear that culminated in a 42-0 victory over Old Bridge in the
Central, Group 5 championship game. They also went a perfect 8-0 in the
always-tough Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division, thanks in large
part to running back/safety Phil Campbell (848 rush yards, 14 TD, 110
tackles on defense). Quarterback Josh Liao completed 63% of his passes,
passing for 1,476 yards and 16 touchdowns.
6. DePaul (6-6)
The Spartans went into the Non-Public, Group 3 tournament with just a 3-6 record, but proved that their talent and offensive firepower was far too much for any of their sectional foes to handle. Along with a finals win over a red-hot St. John Vianney, they soundly defeated Camden Catholic and Delbarton in the playoffs. DePaul’s record was a bit deceiving, as four of its losses came by eight points or less against elite competition. Running back Kareem Walker showed why many view him as the top rusher in the state, carrying the ball 215 times for 1,517 yards (7.1 avg) and 13 touchdowns. Wide receiver Hasise Dubois provided over 740 yards and 12 touchdowns on 45 catches. Defensively, linebacker Scott LaVelle was all over the field, piling up 133 tackles.
5. Old Tappan (12-0)
At long last, Old
Tappan captured its first sectional title since 1985 by defeating Wayne
Hills in the North 1, Group 4 championship game, 17-0. The Golden
Knights were a complete team, its offense being led by talented wide
receiver Jordan Fuller, who accumulated 1,822 all-purpose yards and
scored 15 touchdowns, as well as quarterback
Kevin Martinez (1,715 passing yards, 20 touchdown passes) and running
back Zach DeNike (1,438 yards, 19 TD). On defense, the Big North
National Division champs had a stud pass rusher in defensive lineman
John Piccinich, who picked up 15.5 sacks to go along with 88 tackles.
4. Bergen Catholic (7-4)
Bergen Catholic
persevered through the five-game loss of quarterback Jarrett Guarantano,
and put together a year that anyone would call a success. Of course,
with BC’s championship standard, the year will leave a bitter taste in
the Crusaders’ mouths through the offseason, as they fell one game short
of the Non-Public, Group 4 finals. Despite losing to Don Bosco Prep,
27-21, Bergen was 3-0 versus the rest of the Big North United, earning a
share of the title, and gave national powers like IMG Academy (FL) and
St. Edward (OH) runs for their money. Linebackers Frank Feaster and Ship
Idrizi and strong safety Nick Tighe led the BC defense, while players
like James McCarthy and freshman Josh McKenzie and were key parts on the
Crusaders’ running back committee.
3. St. Joseph (Mont.) (8-4)
The Green
Knights fell just short of their ultimate goal, but still had a
memorable 2015 season. Joe’s dropped its Non-Public, Group 4 finals
meeting with Don Bosco Prep, 21-10, but did share a piece of the Big
North United Division championship. It also got some noteworthy wins
during a 4-0 start over Bosco and St. Edward (OH). Running back Brian
Kearns rushed for 940 yards and six touchdowns on the year, while
linebacker Louis Acceus (116 tackles) and J.T. Giles-Harris (3 INT) let
the Green Knights D. Sophomore quarterback Nick Patti showed that as his
development continues, the Green Knights will be in good hands.
2. Middletown South (12-0)
The Eagles had
about as good a season as one can have, and finished the year with a
35-7 win over Phillipsburg in the North 2, Group 4 finals. Also Shore
Conference Class A-North Champs, South used a season-opening victory
over eventual Central, Group 5 champion South Brunswick to springboard
itself to an undefeated year. Running back Cole Rogers made the machine
go, averaging 9.0 yards per carry and rushing for 1,570 yards, not to
mention 24 touchdowns. Cornerback Maxx Imsho and strong safety Thomas
Coffey nabbed 7 and 6 interceptions, respectively, while linebacker
Dylan Rogers turned in a finals performance for the ages with 4.5 sacks
and 14 tackles. Quarterback Matt Mosquera and running back/linebacker
James McCarthy were difference makers in the run, as well.
1. Don Bosco Prep (9-3)
Running back
Malik Bakker was a workhorse in Bosco’s 21-10 Non-Public, Group 4
championship win over St. Joseph (Mont.), grinding out 99 tough yards.
But it would be remiss not to mention the Ironmen front line, which
paved the way for the Bosco offense all year long behind bruisers like
center Mike Maietti and offensive tackle Steve Cepalia. Defensively,
linemen like L.B. Mack and Brandon Simon (three sacks in sectional final)
helped push Bosco to a season sweep of Bergen Catholic, as well as
victories over out-of-state powers like Archbishop Moeller (OH) and
Archbishop Rummel (LA). The Ironmen also played Bishop Gorman (NV), the
#1 team in the USA Today Super 25, tough in a 30-16 loss.