By Tom Szieber
Posted: Thursday, September 21, 2017 10:10 am
Check out Brian Carr's photo gallery from last year's playoff game featuring St. Augustine Prep and Bergen Catholic.
Teams will really be eyeing the power point standings after this week, and a number of games will provide an opportunity for the acquisition of plenty of said points. Let’s look at some of Jersey’s best games and make some picks:
#9 South Brunswick (2-0) @ #7 Piscataway (2-0)
Vikings running back Thomas Joe-Kamara, wide receiver Justin Shorter and quarterback Felix Quinones are the keys to a good South Brunswick offense. Running back Juwon Jackson showed what a difference maker he can be last week, piling up 264 yards and four touchdowns in the Chiefs’ 35-0 win over East Brunswick.
The Pick: Piscataway
Phillipsburg (2-0) @ #13 Bridgewater-Raritan (2-0)
P-Burg linebacker Sean Morro has notched 19 tackles (9 for losses) in the Stateliners’ 2-0 start. The Panthers proved they can come through in the clutch last week, stopping a would-be go-ahead two-point conversion with less than two minutes on the clock against Hillsborough.
The Pick: Bridgewater-Raritan
Delbarton (0-2) @ Pope John (2-0)
Linebacker Nick Denucci has been all over the field in the Lions’ 2-0 start, tallying 14 tackles in two big wins over Bishop McNamara (MD) and Malvern Prep (PA). A loss here would be devastating for the Green Wave, who faces Don Bosco Prep, Seton Hall Prep and DePaul in their next three games.
The Pick: Pope John
#3 Bergen Catholic (1-2) @ #5 Paramus Catholic (2-1)
BC will be looking to replicate last season’s first four games, when it went 0-2 in games against out-of-state opposition, but 2-0 against New Jersey foes. Palidans receiver Mohammed Toure has already amassed 263 yards and four touchdowns on 14 catches this season.
The Pick: Bergen Catholic
Asbury Park (1-1) @ Point Pleasant Beach (2-0)
The Gulls will have their work cut out for them trying to stop the Asbury rushing duo of Sean Gould and Chris Webber. Both of Asbury Park’s games this year have been decided by 6 points in overtime.
The Pick: Point Pleasant Beach.
North Bergen (2-0) @ Bloomfield (2-0)
The Bengals are looking to prove they are for real, and their case is made stronger by running back Jeremy Witherspoon, who has averaged 133 yards per game and scored five times. The Bruins are looking to do the same, and are also looking for their first win over Bloomfield and first 3-0 start since 2014.
The Pick: Bloomfield
#1 Millville (2-0) @ St. Augustine Prep (2-1)
Millville has lost to the Hermits in each of the last three years, and has never beaten them during the Gridiron New Jersey era (since 2003). St. Augustine Prep hasn’t lost to a New Jersey public school team since Thanksgiving 2013.
The Pick: St. Augustine Prep
Wayne Hills (2-1) @ #8 Old Tappan (2-0)
The Patriots have a threat to score on every snap in quarterback Jaaron Hayek, who has rushed for 290 yards and five touchdowns this season. Old Tappan has a similar weapon in running back Marquez Antinori who ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 42-6 win over Pascack Valley.
The Pick: Old Tappan
Voorhees (2-0) @ Somerville (2-0)
The Vikings are one of the Mid-State 37’s biggest surprises, having outscored their opponents by a combined score of 58-0 in two contests. Somerville has a potent one-two rushing punch in Robbie Fiorentino and Duke McDuffie.
The Pick: Voorhees
#5 Lenape (2-0) @ Burlington Township (2-0)
Quarterback Matt Lajoie and wide out Jake Topolski form one of the top passing combinations in the WJFL. The Falcons haven’t forgotten last year, when they came into their meeting with Lenape undefeated, only to get drubbed, 20-3.
The Pick: Lenape
Tom Szieber can be reached by emailing tom@gridironnewjersey.com.