Football: Final Essex County 8 rankings of the 2022 season
Another season is complete in New Jersey high school football, and one Essex County team was part of the first group of public state champions in state history.
Caldwell, now riding a state-best 28-game winning streak, was one of the last teams left standing, winning the state's first Group 2 championship.
As impressive as the Chiefs' run has been, there were also multiple sectional champions and contenders from across Essex County this season.
For the final time in 2022, here are the Essex County 8 football rankings.
8. East Orange Campus (4-6)
The Jaguars finished off the season with a victory, shutting out Barringer on Thanksgiving, 38-0, in the 110th edition of the Old Guard Game. Senior Irijah Wright rushed for 1,222 yards and seven touchdowns on the season, while Kymanie Deacon guided a tough Jaguars defense with 16 sacks. East Orange endured a difficult start to the season but still reached the North 1, Group 5 playoffs.
7. Cedar Grove (9-3)
Cedar Grove reached the finals of the North 2, Group 1 bracket as the No. 4 seed, falling just short against Weequahic. Sophomore quarterback Stephen Paradiso was impressive in his first varsity season, throwing for 1,732 yards, 23 touchdowns and only two interceptions. The Panthers forced 30 turnovers, led by junior Nick Iannacone's six interceptions. All three of Cedar Grove's losses this season came to sectional champions.
6. West Essex (7-4)
The Knights embraced a dark-horse role all season with three regular-season losses to state-ranked teams with perfect records, all by a combined 15 points. West Essex reached the North 2, Group 3 sectional final before falling to West Morris for the second time this season. Senior Luke Struss led a rushing attack that combined for 2,285 yards and 24 touchdowns. West Essex has won at least six games in every season since Chris Benacquista took over in 2011.
5. Weequahic (11-2)
Weequahic cruised to a 68-8 win over rival Shabazz in the annual Soul Bowl on Thanksgiving to cap off a strong season. The Indians won the North 2, Group 1 sectional title and were minutes away from the Group 1 state final before falling to Mountain Lakes. Junior Rashawn Marshall was one of the most lethal runners in the state with 1,805 yards on the ground and 23 touchdowns. Quentin Reid's 10 sacks led an Indians defense that held nine opponents to 10 points or fewer.
4. Irvington (8-3)
Last season's North Group 4 regional champions were upended by Northern Highlands in the North 1, Group 4 semifinals. Kyshir Desir rushed for 1,454 yards and nine touchdowns on the year, while Rutgers commit Famah Toure amassed more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage while playing multiple positions. All-American Adon Shuler made 103 tackles and three interceptions, including returning one for a touchdown.
3. West Orange (8-4)
The Mountaineers went on a magnificent run to end the season, including upsetting top-seeded Phillipsburg in the North 2, Group 5 final for the first sectional title in school history. Illinois commit Saboor Karriem caught 63 passes for 1,001 yards and 15 touchdowns, the last one being the lone touchdown in a 21-7 loss to Passaic Tech in the Group 5 semifinals on Nov. 20. The Mountaineers have had at least six wins in all four seasons under coach Darnell Grant.
2. Seton Hall Prep (6-6)
The Pirates withstood a four-game losing streak at the end of the regular season but went on a run to the Non-Public A semifinals, falling to Don Bosco in snowy conditions. The Pirates navigated one of the state's most difficult regular-season schedules and pulled out notable victories over Irvington, Red Bank Catholic and St. Joseph (Montvale). Junior quarterback Liam Londergan threw for 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns, and senior Elijah Rippey made 133 total tackles and four interceptions on defense.
1. Caldwell (13-0)
The Chiefs withstood a great effort by Rumson-Fair Haven and pulled out an 18-14 win in Sunday's Group 2 state final. Joey Marinello rushed 21 times for 97 yards while senior Harry Boland racked up 87 yards and two touchdowns in his final game for Caldwell. Louis Anemone threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Mike Mignone on a fake field goal try to take the lead for good.
Also considered (listed alphabetically): Bloomfield (5-5), Glen Ridge (5-5), Newark West Side (7-2)
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ football: Final Essex County 8 rankings of the 2022 season
