NJ football rankings: 3 new teams jump into latest statewide Top 25 after Week 2
After Week 2 of the high school football season, three new teams entered the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey statewide Top 25 rankings.
Every week, voters from across the Network will rank the Top 25 teams in the state. The rankings will be posted every Tuesday morning.
Here are the latest Top 25 rankings:
25. Newton (2-0)
Brayden Nolan rushed for three touchdowns in the first half as the Braves rolled to a 48-14 win over Sussex Tech on Friday night. Matthew Ray added two rushing touchdowns for the Braves, who have won 26 of their last 28 games. Newton’s offense has scored at least 28 points in 11 of their last 12 games.
Next game: Saturday at Wallkill Valley (2-0)
24. Ramapo (2-0)
The Green Raiders scored 48 points for the second consecutive week with Friday’s 48-7 home victory over rival Wayne Hills. Senior Jack Grusser threw for 255 yards, with first-half TD passes to seniors Ben Robinson, Will Scordato and Nicky Coffaro for a 42-7 halftime lead. Senior Ethan Moran rushed for three scores.
Next game: Friday at Sparta (2-0)
23. Haddonfield (1-0)
The Haddons had a bye week following a 44-26 win at Paulsboro on Sept. 3. The team will be chasing a 2-0 start for the seventh time in the last eight seasons. Haddonfield’s defense had a productive game in the opener as Patrick Ryan earned a team-best nine tackles while Dominic Hahn and Johnny Mink made seven tackles apiece.
Next game: Friday at Camden Catholic (0-2)
22. East Orange (0-2)
The Jaguars put a scare into No. 4 Irvington, but fell short in double overtime, 27-21. It’s the first 0-2 start for East Orange since 2014, but both losses have come to ranked teams.
Next game: Saturday vs. Randolph (2-0)
21. Clifton (1-1)
The Mustangs couldn’t hold a 13-7 lead at home and lost Friday to then-No. 25 Ridgewood, 20-13. They scored two second-quarter TDs, with sophomore Romelo Tables throwing a 9-yard score to junior Nate Ceneri and junior Devon Stroble scoring on a 4-yard run.
Next game: Friday vs. Eastside (1-1), at Montclair State
20. Ridgewood (2-0)
Senior Jimmy McNamara returned an interception 73 yards for a score in the fourth to lift the Maroons to Friday’s 20-13 victory at then-No. 14 Clifton. The Maroons led in the first quarter, 7-0, after senior Red Kossick capped an 80-yard drive with a 3-yard TD run. They tied it in the third, 13-13, on senior Jack Foerch’s 1-yard scoring run.
Next game: Friday vs. Northern Highlands (1-1)
19. Passaic Tech (3-0)
The Bulldogs’ stingy defense posted its first shutout with Friday’s 42-0 victory at Passaic. Junior Trashon Dye made five tackles and junior Jordan Alston made four for a team that has only allowed 10 points through three games. Dye also rushed for two first-half TDs and the Bulldogs ran for five scores to open a 35-0 halftime lead.
Next game: Friday at West Orange (2-0)
18. Shawnee (3-0)
Bragging rights for the town of Medford remain with the Renegades for a second straight season thanks to a 14-3 victory over Lenape. A usual Thanksgiving Day rivalry, the game was played in September for the first time in its history. Shawnee’s 3-0 start is the program’s first since 2019, when the team went on to win a sectional title.
Next game: Friday vs. Cherokee (1-2)
17. Phillipsburg (2-0)
The Stateliners were locked in a battle with Ridge through the first half Friday and trailed 10-7 at halftime before a second-half surge kept them undefeated with a 28-10 win. In the fourth quarter, Caleb Rivera broke for a 45-yard touchdown run and Liam Slack had a 58-yard INT return for a score with 4:39 left to seal the road win. The Stateliners forced four turnovers.
Next game: Friday vs. North Hunterdon (3-0)
16. West Morris (3-0)
Stefano Montella rushed 20 times for 193 yards and two touchdowns as the Wolfpack shut out Mount Olive, 28-0, on Friday night. Montella also led West Morris with 13 tackles, two sacks and forced a fumble. West Morris has outscored opponents 77-14 through three games.
Next game: Friday vs. Roxbury (0-2)
15. Donovan Catholic (2-0)
Freshman Najee Calhoun ran for 169 yards and a TD, junior quarterback Todd Lambertston threw an 18-yard TD pass to freshman Emanuel Gerena, and J.J. Correa returned a punt that was blocked by Roman Moyers for a TD as the Griffins defeated Rumson-Fair Haven, 21-0.
Next game: Friday vs. Manalapan (2-1)
14. Hillside (2-0)
The Comets rolled through Metuchen, 45-0, Saturday for their first Big Central Conference Patriot Silver Division win. Caleb Salters threw for 183 yards on 11-of-14 passing, including touchdown passes to Devin Tunis and Kendrell Gordon.
Next game: Saturday vs. Roselle (0-2)
13. Caldwell (2-0)
Quarterback Luke Kurzum completed 10 of 13 passes for 190 yards and four touchdowns as the Chiefs rolled past Pequannock on Friday, 48-0. Caldwell’s defense dominated the Panthers, holding them to 22 total yards of offense.
Next game: Friday vs. Verona (1-2)
12. Salem (2-1)
The Rams’ home opener was a rousing success as they ran roughshod over Pleasantville, 53-6. Quarterback Jahki Coates threw for 245 yards and four touchdowns. His top target, Ramaji Bundy, caught six passes for 148 yards and two scores. Zaheim Jones handled the ground work, rushing 15 times for 216 yards and two touchdowns.
Next game: Saturday at Penns Grove (1-2)
11. St. Joseph (Montvale) (1-2)
The Green Knights were outgunned by their Bergen County rivals in Friday’s 44-35 loss at Don Bosco. Senior Luke Henrich threw for 144 yards, including a 67-yard TD pass to sophomore John Forster, before being injured late in the first half. Junior Yasin Willis, sophomore Joseph Gaston and senior Luke Tucci each ran for scores.
Next game: Saturday vs. St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) (1-0), at Rutgers
10. Toms River North (3-0)
Junior Josh Moore ran for 83 yards and two TDs on offense, and had two of his team's four interceptions on defense as the Mariners defeated Southern, 42-0. Toms River North ran for 283 yards and five TDs on just 22 attempts and compiled 347 yards of total offense on 33 plays. The Mariners have outscored their opposition 110-48.
Next game: Friday vs. Central (0-2)
9. Red Bank Catholic (3-0)
Sophomore quarterback Frankie Williams threw TD passes to Najih Rahman and Emanuel Ross and was 12-for-17 for 133 yards as the Caseys defeated Wall, 25-3. Williams also ran for a touchdown in the win.
Next game: Friday at Middletown South (2-0)
8. Delsea (2-0)
Senior Jared Schoppe posted 136 yards of total offense and scored three rushing touchdowns to highlight the Crusaders’ 35-21 home win over Winslow Township. Dom Teti recorded the big play, ripping off an 82-yard kickoff return for the go-ahead score in the third quarter. Schoppe’s three touchdowns raised his season total to a team-high six. Delsea has racked up 82 points in its first two games.
Next game: Friday at Ocean City (2-1)
7. Camden (2-1)
The Panthers built a 48-0 lead by halftime and cruised to a 48-6 win at Sterling. Sophomore quarterback Deante Ruffin completed 4-of-8 passes for 90 yards and three touchdowns to Jaylan Hornsby, Malik Redd-Hubbard and Jamir Stanley. After a season-opening loss to Ohio’s Chardon, Camden has put up 74 points in victories over Salem and Sterling.
Next game: Friday vs. West Deptford (1-1)
6. Millville (2-1)
The Thunderbolts bounced back from their first loss of the season with a 49-28 home win over Williamstown. Millville rolled on the ground, accumulating 344 yards and five touchdowns. Junior Na’eem Sharp rushed for 174 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, while Lotzeir Brooks added 89 yards on four carries. Brooks finished with three touchdowns, including a pick-6. Millville is averaging 45 points in its two victories this season.
Next game: Friday vs. St. Augustine (1-2)
5. Seton Hall Prep (2-0)
The Pirates were off this past week, preparing for top-ranked Bergen Catholic. It will be the 37th all-time meeting between the Pirates and the Crusaders. Seton Hall Prep leads the all-time series 19-16-1, but has not beaten Bergen Catholic during the regular season since 1981.
Next game: Saturday at Bergen Catholic (3-0)
4. Irvington (3-0)
Famah Toure scored on rushing touchdowns in both overtime sessions, including the game-winner, in a 27-21 double-overtime win over East Orange on Friday. Toure scored from three yards out in the first overtime session and scored from five yards out to win after a defensive stop in the second overtime.
Next game: Saturday at Columbia (0-2)
3. St. Peter's Prep (2-1)
Senior Champ Long threw for 291 yards and two TDs in Friday’s 23-10 road victory over then-No. 11 DePaul. Long threw an 18-yard TD pass to senior Zion Fowler in the second quarter for a 16-7 halftime lead, and a 68-yard score in the fourth to junior Dallas Reece. The defense posted nine sacks.
Next game: Friday vs. Delbarton (0-2)
2. Don Bosco (2-1)
In North Jersey’s highest-scoring game in Week 2, the host Ironmen outgunned then-No. 10 St. Joseph, 44-35, Friday. The Ironmen amassed close to 500 yards of offense, with senior Nick Minicucci passing and running for more than 400. He threw three TD passes and his TD run in the fourth marked the final score.
Next game: Friday vs. Iona Prep (N.Y.) (1-1)
1. Bergen Catholic (3-0)
The Crusaders’ defense played lights out in Saturday’s 21-6 victory at Delbarton. All-New Jersey senior defensive lineman DJ Samuels took a handoff and scored on a 69-yard run on a fourth-and-1 in the fourth quarter to provide the 15-point margin. Senior Saeed St. Fleur carried 28 times for 130 yards and a score.
Next game: Saturday vs. Seton Hall Prep (2-0)
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ football rankings: 3 new teams jump into statewide Top 25
