NJ football rankings: Statewide Top 25 as postseason gets into full swing
One new team joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey statewide Top 25 rankings after an exciting Week 9.
The public school playoffs continue this week, while the non-public playoffs get underway.
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. Middletown South (7-1)
Junior quarterback Jake Czwakiel scored on runs of 25, 1 and 6 yards, and junior running back Donovan Summey had TD runs of 10 and 6 yards in the first half as the Eagles beat Cherry Hill West, 42-0, in the Central Jersey Group 4 quarterfinals.
Next game: Friday vs. Winslow Township (5-3)
24. Delbarton (4-5)
Ryan Trafford ran for 198 yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries, while J.P. Cafasso caught seven passes for 104 yards in a 28-27 overtime loss to St. Joseph (Montvale) on Saturday. Delbarton blocked a potential game-winning field goal as time expired in regulation to force overtime. The Green Wave are the No. 6 seed in Non-Public A.
Next game: Saturday vs. St. Joseph (Metuchen) (5-4)
23. North Hunterdon (9-1)
Luke Martini threw four touchdown passes to lead the top-seeded Lions over Middletown North, 34-7, in a North 2, Group 4 quarterfinal. North Hunterdon showed its balanced offense with four players scoring touchdowns in Derrick Vaddis (two TD catches), Tyler Anderson, Danny DeLusant and Alex Uryniak. North Hunterdon has won six straight and outscored opponents 200-55 in that span.
Next game: Friday vs. Morris Knolls (7-2)
22. Ramapo (7-2)
The Green Raiders broke 48 points for the sixth time this season with Friday’s 49-19 win over Woodbridge in North 1, Group 4. They average 40.4 points per game. Senior Jack Grusser threw for 274 yards and five TDs and ran for a score. Senior Ben Robinson had seven catches for 244 yards and three TDs, and senior Nate Burleson caught two scores.
Next game: Friday vs. Ridge (7-2)
21. DePaul (4-5)
The Spartans led twice before losing Friday at top-ranked Don Bosco, 28-25. Freshman Derek Zammit threw for 239 yards, including a 20-yard TD pass to senior Milton Crespo in the second quarter to provide a 17-14 lead. Senior Luke Monteyne’s 25-yard field goal and senior Anthony Almeida’s 60-yard TD run had given them a 10-7 lead.
Next game: Nov. 11 vs. Immaculata (4-5)
20. Point Pleasant Boro (9-0)
Junior Jake Croce ran for 195 yards and three TDs on 13 carries, and senior Connor Cilento added two rushing TDs and 117 yards on eight carries in a 62-27 win over Overbrook in the Central Jersey Group 2 quarterfinals. Junior quarterback Matt Oliphant rushed for 88 yards and three TDs on 12 carries as the Panthers rushed for 421 yards. Point Boro is averaging 43.4 points a game and has outscored its opposition 391-69.
Next game: Friday vs. Willingboro (4-5)
19. Seton Hall Prep (4-5)
The Pirates suffered a fourth consecutive loss, this time a 24-16 defeat at the hands of third-ranked St. Peter's Prep. Quarterback Liam Londergan threw for 126 yards and rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown, including a 9-yard touchdown run that tied the game in the fourth quarter. Despite the struggles of the last month, Seton Hall Prep received the No. 5 seed in Non-Public A.
Next game: Saturday vs. Pope John (4-5)
18. Holy Spirit (7-1)
The Spartans had a bye week following a 31-27 comeback win over Kingsway on Oct. 21. Holy Spirit owns 18 sectional titles in its history. Senior quarterback Sean Burns has thrown for 2,173 yards and 21 touchdowns with Gavin Roman being his big target with 940 receiving yards and four scores. Jayden Llanos has been a TD machine with 11 receiving scores for the Spartans, who are winners of five straight entering the playoffs.
Next game: Friday, vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (9-1)
17. Randolph (8-1)
Stephen Petruziello ran for a pair of touchdowns to lead the second-seeded Rams to a 42-7 win over seventh-seeded Rahway in the opening round of the North 2, Group 4 playoffs on Friday. The Rams scored 28 second-half points, including a 55-yard pick-six by James Fusco in the third quarter.
Next game: Friday vs. Wayne Valley (10-0)
16. Millville (7-2)
The second-seeded Thunderbolts opened their title defense in dominating fashion with a 49-6 rout of Lacey. Quarterback Jacob Zamot completed 9 of 12 passes for 233 yards and five touchdowns. He connected with Donte Smith for two scores and one apiece to Lotzeir Brooks, Ta’Ron Haile and Freddie Lavan III. Zamot eclipsed the 2,000-mark and has 20 touchdown passes along with just three interceptions.
Next game: Friday vs. Jackson Memorial (7-2)
15. Wayne Valley (10-0)
Senior Danny Smith totaled more than 250 yards rushing and receiving, and ran for four TDs, in Friday’s 34-20 victory over Chatham in North 2, Group 4. Senior Alex Scheuplein ran for 93 yards and a TD and passed for 106 yards. The defense made three consecutive fourth-down stops in the Indians’ end of the field in the fourth to help secure the win.
Next game: Friday at Randolph (8-1)
14. Westwood (9-0)
The Cardinals registered their third consecutive shutout and sixth of the season with Friday’s 34-0 win over Hanover Park in North 1, Group 2. They have outscored opponents, 333-27 this season. Senior three-way standout Jack Dugan ran for 183 yards and three TDs and booted four extra points. Junior Robbie Carcich ran for 69 yards and a TD and threw for 57 yards.
Next game: Friday vs. Jefferson (6-3)
13. Irvington (8-2)
Famah Toure threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another as the top-seeded Blue Knights advanced with a 38-7 victory over Sayreville on Friday night. Irvington trailed in the first quarter before scoring the final 38 points of the contest, including touchdown runs by Kyshir Desir and Malachi Dudley. Friday's semifinal against Northern Highlands is a rematch of last season's North Group 4 regional championship game.
Next game: Friday vs. Northern Highlands (6-3)
12. Newton (9-0)
Brayden Nolan rushed for 202 yards and two touchdowns and back-mate Thaylor Sibblies ran for 123 yards and two touchdowns in the Braves' 49-0 victory in the North 2, Group 2 quarterfinals on Friday. Newton is in the sectional semifinals for the fifth straight year.
Next game: Friday vs Glen Rock (8-1)
11. Caldwell (9-0)
Luke Kurzum threw for 130 yards and two touchdowns in his return to the lineup as the Chiefs shut out High Point, 41-0, in the North 2, Group 2 quarterfinals. Kurzum also rushed for a touchdown, and Harry Boland ran for two more. Caldwell, who held High Point to 50 yards of total offense, has won a state-best 24 straight games.
Next game: Friday vs. Ramsey (7-2)
10. West Morris (10-0)
Stefano Montella rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns and the Wolfpack offense amassed 246 yards on the ground in a 42-7 win over Hackettstown in the North 2, Group 3 quarterfinals. The West Morris defense had two interceptions, including a pick-six by Gavin Drown. The Chester school has won 15 straight games.
Next game: Friday vs. Warren Hills (5-4)
9. St. Joseph (Montvale) (5-4)
The Green Knights held on to defeat then-No. 19 Delbarton in overtime Saturday, 28-27, after stopping a two-point conversion attempt. They totaled near 500 yards, with senior Luke Tucci rushing for 194 yards and two TDs and junior Yasin Willis running for 184 yards and two scores. In OT, Willis ran for a 1-yard score and senior Marcos Ruiz kicked the extra point.
Next game: Saturday vs. Paul VI (6-2)
8. Phillipsburg (9-0)
The Stateliners rolled up nearly 400 yards of total offense in a 49-13 win over Elizabeth in a North 2, Group 5 quarterfinal. The top-seed forced four turnovers as Jett Genovese threw three touchdown passes and Xavier Moore rushed for two scores. Phillipsburg has allowed an average of 9 points per game and pitched two shutouts.
Next game: Friday vs. Eastside (Paterson) (6-3)
7. Toms River North (10-0)
Junior quarterback Micah Ford ran for 252 yards and three TDs on 23 carries, and was 3-for-6 for 88 yards and a TD passing, as the Mariners beat Old Bridge, 49-7, in the South Jersey Group 5 quarterfinals. Jeremiah Pruitt ran for 95 yards and two TDs on 10 carries as Toms River North rushed for 377 yards. The Mariners are averaging 50 points per game and have outscored opponents 500-74.
Next game: Friday vs. Marlboro (6-3)
6. Red Bank Catholic (8-1)
Senior running back Sabino Portella ran for three TDs as the Caseys defeated Curtis (N.Y.), 57-36. Sophomore quarterback Frankie Williams ran for two TDs and threw TD passes to Najih Rahman and Emanuel Ross, with the Ross TD being a 61-yarder.
Next game: Nov. 11 vs. Gloucester Catholic (5-3)
5. Delsea (9-0)
The top-seeded Crusaders set a season-high in points during a 48-13 victory over Deptford in the opening round of the South Jersey Group 3 tournament. Delsea is on a quest for the program’s 15th sectional championship, but it’s first in five years. Jared Schoppe rushed for three touchdowns, raising his season total to 20. Zach Maxwell ran for two TDs while Wayne Adair and Luke Maxwell also rushed for scores.
Next game: Friday vs. Eastside (Camden) (4-4)
4. Camden (8-1)
Sophomore quarterback Deante Ruffin threw for three scores and rushed for two more as the second-seeded Panthers rattled off a 41-0 win over Nottingham in the opening round of the Central Jersey Group 3 tournament. Sparked by a sack fumble recovery by James Heard Jr., Camden’s defense posted a shutout for the second time in three games and has been a big reason why the team has won eight in a row.
Next game: Friday vs. Cedar Creek (4-6)
3. St. Peter's Prep (6-3)
Senior Champ Long threw a 52-yard TD pass to junior Hassan Moore, and senior Niahl O’Neill ran for the 2-point conversion, in the fourth to lift the Marauders to Saturday’s 24-16 win over then-No. 12 Seton Hall Prep. Long’s 23-yard TD pass to Moore, and sophomore DJ Brown’s conversion run, provided a 16-9 halftime lead. Long opened the scoring with an 8-yard TD run.
Next game: Friday vs. Notre Dame (6-3)
2. Bergen Catholic (8-1)
Senior Saeed St. Fleur carried 16 times for 212 yards and two TDs in the Crusaders’ 48-20 win Saturday over Paramus Catholic. Senior Jack Duffy and sophomore Dominic Campanile went a combined 9-for-13 for 60 yards, with Campanile tossing an 8-yard TD to sophomore Quincy Porter. Junior Christian Gonzalez returned an interception 31 yards for a score.
Next game: Nov. 12 vs. TBD
1. Don Bosco (7-2)
Senior Nick Minicucci went 20-for-28 for 183 yards and three TDs in Friday’s 28-25 win over then-No. 17 DePaul. Minicucci threw TD passes of 17 yards to senior Dan Parisi, 7 yards to junior Bobby Mays and 2 yards to senior Logan Bush to extend the lead to 28-17 in the fourth. Minicucci also ran for 88 yards, opening the scoring in the first quarter with a 47-yard TD.
Next game: Nov. 11 vs. TBD
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ football rankings: Statewide Top 25 as playoffs get into full swing
