With only a couple of weeks of regular season games remaining, the high school football playoff picture is beginning to come into focus for local teams.
Based on NJSIAA power points through games played by Oct. 27, the brackets are beginning to take form. The official NJSIAA pairings will be released Monday.
In Central Jersey Group I action, the South River Rams, who dismantled Dunellen, 48-20 Saturday, have locked up the top seed with their perfect 7-0 run through the regular season. Their only remaining game is their Nov. 7 meeting with 7-0 Carteret in a game that will not carry any playoff implications. The Rams have been downright dominant from the first week of the season, and should be the prohibitive favorite to win a state sectional title.
Among the teams looking to challenge the Rams are the Spotswood Chargers (7-1), who are still smarting from their earlier loss to South River, and would like nothing more than a shot at redemption in a state playoff game. The Chargers have locked up the No. 2 seed, meaning that any matchup between them and the rival Rams would have championship implications. Spotswood has only this weekend’s matchup with Monroe (3-5) left before preparing for the playoffs.
Among the other teams in the CJ Group I playoff picture are Shore Regional (6-2), Keyport (4-3), Metuchen (3-4), Highland Park (3-4) and Dunellen (3-4). Monroe (19 power points) finds themselves on the outside looking in of this year’s Group II playoff picture, which is doubly disappointing when you consider the number of close defeats Monroe has suffered this season.
As of today, Carteret has the top seed in Group II, followed by Manasquan (7-0), Somerville (6-1), North Plainfield (7-0), Freehold (6-1) , New Brunswick (4-4), Ridge (5-2) and Matawan (4-4).
In the CJ Group III bracket, Hamilton West (6-1) looks to be the top seed as of today, followed by Middletown South (7-0), Wall (8-0), Colonia (5-3), Lawrence (4-4), North Hunterdon (4-3), Red Bank (4-3), Ocean (4-3), and possibly Hightstown (4-3).
In CJ Croup IV action, there are a number of teams that still have a shot at the playoffs. Of the teams guaranteed to qualify, J.P. Stevens is currently in the top spot at 7-0, followed by Piscataway (6-1), Hunterdon Central (6-2), Freehold Township (5-2), and Hamilton East (6-1).
But there are a number of teams who will still qualify, including the Sayreville Bombers (5-3), who will need some residual power points to determine its seeding. Sayreville hosts J.P. Stevens tomorrow night at 7 p.m.
The Old Bridge Knights still have a chance at the playoffs, (4-3) but need a win over Edison tomorrow night to keep their chances alive. Old Bridge needs some help from other teams as well, most importantly, losses by both Middletown North (4-4) and Woodbridge (4-3) this weekend. The Lions are facing a dismal Howell team, while Woodbridge plays at Piscataway tomorrow.
The Knights appear to have a good shot at the No. 8 seed.
— Doug McKenzie