Column: Nuse Sense

Playoff picture clearing up

By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
   Some things to think about as we reach the middle of October, which is crunch time for most of the fall sports teams.
   For the second straight year, three of the four Packet-area public school football teams are in the mix for a playoff spot. West Windsor-Plainsboro South, which reached the Central Jersey Group IV championship game last year, is 5-0 and third in the CJ IV power points standings at the moment. The Pirates play WW-P North, Nottingham and Steinert before the cutoff for states, and with three wins would likely be hosting a first-round game.
   Princeton, which reached the CJ III playoffs last year, is 4-1 with four straight wins. The Little Tigers currently sit in third place in the CJ III power points race. They have a big game on Saturday at Hopewell Valley, which is also 4-1. Princeton then plays Hightstown and Notre Dame before the cutoff date.
   Montgomery may be the biggest surprise to still be in the hunt for a playoff berth. After heavy graduation losses, this was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Cougars. But wins over Voorhees and Monroe the last two weeks have Montgomery sitting at 3-2 and in 10th place in CJ IV. The top eight teams make the playoffs and the Cougars play their next three games against Warren Hills, Somerville and Watchung Hills, all games that should be very close.
   The sport that really should be interesting as far as state tournament play is concerned is boys’ soccer. All four Packet-area teams are already assured of making the tournament, which has an Oct. 24 cutoff date. WW-P North, the defending CJ III champion, took an 11-0 record into Thursday’s game against Hopewell and could be ready for another strong run in the tournament. The Knights are sure to get some tough competition from Princeton, which was the top seed in CJ III last year and took an 8-2 record into its game against Hamilton on Thursday.
   In CJ IV, both WW-P South and Montgomery could be in the hunt for a sectional crown. The Pirates suffered just their second loss of the season when they dropped a 3-2 decision to Notre Dame on Tuesday. WW-P South, which has played six overtime games this year, was 9-2-2 prior to Thursday’s game with Allentown. Montgomery, which advanced to the second round of the CJ IV tournament last year, has recovered from a 1-2-1 start and took an 8-3-2 record into Thursday’s game with Bridgewater. The Cougars will play at Gill-St. Bernards in the Somerset County quarterfinals on Saturday.
   And with all this playoff talk, isn’t it time for the Ivy League powers that be to realize their football teams should be allowed to play in the postseason? Football is the only Ivy sport where the athletes enter the season with no chance to compete for a national championship.
   While winning an Ivy League title is a great accomplishment, those players deserve a shot to play for a national title. We’re still waiting for a logical reason for this doesn’t happen.