This is the final week of regular season before the start of the 2019 New Jersey high school football playoffs.
Teams in the Mercer County area are trying to put themselves in position to secure a spot for postseason play.
Here is a roundup of high school football programs in the area and where they stand on qualifying for the postseason.
Lawrence High School: Lawrence is sitting with a 4-3 regular season record and is fighting to be be one of 16 teams in the South Jersey, Group 3 playoff field. Lawrence faces Hamilton High School West at home on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. as the Cardinals seek to be one of the final teams to secure a spot in South Jersey, Group 3.
Notre Dame High School: After this week, Notre Dame (8-0) will be one of 11 teams who play in the Non-Public Group 4 playoffs. Notre Dame will have its final regular season matchup, a road contest on Nov. 2 against Trenton Central High School at 2 p.m., when the Irish look to secure a perfect record.
Hillsborough High School: Hillsborough holds a 6-2 record and is set to become one of the 16 teams to secure a spot in the South Jersey, Group 5 playoffs. Hillsborough has a game on the road against Piscataway High School on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m., after which Hillsborough will be gearing up for postseason play.
Hightstown High School: Hightstown, who holds a 1-7 record, will not be able to qualify for one of the 16 spots for South Jersey, Group 4. Hightstown has a matchup against Hopewell Valley High School in Hightstown on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. A consolation game has not be scheduled yet at this time, but will be expected to be played the following week.
Hopewell Valley Central High School: Hopewell Valley Central holds a 5-2 record and is primed for postseason play as the team is set to secure one of 16 spots for the NJSIAA South Jersey, Group 3 playoff field. This week, the Bulldogs face Hightstown High School (1-7) in Hightstown on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.
Montgomery High School: Montgomery, which holds a 7-1 record, will secure one of the 16 spots available in the North Jersey, Group 4 playoff field after the team’s game this Friday. Montgomery has a home matchup with Franklin High School at 7 p.m.
West Windsor-Plainsboro co-op team: West Windsor-Plainsboro (3-4) is seeking to secure one of the final of 16 playoff spots in the South Jersey, Group 5 field. West Windsor-Plainsboro will face Steinert High School at home on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.
Princeton High School: Princeton (0-7) will not be competing for a South Jersey, Group 4 playoff spot. The team’s final regular season game is at home against Delran High School on Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. A consolation game has not yet been decided, but will be held the following week.