The first goal in what local scholastic teams bid to accomplish will be held this weekend when the state playoffs kick off on football fields throughout New Jersey.
Round two of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association playoffs will be played the following weekend, Nov. 15-16.
The state sectional title games for public schools will be played on Nov. 22-23. The sectional finals for non-public teams and the regional championships for the public schools are scheduled for Nov. 29-30 and Dec. 7-8.
Here is a look a the local teams that will seek to win state playoff championships.
Hillsborough High School: In the South Jersey, Group 5 playoffs, Hillsborough (7-2) faces Washington Township High School in a home matchup on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.
Hopewell Valley Central High School: Hopewell Valley Central (6-2) will hit the road and drive to Camden to face Woodrow Wilson High School on Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. in the South Jersey, Group 3 playoffs.
Montgomery High School: Montgomery (8-1) has a home matchup with Morris County’s Randolph High School on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. in the North Jersey 1, Group 4 playoffs.
Notre Dame High School: Notre Dame (9-0), the top-ranked team in Central Jersey, will be tested right off the bat when the Irish take the journey to Morris Township on Nov. 9 and face off against the Delbarton School at 1 p.m. in the Non-Public, Group 4 playoffs.
Here are local teams that did not qualify for the state playoffs but will be in action during the consolation games this weekend.
Lawrence High School: Lawrence (4-4) is not one of 16 teams to qualify for the playoffs in South Jersey, Group 3. Lawrence has road consolation game against Pennsauken High School on Nov. 7 at 5 p.m.
Hightstown High School: Hightstown (1-8) did not qualify for one of the 16 postseason spots for South Jersey, Group 4. Hightstown played a home consolation game on Nov. 6 is against Ewing High School.
West Windsor-Plainsboro co-op team: West Windsor-Plainsboro (3-5) did not claim one of the final 16 playoff spots in the South Jersey, Group 5 field. West Windsor-Plainsboro’s consolation game was played on the road against Monroe Township High School on Nov. 7.
Princeton High School: Princeton (0-8) will not be competing in the postseason from South Jersey, Group 4. Princeton has decided on not playing a consolation game to close out the season.