It’s Time to Start Thinking About The Playoffs

With many teams playing five games already, it’s time we take a look at the possibilities of the high school playoffs, which begin in November.

High school football (Brad Burascano, Townsquare Media NJ)

Before we even talk about the teams, let’s review the “crazy” playoff system in New Jersey.

The biggest change this year is that only 7 games will count toward your final number of quality points. That means of the first 8 games you play, you can throw out one game. So if you're 7-1, you are suddenly 7-0, going into the meeting to determine the top 8 schools. Clear as mud right! Each school can select 1 game to drop, before they begin to count quality points. Same rules in effect for those quality points-- 6 + the group # of the team you beat.

So if Manalapan beats Colts Neck they get 6 + 4(because CN is a group 4 school). Then they get 3 times the # of wins that team has. If CN wins 7 games, they get 21 points + the original 10 for 31 total points. Then you get 1 point for every win a team who beat you gets. It’s a crazy system that seems to work.

Remember the whole system may change next year if the statewide vote passes to expand the playoffs to get an overall Group champion. That vote takes place in December.

Central 5: This is where Manalapan plays, and what looked like a clear road to the finals, this Group may be a little tougher than expected. The Braves are 4-0 and would like to get there undefeated and get at least 2 home games before a trip to Rutgers in the finals.

With 1 tough game (Colts Neck) on the remaining schedule, they should get those 2 home games and get a chance to play for that elusive first state championship. Other Shore-area schools in this bracket with a shot at the final 8 are Brick Memorial (3-2) and Howell (2-2). Brick Memorial won a big game last weekend against Neptune (27-16), while Howell was upset by winless TR East (1-4), 47-41 in OT. East has now scored 98 points in their last 3 games after not scoring a point in their first 3.

The picture in this group becomes muddled with several northern schools playing well. Monroe, Hunterdon Central and Trenton are all 5-0 and challengers for the Braves. Defending champion South Brunswick is 3-2 and will make it and Sayreville(3-2) has been dropped to this group also. With all these schools playing well, it will be hard for Brick Memorial and Howell to get in if they lose a few more.

Brick welcomes Wall for a nondivisional meeting on Saturday in Brick. (Photo by Bill Normile).

Central 4: This group is set up this year for the return of the “Dragons.” Playing a predominantly Group 5 schedule helps the Brick Dragons pile up the points in this group. Of course it helps that Brick is good this year and has played well in their first 5 games. Barring any major upset against TR East (1-4) and TR North (0-5), Brick will go into their A-South battle with Lacey with major power points on the line, as well as a division championship.

Either way Brick is back in the playoffs and you must feel good for the Rob Dahl-led Dragons. After a turbulent offseason for Dahl when he resigned only to come back one day later, he has them playing solid, hard-nosed football, which is what we expect out of a Brick team. Colts Neck (4-0) is the main threat to the Dragons for the top ranking. The Cougars have tough games ahead, as they play Manalapan and Middletown South in the next 4 weeks before the cutoff. The Cougars are hurt because they play a few group 4s and a group 3 in St John Vianney. The Cougars will make the playoffs and are looking for home games.

Middletown South (2-2) is the other Shore team in this group. Having already beaten Brick, the Eagles are smarting from the 38-0 loss at the hands of Manasquan last week. It’s been awhile since the Eagles were shut out in the regular season and they must re-group for games against RBC and Colts Neck in week 7 and 8. Both are currently undefeated. Neptune (2-3) is the other team from the Shore who can make it to the final 8. This is not a great Neptune team, but can be dangerous whenever you play them. Make it in and they have a shot.

Red Bank, Freehold and Wall left before the cutoff- all winnable games for the Fliers. Out-of-area schools to watch are Nottingham, Burlington Township and Steinert.

Central 3: Ocean Township heads this bracket with their 5-0 record. Long Branch (4-1) is right there also as they have won 4 straight games. The “Big Red” looks to stay home in November and early December. I look for them to run the table although, after a bye week, they will play Long Branch with major points on the line. Tyler Thompson and company have an “assassin”-type defense that gives up points very rarely. Come playoff time, it’s the defense that wins big games.

Matawan(2-2) is the other Shore school that has a chance in this group. To get there they will have key games with Wall (3-2) and Long Branch (3-1) before the cutoff. Out of area teams to watch are Lawrence (5-0) and Hopewell Valley (4-0). Lawrence has been to the playoffs 9 times and never won a game. Hopewell Valley has never been to the playoffs. It's Ocean's to lose, as the Big Red look for their 4^th State title.

Central 2: Rumson (4-0), Keyport(4-1) and Lakewood(3-1) head the list of Shore schools looking to make some noise in this group. A pretty good group of out of area schools will make it tough for any of those 3 to win. Weequahic (4-0), Spotswood (5-0), Delran (4-1), and Rahway (4-1) are all good teams and first-round matchups will be important in Group 2.

Rumson must play Monsignor Donovan (2-2) and Manasquan (4-1) before the cutoff, while Keyport gets South River (4-1) and Point Beach(4-1)-all tough games for those 2 schools. Lakewood and coach LJ Clark have a tough road also with Central (3-1), and Barnegat (4-0).

Central 1: The usual suspects here-Point Beach (4-1) and Shore (4-1) head the list in this group. Asbury Park(2-2) could get in also. Shore and Beach don’t play each other until after the cutoff, so that will not be a factor, but Beach must play Keyport (4-1) and that will not be easy. Shore has won 4 straight after a 13-6 loss to Rumson. They also must play Keyport the week after Beach plays them. So Keyport has a big say in the group 1 playoff final 8.

Out of area schools are South Hunterdon (5-0), South River (4-1) and Florence (3-1)-all are contenders to our schools in the Shore. Of course Florence took out Beach and Shore in the semi’s and finals last year to win the whole thing for its 6^th state title.

Monsignor Donovan senior Joey Fields (Vimeo)

Non-Public 3: RBC (5-0), Mon Don (2-2) and St. John Vianney (1-3) all look to make it in this powerful bracket. With only 9 schools in this group, only 1 gets left out. Of course St. Joseph Montvale (4-0) is the big favorite to win their 17^th state title. That’s right 17^th! For RBC to challenge they must play mistake=free football and make St. Joe’s work for everything they get. More about that possible game in December.

With schools like Pope John XXIII (5-0) and Delbarton (4-1) also in this bracket, first-round matchups are important. RBC is the best team in the Shore and wouldn’t everybody around the Shore love to see a Manalapan-RBC game in early December. Well we never will, so dream on. By the way in 5 games RBC has given up 13 points and scored 233 points. That’s 46 ½ points per game. Enough said.

By comparison Manalapan has given up 28 points and scored 158 points (39 1/2 per game). Two great teams and 2 great programs.

We will look at South Jersey next week.

Highlights Of The Week

Zach McCartney of Point Beach kicking game winning FG against Asbruy Park (Ed Sarluca, Townssquare Media NJ)

Congrats to Lacey HC Lou Vircillo, who won career game # 263 which tied the late Vic Kubu for 2^nd on the all-time list in the Shore Conference. Warren Wolf heads the list with 364 wins (52 seasons). Lacey had to come from behind against winless Manchester with 23 seconds left on a Chris Jensen TD for a 21-14 victory to attain win #263.

On the play Jensen was injured in the neck area and we wish him well in his recovery, as he is home resting, awaiting MRI results. The Lions (5-0) will get starting QB Tom Kelly back this week against Southern. Jackson (3-1) and Brick (4-1) also are on Lacey schedule in the next 3 weeks. Tough road for the Lions.

Manasquan’s shutout of Middletown South (38-0) was a stunner in many ways. First, it was the first time the Eagles were shut out in 11 years. Secondly Manasquan (4-1), which is known for ground and pound, rolled up 349 yds. in the air with QB Tucker Caccavale having a career day for the Big Blue. The senior QB had taken over for starter Will Pezzollo on Sept. 21^st when Pezzolo suffered a knee injury. Caccavale was the starting QB last year as a junior, but lost that job to Pezzollo this year.

Running from Spread and Pistol formations creating 3 and 4 receiver sets, the Warriors’ Joe Fittin (7 catches/142 yds.), Joe Murphy(72 screen pass for TD and 71 run for TD), and TE Tanner Cowley (3/61yds.) were open all day as the Eagles had no answer for the pass happy Warriors. With the running clock (mercy rule) in effect for the first time ever against Middletown South, the Eagles could only muster up 150 yds. on offense all afternoon.

Congrats to Charlie Diskin and the TR East Raiders who won their first game of the season with a 47-41 OT victory over Howell.

Also congrats to Raritan and HC Anthony Petruzzi for their first win of season, a 31-16 Class A Central win over Monmouth Reg. Two TD passes by Riley Sullivan to Dylan Dewysockie were the difference in breaking Raritan’s 14-game losing streak.

Keansburg(1-4) broke an 8-game losing streak with a 41-6 pounding of Highland Park. In the rout, first year HC Chris Damian gets his first in of his career. Joey Rodriguez (3 TDs) and Kason Preston(185 total yds. and 2 TDs) led the Titans to the win. The reward for the win is a matchup with B-Central leader Point Beach at home this Friday night.

Speaking of Point Beach, congrats must go to their kicker Zach McCartney who kicked a 22 yd. field goal with under 2 min. left in Beach’s 10-7 victory over Asbury Park. HC John Wagner’s team sits at 4-1 on the year and is on a collision course with Keyport, on Nov. 1^st, for a key B-Central game. Shore Reg. and Beach match up on Turkey Day and that usually decides the B-Central championship.

Top Ten Week # 6:

1-Red Bank Catholic (5-0) 29 straight wins over SC opponents for the Caseys. Another shutout(35-0) over Freehold, who was the last team who beat the Caseys-3 seasons ago. Next up is 1-4 Holmdel.

2-Manalapan (4-0) In what everyone thought may be a tight game vs. Jackson, turned into a rout, as the Braves rolled to a 31-0 victory over the Jags. With many weapons on offense, the Braves defense held Jackson to just 97 yds. The Braves now have a 20 game winning streak over SC opponents. Next up is out of area East Brunswick(1-3).

3-Lacey (5-0) The Lions playing a winless team for the 3^rd week in a row, had to come back for another win as they remain unbeaten. Lacey is skating on thin ice this year and must begin to play much better if they are to remain without a loss. They will get starting QB Tom Kelly back this week against Southern as the Rams(2-2) travel to Lacey for a big A-South game.

4-Barnegat (4-0) Coming off a bye week, we will get a close-up look at the Bengals this Friday as they will be our game of the week against Central (3-1) in a huge B-South contest. The physical Golden Eagles could present some problems for the Bengals.

5-Ocean (5-0) The Big Red continue to ride RB Tyler Thompson and QB Royal Moore on their way to a B-North championship. Bye week this week.

6-Colts Neck (4-0) Coming off a bye, the Cougars had to be encouraged by what they saw from Middletown South this past week. They play the Eagles down the road. CN has yet to give up a point this year in their 4 wins, while scoring 174 of them. Schedule toughens up in second half for the Cougars. St. John Vianney begins that road.

7-Rumson (5-0) Off a bye the Bulldogs play at Raritan, who just won their first game of the year.

8-Brick (4-1) The Dragons had a ho-hum win over a Wall team that could not move the ball against them. The Dragons have offensive weapons all over the field led by QB Carmine Sclafani, but possible championships will be won on the defensive side of the ball. Next up- TR East coming off their first win of year. Be careful.

9-Manasquan (4-1) The Big Blue move into the poll for the first time with their convincing 38-0 win over Mid South. Travel to Monmouth(2-2) this week.

10-Shore (4-1) This spot could have been gone to Point Beach, but right now I give the edge to the Devils. Easy 35-0 win over Holmdel last week. Bye week coming.