NJSIAA football playoff brackets

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association has released its brackets for the 2018 state playoffs and 24 Shore Conference teams in nine different brackets have qualified.

The new and controversial process for seeding playoff qualifiers involves a new number: the United Power Rank. The UPR is a combination of 40 percent power points and 60 percent the Born Power Index, which is a mathematical equation developed by retired math teacher Bill Born.

The process also involved taking the top 16 teams in each super section (North 5/South 5, North 4/South 4, etc.). The 16 qualifiers were then split into the traditional North 1, North 2, Central and South sections based on the NJSIAA’s geographical northing numbers. Most teams remained in sections they have traditionally played in but some shifted, most notably Paulsboro moving to Central Jersey Group 1.

Defending Central Jersey Group 4 champion Long Branch and undefeated Red Bank Catholic are the two Shore Conference teams to earn No. 1 seeds. The Green Wave will begin their title defense atop the CJ-4 bracket while Red Bank Catholic earned the coveted top spot and a first-round bye in Non-Public Group 3. Manasquan (CJ-2), Rumson-Fair Haven (CJ-3) and Middletown South (CJ-4) each earned No. 2 seeds.

The Non-Public Group 3 and Non-Public Group 4 brackets were seeded differently to the public school and Non-Public Group 2 brackets. The teams were ranked by their UPR but since all teams in those groups qualify the final pairings were determined by a seeding committee.

The playoffs begin on Friday, Nov. 2 with the first round. The sectional semifinals will be played on Friday, No. 9 and Saturday, Nov. 10. The public sectional finals will be played on Friday, Nov. 16 and Saturday, Nov. 17 at the site of the higher seeded team. The sectional finals were previously played at neutral sites. The Non-Public group finals and the public bowl games will be played across two weekends: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 23-24 and Friday and Saturday, Nov. 30-Dec. 1. Those games will take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

Here are the 2018 NJSIAA football playoff brackets and schedule involving Shore Conference teams. The matchups will become official on Monday at noon.

NON-PUBLIC GROUP 3 

1-Red Bank Catholic (bye)

5-Pope John at 4-St. John Vianney - Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

6-Donovan Catholic at 3-Mater Dei Prep - Saturday, Nov. 3, 1 p.m.

7-Bishop Ahr at 2-DePaul - Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 5

8-Hillsborough at 1-Sayreville - Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

5-Manalapan at 4-Hunterdon Central - Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

6-Edison at 3-South Brunswick - Friday, Nov. 2, 6 p.m.

2-Trenton at 2-North Brunswick - Friday, Nov. 2, 6 p.m.

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 4 

8-Middletown North at 1-Long Branch - Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

5-Brick Memorial at 4-Freehold – Saturday, Nov. 3, 1 p.m.

6-Jackson Memorial at 3-Brick – Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

7-Northern Burlington at 2-Middletown South – Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 3 

8-Raritan at 1-Somerville – Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

5-Nottingham at 4-Holmdel – Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

6-Allentown at 3-Red Bank – Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

7-Ocean at 2-Rumson-Fair Haven – Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 2 

8-South River at 1-Hillside – Saturday, Nov. 3, 1 p.m.

5-Bernards at 4-Lincoln – Saturday, Nov. 3, 1 p.m.

6-Shore at 3-Cinnaminson – Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

7-Delaware Valley at 2-Manasquan – Saturday, Nov. 3, 2 p.m.

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 1 

8-Keyport at 1-Willingboro – Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

5-Middlesex at 4-Florence – Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

6-Asbury Park at 3-Woodbury – Saturday, Nov. 3, 10:30 a.m.

7-Maple Shade at 2-Paulsboro – Saturday, Nov. 3, 1 p.m.

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 5

8-Washington Township at 1-Williamstown – Friday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m.

5-Toms River North at 4-Vineland – Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

6-Kingsway at 3-Lenape – Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

7-Eastern at 2-Rancocas Valley – Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 3 

8-Oakcrest at 1-Burlington Township – Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

5-Timber Creek at 4-Wall – Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

6-Triton at 3-Woodrow Wilson – Saturday, Nov. 3, 2 p.m.

7-Deptford at 2-Delsea – Frida, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 2 

8-Sterling at 1-Haddonfield – Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

5-Cedar Creek at 4-Pleasantville – Friday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

6-Barnegat at 3-West Deptford – Friday,  Nov. 2, 7 p.m.

7-Collingswood at 2-Camden – Saturday, Nov. 3, 3 p.m.

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