The End of High School Football Season, Part 1

In the somewhat strange world of New Jersey high school football this weekend marks the end of the regular season for a majority of teams as next weekend the NJSIAA Playoffs get underway. Of course because this is New Jersey it’s never quite that simple as many teams will still play another regular-season game centered around Thanksgiving, even though two rounds of the playoffs will have already been completed.

I know it doesn’t make sense but that’s the way it’s been and probably will be for years to come even though there’s little logic behind it.

Regardless this is the final weekend for teams to earn power points, qualify and improve their playoff position. Just like in pro sports the playoffs have been watered down as 192 teams will earn a spot in the 24 different groups that will eventually be able to call themselves a state champion. As many as 26 of the 43 Shore Conference schools that play football could be headed to the playoffs with the others to complete in consolations games next weekend that are only consolations if you want to extend a disappointing season by another week playing in front of families and friends.

There are games that have a direct bearing on division championships which are very important and among the pre-season goals just about every team sets. The Shore Sports Network’s Jersey Mike’s Game of the Week takes us to Al Saner Field tomorrow afternoon where Point Boro will host Lakewood with the Class B South championship on the line.

The “Boro” suffered their first loss of the season last weekend when they were upset in overtime by Jackson Liberty but Coach Sean Henry insists that loss is behind them and led by quarterback Noah Husak they will be ready for the Piners who have already clinched a share of their first divisional title in 15 years.

Led by one of the shore’s top players in Amir Tyler the visiting Piners will secure the outright title with a win while a Panthers victory means the two teams will share the crown. The game will be broadcast on 1160/1310AM and streamed at shoresportsnetwork.com with kickoff at 2pm.

Coming off their first loss of the season last week Brick needs to win at Toms River South tonight to grab a piece of the Class “A South” crown with Toms River North and Brick Memorial could make it tri-champions if they beat visiting Southern. In another intriguing matchup tonight Jackson Memorial visits Red Bank Catholic a year after the Jaguars ended the Casey’s’ 40-game winning streak.