It’s Time To Start Thinking Playoffs

With some teams playing their sixth game of the season, it's about time we start talking playoffs.  

First let me state the rules set forth by the NJSIAA: The point system will be calculated from the sum total of a team's 7 best games from the first 8 games it plays.  

Simply put, a team may drop its lowest power-point total from any game played during its first eight games. This rule was put in a few years back to try and get teams to upgrade their schedules without risk.  Not sure it has worked that way, but those are the rules we live by in New Jersey.

Now keep in mind there are huge games with many power points to be had in the coming weeks.The playoffs will start the weekend of Nov. 14.  Each team, according to its enrollment, is given a grouping. A few years back the state complicated the system a little more by adding Group V. With four sections of public schools (North I and II, Central and South), that's 20 state championships to hand out. Throw in four more sections of non-public schools, and we have 24 champions in our state.

A proposal to play out to five overall Group champions was voted down last year, so there are still only sectional champions.  Each bracket also must have eight teams in it, so the .500 or better record to qualify was wiped away to fill these brackets. This has allowed more teams to get in, but in some cases that means more bad teams get in.  Teams with one, two or three wins have filled out brackets in past years. It's a flawed system, but as I stated, it's the one we play by.

Let's look at the teams in the Shore that are on their way to make a run at one of those championships come November and December.

Central Jersey Group 5:
Manalapan (5-0) is our best shot here. The Braves have been in four state finals and lost all four, including three straight in the last three years. To get that first title they will probably have to beat South Brunswick, considered the favorite to win. The only other team with a chance to make the top eight is Freehold Township (2-3).

Central Jersey Group 4:
A loaded group with Freehold Boro (5-0), Brick (4-1), Jackson Memorial (4-1), and Middletown South (4-1) all with good chances to take home the championship. Match-ups and home games will be important.  Also having a shot to make the top eight are Neptune (2-2) Jackson Liberty(3-2) and Middletown North (3-2).  The Shore area dominates this group.

Central Jersey Group 3:
Long Branch (4-1) will get a good seed and has a legit shot. Red Bank (2-2), Raritan (2-2) and Matawan (2-3) all could get in.

Central Jersey Group 2:
Lakewood (3-1), Point Boro (3-2), and defending champion Rumson-Fair Haven (2-2) all have good chances to make the bracket. Monmouth (2-3) has an outside chance if it can win two more for just its third state playoff berth in program history.

Central Jersey Group 1:
This bracket has been Shore (3-1) and defending champion Point Beach (3-1) in recent years, and they will be there again in 2014.

South Jersey Group 5:
Brick Memorial (4-1) has been moved into this bracket this year and will make the top eight and compete against mostly South Jersey teams. The 'Stangs have run off four in a row but have the strong part of their schedule ahead of them, as they play Jackson Memorial, Middletown South and Toms River South in the next three weeks. None will be easy. Toms River North (3-2) has a good shot to get in and Southern (2-2) could also sneak in. It's a wide-open bracket. Get in and you have a shot to win it. No powerhouse teams in this bracket.

South Jersey Group 4:
Toms River South (3-1) should get in without a problem. The Indians are too good not to make the playoffs. Unfortunately, Timber Creek and defending champion Shawnee could be undefeated in this bracket. Toms River South may have to beat both of them to win it. Shawnee won it all last year after rallying from a 24-0 halftime deficit to beat the Indians in the semifinals.

South Jersey Group 3:
Don't ask me how, but Manasquan (3-2) plays in this bracket. The Warriors should qualify. The other Shore team with a chance, Central (3-2), must win at least one more to make it in.

South Jersey Group 2:
This is Barnegat's (4-1) bracket, but it won't be easy. Defending champion Haddonfield (5-0), Buena (5-0) and perennial contender West Deptford (4-1) will be tough to beat.

South Jersey Group 1:
No Shore teams in this section.

Non-Public Group 4:
No Shore teams play here.

Non-Public Group 3:
Red Bank Catholic (5-0) and St. John Vianney (5-0) play here with powers Delbarton (5-0) and defending champion St. Joe's-Montvale (3-1). Home field will be important in the early rounds. Personally I'm rooting for a match-up of our teams to see who is the best non-public school in Shore. Could happen.

Non-Public Group 2:
No Shore teams.

Non-Public Group 1:
Mater Dei Prep (4-1) is our lone rep here, but I don't think anyone is beating defending champion St. Joe's-Hammonton (5-0).  The Wildcats have won 23 state titles!  Yes, that's correct-23.

There you have it, 29 teams with a chance of making the playoffs from the Shore. Considering there are 43 teams in the Shore, that's a pretty good showing. Now that number (29) will be reduced in the next few weeks, but I still think we will have more than 20 teams playing on Nov. 14.  Stay tuned.

Congrats go out to Wall's Dan Curcione, Holmdel's Jay Graham and Keyport's John Paczkowski for getting their first wins of their young careers, as Wall upset No. 2 Brick 28-27 in double overtime,  Holmdel beat Spotswood 33-14, and Keyport beat Highland Park 14-12.

Wall's win sent shockwaves around the state about 9:45pm Friday night.  After trading touchdowns in the first overtime, the second OT saw Brick score but miss the extra point. Wall scored, kicked the point and it was pandemonium on the Wall sideline. Wall came into the game winless. This one has to go down as one of the biggest upsets in many a year.

Some huge games around the Shore this coming weekend.

 Middletown South (4-1) at Manalapan (5-0). May need some new bulbs in the scoreboard after this one.These two powers can score points, but usually it's defense that wins these big games. Middletown South has four shutouts in five games and has given up 36 points, all to South Brunswick in a loss.  Manalapan has scored 254 points -that equates to 51 a game. Middletown South can also score - 42 points per game. Something has to give in this one, and the A North title is most likely on the line.

Jackson Memorial (4-1) will travel to Brick Memorial (4-1) in a huge Class A South game on Friday. Can the Jags stop Brick Memorial quarterback Tim Santiago and their powerful flexbone offense? It will be interesting to watch.

Can Wall (1-4) make it two in a row over unbeaten teams? After beating Brick, its reward is unbeaten Freehold Boro (5-0). They do get them at home, so let's see the fans come out to show the Dan Curcione-led Crimson Knights they appreciate the team's efforts.

Best Saturday game may be at Manasquan (3-2), when Rumson (2-2) comes calling. Both teams are coming off losses, and can't afford another loss. Rumson star running back Charlie Volker, who has missed the last two games with a high ankle sprain, is due to return for this game.

Thursday night the Investors Bank HS Football Show is at the Water Street Grille from 6-8:30pm, as we talk football with area coaches and players on NewsTalk Radio WOBM 1160 and 1310 AM or ShoreSportsNetwork.com where you can watch a live video stream of the program.