New Jersey High School Football Games of the Week: Sept. 19-21
The first weeks of the New Jersey high school football season has been full of good on matchups and some surprising results.
Bergen Catholic, the preseason No. 1, still holds down the state’s top spot according to the On3 Massey Ratings. But there has been plenty of movement elsewhere. And there will be even more after this weekend with multiple top-25 matchups on the slate. That includes four games between top-15 opponents.
Below are the games to watch this week:
The On3 Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory. According to the model — four teams from Alabama rank inside the nationwide top 100.
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#11 Seton Hall Prep @ #3 DePaul Catholic – Friday, Sept. 20
DePaul continued its winning ways over the weekend with a commanding 36-20 win over New York’s No. 3 team, Cardinal Hayes, which follows wins over Pope John Paul XXIII (47-14) and D.C.-area powerhouse Good Counsel (28-17). Their toughest in-state test awaits this week though, with a Seton Hall Prep squad coming off a win over New York top-10 team Chaminade.
#5 Hun School @ Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School (Ga.) – Friday, Sept. 20
The Raiders field a roster that features numerous Division I commitments, and they’ve made a huge move up the rankings early in the season. They opened the season with a massive upset win over Illinois powerhouse Mount Carmel, then followed it by beating Wyoming Seminary Upper School and Connecticut’s No. 2 team Avon Old Farms 35-7. Heading down to Georgia will provide a different test though, with the Eagles coming off a commanding 27-12 win over Louisiana top-10 John Curtis. Their first order of business be slowing down running back Bo Walker, a Georgia commit who ran for 1,579 yards and 29 touchdowns last season.
#6 Millville @ #12 Washington Township – Friday, Sept. 20
The Thunderbolts got off to a strong start in Week 1 by beating Holy Spirit 35-0, while Alabama wide receiver commit Lotzeir Brooks broke the state record for career touchdowns receptions in the process. In Week 2, they downed Atlantic City 49-6 and before dominating No. 12 Mainland Regional 40-7 in a rematch of last year’s Group 4 quarterfinals. They’ll look to keep the winning ways going against a tough Washington Township squad, whose defense has only allowed 21 points across its three games.
#7 St. Augustine Prep @ #15 Winslow Township – Friday, Sept. 20
St. Augustine Prep avenged its lost to Donovan Catholic in Non-Public A quarterfinals a year ago by routing them 35-6 in Week 1. They were dominant again in Week 2, shutting out Paul VI 29-0. And it was more of the same in Week 3, beating top-25 opponent Cherokee 21-7. It will surely get tougher in Week 4 though, as an undefeated Winslow Township team led by Power 4 commits Cameron Miller (Wisconsin), Marcus Upton (Boston College) and Karon Brookins (Iowa State) plays host.
#10 Paramus Catholic @ #2 St Joseph Regional – Friday, Sept. 20
The Paladins have been a New Jersey powerhouse for years, but didn’t come into this season with high external expectations. It’s safe to say those projections can be thrown out the window after wins over St. Peters Prep and Pope John XXIII. Their biggest test to date will come this week when they travel to face No. 2 St. Joseph Regional. The Green Knights rebounded from a season-opening loss with a decisive 28-7 win over then-No. 9 Seton Hall Prep. Top-10 New York program Archbishop Stepinac was the next victim on their list, as they rolled to a 43-0 victory. This one should have plenty of fireworks.