New Jersey High School Football Games of the Week: Sept. 5-7

Teams from across the Garden State took the field last week for their first games as high school football season has arrived in New Jersey.

That included four of the top five ranked teams in state, all of whom welcomed out-of-state powerhouses for big early-season games. A few more intrastate showdowns are on horizon in Week 2, as well as two games featuring a trio of top-10 teams in the state. Below are the top games to watch in New Jersey this weekend:

The On3 Massey Ratings — which were officially used during the BCS era and have generated college high school sports team rankings since 1995 — rank sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory.

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Top high school football games in New Jersey

#1 Bergen Catholic vs. Massillon Washington (Ohio) – Friday, Sept. 6
Bergen Catholic, the New Jersey Non-Public A defending state champions, opened the season with a huge test against Florida’s IMG Academy, but fell to the Ascenders 27-14. Another major matchup looms this weekend as they travel to Ohio to face the No. 2 team in the Buckeye State: Washington. The Tigers shut out GlenOak 45-0 last week to move to 2-0 on the season. Quarterback Jalen Slaughter and running back Ja’Meir Gamble both accounted for two touchdowns each.

#5 Don Bosco Prep vs. #19 Red Bank Catholic – Friday, Sept. 6
Don Bosco entered the season as the state’s No. 2-ranked team after falling to Delbarton last season in the quarterfinals. They face a daunting schedule that includes Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban, Red Bank, Bergen Catholic, St. Joseph and St. Peter’s. They opened the season on the road at Hoban, falling 21-7 to one of the premier programs in Ohio. Another tough test awaits this weekend with Red Bank Catholic hosting. The Caseys fell 17-14 to Middletown (Del.) last week and will be looking to get back on track.

#8 DePaul Catholic vs. Good Counsel (Md.) – Friday, Sept. 6
The Spartans opened against Pope John XXIII, routing the Friars 47-14. The senior class is loaded for the Spartans with the likes of Ohio State wide receiver commit De’zie Jones, Buckeyes cornerback pledge DeShawn Stewart, Notre Dame WR commit Elijah Burress, Penn State IOL commit Michael Troutman and Boston College ATH pledge Nolan James. They’ll host a loaded Good Counsel team headlined by Ohio State commit and top-50 national prospect Faheem Delane.

#2 Delbarton School vs. Malvern Prep (Pa.) – Saturday, Sept. 7
Delbarton made it all the way to the Non-Public A state title game last year before falling to Bergen Catholic to cap an impressive 10-2 season. They opened 2024 in dominant fashion by beating Iona Prep, New York’s No. 1 team, 34-7 at home. Next up is a tilt with Pennsylvania power Malvern Prep, who beat DePaul Catholic in Week 1 before falling to one of the top teams in its own state, LaSalle College.

#3 St Joseph Regional vs. #9 Seton Hall Prep – Saturday, Sept. 7
Week 1 was arguably the toughest test of the season for St. Joseph with an out-of-state road game at national power Baltimore St. Frances Academy. They fell in a 31-21 decision, but will have to rebound quickly with a game against No. 9 Seton Hall Prep this week. The Friars opened the season with a dominating 34-0 victory over Union, but will now turn their focus to one of the state’s toughest schedules that also includes DePaul Catholic, Delbarton, St. Peter’s, Pope John XXIII, Don Bosco Prep and Bergen Catholic.