One new team joined the New Jersey Super 25 rankings after the second week of the high school football playoffs.
Union City joins the rankings for the first time this season, replacing West Morris, which was upended by West Essex in North 2, Group 3. The only other ranked team to lose last week was Ridge, which lost to Ramapo in North 1, Group 4.
Now we head into the public sectional finals and the non-public quarterfinals. There are four games this week between ranked teams: Point Pleasant Borough at Camden, St. Augustine at Delbarton, Rancocas Valley at Toms River North and St. Thomas Aquinas at Holy Spirit.
Every week, voters from across the Network rank the top teams in the state. The rankings are posted every Tuesday morning.
Public ranking: 16
The top-seeded Soaring Eagles broke loose in Friday’s 61-10 win over Bridgewater-Raritan in a North 2, Group 5 semifinal. Senior Mark Boyd ran for 257 yards and five TDs. Seniors Ja’Zaire Aurelus, Jahsiah Espinal, Kingston Evans and Kareem Hector each ran for a score, and Aurelus added 11 tackles to help extend their winning streak to nine games.
Next game: Friday vs. Passaic Tech (9-2)
Public ranking: 15
Junior quarterback Kevin Entress came off the bench to throw for 145 yards and a touchdown, and also ran for a score as the Vikings advanced with a 28-18 victory over Cherokee. Starting QB Khajuan Roseborough left the game in the first half with an injury and didn’t return. Entress, who attempted only four passes in two relief appearances this season, completed six passes, including a 68-yard TD pass to Dontae Thompson as AC took a 14-3 lead into the intermission.
Next game: Friday at Washington Township (9-2)
Public ranking: 15
Senior running back/linebacker Dylan Reitmeyer ran 17 times for 118 yards and three TDs as the Panthers defeated Manchester Township, 49-14, in a South Group 2 semifinal. Sophomore quarterback Jake Clayton added two rushing TDs and 85 yards on seven carries, and also threw a 45-yard TD pass to Calvin Videon-Perino. Point Pleasant Borough is in a sectional final for the second straight season and third season out of the last four.
Next game: Friday at Camden (8-2)
Public ranking: 14
The Bulldogs accumulated more than 400 yards of total offense during a 55-8 victory over Riverside. Senior Kenny Smith rushed 12 times for 220 yards and three touchdowns as Glassboro took a 49-0 lead into the intermission. Jack O’Connell completed 8 of 10 passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns, and brothers Amari and Xavier Sabb caught two TDs apiece. Glassboro has outscored opponents 119-15 in two postseason games.
Next game: Friday vs. Schalick (8-3)
Public ranking: 13
Rocco DeBiaso rushed for three touchdowns and John Franchini threw for three scores, including a pair to Jake Blum, as the Mustangs galloped to a 48-13 win over Holmdel. Mainland has won three straight games and five of its last six. In two playoff games, the Mustangs have outscored opponents 97-27.
Next game: Friday vs. Seneca (8-3)
Public ranking: 12
Sophomore quarterback Robert O’Connor threw three touchdown passes, including a pair to Lotzeir Brooks, as the Thunderbolts rolled to a 53-0 win over Marlboro. It’s the second time Millville surpassed 50 points in a game this season. The Bolts have outscored opponents 102-6 in two postseason games. Brooks raised his season touchdown total to 14 and his career total to a state-record 65.
Next game: Friday vs. Brick Memorial (9-2)
Non-public ranking: 8
The Hermits had another week of rest in preparation for the postseason. The team hasn’t played since Oct. 25, when it knocked off Millville, 27-21. St. Augustine boasts one state title and is 9-16 in its postseason history. The Hermits won the 1995 State Parochial Group 1 title.
Next game: Saturday at Delbarton (7-2)
Public ranking: 11
Ridge lost to Ramapo, 28-27, in the North 1, Group 4 semifinals. The Raiders erased a 20-point third quarter deficit to come back and beat Ridge for the third time in four years in the sectional semifinals. Senior back Aidan Stieglitz rushed 28 times for 182 yards and three touchdowns in the loss.
Next game: Season complete
Public ranking: 10
The top-seeded Golden Knights held on for a 22-14 win over Cranford in Friday’s North 2, Group 3 semifinal after leading 22-0 with less than two minutes remaining. Sophomore Zach Miceli threw for 162 yards and a TD, and ran for two scores. Senior Alex Orecchio intercepted two passes, ran for a 2-point conversion and kicked two extra points.
Next game: Friday vs. West Essex (8-2)
Public ranking: 9
Brody Deiter hauled in a 7-yard pass from Sayvien Adams in the fourth quarter as the Red Devils prevailed with a 35-30 win over Hillsborough. Adams only completed five passes, but three went for scores. He has thrown multiple TD passes in three straight games and five of his last six. Rancocas Valley has won six consecutive games. The Red Devils have one sectional title in their history, claiming the South Group 3 title in 1987.
Next game: Friday at Toms River North (11-0)
Public ranking: 8
The top-seeded Panthers defeated Montville, 28-12, in Friday’s North 1, Group 3 semifinal. Junior Adam Shaw threw for 120 yards, including an 18-yard TD to junior Colin McMorrow. Shaw ran for 96 yards, and his 25-yard score in the third provided a 28-0 lead. Senior Kevin Regula ran for 1-yard TD, and junior Kai Smith scored on a 58-yard run.
Next game: Friday vs. River Dell (8-3)
Public ranking: 7
The top-seeded Pioneers rolled into their first sectional final since 2019 with a 30-14 win over Ocean City in the Central Group 3 semifinals. Brenden Pacheco connected with Brady Scheier on a pair of touchdown passes in the first quarter for an early lead, while Terrell Mitchell ran in two scores as Somerville opened a 30-6 edge at halftime.
Next game: Friday vs. Delsea (4-6)
Non-public ranking: 7
The Trojans won the program’s first home playoff game with a 61-6 win over St. Mary in the Non-Public B quarterfinals. The fifth-seeded Edison school bolted to a 41-0 lead after the first quarter en route to its fourth straight win. Ca’si Thomas and Anwar Witherspoon each scored two touchdowns in the first 12 minutes.
Next game: Friday at Holy Spirit (8-1)
Public ranking: 6
Quarterback Jett Genovese rushed for two touchdowns as the top-seeded Stateliners beat Chatham, 31-14, in the North 2, Group 4 semifinals. Phillipsburg broke it open with a 17-0 edge in the second quarter. Alexie Moreira kicked the team’s first field goal of the season by hitting from 33 yards out.
Next game: Friday vs. Northern Highlands (6-4)
Public ranking: 5
Mahki Brunson completed 9 of 13 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns and the Panthers rushed for 208 yards, including a team-best 71 by Christian Braxton, en route to a 41-6 victory over Willingboro. Camden has won four straight games and boasts five straight victories at Farnham Park. The Panthers’ defense recorded seven sacks, including three apiece by Haleem Muhammad and Onjae Williams, and Aaron James recovered a fumble.
Next game: Friday vs. Point Pleasant Borough (9-2)
Public ranking: 4
Chris Kaiser left with an injury but returned to lead the Golden Eagles with 166 rush yards and two touchdowns in a 42-14 win over Mount Olive during Saturday’s North 1, Group 4 semifinals. Jayden Koger and Bobby Brickner both ran for second-quarter touchdowns to begin a stretch of 35 straight points scored by Morris Knolls.
Next game: Saturday vs. Ramapo (8-3)
Public ranking: 3
Junior running back Kellen Murray ran 20 times for 171 yards and four TDs as the Bulldogs defeated Delran, 56-28, in a Central Group 2 semifinal. Junior quarterback Owen O’Toole threw for 275 yards with three TD passes, two to senior Jordan Angstreich and one to senior Nick Thomas, as the Bulldogs compiled 500 yards of offense. Rumson-Fair Haven is in a sectional final for the 13th time since 2010. The Bulldogs are 10-0 for the first time since 2013. They’ve never been 11-0.
Next game: Friday vs. Wall (8-1)
Non-public ranking: 6
Playing for the first time since Oct. 18, the Spartans looked sharp in a 38-0 win over Donovan Catholic. Ty Costabile threw for a pair of scores, Emir Hicks and Jachere Ward each rushed for touchdowns, Emanuel Gerena had a pick-six, and Mason Forte booted a 29-yard field goal to account for the scoring. Holy Spirit has won eight straight.
Next game: Friday vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (8-2)
Non-public ranking: 5
The Green Knights enter the eight-team Non-Public A playoffs as the No. 4 seed. They have hung tough against the state’s best and look to climb another level. Junior Mason Geis (798 yards passing, 6 TDs) has played well in place of injured junior Lamar Best, whose playing status remains unclear.
Next game: Saturday vs. St. Peter’s Prep (4-5)
Public ranking: 2
Senior wide receiver/defensive back Camryn Thomas intercepted two passes in the second half, including a game-clinching pick with 51 seconds left, as the two-time defending Group 5 champion Mariners survived a scare and beat Kingsway, 21-14, in a South Group 5 semifinal. Thomas also caught two TD passes from senior QB T.J. Valeria, including the go-ahead score on a 10-yard pass in the third quarter. Toms River North has the state’s longest active winning streak at 16.
Next game: Friday vs. Rancocas Valley (9-2)
Non-public ranking: 4
The Spartans are No. 1 seed in Non-Public B. They had a first-round bye, and now seek their second title in three years. Junior Derek Zammit has thrown for 2,061 yards and 28 TDs, and senior Dez Jones has 47 receptions for 785 yards and 12 scores. Senior Nolan James has rushed for 1,399 yards and 14 TDs for a team that has broken 50 points three times.
Next game: Friday vs. Paul VI (7-2)
Non-public ranking: 3
The Green Wave were idle this week, preparing to host St. Augustine in this weekend’s Non-Public A quarterfinals. Delbarton has won six of its last seven games and is seeking a trip to the state semifinals for the third straight year.
Next game: Saturday vs. St. Augustine (6-3)
Non-public ranking: 2
The Ironmen enter the Non-Public A playoffs as the No. 2 seed and carrying a four-game winning streak. Senior Deven Sisler has thrown for 1,271 yards and 16 TDs, and junior Dante DeLuca has rushed for 613 yards and 10 scores. Junior Matt Occhipinti has a team-leading 49 tackles for a unit that has shut out two of its last three opponents.
Next game: Friday vs. St. Joseph (Metuchen) (5-4)
Public ranking: 1
The Eagles soared to another lopsided win, this time knocking out Manalapan, 49-8, to earn their third trip to a sectional final in four years. Winslow set program records for wins in a season (11) and most points in a season (479). Sophomore quarterback Jalen Parker threw five touchdown passes, tying a single-season program record with his 37th TD. His 58 career touchdowns are tied for the most by a sophomore in state history, matching Lamar Best’s mark from last season.
Next game: Saturday vs. Shawnee (8-3)
Non-public ranking: 1
The top-seeded Crusaders enter the Non-Public A playoffs as three-time defending champions and riding a 23-game winning streak against Garden State opponents. Senior Dominic Campanile has thrown for 1,636 yards and 20 TDs and pilots a group that closed the regular season with a 31-0 win over Seton Hall Prep, the same team it will host in the opening round.
Next game: Saturday vs. Seton Hall Prep (2-7)
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES (alphabetically): Ramapo (7-3), Washington Township (9-2), West Essex (8-2)
