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NJ football: Games to watch, schedules across New Jersey in Week 3

USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey
Westfield football

USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey takes a look at some of the most intriguing Week 3 high school football games across the state.

Beneath the synopses of those contests, readers will find a Week 3 schedule of games from Central Jersey, the Jersey Shore, Morris County, North Jersey and South Jersey.

USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey is comprised of reporters from the Asbury Park PressCourier PostDaily RecordDaily JournalMyCentralJersey.com, and NorthJersey.com.

Visit the websites of those media outlets for complete coverage of New Jersey high school football all season long.

Following is a look at the top games and Week 3 schedules in each region.

Old Bridge (1-1) at Westfield (2-1), Saturday, 1 p.m.

A week after Linden snapped three-time defending sectional champion Westfield’s winning streak at 37 games, the Blue Devils bounced back last weekend with a 27-13 win over Watchung Hills, a team that former New York Giant Rich Seubert coaches. Similarly, Old Bridge rallied from a season-opening defeat to defending Central Group V champion South Brunswick with a 21-14 victory over Perth Amboy on Tino Sacasa’s touchdown run in the closing minutes (a fumble recovery deep inside Perth Amboy territory set up the score). Old Bridge, which reached the sectional semifinals a year ago, graduated 18 starters. As a result, its offense expected to take some time to click. After being limited to 59 yards in the opener, the Knights amassed 256 yards from scrimmage last weekend. Graduation also decimated Westfield, which opened the year ranked in USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey’s Top 20 rankings.

Old Bridge at South Brunswick football. September 7, 2018

FRIDAY

South Brunswick at Perth Amboy, 7 p.m.

Bishop Ahr at J.F. Kennedy, 7 p.m.

Ridge at East Brunswick 7 p.m.

New Brunswick at Sayreville, 7 p.m.

South Plainfield at Colonia, 7 p.m.

J.P. Stevens at Piscataway, 7 p.m.

Edison at Woodbridge, 7 p.m.

North Brunswick at Monroe, 7 p.m.

Middlesex at North Arlington, 7 p.m.

A.L. Johnson at Roselle, 7 p.m.

Bound Brook at Belvidere, 7 p.m.

Brearley at Manville, 7 p.m.

Elizabeth at Watchung Hills, 7 p.m.

Franklin at Bridgewater-Raritan, 7 p.m.

Hillside at Delaware Valley, 7 p.m.

Hunterdon Central at Hillsborough, 7 p.m.

Montgomery at Warren Hills, 7 p.m.

New Providence at Dayton, 7 p.m.

North Plainfield at Governor Livingston, 7 p.m.

Plainfield at Linden, 7 p.m.

Rahway at Cranford, 7 p.m.

Union at Phillipsburg, 7 p.m.

Voorhees at Somerville, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY

Old Bridge at Westfield, 1 p.m.

Dunellen at Metuchen, 1 p.m.

Spotswood at South River, 1 p.m.

Carteret at St. Joseph, 1 p.m.

Bernards at Madison, 1 p.m.

Immaculata at Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 1 p.m.

North Hunterdon at Summit, 1 p.m.

Red Bank Catholic (3-0) at Red Bank Regional (2-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

Red Bank, which went 2-8 last season, with wins in its final two games, including a win over eventual NJSIAA Central Group IV champion Long Branch in its season-finale, is off to its best start since 2015. The Bucs started 11-0 that season and advanced to the NJSIAA  Central Group III championship game. Included in that outstanding season for the Bucs was a come-from-behind 24-21 home win over Red Bank Catholic. The Bucs do have big-play potential in running back Mackai Mickens and wide receiver Nigel Mitchell, who scored three TDs, including the game-winning TD last week with 10 seconds left in a 28-26 win over Holmdel. However a game against Red Bank Catholic, ranked No. 6 in the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey Top 20, is a step up in class from what Red Bank has faced in its first two games. Red Bank Catholic, which has outscored its first three opponents 126-28, has one of the Shore’s best quarterbacks in senior and Boston College recruit Steve Lubischer, an outstanding tight end in junior and Notre Dame-recruit Kevin Bauman and talented receivers in MJ. Wright and Jaden Key.

Rumson-Fair Haven (2-0) at Brick Memorial (1-2), Friday, 7 p.m.

Rumson-Fair Haven, which entered the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey Top 20 this week at No. 17, has been on fire the first two weeks. The Bulldogs, who have been in  NJSAA sectional championship game five consecutive seasons and won four straight sectional titles from 2013-2016, have been overpowering on offense. They have scored 85 points in those games with senior Alex Maldjian having rushed for nine TDs. Rumson-Fair Haven also has one of the Shore’s best defenses, led by linebacker Keegan Woods and defensive lineman Henry Sullivan, and has allowed just 13 points in its first two games. The first string defense has not allowed a point. Brick Memorial will try to control the game with its triple option running attack out of the flexbone alignment. The Mustangs, who played without senior quarterback Tyler Sindel last week because of a facial laceration, had a chance to beat 2-0 Freehold last week in 20-17 defeat with Anthony Albanese capably filling in at quarterback, before a late interception.

FRIDAY

Point Beach at Asbury Park, 6 p.m.

Manalapan at Freehold Township, 6:30 p.m.

Rumson-Fair Haven at Brick Memorial, 7 p.m.

Freehold at Brick, 7 p.m..

Howell at Middletown South, 7 p.m.

Long Branch at Ocean, 7 p.m.

Jackson Liberty at Matawan, 7 p.m.

St. John Vianney at Middletown North, 7 p.m.

Red Bank Catholic at Red Bank, 7 p.m.

Lacey at Wall, 7 p.m.

Pinelands at Barnegat, 7 p.m.

Toms River East at Toms River South, 7 p.m.

Manchester at Keyport, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY

Neptune at Colts Neck, noon

Point Boro at Monmouth, noon

Central at Toms River North, noon

Holmdel at Keansburg. 1 p.m.

Shore at Mater Dei Prep, 1 p.m.

Jackson Memorial at Lakewood, 1 p.m.

Marlboro at Southern, 1 p.m.

Holmdel at Keansburg, 1 p.m.

Raritan at Manasquan, 1 p.m.

Randolph (3-0) at West Morris (1-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Randolph will break in the new artificial turf, ending a West Morris tradition. However, the game will still start at 7:30 p.m. – later than almost everywhere else – and Wolfpack head coach Kevin Hennelly still runs the Wing-T and 50 defense "a modified version of what we did in 1960."  West Morris gave up only 23 points in its first two games, has won more than 70 percent of its home games over the past five years. New Randolph head coach Will Nahan, a former linebacker and defensive end at Lawrence Township and Kean University, might not be as familiar with this old-school style. But with the Rams at 3-0 and outscoring opponents 107-41, he's doing something right.

West Morris Central head football coach Kevin Hennelly , on the sideline for 21 seasons vs. Morristown during their Friday night football matchup. September 22, 2017, Chester, NJ

FRIDAY

Morris Knolls at Mount Olive, 7 p.m.

Jefferson at Montville, 7 p.m.

Mountain Lakes at Pequannock, 7 p.m.

Parsippany Hills at Hanover Park, 7 p.m.

Morris Hills at Roxbury, 7 p.m.

Boonton at Whippany Park, 7 p.m.

Wallkill Valley at Parsippany, 7 p.m.

Delbarton at DePaul, 7 p.m.

Randolph at West Morris, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

Pingry at Morristown-Beard, noon

Pascack Hills at Kinnelon, noon

Morristown at Chatham, 1 p.m.

Mendham at Sparta, 1 p.m.

Sussex Tech at Morris Catholic, 1 p.m.

Butler at Saddle Brook, 1 p.m.

Bernards at Madison, 1 p.m.

 

Ramapo (3-0) at Northern Valley/Old Tappan (2-1), Friday, 6 p.m.

Two of North Jersey’s perennial public school powers meet in what has become a big showdown each year. The last four meetings have been decided by three, 10, four and eight points. Ramapo has a high-powered offense directed by senior quarterback AJ Wingfield. The Green Raiders have scored 98 points in their first three victories. Northern Valley/Old Tappan saw its 14-game win streak come to an end last week against Wayne Hills. The Golden Knights rely on the versatility of wide receiver Johnny Lohrer.

Don Bosco (2-1) at Bergen Catholic (2-1), Saturday 1 p.m.

In North Jersey, you identify your allegiance by which team you say first. Either Bosco/Bergen or Bergen/Bosco. Whatever the case, this is one of New Jersey’s top rivalries dating back to 1958. Don Bosco owns the series edge 38-29-2, and has won three of the last four meetings. How close is this series though? In the 69 games, the teams are separated by just 81 points. The Crusaders enter as prohibitive favorites and should be refocused after losing to St. Peter’s Prep last week. Don Bosco’s strength is its running game, led by junior All-World Jalen Berger and Kyle Monangai, which has given the Ironmen a boost. Top to bottom, however, the talent edge belongs to the Crusaders.

FRIDAY

Ramapo at Northern Valley/Old Tappan, 6 p.m.

Pascack Valley at Northern Valley/Demarest, 6 p.m.

Teaneck at Kennedy, 6 p.m.

West Milford at Lakeland, 6:30 p.m.

Bergenfield at Indian Hills, 6:30 p.m.

River Dell at Newburgh Free Academy (NY), 6:30 p.m.

Middlesex at North Arlington, 7 p.m.

Lodi at Becton, 7 p.m.

Garfield at Palisades Park, 7 p.m.

Hawthorne at New Milford, 7 p.m.

Elmwood Park at Harrison, 7 p.m.

Cresskill at Hasbrouck Heights, 7 p.m.

Weehawken at Emerson, 7 p.m.

North Bergen at Dickinson, 7 p.m.

Tenafly at Northern Highlands, 7 p.m.

Dwight Morrow at Ridgefield Park, 7 p.m.

Passaic Valley at Wayne Valley, 7 p.m.

Delbarton at DePaul, 7 p.m.

Passaic Tech at Ridgewood, 7 p.m.

Clifton at Hackensack, 7 p.m.

Westwood at Fort Lee, 7 p.m.

Bergen Tech at Dumont, 7 p.m.

Mahwah at Ramsey, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY

Pascack Hills at Kinnelon, noon

Manchester at Waldwick, noon

Horace Mann (N.Y.) at Dwight-Englewood, 1 p.m.

Lyndhurst at Pompton Lakes, 1 p.m.

Butler at Saddle Brook, 1 p.m.

Wallington at St. Mary, 1 p.m.

Wood-Ridge at Bogota, 1 p.m.

Paramus Catholic at Seton Hall Prep, 1 p.m.

Paramus at Cliffside Park, 1 p.m.

Pope John at St. Joseph, 1 p.m.

Don Bosco at Bergen Catholic, 1 p.m.

Wayne Hills at Fair Lawn, 1 p.m.

Glen Rock at Rutherford, 1 p.m.

Camden (2-1) at Delsea (1-1), Friday, 7 p.m.

The Panthers are on a two-game streak after they opened the year with a loss to Maryland powerhouse Henry Wise. A 63-3 dispatch of Paul VI came last week and a 20-2 success against Cedar Creek the weekend prior. An excellent defense is led by the like of Rutgers commit and defensive back Donald Williams, linebacker Tirek Austin-Cave and lineman Tidiane Bamba. Camden needs a signature win and to this point, so do the Crusaders. They trailed 20-0 at halftime in a 27-12 setback to West Deptford. It’s not unlike Delsea to start slowly – coach Sal Marchese’s club went 1-3 out of the gates in each of the past two campaigns and reached the South Jersey Group 3 final both times.

Camden running back Donald Williams watches from the bench against Cedar Creek at Cedar Creek High School last season.

Winslow Township (2-1) at Highland (3-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

This one might slide under some folks’ radars. It shouldn’t. Prince-Dru Bey is one of the best quarterbacks in South Jersey. He proved it again versus Cherokee. Bey tossed five touchdowns in the 20-point victory. In Blackwood, he’ll be a part of a contrast in styles with another star on the opposite sideline. Tailback Johnny Martin’s been excellent for the Tartans, who can grind it out. Martin scored thrice and ran for 184 yards in a 30-0 slam of Oakcrest. He’s got 506 yards on the year, almost 170 per contest. The winner on Friday will get an important leg up in the South Jersey Group 4 playoff picture.

Winslow Township’s Prince-Dru Bey runs the ball past Camden’s Christopher Levy during a 2017 football game played at Winslow Township High School.

Sterling (2-1) at West Deptford (2-1), Friday, 7 p.m.

After disappointment with a 41-7 loss to Haddonfield, coach Dan Harris’ Sterling Knights snapped back with a 38-14 blowout of Haddon Heights. This kicks off a four-game stretch that will show what Sterling’s got. Next is Paulsboro on the road, followed by home tests against Deptford and Willingboro. Last year’s matchup with the Eagles provided a back-and-forth 34-33 thriller. West Deptford continued its long streak of success against the Somerdale school with the win. TJ Hoyt ran for 95 yards and a score, Tyshawn Bookman added 85 and a trip to pay dirt and Ken Lim chipped in 47 with a score of his own in that enormous victory over Delsea.

FRIDAY

Timber Creek at Vineland, 6 p.m.

Kingsway at Millville, 6 p.m.

Shawnee at St. Augustine, 6 p.m.

St. Joseph at Atlantic City, 6 p.m.

Bridgeton at Mainland, 6 p.m.

Triton at Cumberland, 6 p.m. p.m.

Egg Harbor Twp. at Oakcrest, 6 p.m.

Buena at Lower Cape May, 6 p.m.

Wildwood at Riverside, 6 p.m.

Williamstown at Lenape, 7 p.m.

Rancocas Valley at Cherokee, 7 p.m.

Hammonton at Holy Spirit, 7 p.m.

Willingboro at Camden Catholic, 7 p.m.

Washington Twp. at Eastern, 7 p.m.

Clearview at Paul VI, 7 p.m.

Ocean City at Absegami, 7 p.m.

New Egypt at Palmyra, 7 p.m.

Pemberton at Delran, 7 p.m.

Burlington Twp. at Moorestown, 7 p.m.

Cherry Hill West at Seneca, 7 p.m.

Collingswood at Deptford, 7 p.m.

Sterling at West Deptford, 7 p.m.

Camden at Delsea, 7 p.m.

Winslow at Highland, 7 p.m.

Schalick at Glassboro, 7 p.m.

Gloucester Catholic at Middle Twp., 7 p.m.

Pleasantville at Gloucester, 7 p.m.

Bordentown at Burlington City, 7 p.m.

Robbinsville at Clayton, 7 p.m.

Haddon Twp. at Maple Shade, 7 p.m.

Haddonfield at Overbrook, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY

Audubon at Haddon Heights, 11 a.m.

Lindenwold at Paulsboro, 11 a.m.

Woodrow Wilson at Cedar Creek, 1 p.m.

Pennsauken at Cherry Hill East, 11 a.m.

Florence at Holy Cross, noon