FOOTBALL

NJ football: Games to watch, schedules across New Jersey in Week 6

USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey
Hunterdon Central's Clayton Lancaster runs the ball as  Bridgewater-Raritan defends during the first half of a football game at Bridgewater-Raritan High School on October 5, 2018.

USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey takes a look at some of the most intriguing Week 6 high school football games across the state.

Beneath the synopses of those contests, readers will find an opening week 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 Press, Courier Post, Daily Record, Daily Journal, MyCentralJersey.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 6 schedules in each region.

Brearley (5-0) at New Providence (6-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

Something’s got to give in this one, as the Mid-State Conference’s two remaining undefeated Union Division teams square off in what is, essentially, a winner-take-all battle for the division title. New Providence lost several close games down the stretch last year, none closer than a 29-28 loss to Brearley in week 8. But the Pioneers have certainly kicked it into gear this year.

Union (5-1) at Hunterdon Central (3-2), Friday, 7 p.m.

One of this weekend’s marquee games in the Mid-State Conference features surging Hunterdon Central, winners of three straight, against the giant slayer, against the Farmers, who have already claimed victories over powerhouses in and out of the conference, including Phillipsburg, South Brunswick and Linden. This is a big game for both teams, not only in their quests to solidify their spot in the playoffs and potentially boost their seed with a big power-point haul, but it’ll also show whether Hunterdon Central truly is ready for the big time. 

Friday

J.P. Stevens at Bishop Ahr, 7 p.m.

Woodbridge at J.F. Kennedy, 7 p.m.

North Brunswick at Carteret, 7 p.m.

New Brunswick at Colonia, 7 p.m.

Sayreville at Old Bridge, 7 p.m.

South Plainfield at Linden, 7 p.m.

Dayton at Middlesex, 7 p.m.

Bridgewater-Raritan at Piscataway, 7 p.m.

East Brunswick at Edison, 7 p.m.

Perth Amboy at Monroe, 7 p.m.

St. Joseph at South Brunswick, 7 p.m.

A.L. Johnson at North Plainfield, 7 p.m.

Bound Brook at South Hunterdon, 7 p.m.

Brearley at New Providence, 7 p.m.

Delaware Valley at Voorhees, 7 p.m.

Elizabeth at Franklin, 7 p.m.

Immaculata at Rahway, 7 p.m.

Manville at Belvidere, 7 p.m.

Montgomery at North Hunterdon, 7 p.m.

Ridge at Watchung Hills, 7 p.m.

Roselle at Bernards, 7 p.m.

Summit at Cranford, 7 p.m.

Union at Hunterdon Central, 7 p.m.

Warren Hills at Somerville, 7 p.m.

Westfield at Phillipsburg, 7 p.m.

Saturday

Spotswood at Metuchen, 1 p.m.

Hillside at South River, 1 p.m.

Scotch Plains-Fanwood at Governor Livingston, 1:30 p.m.

Manasquan (5-0) at Mater Dei Prep (6-0), Saturday, 1 p.m.

From a perception standpoint, this is as fascinating a matchup as one can get in the Shore Conference because it is a matchup of the old guard  (Manasquan) against the new guard (Mater Dei Prep). Manasquan, which has won an NJSIAA-record 12 sectional championships and won the Shore Conference Liberty Division championship for its first divisional title since 2010, will utilize its time-tested successful formula of utilizing a power running game out of the I-formation featuring tailback Canyon Birch and fullback Rashid Tuddles. However, it figures to be tough for Manasquan to establish a consistent running game against a defense that has allowed just 29 points in six games and has a pair of Boston College-recruits in defensive lineman Izaiah Henderson and linebacker Shitta Sillah. Mater Dei Prep, which won the Shore Conference Patriot Division champion, has taken it to another level on offense the last two weeks with quarterback and Camden Catholic transfer Rob McCoy having become eligible. The Seraphs have scored 92 points in their last two games. Running back Malik Ingram an receiver Clarence Lewis are big-play threats.

Izaiah Henderson during Mater Dei Prep High School football practice. Middletown,NJ.  
Tuesday, August 21, 2018. 
Noah K. Murray-Correspondent Asbury Park Press

Long Branch (4-1) at Wall (4-1), Friday, 7 p.m.

There has not been perhaps a more deceptive final score in the Shore this year than Red Bank Catholic's 41-14 win over Long Branch last week. The Green Wave went toe-to-toe with the Caseys, who are ranked No. 1 in the APP Top 10 and No. 6 in the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey Top 20, for 2 1/2 quarters. The game was tied 14-14 and then Red Bank Catholic broke the game open with special teams plays and Long Branch wearing down. A big part of the second half of last week's game for Long Branch was that running back Jermaine Corbett was sidelined for most of it with cramps. Quarterback Marc Dennis also missed a series with cramps. However, when Corbett and Dennis are on the field together, Long Branch is a dangerous team. Wall, whose only loss was 12-6 in overtime to Jackson Memorial, has been solid defensively and special teams-wise. Offensively, quarterback Dylan Richey and running backs Casey Larkin and Matt DeSarno form a formidable trio.

Friday

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

Middletown North at Howell, 6:30 p.m.

Manalapan at Brick Memorial, 7 p.m.

Lacey at Brick, 7 p.m.

Keansburg at Manchester, 7 p.m.

Keyport at Barnegat, 7 p.m.

Long Branch at Wall, 7 p.m.

Asbury Park at Holmdel, 7 p.m.

Shore at Matawan, 7 p.m.

Point Boro at Ocean, 7 p.m.

Red Bank at Raritan, 7 p.m.

Shore at Matawan, 7 p.m.

Southern at Central, 7 p.m.

Jackson Memorial at Jackson Liberty, 7 p.m.

Pinelands at Toms River East, 7 p.m.

Donovan Catholic at Point Beach, 7 p.m.

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

Saturday

Marlboro at Colts Neck, 12 p.m.

Neptune at Monmouth, 12 p.m.

Rumson-Fair Haven at Lakewood, 1 p.m.

Manasquan at Mater Dei Prep, 1 p.m.

Boonton (3-2) at Parsippany (2-4), Friday, 7 p.m.

The Old Shoe game is back, and now it's in the SFC American Blue.  Boonton has won the first two by lopsided scores since its rebirth in 2016, and holds a 17-12-2 all-time record.  Launched in 1965 when both teams were in the Jersey Hills Conference, the Old Shoe was inspired because students from both Boonton and Parsippany went to a single high school until the mid-1950s. The trophy itself, a bronzed high-top cleat, was created by Marcello Brothers, a sporting goods store on Main Street in Boonton until 1995. It lived in a trophy case at Parsippany from 1997 – a 62-14 Red Hawks win – until the series was resurrected three years ago. It spent a few weeks in the Boonton High School main office before relocating to the trophy case.

Boonton football players head onto the field before a game last fall.

Friday

Morris Knolls at Roxbury, 7 p.m.

Mount Olive at Montville, 7 p.m.

Morris Hills at Mendham, 7 p.m.

Mountain Lakes at Whippany Park, 7 p.m.

Boonton at Parsippany, 7 p.m.

Chatham at Parsippany Hills, 7 p.m.

Kinnelon at Pequannock, 7 p.m.

Dover at Hackettstown, 7 p.m.

Vernon at Jefferson, 7 p.m.

Butler at Becton, 7 p.m.

Morris Catholic at Marist, 7 p.m.

Hanover Park at Ramsey, 7 p.m.

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

Saturday

Morris Hills at Mendham, 1 p.m.

Lenape Valley at Madison, 1 p.m.

Randolph at Sparta, 1 p.m.

Seton Hall Prep at Delbarton, 1 p.m.

Riverdale Country at Morristown-Beard, 2:30 p.m.

Ramapo (6-0) at Wayne Hills (5-1), Friday 7 p.m.

Two North Jersey powerhouses and top 10 teams in the USA TODAY Network New Jersey poll clash. These two teams have a long rivalry dating back to 1972 including a famous Snow Bowl in 2009 won by Ramapo for the sectional title at then Giants Stadium. The series has been lopsided as of late, with Wayne Hills winning five of the last six meetings. There are some tremendous match-ups here. At quarterback, Wayne Hills senior Tommy Sharkey has been in complete control of a Patriots offensive scoring 34 points a game. Ramapo senior quarterback AJ Wingfield missed last week’s game with an injury, but he directs one of North Jersey’s most explosive units.

St. Joe’s (4-2) at Don Bosco Prep (3-3), Friday, 7 p.m.

The North Jersey non-public gauntlet continues with two teams trying to get back on track after suffering hard defeats last week. The Green Knights saw a 10-point lead slip away and lost to Bergen Catholic 24-20, while Don Bosco watched a 20-7 lead evaporate against St. Peter’s Prep and lost in overtime. This is a monster game for the Non-Public Group 4 seeding committee. The winner would have a claim at the three seed perhaps. These two schools have also become bitter rivals off the field. Don Bosco athletic administration officials charged Green Knights assistant coaches with trying to poach their players last year, a charge the NJSIAA found valid and put the Montvale school on probation.

Thursday

Sussex Tech at Bergen Tech, 6 p.m.

Friday

Pascack Valley at River Dell, 6 p.m.

Hackensack at Kennedy, 6 p.m.

NV/Demarest at Paramus, 6 p.m.

Pascack Hills at Lakeland, 6:30 p.m.

Fair Lawn at West Milford, 6:30 p.m.

Passaic Valley at Indian Hills, 6:30 p.m.

Waldwick at Garfield, 7 p.m.

Manchester at Palisades Park, 7 p.m.

Hawthorne at Secaucus, 7 p.m.

Lyndhurst at Elmwood Park, 7 p.m.

Pompton Lakes at Harrison, 7 p.m.

Cresskill at North Arlington, 7 p.m.

Butler at Becton, 7 p.m.

Weehawken at Park Ridge, 7 p.m.

Wallington at Wood-Ridge, 7 p.m.

Passaic Tech at West Orange, 7 p.m.

Clifton at Ridgewood, 7 p.m.

Dumont at Fort Lee, 7 p.m.

Passaic at Dickinson, 7 p.m.

Mahwah at Westwood, 7 p.m.

Hanover Park at Ramsey, 7 p.m.

Ramapo at Wayne Hills, 7 p.m.

St. Joseph at Don Bosco, 7 p.m.

Paramus Catholic at St. Peter’s Prep, 7 p.m.

NV/Old Tappan at Wayne Valley, 7 p.m.

Memorial at North Bergen, 7:15 p.m.

Saturday

Glen Rock at Lodi, 1 p.m.

St. Mary at Bogota, 1 p.m.

Dwight Morrow at Eastside, 1 p.m.

Pope John at Bergen Catholic, 1 p.m.

Ridgefield Park at Cliffside Park, 1 p.m.

Tenafly at Bergenfield, 2 p.m.

Northern Highlands at Teaneck, 2:30 p.m.

DePaul at Hudson Catholic, 4 p.m.

Holy Spirit (4-1) at St. Augustine (4-2), Friday, 6 p.m. p.m. p.m.

These former Cape Atlantic League non-public rivals should provide a dandy. The Spartans have scored 28 points or more in each contest and their only loss came out of state. Quarterback Ryan Yost tied a 50-year-old school record with five touchdown passes in a rout of Washington Township last week. Prep boasts a strong defense on all three levels. The Hermits showed it in a 28-0 shutout of RV on the road last time out. They’ve also found some reliable offense in frosh tailback Nasir Hill. Last year, they met in Richland last year as well, a 22-17 p.m. Spirit victory. That was a homecoming for transfer quarterback Joshua Zamot, who graduated last spring. This one is another return. Spartans’ first-year defensive coordinator Mark Reardon led the Hermits to their best years with a 42-9 mark from 2012 to 2016 p.m. p.m.

Just a freshman, middle linebacker Tirek Austin-Cave is Camden Catholic's second leading tackler.

Pennsauken (4-2) at No. 7 p.m. Camden (4-1), Friday, 6 p.m. p.m. p.m.

The Panthers thumped the Indians in 2017 p.m. on the road by 32 with scores in each facet of the game. Pennsauken star back Nahzir Russell broke off a 53-yard run to go up early and the Indians had a total of six yards for the remainder. Russell’s the bell cow again this year with 123 yards per game and 11 touchdowns. He ran free against Seneca for 188 and three scores. The High had last weekend off. Its strong run defense will keep eyes on Russell, especially with standout linebacker Tirek Austin-Cave. These two rosters also have plenty of familiarity due to proximity and youth ball.

West Deptford (3-2) at No. 4 St. Joseph (5-1), Saturday, noon

Eagles’ coach Jason Morrell knows his bunch isn’t much on moral victories. Still, he took a lot of positivity out of a 27 p.m.-21 loss at Haddonfield last week. Down 21-0 in the third quarter, West Deptford battled back and threatened to win in the final minutes. The Wildcats were sluggish early and got it together in a 21-7 p.m. home win over Vineland. Jada Byers came through in the clutch with each of the scores, a big punt return and a late interception. These are two of the longtime Wing-T powers, so the affair could move quickly with few attempts through the air.

Friday

Middle Twp. at Mainland, 6 p.m. p.m.

Clearview at Cherry Hill West, 6 p.m. p.m.

Clayton at Buena, 6 p.m. p.m.

Burlington Twp. at Allentown, 6 p.m. p.m.

Penns Grove at Cumberland, 6 p.m. p.m.

Pennsauken at Camden, 6 p.m. p.m.

Holy Spirit at St. Augustine, 6 p.m. p.m.

Vineland at Rancocas Valley, 7 p.m.

Millville at Bridgeton, 7 p.m.

Camden Catholic at Lenape, 7 p.m.

Williamstown at Washington Twp., 7 p.m.

Winslow Twp. at Hammonton, 7 p.m.

Cherry Hill East at Egg Harbor Twp., 7 p.m.

Trenton Central at Eastern, 7 p.m.

Ocean City at Triton, 7 p.m.

Ewing at Bishop Eustace, 7 p.m.

Haddon Heights at Delran, 7 p.m.

Willingboro at Sterling, 7 p.m.

Palmyra at Maple Shade, 7 p.m.

Bordentown at Robbinsville, 7 p.m.

Gloucester Catholic at Woodstown, 7 p.m.

New Egypt at Gloucester, 7 p.m.

Holy Cross at Cinnaminson, 7 p.m.

Absegami at Moorestown, 7 p.m.

Union City at Shawnee, 7 p.m.

Deptford at Florence, 7 p.m.

Lower Cape May at Wildwood, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday

Delsea at Woodrow Wilson, 10 a.m.

Lindenwold at Overbrook, 10 a.m.

Collingswood at Woodbury, 10:30 a.m.

Salem at Audubon, 11 a.m.

Seneca at Pemberton, 11 a.m.

Hightstown at Northern Burlington, noon

West Deptford at St. Joseph, noon

Gateway at Glassboro, 1 p.m.

Oakcrest at Cedar Creek, 1 p.m.

Timber Creek at New Rochelle (N.Y.), 2 p.m.

Pennsville at Burlington City, 2 p.m.