Click here to view MaxPreps' New Jersey football playoff brackets. More New Jersey playoff breakdowns:
North 1,
North 2,
South,
Central.
NON-PUBLIC GROUP 4 First-round games: 8-
Paramus Catholic at 1-
Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey), Friday, 7 p.m.
5-
St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City) at 4-
Notre Dame (Lawrenceville), Friday, 7 p.m.
6-
Red Bank Catholic at 3-
Bergen Catholic (Oradell), Saturday, 1 p.m.
7-
Paul VI (Haddonfield) vs. 2-
Seton Hall Prep (West Orange) at Millburn, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Best first-round matchup: 7-Paul VI vs. 2-Seton Hall Prep appears to be the closest matchup of all. Paul VI did a nice job keeping do-everything Pittsburgh recruit Bill Belton in check while beating Winslow Township earlier this season, but Seton Hall Prep has a terrific offensive line in front of record-setting running back
Kevin Monangai.
Dark horse: If
Savon Huggins gets going, St. Peter's Prep is a threat to knock off Don Bosco Prep in the semifinals and end the Ironmen's reign of four straight group titles. St. Peter's Prep is the last team to win this section, when it defeated DBP in 2005.
Players to watch: Huggins, Seton Hall Prep;
Jack Tabb, Red Bank Catholic;
Tanner McEvoy, Bergen Catholic;
Gary Nova,
Leonte Carroo and
Paul Canevari, Don Bosco Prep; Monangai, Seton Hall Prep;
Marquise Wright, Paramus Catholic.
Championship game: 1-Don Bosco Prep vs. 3-Bergen Catholic
Winner: 1-Don Bosco Prep
NON-PUBLIC GROUP 3 First-round game: 8-
Camden Catholic (Cherry Hill) at 1-
St. Joseph Regional (Montvale), Saturday, 1 p.m.
5-
Immaculata (Somerville) at 4-
DePaul (Wayne), Friday, 7 p.m.
6-
Delbarton (Morristown) at 3-
Pope John XXIII (Sparta), Saturday, 1 p.m.
7-
Bishop Ahr (Edison) at 2-
Holy Spirit (Absecon), Friday, 7 p.m.
Best first-round matchup: 5-Immaculata at 4-DePaul. The best matchup in what we consider the state's most competitive section, this will be a battle of two terrific runners in DePaul's
Wymere Robinson and Immaculata's
Ishmil Mack.
Dark horse: DePaul might be the hottest team in this bracket, reeling off seven straight impressive victories after opening the season with losses to St. Joseph Regional and Seton Hall Prep.
Players to watch: Anthony Townsend, Camden Catholic;
Christopher Andrews, St. Joseph; Mack, Immaculata; Robinson and
Daniel Kowal, DePaul;
Nigel Jones and
Anthony Sarao, Holy Spirit.
Championship game: 1-St. Joseph vs. 2-Holy Spirit
Winner: 2-Holy Spirit
NON-PUBLIC GROUPS 1 & 2 First-round matchup: 5-
Montclair Kimberley Academy at 4-
St. Mary (Rutherford), Saturday, 1 p.m.
(1-
St. Anthony (Jersey City), 2-
Holy Cross (Delran), 3-
St. Joseph (Hammonton) received byes).
Best semifinal matchup: Figuring that the seeds will hold true to form, next week's Holy Cross-St. Joseph battle is for non-public, small-school bragging rights in South Jersey. Holy Cross has scored at least 35 points seven times, including five efforts of 40 or more. Led by
Max Valles, the St. Joseph defense has squandered just 52 points.
Dark horse: St. Mary is a perennial state-title contender despite its 5-3 record, so it would be foolish to discount the Gaels and their potent ground game, led by
Quadree Hubbard.
Player to watch: Sylvester Wright, St. Anthony.
Championship game: 1-St. Anthony vs. 3-St. Joseph
Winner: 3-St. Joseph
