Breaking down the New Jersey Central Group football playoff brackets

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More New Jersey playoff breakdowns: North 1, North 2, South, Non-Public.

CENTRAL GROUP 4
First-round games: 8-Rancocas Valley (Mt. Holly) at 1-Sayreville (Parlin), Friday, 7 p.m.
5-Howell (Farmingdale) at 4-Manalapan (Englishtown), Friday, 7 p.m.
6-Pennsauken at 3-North Brunswick, Friday, 7 p.m.
7-East Brunswick at 2-Brick Township Memorial, Friday, 7 p.m.
Best first-round matchup: 5-Howell at 4-Manalapan. How much can change in three weeks? Manalapan stormed past Howell, 54-27, on Oct. 22, but the Rebels are coming off a stirring 14-7 victory last Saturday over second-seeded Brick Memorial.
Dark horse: Behind the pitch-and-catch combination of Ryan Davies and Mike Clark, Howell has already recorded four games of 40-plus points.
Player to watch: Michael BimonteHighland Park (Highland Park, N.J.)Highland Park (Highland Park, N.J.)Highland Park (Highland Park, N.J.), Manalapan.
Championship game: 2-Brick Memorial vs. 1-Sayreville
Winner: 1-Sayreville

CENTRAL GROUP 3
First-round games: 8-Steinert (Hamilton) at 1-Middletown South, Friday, 7 p.m.
5-Hamilton at 4-West Windsor-Plainsboro North (Plainsboro), Saturday, 1 p.m.
6-Neptune at 3-Freehold Boro, Saturday, 1 p.m.
7-Wall Township at 2-Nottingham (Hamilton), Saturday, 1 p.m.
Best first-round matchup: 6-Neptune at 3-Freehold Boro. A regular-season rematch that Freehold won, 24-21, on Oct. 2.
Dark horse: Wall enters the playoffs with a six-game winning streak, including an impressive 44-6 triumph over Colonia last Friday to earn its way into this bracket.
Player to watch: Charles Davis, Neptune.
Championship game: 7-Wall vs. 1-Middletown South
Winner: 7-Wall

CENTRAL GROUP 2
First-round games: 8-Monmouth Regional (Tinton Falls) at 1-Matawan Regional (Aberdeen), Saturday, 7 p.m.
5-Roselle Park at 4-Manasquan, Saturday, 1 p.m.
6-Ewing (Trenton) at 3-Rumson-Fair Haven, Friday, 7 p.m.
7-Carteret at 2-North Plainfield, Friday, 7 p.m.
Best first-round matchup: 7-Carteret at 2-North Plainfield. Carteret sophomore Jerod Johnson has already surpassed the millennium mark in running, which gives the Ramblers a chance to control the clock against a North Plainfield squad averaging 33.9 points per game.
Dark horse: Darryl Griffin's running and passing make him the best player in Ewing's half of the draw, and the Blue Devils are averaging 44.0 points in their last three games.
Player to watch: Jared Allison, Manasquan.
Championship game: 2-North Plainfield vs. 4-Manasquan
Winner: 2-North Plainfield



CENTRAL GROUP 1
First-round games: 8-Highland Park at 1-Shore Regional (West Long Branch), Friday, 7 p.m.
5-Keyport at 4-Palmyra, Friday, 7 p.m.
6-South River at 3-Dunellen, Saturday, 1 p.m.
7-Florence Township Memorial at 2-New Egypt, Friday, 7 p.m.
Best first-round matchup: 7-Florence at 2-New Egypt. Florence won its last three, including a 21-0 blanking of New Egypt last Friday. Will history repeat itself?
Dark horse: Florence (see above).
Player to watch: Jamel Smith, New Egypt.
Championship game: (1) Shore Regional vs. (3) Dunellen
Winner: (3) Dunellen