Final Public Groups 3-4-5 Poll

The final Groups 3-4-5 poll, complete with capsule summaries. Certain statistics are courtesy of Gridiron New Jersey, nj.com, and Maxpreps.

1 - Timber Creek (12-0) - South Jersey Group 4 champions. Scored 564 points and allowed 134, including three shutouts, for a 47.0-11.16 difference. Defending champion that has sectional titles in 2016, 2015, 2012, and 2011, plus finals appearances in 2014, 2013, and 2009. Record of 78-16 since 2009. Quality Wins: 11-1 Lenape; 8-3 Shawnee; 7-3 Absegami; 7-5 Delsea; 6-4 Cherokee; 6-4 Clearview. Featured the passing of junior QB Devin Leary, who threw for 3,688 yards, plus 48 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.

2 - Westfield (12-0) - North Jersey Section 2 Group 5 champions. They scored 378 points and allowed 119, including two shutouts, for a 31.5-9.92 difference. Also won sectional title last year. Quality Wins: 8-2 Ridge; 6-5 Union (twice); Catholic, 6-5 Immaculata; 11-1 Bridgewater-Raritan. Good, efficient team and their front four was as good as any public school’s in the state, led by end Owen Kessler, who finished with 13 sacks and 17 tackles for loss.

3 - Bridgewater-Raritan (11-1) - Runner-up in North Jersey Section 2 Group 5. They scored 347 and allowed 123, including three shutouts, for a 28.92-10.25 difference. Quality Wins: 6-4 Hunterdon Central; 6-4 Hillsborough; 5-5 Phillipsburg; 6-4 North Hunterdon; 6-5 Union (twice). Loss: 12-0, Group 4 champion Westfield. Their game with Westfield was relatively even and I didn’t think they should be penalized.

4 - Wayne Hills (11-1) - North Jersey Section 1, Group 4 champions and their only loss was to 14-0 Pahokee of Florida, early in the year. They scored 410 points and allowed 219 for a 34.16-18.25 difference. Quality Wins: 7-4 Ramapo; 5-5 Roxbury (twice); 9-3 Old Tappan; 5-4 Passaic Valley; 9-3 Wayne Valley (twice); 8-2 Irvington; 9-2 West Morris. Loss: 14-0, Class 1A state champion Pahokee (Fl.). Showed very good comeback ability against Old Tappan, the first Roxbury game, and both games with Wayne Valley.

5 - Piscataway (10-2) - Central Jersey Group 5 champions. They scored 412 points and allowed 157 for a 34.33-13.08 difference. Quality Wins: 8-3 South Brunswick; 10-2, Group 4 champion Sayreville; 6-4-1 Old Bridge; 6-4 Hunterdon Central; 11-1 Manalapan. Losses: 11-1 Manalapan; 6-4-1 Old Bridge. Stumbled in their two losses, but beat both of them in the playoffs.

6 - Ridgewood (12-0) - North Jersey Section 1, Group 5 champions. They scored 400 points and allowed 93, including three shutouts, for a 36.36-7.75 average (not including forfeit win). Quality Wins: 7-3 Hackensack; 6-4 Clifton; 9-3 Old Tappan; 9-3 Passaic Tech (twice); 6-4 West Orange; 7-4 Montclair. Have better record than #5 Piscataway, but I think the Piscataway lines and their speed would have been too much for Ridgewood.

7 - Lenape (11-1) - Runner-up in South Jersey Group 4. They scored 302 points and allowed 108, including two shutouts, for a 25.17-9.0 difference. Quality Wins: 9-2 Burlington Twp.; 8-3 Rancocas Valley; 6-4 Cherokee; 8-3 Shawnee; 6-4 Woodrow Wilson; 9-2 Highland Regional. Loss: 12-0, Group 3 champion Timber Creek.

8 - Manalapan (11-1) - Runner-up in Central Jersey Group 5. They scored 434 points and allowed 139, including five shutouts, for a 36.17-11.58 difference. Quality Wins: 6-4-1 Old Bridge; 6-5 Freehold Boro; 6-5 Howell; 10-2, Group 5 champion Piscataway; 7-3 Freehold Township; 8-3 South Brunswick. Loss: 10-2 Group 5 champion Piscataway.

9 - Sayreville (10-2) - North Jersey Section 1, Group 4 champions. They scored 412 points and allowed 191 for a 34.33-16.92 difference. Quality Wins: 6-4-1 Old Bridge; 5-5 Phillipsburg; 7-4 Middletown South; 9-3 Middletown North. Losses: 10-2, Group 5 champions Piscataway; 8-3 South Brunswick.

10 - Millville (10-2) - South Jersey Group 5 champions. They scored 386 and allowed 177, including four shutouts, for a 32.16-14.75 difference. Quality Wins: 5-5 Hammonton; 6-4 Cherokee; 8-3 Rancocas Valley; 11-1 Toms River North. Losses: Catholic, 9-1 St. Augustine; 8-2 Vineland.

11 - Toms River North (11-1) - Runner-up in South Jersey Group 5. They scored 532 points and allowed 255 for a 44.33-21.75 difference. Quality Wins: 8-4 Brick; 6-5 Howell (twice); 6-5 Jackson; 7-4 Middletown South; 7-2 Central Regional. Loss: 10-2, Group 5 champion Millville. Losing in the final and squeaking out a first round game over a 4-6 Atlantic City team caused their drop from #1. I gave them the benefit of the doubt after the first round, but those two games combined caused their drop.

12 - Allentown (10-2) - Central Jersey Group 4 champions. They scored 461 points and allowed 162 for a 38.41-13.5 difference. Quality Wins: 5-5 Pemberton; 5-5 Steinert; 5-5 Moorestown; 6-5 Jackson; 8-4 Brick. Losses: Catholic 8-3 St. Joe’s (Hammonton); 8-3 Shawnee.

13 - River Dell (10-2) - North Jersey Section 1, Group 3 champions. They scored 438 points and allowed 199 for a 36.5-16.58 difference. Quality Wins: 9-3 Westwood; 6-4 Bergenfield; 5-5 Ridgefield Park; 5-5 Northern Highlands; 5-5 Paramus (twice); 7-4 Ramapo; 9-3 Old Tappan. Losses: 9-3 Wayne Valley; 7-4 Ramapo.

14 - Wall (10-2) - South Jersey group 3 champions. They scored 342 points and allowed 157 for a 28.5-13.08 difference. Quality Wins: 7-2 Central Regional; 6-4 Raritan; Catholic 5-5 Red Bank Catholic; 6-5 Hamilton; 10-2, Group 2 champion Manasquan; 7-5 Delsea. Losses; 9-3 Middletown North; 7-4 Middletown South.

15 - Wayne Valley (9-3) - Runner-up in North Jersey Section 1, Group 4. They scored 370 points and allowed 287 for a 30.83-23.92 difference. Quality Wins: 10-2, Group 3 champion River Dell; 5-5 Lakeland; 5-4 Passaic Valley; 6-4 Morris Knolls (twice); 5-5 Northern Highlands; 7-4 Randolph. Losses: 11-1, Group 4 champion Wayne Hills (twice); 8-2 Irvington.

16 - Rumson-Fair Haven (9-3) - Central Jersey Group 3 champions. They scored 312 points and allowed 117, including four shutouts, for a 26.0-9.75 difference. Quality Wins: 6-4 Raritan; 6-4 Carteret; 7-3 Cranford; 10-1 Somerville; 8-4 Somerville. Losses: 7-4 Middletown South; Catholic 10-1 St. John Vianney; 7-4 Shore Regional.

17 - South Brunswick (8-3) - Semi-finalist in Central Jersey Group 5. They scored 289 points and allowed 172, including two shutouts, for a 24.08-14.33 difference. Quality Wins: 1-2, Group 4 champion Sayreville; 7-3 Freehold Township. Losses: 10-2, Group 5 champion Piscataway; 11-1 Manalapan; 6-4-1 Old Bridge.

18 - Passaic Tech (9-3) - Runner-up in North Jersey Section 1, Group 5. They scored 357 points and allowed 133, including four shutouts, for a 29.75-11.08 difference. Quality Wins: 9-2 Union City (twice); 6-4 Clifton; 7-3 Hackensack (twice). Losses: 12-0, Group 5 champions Ridgewood (twice); 7-4 Montclair.

19 - Union City (9-2) - Semi-finalist in North Jersey Section 1, Group 5. They scored 404 points and allowed 83, including six shutouts, for a 33.67-6.92 difference. Quality Wins: 7-4 Montclair; 6-4 West Orange; 6-4 Clifton. Losses: 9-3 Passaic Tech (twice).

20 - Old Tappan (9-3) - Runner-up in North Jersey Section 1, Group 3. They scored 353 and allowed 201, including two shutouts, for a 29.42-16.75 difference. Quality Wins: 7-3 Fair Lawn; 7-4 Ramapo; 7-3 Jefferson; 9-1 Sparta. Losses: 11-1, Group 4 champion Wayne Hills; 12-0 Group 5 champion Ridgewood.

21 - Sparta (9-1) - Semi-finalist in North Jersey Section 1, Group 3. They scored 439 and allowed 155, including two shutouts, for a 43.9-15.5 difference (not including forfeit win). Quality Wins: 7-4 Randolph; 9-3 Group 3 champ Morris Hills; 5-5 Roxbury; 9-2 West Morris; 7-3 Jefferson; 6-4 High Point; 5-5 Demarest. Loss: 9-3 Old Tappan.

22 - Middletown North (9-3) - Runner-up in North Jersey Section 2, Group 4. They scored 333 points and allowed 218 for a 27.75-18.16 difference. Quality Wins: 6-5 Howell; 10-2, Group 3 champion Wall; 8-3 Summit; 7-4 Middletown South. Losses: 10-2 Group 4 champions Sayreville; 10-2 Group 2 champions Manasquan; Catholic 5-5 Red Bank Catholic.

23 - Burlington Township (9-2) - Semi-finalist in South Jersey Group 3. They scored 319 points and allowed 99, including four shutouts, for a 29.0-11.0 difference. Quality Wins: 7-4 Ewing; 5-5 Pemberton (twice); 8-3 Rancocas Valley. Losses: 11-1 Lenape; 7-5 Delsea.

24 - Somerville (10-1) - Semi-finalist in Central Jersey Group 3. They scored 514 points and allowed 178 for a 46.73-16.22 difference. Quality Wins: 7-3 Cranford; 7-3 Rahway (twice); 8-3 Summit. Loss: 9-3 Rumson-Fair Haven.

25 - Morris Hills (9-3) - North Jersey Section 2 Group 3 champion. They scored 341 and allowed 232 for a 28..41-19.33 difference. Quality Wins: 6-4 High Point; 6-5 Orange; 7-5 Parsippany Hills. Losses: 9-1 Sparta; 7-3 Jefferson; 7-4 West Essex.

Entering: Morris Hills, Somerville

Exiting: Brick, Rancocas Valley

Knocking On The Door: Highland Regional (9-2), West Morris (9-2), Cherry Hill West (8-2), Irvington (8-2), Ridge (8-2), Vineland (8-2), Rancocas Valley (8-3), Shawnee (8-3), Summit (8-3), Brick (8-4), South Plainfield (8-4), Central Regional (7-2), Bloomfield (7-3), Cranford (7-3), Fair Lawn (7-3), Freehold Township (7-3), Jefferson (7-3), Lakewood (7-3), Lawrence (7-3), Nottingham (7-3), Rahway (7-3), Ewing (7-4), Middletown South (7-4), Ramapo (7-4), Randolph (7-4), Delsea (7-5),