NJ Varsity Top 25: Groups 3, 4, and 5

This is the poll I would have released last week, but my power went out last Monday night during Hurricane Sandy as I was most of the way through. One week later, I finally regained power. I know some games have been played, but I went and did it the way it would have looked last week. When this upcoming week's games have been finished, I will rank them accordingly next week and include this past weekend's games.

Overall, the Top 25 is stable, with only Hammonton dropping out.

1 - Don Bosco (6-1). Last week: (1). The Ironmen beat Bergen Catholic, 20-17, and have scored 235 and allowed 86 this year. They have won the last six state titles and eight of the last ten. This week: at 5-2 Hackensack.

2 - Elizabeth (8-0). Last week: (2). The Minutemen beat Phillipsburg, 54-26. The opposition has been outscored, 336-76. This week: at 0-7 Plainfield.

3 - Paramus Catholic (6-1). Last week: (3). The Paladins beat Friendship Academy (Washington DC), 37-20. Opponents have been outscored, 256-139. This week: 4-4 Northern Highlands at home.

4 - St. Joe's, Montvale (5-2). Last week: (4). The Green Knights beat DePaul, 48-27, beating their opponents, 265-137. They have won 13 state championships in the last 17 years. This week: at 7-1 Ramapo.

5 - St. Peter's Prep (7-1). Last week: (6). The Marauders beat North Bergen, 50-0, scoring 327 points on the field this year and allowing 34. They have been in state finals four times since 2005, winning one. This week: at 5-4 Dover (Delaware).

6 - Williamstown (7-0). Last week: (7). The Braves had a bye week and have outscored the opposition, 264-79. This week: at 5-2 Kingsway.

7 - Sayreville (8-0). Last week: (8). The Bombers blasted South Brunswick, 28-14, and outscored opponents, 224-33. They have won state titles the last two years. This week: 3-5 Monroe at home.

8 - Bergen Catholic (5-2). Last week: (5). The Crusaders lost to Don Bosco, 20-17, and outscored the opposition this year, 286-177. There have been seven appearances in the state finals in the last eleven years, winning two. This week: at 6-2 Friendship Academy (Washington DC).

9 - Manalapan (7-0). Last week: (9). The Braves beat Toms River North, 42-7, and have outscored the opposition, 254-89. Next: 0-7 Howell at home.

10 - Red Bank Catholic (7-0). Last week: (10). The Caseys beat Middletown South, 34-7, and have outscored the opposition, 256-47. This week: 1-6 Monmouth at home.

11 - Lacey (8-0). Last week: (11). The Lions beat Brick, 6-3, scoring 305 for the year and allowing 112. This week: at 5-3 Brick Memorial.

12 - Montclair (7-0). Last week: (12). The Mounties beat West Orange, 22-19, and have allowed 31 points for the year, scoring 259. This week: 4-3 Columbia at home.

13 - Pascack Valley (8-0). Last week: (13). The Indians beat Ramapo, 35-32, and have a cumulative 310-115 for the year. This week: 1-7 West Milford at home.

14 - Delbarton (7-1). Last week: (15). The Green Wave beat West Morris, 38-7. Opponents have been outscored, 276-83. This week: 7-1 Pope John at home.

15 - Piscataway (5-2). Last week: (16). The Chiefs beat North Brunswick, 33-14, and outscored opponents, 216-89. They have won five state titles since 2003, appearing in seven finals. This week: at 2-5 East Brunswick.

16 - Timber Creek (5-2). Last week: (17). The Chargers had a bye week and have outscored opponents, 193-85. This week: 3-4 Seneca at home.

17 - Ramapo (7-1). Last week: (18). The Raiders lost to Pascack Valley, 35-32. They have outscored opponents 309-96. This week: 5-2 St. Joe's (Montvale) at home.

18 - Delsea (7-1). Last week: (19). The Crusaders beat Highland Regional, 35-6. Opponents have been outscored, 292-123. This week: 3-4 Cumberland at home.

19 - Ridge (7-1). Last week: (14). The Red Devils lost to Hunterdon Central, 45-35, scoring 242 for the year and allowing 104. This week: 5-3 Watchung Hills at home.

20 - Southern Regional (5-2). Last week: (20). The Rams beat Jackson, 20-7. They have allowed 73 points and scored 147. This week: 1-6 Toms River East at home.

21 - Roxbury (7-1). Last week: (21). The Gaels beat Chatham, 23-6. They have scored 201 points and allowed 76. This week: at 5-3 Mount Olive.

22 - Atlantic City (5-2). Last week: (22). The Vikings beat Mainland, 40-16, outscoring opponents, 206-115. This week: at 5-2 Absegami.

23 - Eastern (6-2). Last week: (23). The Vikings beat Winslow, 55-38, and have outscored opponents, 209-195. This week: at 1-6 Lenape.

24 - Washington Township (6-1). Last week: (24). The Minutemen beat Seneca, 35-28, in overtime. They have outscored the opposition, 151-82. This week: 5-2 Clearview at home.

25 - Absegami (5-2). Last week: (25-tie). The Braves beat Hammonton, 47-33, and have outscored opponents, 173-123. This week: 5-2 Atlantic City at home.

Honorable Mention: River Dell (8-0), Summit (8-0), Bloomfield (7-0), Colonia (7-1), Allentown (7-1), St. Augustine (6-1), Lakeland (7-1), Seton Hall Prep (7-1), Sparta (7-1), Pope John (7-1), Long Branch (7-1), West Essex (7-1), Nottingham (6-1), Mahwah (7-1), West Windsor-Plainsboro South (7-1), Colts Neck (6-1), Burlington Township (6-1), South Brunswick (6-2), Parsippany Hills (6-2), Cranford (6-2), Neptune (5-2), Old Bridge (5-2), Clearview (5-2), Camden Catholic (5-2), Union (5-2), Middletown South (5-2).

Dropping Out: Hammonton (25-tie)

Games to watch:

#22 Atlantic City at #25 Absegami, Friday night

7-1 Pope John at #14 Delbarton, Saturday afternoon

5-2 Clearview at #24 Washington Township, Wednesday night

#4 St. Joe's (Montvale) at #17 Ramapo, Thursday night

#11 Lacey at 5-3 Brick Memorial, Friday night

5-3 Watchung Hills at #19 Ridge, Friday night