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

Top 25, Groups 3, 4, and 5

There is movement in this poll, with Paramus Catholic making the jump from 10 to 3, off their big win against #4 St. Joe's (Montvale). From 14 and below, things also change, as four teams leave the Top 25 and four new ones enter.

This week, I have a tie at 25, so I have 26 teams. The two schools, Absegami and Hammonton, appear evenly matched and play one another Friday night, which will decide which team stays.

The hardest part of a poll is figuring out the last few to get in. There are several who are very similar. You can see Team A beat Team B, but there is always something else that comes up the other way and I go back and forth on a good number of teams.

1 - Don Bosco (5-1). Last week: (1). The Ironmen had a bye week and have scored 215 and allowed 69 this year. They have won the last six state titles and eight of the last ten. This week: 4-2 Bergen Catholic at Palisades Park.

2 - Elizabeth (7-0). Last week: (3). The Minutemen beat Linden, 42-0. The opposition has been outscored, 282-50. This week: 3-3 Phillipsburg at home.

3 - Paramus Catholic (5-1). Last week: (10). The Paladins had a huge win over St. Joe's (Montvale), 44-35. Opponents have been outscored, 219-119. This week: 6-1 Friendship Academy (Washington DC) at Rutgers.

4 - St. Joe's, Montvale (4-2). Last week: (2). The Green Knights lost to Paramus Catholic, 44-35, beating their opponents, 217-110. They have won 13 state championships in the last 17 years. This week: 3-4 DePaul at home.

5 - Bergen Catholic (4-2). Last week: (4). The Crusaders had a bye week and outscored the opposition this year, 269-157. There have been seven appearances in the state finals in the last eleven years, winning two. This week: 5-1 Don Bosco at Palisades Park.

6 - St. Peter's Prep (6-1). Last week: (5). The Marauders beat Bayonne, 62-0, scoring 277 points on the field this year and allowing 34. They have been in state finals four times since 2005, winning one. This week: at 5-2 North Bergen.

7 - Williamstown (7-0). Last week: (6). The Braves beat Lenape, 41-14, and have outscored the opposition, 264-79. This week: at 4-2 Kingsway.

8 - Sayreville (7-0). Last week: (8). The Bombers blasted North Brunswick, 55-7, and outscored opponents, 224-33. They have won state titles the last two years. This week: at 6-1 South Brunswick.

9 - Manalapan (6-0). Last week: (7). The Braves beat Colts Neck, 24-21, and have outscored the opposition, 212-82. Next: 4-2 Toms River North at home.

10 - Red Bank Catholic (6-0). Last week: (9). The Caseys had a bye week and have outscored the opposition, 222-40. This week: at 5-1 Middletown South.

11 - Lacey (7-0). Last week: (11). The Lions beat Jackson, 45-28, scoring 299 for the year and allowing 109. This week: at 2-5 Brick.

12 - Montclair (6-0). Last week: (12). The Mounties beat Seton Hall Prep, 49-0, and recorded their fourth shutout of the year. They have allowed 12 points for the year, scoring 237. This week: 3-4 West Orange at home.

13 - Pascack Valley (7-0). Last week: (13). The Indians beat Demarest, 52-14, and have a cumulative 275-83 for the year. This week: 7-0 Ramapo at home.

14 - Ridge (7-0). Last week: (15). The Red Devils beat Cranford, 35-21, and have allowed 59 points for the year, scoring 207. This week: 3-4 Hunterdon Central at home.

15 - Delbarton (6-1). Last week: (16). The Green Wave beat Morristown, 40-0. Opponents have been outscored, 238-76. This week: 4-3 West Morris at home.

16 - Piscataway (4-2). Last week: (19). The Chiefs beat Monroe, 15-0, and outscored opponents, 183-75. They have won five state titles since 2003, appearing in seven finals. This week: at 1-6 North Brunswick.

17 - Timber Creek (5-2). Last week: (20). The Chargers beat Paul VI, 27-6 and have outscored opponents, 193-85. This week: 3-3 Seneca at home.

18 - Ramapo (7-0). Last week: (22). The Raiders beat Paramus, 21-7. They have outscored opponents 277-61. This week: at 7-0 Pascack Valley.

19 - Delsea (6-1). Last week: (23). The Crusaders beat Bishop Eustace, 47-6. Opponents have been outscored, 257-117. This week: 4-3 Highland Regional at home.

20 - Southern Regional (4-2). Last week: (24). The Rams beat Brick Memorial, 28-21. They have allowed 66 points and scored 127. This week: at 1-5 Jackson.

21 - Roxbury (6-1). Last week: Unranked. The Gales beat arch-rival Randolph, 13-7. They have scored 178 points and allowed 69. This week: at 0-7 Chatham.

22 - Atlantic City (4-2). Last week: (21). The Vikings lost to St. Joe's (Hammonton), 28-25, outscoring opponents, 166-99. This week: 2-4 Mainland at home.

23 - Eastern (5-2). Last week: Unranked. The Vikings beat Cherokee, 20-17, and have outscored opponents, 144-140. Those last numbers may not be impressive, but their opponent's record is 30-16, with only two teams that have losing records and they are 3-4 and 2-4. This week: 0-7 Winslow at home.

24 - Washington Township (5-1). Last week: Unranked. The Minutemen beat Cherry Hill East, 40-13, and have outscored the opposition, 116-54. This week: at 3-3 Seneca.

25 (tie) - Absegami (4-2). Last week: Unranked. The Braves had a bye week and have outscored opponents, 126-90. They hope to have their starting quarterback and Notre Dame commit, Rashad Kinlaw, back after missing the first six games with an ankle injury. This week: 4-2 Hammonton at home.

25 (tie) - Hammonton (4-2). Last week: Unranked. The Blue Devils beat Mainland, 28-0, and have outscored opponents, 167-80. This week: at 4-2 Absegami.

Honorable Mention: River Dell (7-0), Summit (7-0), Colonia (7-0), Allentown (7-0), St. Augustine (6-0), Bloomfield (6-0), Lakeland (6-1), Seton Hall Prep (6-1), Washington Township (5-1), South Brunswick (6-1), Sparta (6-1), Pope John (6-1), Long Branch (6-1), West Essex (6-1), Nottingham (6-1), Mahwah (6-1), Ramsey (6-1), Passaic Tech (6-1), West Windsor-Plainsboro South (6-1), Middletown South (5-1), Colts Neck (5-1), Matawan (5-1), Lakewood (5-1), Irvington (5-1), Burlington Township (5-1), Neptune (5-2), Randolph (5-2), Old Bridge (5-2), Brick Memorial (5-2), Clearview (5-2), Toms River North (4-2), Camden Catholic (4-2), Union (4-2), Kingsway (4-2).

Dropping Out: Toms River North (14), Camden Catholic (17), Brick Memorial (18), and Randolph (25)

Games to watch:

#1 Don Bosco vs. #5 Bergen Catholic at Palisades Park, Saturday afternoon

#3 Paramus Catholic vs. 6-1 Friendship Academy (Wash., DC) at Rutgers. Friday night

#18 Ramapo at #13 Pascack Valley, Friday night, 6PM

#25 (tie) Hammonton at #25 (tie) Absegami, Friday night

#8 Sayreville at 6-1 South Brunswick, Friday night

4-2 Toms River North at #9 Manalapan, Friday night

#10 Red Bank Catholic at 5-1 Middletown South, Friday night

3-4 Hunterdon Central at #14 Ridge, Friday night