Hillsborough, Somerville and Union each got two first place votes from the media, but it was the undefeated Raiders who came out first overall in the Week 7 Big Central Media Poll.
Hillsborough (7-0) received 47 points, while Somerville (5-1) got 45, and Union (6-1) picked up 43 in media voting, the tightest among the top three this season for the second week in a row, as only four points separated last week’s grouping as well.
Last week, Somerville and Woodbridge split the six first place votes, but then-No. 4 Woodbridge’s loss to then No. 8 Cranford caused a stir among voters for Week 7.
Seventh-ranked Ridge and No. 9 Delaware Valley dropped out after losses, while Phillipsburg re-entered the poll, and St. Thomas Aquinas made its first appearance of the season. The Trojans are 6-0 and have not allowed a point all season.
Should Aquinas pick up a seventh shutout at Governor Livingston Friday night, that would be the most in a season by a Middlesex County school since the 2004 Piscataway Chiefs shutout seven in 2004, en route to a perfect 12-0 season and a state title win over Phillipsburg. That Chiefs team had three future NFL first round draft picks: Malcolm Jenkins, Kyle Wilson and Anthony Davis.
Below are the Week 7 Big Central media rankings:
