UPDATE: Unofficial Group 4 Playoff Standings: North Hunterdon moves into top spot

With just two more full weeks of the regular season to go, we’re updating the UNOFFICIAL UPR standings for Group 4 based on Friday’s results, as reported by Gridiron New Jersey, which calculates all the numbers for the NJSIAA. A number of Saturday games are on the schedule that could affect these standings.

NORTH 4

While Irvington still has to play Montclair today, for the time being, North Hunterdon‘s big win over Montgomery last night has put the lions in sole possession of first place in the North Group 4 standings, which would give them the overall top seed. Montclair hasn’t been good this year, just 2-3, so even an Irvington win may not help them pass the Lions. Still, either of the top two is the target for a team with championship aspirations, and North Hunterdon should consider themself one; they are very good.

As of this moment, North Hunterdon has a 1 UPR, followed by Irvington (2.6 UPR) and Morris Knolls (2.8 UPR), which hosts 0-6 Morris Hills today. Even a win likely would drop them back, not move them forward.

Ridge checks in at No. 8 after a win last night at South Brunswick; the Red Devils gain three sport, while Colonia, after beating a lesser team in Perth Amboy, drops three spots from 7th to 9th – again, for the time being, pending Saturday games being completed. Sayreville – after beating Franklin – edges up from 12th to 11th, with Rahway – which lost last night – holding in 13th; St. Thomas Aquinas is considered a “good” loss, as they are a very strong team.

With the loss to North Hunterdon – also a “good” loss – Montgomery only dropped from 10th to 12th, still in the bottom half and still firmly in the playoff picture at 5-2.

Linden, despite a loss last night to an improving Summit team that is now 3-3 and has won three straight, dropped just one spot to 16th, so we consider them on the bubble, but at least on the right side looking in.

Woodbridge – with a win over a fairly weak JFK team – made no progress this week, so far, holding in 17th. They’ll need to keep winning to make it. They’re at North Hunterdon next week, then home to Sayreville. A split might do it, but it;s too early to tell.

Here are the current unofficial standings: