OFFICIAL playoff brackets released by NJSIAA; Phillipsburg and North Hunterdon gain top overall seeds, 30 Big Central teams qualify

The NJSIAA has released its official seeding for the historic 2022 football playoffs, which will crown public school Group Champions for the first time ever.

A total of 30 teams from the Big Central conference made it into the playoffs this year; in 2021, the Big Central’s first year with playoffs (there were none in the 2020 COVID-shortened year, the league’s inaugural season) 31 teams qualified, plus St. Thomas Aquinas, while St. Joe’s opted out. Non-public schools will be seeded next weekend, by committee.

Following are the full matchups in all sections in the state, with Big Central teams noted in bold. Dates and times are set by the home school. Where times are listed, games are Friday unless otherwise noted.

North 2, Group 5

#8 Elizabeth at #1 Phillipsburg, 7 pm
#7 Montclair at #2 Ridgewood
#6 West Orange at #3 Watchung Hills, 7 pm
#5 Piscataway at #4 Eastside (Paterson), 7 pm

North 1, Group 5

#8 Morristown at #1 Passaic Tech
#7 Union at #2 Union City, 7:00
#6 Bridgewater-Raritan at #3 Westfield, Saturday 1 pm
#5 East Orange at #4 Clifton

Central, Group 5

#8 Freehold Township at #1 Lenape
#7 Hunterdon Central at #2 North Brunswick, 7:00
#6 Edison at #3 Hillsborough, 7 pm
#5 Atlantic City at #4 Rancocas Valley

South, Group 5

#8 Old Bridge at #1 Toms River North, 6 pm
#7 Southern at #2 Kingsway
#6 Williamstown at #3 Cherokee
#5 Washington Twp. at Marlboro

North 2, Group 4

#8 Middletown North at #1 North Hunterdon, 7 pm
#7 Rahway at #2 Randolph, 7 pm
#6 Chatham at #3 Wayne Valley
#5 Morris Knolls at #4 Colonia, 6 pm

North 1, Group 4

#8 Sayreville at #1 Irvington, 7 pm
#7 Woodbridge at #2 Ramapo, 6:30 pm
#6 Roxbury at #3 Ridge
#5 Montgomery at #4 Northern Highlands, 6:15 pm

Central, Group 4

#8 Cherry Hill West at #1 Middletown South
#7 Long Branch at #2 Pennsauken
#6 Moorestown at #3 Mainland
#5 Winslow at #4 Colts Neck

South, Group 4

#8 Hightstown at #1 Hammonton
#7 Lacey at #2 Millville
#6 Manalapan at #3 Jackson Memorial
#5 Ocean City at #4 Shawnee

North 2, Group 3

#8 Hackettstown at #1 West Morris
#7 Wayne Hills at #2 Cranford, 7 pm
#6 Paramus at #3 West Essex
#5 Warren Hills at #4 Montville

North 1, Group 3

#8 Lincoln at #1 Old Tappan
#7 Parsippany Hills at #2 Hillside, Saturday 1 pm
#6 Vernon at #3 River Dell
#5Mendham at #4 Sparta

Central, Group 3

#8 Somerville at #1 Seneca, 7 pm
#7 Nottingham at #2 Camden
#6 Cedar Creek at #3 Timber Creek
#5 Highland Regional at #4 Manasquan

South, Group 3

#8 Deptford at #1 Delsea
#7 Burlington Twp. at #2 Ocean Twp.
#6 Matawan at #3 Hopewell Valley
#5 Camden Eastside at #4 South Plainfield, 7 pm

North 2, Group 2

#8 High Point at #1 Caldwell
#7 Becton at #2 Newton
#6 Ridgefield Park at #3 Glen Rock
#5 Bernards at #4 Ramsey, 7 pm

North 1, Group 2

#8 Mahwah at #1 Rutherford
#7 Hanover Park at #2 Westwood
#6 Jefferson at #3 Madison
#5 West Side Newark at #4 Dumont

Central, Group 2

#8 Overbrook at #1 Pt. Pleasant Boro
#7 Cinnaminson at #2 Haddonfield
#6 West Deptford at #3 Gloucester City
#5 New Providence at #4 Willingboro, 7pm

South Group 2

#8 Middle Twp. at #1 Raritan
#7 Monmouth at #2 Rumson-Fair Haven
#6 Delaware Valley at #3 Oakcrest, Saturday 12 pm
#5 Johnson at #4 Pleasantville, 6 pm

North 2, Group 1

#8 Kinnelon at #1 Park Ridge
#7 Boonton at #2 Mountain Lakes
#6 Cresskill at #3 Waldwick
#5 North Arlington at #4 Brearley, 6 pm

North 1, Group 2

#8 Shabazz at #1 Wood-Ridge
#7 Hasbrouck Heights at #2 Weequahic
#6 North Warren at #3 Butler
#5 Wallkill Valley at #4 Cedar Grove

Central, Group 1

#8 Schalick at #1 Woodstown
#7 Florence at #2 Salem
#6 Keyport at #3 Glassboro
#5 Audubon at Paulsboro

South, Group 1

#8 Penns Grove at #1 Woodbury
#7 Pitman at #2 Asbury Park
#6 South Hunterdon at #3 Maple Shade, 6 pm
#5 Shore at #4 Manville, 7 pm