Here are the histories of all five Big Central teams – and their opponents – vying for sectional titles this weekend

Public school sectional championship games begin tonight across New Jersey, ending Saturday, and there’s still more to go after that, with the first ever group championships taking place the first weekend of December at Rutgers University.

But there are still champs to crown in 20 public school sections, with five teams from the Big Central looking to bring home some hardware: Phillipsburg, North Hunterdon, Edison, Hillside and Brearley.

We’ve compiled their histories in sectional finals, some longer, some shorter, as well as those of their opponents. Scroll down for a look.

NORTH 2, GROUP 5 – PHILLIPSBURG vs. WEST ORANGE

Phillipsburg (8-7 in finals)  (26^th appearance, 40-17 overall)

• 2018:  North 2, Group 4:  #1 seed, beat #3 Irvington 42-7
  • Lost to North 1, Group 4 champion Wayne Hills 35-21 at MetLife (10-3)
• 2017:  North 2, Group 4:  #1 seed, lost to #2 North Hunterdon 21-20 at MetLife (10-2)
• 2015:  North 2, Group 4:  #2 seed, lost to #1 Middletown South 35-7 at MetLife (9-3)
• 2014:  North 2, Group 4:  #2 seed, beat #1 Colonia 28-21 in OT at Rutgers (11-1)
• 2013:  North 2, Group 4:  #1 seed, beat #6 Mendham 39-0 at Rutgers (10-2)
• 2009:  North 2, Group 4:  #2 seed, beat #5 Ridge 34-7 at Kean (10-2)
• 2008:  North 2, Group 3:  #4 seed, beat #6 Rahway 20-6 (10-2)
• 2006:  North 2, Group 4:  #1 seed, lost to #3 Elizabeth 14-9 (10-2)
• 2005:  North 2, Group 4:  #1 seed, beat #2 Piscataway 15-6 at Rutgers (12-0)
• 2004:  North 2, Group 4:  #2 seed, lost to #1 Piscataway 27-26 in OT at Rutgers (10-2)
• 2001:  North 2, Group 4:  #5 seed, beat #2 Montclair, 10-7 (9-3)
• 1979:  North 2, Group 3:  #1 seed, lost to #2 Rahway 14-6 (8-3)
• 1978:  North 2, Group 3:  #3 seed, lost to #4 Rahway 23-16 (7-4)
• 1977:  North 2, Group 3:  #2 seed, beat #1 Parsippany 26-0 (10-1)
• 1975:  North 2, Group 3:  #2 seed, lost to #1 Morris Hills 7-0 (7-3-1)

West Orange – first appearance in a sectional final

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 5 – EDISON at LENAPE

Edison (2-0 in finals)  (13^th appearance, 9-10 overall)

• 1991:  Central 4:  #1 seed, beat #3 Middletown South 20-16 (11-0)
• 1976:  Central 4:  #3 seed, beat #1 Woodbridge 19-0 (8-2-1)

Lenape (1-2 in finals) (12th appearances, 10-10 overall)

• 2019:  South 5:  #2 seed, lost at #1 Williamstown 14-10 (10-2)
• 2017:  Beat Rancocas Valley 10-7 at Rowan (11-1)
• 2016:  Lost to Timber Creek 31-10 at Rowan (11-1)

NORTH 2, GROUP 4 – NORTH HUNTERDON vs. RANDOLPH

North Hunterdon (2-1 in finals)  (12^th appearance, 9-9 overall)

• 2017:  North 2, Group 2:  #2 seed, beat #1 Phillipsburg 21-20 at Rutgers (11-1)
  • Lost to Phillipsburg on 10/27 that year 20-7 at Maloney Stadium
• 1978:  Central 3:  #4 seed, lost to #2 JFK 26-6 (8-3)
• 1975:  Central 3:  #1 seed, beat #3 Franklin 27-18 (10-0)

Randolph (7-5 in finals)  (29^th appearance, 28-21 overall)

• 2010:  North 1, Group 4:  #2 seed, beat #4 Montclair 19-0 at New Meadowlands Stadium (11-1)
• 1994:  North 2, Group 4:  #1 seed, lost to #3 Montclair 22-12 (10-1)
• 1993:  North 2, Group 4:  #1 seed, lost to #3 Union 19-6 (9-1-1)
• 1992:  North 2, Group 4:  #2 seed, lost at #1 Union 21-7 (9-2)
• 1991:  North 2, Group 4:  #2 seed, lost at #1 Union 24-14 (9-1-1)
• 1990:  North 2, Group 4:  #3 seed, beat #1 Montclair 22-21 (10-0)
• 1989:  North 2, Group 3:  #1 seed, beat #3 Morris Hills 22-7 (11-0)
• 1988:  North 2, Group 3:  #1 seed, beat #2 Nutley 15-12 (11-0)
• 1987:  North 2, Group 3:  #1 seed, beat #2 West Morris 13-14 (11-0)
• 1986:  North 2, Group 3:  #2 seed, beat #4 Summit 12-7 (10-1)
• 1983:  North 2, Group 3:  #3 seed, beat #1 Linden 22-9 (10-1)
• 1982:  North 2, Group 3:  #1 seed, lost to #3 West Morris 10-6 (10-1)

Randolph set NJ state records with 54 consecutive regular season and playoff wins, and a 59-game unbeaten streak from 1986 to 1991 (the streak being snapped in the finals with a loss to Union).  That record has since been broken by Paulsboro, which won 63 straight from 1992 to 1998.

NORTH 1, GROUP 3 – HILLSIDE at OLD TAPPAN

Hillside (4-1 in finals)  (13^th appearance, 17-8 overall)

• 2019:  South 2:  #3 seed, beat #1 West Deptford 14-10 on the road
  • Beat Central 2 champion Cedar Creek 25-3 at Rutgers (12-0)
• 2018:  Central 2:  #1 seed, beat #2 Manasquan 36-10 at home
  • Lost to South 2 champion Haddonfield 17-7 at MetLife (11-1)
• 2017:  Central 2:  #7 seed, beat #1 Point Pleasant Boro 20-13 at Rutgers (9-3)
• 1985:  North 2, Group 2:  #2 seed, beat #1 Madison 13-12 (10-1)
• 1983:  North 2, Group 2:  #1 seed, lost at #1 Butler 16-8

Old Tappan (3-5 in finals)  (21^st appearance, 24-17 overall)

• 2019:  North 2, Group 4:  #2 seed, lost to #5 Wayne Valley 21-17 (8-4)
• 2018:  North 1, Group 4:  #2 seed, lost at #1 Wayne Hills 20-13 (8-3)
• 2017:  North 1, Group 4:  #1 seed, beat #3 Mount Olive 31-28 at Met Life (12-0)
• 2016:  North 1, Group 3:  #4 seed, lost to #3 River Dell 26-20 (OT) at MetLife (9-3)
• 2015:  North 1, Group 4:  #1 seed, beat #7 Wayne Hills 17-0 at MetLife (12-0)
• 2011:  North 1, Group 3:  #7 seed, lost to #1 Wayne Hills 15-12 at MetLife
• 2010:  North 1, Group 3:  #2 seed, lost to #1 Wayne Hills 2-21 at New Meadowlands Stadium (11-1)
• 1985:  North 1, Group 3:  #4 seed, beat #2 Wayne Valley 7-0(8-3)

NORTH 1, GROUP 1 – BREARLEY at MOUNTAIN LAKES

Brearley (5-4 in finals)  (24^th appearance, 22-18 overall)

• 2015:  North 2, Group 1:  #1 seed, lost to #2 Hoboken 34-12 at Kean (11-1)
• 2006:  North 2, Group 1:  #2 seed, beat #4 Verona 21-20 (12-0)
• 2005:  Central 1:  #2 seed, lost to #1 Florence, 19-6 (10-2)
• 1991:  North 2, Group 1:  #4 seed, won at #2 Mountain Lakes 14-13 (8-2-1)
• 1988:  North 2, Group 1:  #1 seed,lost to #2 New Providence 30-14 (10-1)
• 1986:  North 2, Group 1:  #3 seed, beat #1 Roselle Park 28-7 (9-1-1)
• 1985:  North 2, Group 1:  #2 seed, beat #4 Roselle Park 35-6 (10-1-1)
• 1981:  North 2, Group 1:  #1 seed, beat #3 Roselle 17-14 (11-0)
• 1977:  North 2, Group 2:  #1 seed, lost to #2 Glen Ridge 18-12 (9-2)

Mountain Lakes (6-8 in finals, declared in 1974 – no others eligible)  (38^th appearance, 38-30 overall)

• 2021:  North 2 Group 1:  #1 seed, lost to #2 Cedar Grove 15-7 (8-3)
• 2014:  North 2, Group 2:  #1 seed, beat #3 Lincoln 36-28 at MetLife  (12-0)
• 2013:  North 2, Group 2:  #2 seed, beat #1 Caldwell 26-6 at Kean (12-0)
• 2012:  North 2, Group 2:  #2 seed, lost to #1 Madison 13-0 at Kean (11-1)
• 2010:  North 1, Group 1:  #1 seed, lost to #2 Wallington 23-21 at New Meadowlands Stadium (10-1)
• 2009:  North 1, Group 1:  #1 seed, beat #3 Butler 28-7 at Giants Stadium (12-0)
• 2008:  North 1, Group 1:  #2 seed, beat #1 Glen Rock 35-21 at Giants Stadium (12-0)
• 2006:  North 1, Group 1:  #6 seed, lost to #1 Bogota at Giants Stadium 28-0 (10-2)
• 2002:  North 2, Group 1:  #1 seed, beat #7 Boonton 23-6 (12-0)
• 1997:  North 2, Group 1:  #3 seed, lost to #1 Butler 30-7 (8-3)
• 1991:  North 2, Group 1:  #2 seed, lost to #4 Brearley 14-13 (10-1)
• 1987:  North 2, Group 1:  #1 seed, lost to #2 New Providence 29-0 (10-1)
• 1976:  North 1, Group 1:  #1 seed, beat #2 Clifford Scott 24-14 (Clifford Scott merged with East Orange in 2002 to form East Orange Campus)
• 1975:  North 2, Group 1:  #4 seed, lost to #2 Mendham 19-6 (7-2-2)
• 1974:  North 1, Group 1:  Champion (only team eligible)