Bernards players celebrate upon finding out Caldwell was upset, and that they would get to host another home game next week, against Lakeland in the North 2, Group 2 final. (Photo: Marcus Borden)
Of the ten Big Central public schools playing in the sectional semifinals of the state playoffs, nine played Friday night, and two advanced to title games to be played next weekend.
In North 2, Group 5, top-seed Phillipsburg advanced to its second straight sectional final, thanks to a 42-28 win over visiting fourth-seed Westfield Friday night. The ‘Liners are 9-1 and will host second seed Union City (9-1), which beat 6th-seed West Orange 20-14 Friday night. West Orange upset Phillipsburg in last year’s final.
In North 2, Group 2, second-seed Bernards ran roughshod over Sussex Tech, 48-0, Friday night in Bernardsville, giving them a program record 11th win. The undefeated Mountaineers will get a home game, too, in the finals, after the upset of the night: top-seed Caldwell – on a the longest active winning streak in the state at 37 games – getting knocked off at home by fifth-seed Lakeland, 33-28.
Here are Friday night’s results, Saturday’s schedule, and a look ahead to the matchups in next week’s sectional title games involving Big Central teams:
FRIDAY SCORES
North 2, Group 5
#1 Phillipsburg def. #4 Westfield, 41-28
#2 Union City def. #6 West Orange, 20-14
North 1, Group 5
#1 Passaic Tech def. #5 Union, 35-8
#3 Montclair def. #2 Watchung Hills, 24-21
South Group 5
#3 Marlboro def. #2 Hillsborough, 12-0
North 2, Group 4
#2 Mount Olive def. #6 Sayreville, 30-28
North 1, Group 4
#3 Northern Highlands def. #2 Ridge, 31-26
North 2, Group 3
#6 Passaic Valley def. #7 Montville, 28-13
#4 West Essex at #1 Summit (Saturday, 1 pm)
North 2, Group 2
#5 Lakeland def. #1 Caldwell, 33-28
#2 Bernards def. #6 Sussex Tech, 48-0
Central Group 1
#3 Glassboro def. #2 South Hunterdon, 20-0
SATURDAY SCHEDULE
North 2, Group 3
#4 West Essex at #1 Summit, 1 pm
Non-Public Group A
#9 Notre Dame at #8 DePaul (TBA), winner at #1 Bergen Catholic
#13 Paramus Catholic at #4 Donovan Catholic (TBA)
#12 St. Peter’s Prep at #5 St. Augustine (TBA)
#11 Seton Hall Prep at #6 St. Joseph-Metuchen (Saturday), winner at #3 St. Joseph-Montvale
#10 Don Bosco Prep at #7 Pope John (TBA), winner at #2 Delbarton
Non-Public Group B
#5 Immaculata at #4 Holy Spirit (TBA), winner at #1 Red Bank Catholic
#6 St. Mary at #3 DePaul (TBA), winner at #2 St. Thomas Aquinas (Friday, Nov. 10)
PUBLIC SECTIONAL FINALS (Nov. 10-11)
North 2, Group 5
#2 Union City (9-1) at #1 Phillipsburg (9-1) – Friday, 7 pm
North 2, Group 2
#5 Lakeland (8-3) at #2 Bernards (11-0) – Friday, 7 pm