Jahai Johnson – scoring a touchdown here against South Brunswick on September 26, 2024 – is back in the CJSR Top Ten. (Source: Hudl)
After a few weeks of relative calm, followed by big upheaval and a new No. 1 team last week, the Week Four Central Jersey Sports Radio High School Football rankings saw very little change this week.
Teams one through seven stayed put, while Piscataway rejoined the rankings at No. 10 with a win over previously-No. 8 South Brunswick.
Woodbridge remains No. 1 after improving to 5-0 with a 42-12 win at home over Linden Friday night. The Barrons take the short trip over to neighboring Perth Amboy Friday night to take on the Panthers (1-4).
Holding in second is St. Thomas Aquinas (4-1), which wasn’t really worried about anything else in Friday night’s game at Elizabeth other than Chase Young, the senior runningback who collapsed and was taken to the hospital late in the third quarter. The game was called and won’t be finished, with Aquinas coming out with a 25-8 win. The Trojans will visit Paramus Catholic (2-2) in a big test Friday night.
At No. 3 is Somerville, holding there after improving to 5-0 with a 22-0 shutout win Saturday at Conant Street Park against Hillside. Friday night, it’s a battle of undefeated teams at Brooks Field, as the Pioneers host Summit (4-0).
Ridge (3-1) holds in fourth, having won three straight, the latest a 47-10 win at Bridgewater-Raritan Friday. The Red Devils host winless Union (0-5) Friday night in Basking Ridge.
At No. 5, Bernards holds its ground after improving to 5-0 with a 35-14 win at JP Stevens Friday. The Mountaineers are back at it Friday night when South Plainfield (1-4) comes to Olcott Field.
Holding steady at No. 6 is Phillipsburg (3-1). The Stateliners hung on to beat Hillsborough 42-35 Friday night, and next play a non-conference game at West Orange (4-1) Friday night.
Old Bridge (3-2) remains in seventh, winners of two straight after a Friday victory, 31-7, over East Brunswick at home in the Battle of Route 18. This Friday, they also play a non-conference game, visiting Morristown (2-3).
Up a spot to eighth is St. Joseph-Metuchen, which is 4-0 after winning Saturday afternoon at Westfield, 35-16. The Falcons come back home this Saturday to host struggling North Brunswick (1-4).
Also up a spot – moving to ninth – is Colonia (4-1). The Patriots edged out Perth Amboy at home Friday night, 27-20, and travel to Edison (2-3) this Friday in the “Big Central Game of the Week” presented by Bellamy & Son Paving.
Returning to the rankings this week is Piscataway (3-2). The Chiefs are back in after a solid 25-0 shutout win over South Brunswick, which has now lost two straight after starting the season 3-0. The Chiefs play the first of back-to-back road games Friday night when they visit Sayreville (2-3).
Also considered in this week’s rankings are Rahway (4-1), Johnson (4-0) and Summit (4-0), all of which won this week.
Below is the full Central Jersey Sports Radio Week 4 Top Ten:
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No knock against Bernard’s- they are a great group 2 program. But it’s preposterous that you put them in the top 5 with group 4 and 5 schools. I’d make the same argument for any group 1 or 2 school punching 2 levels above their weight. What would their their record be if they played two levels up? You really think they wouldn’t have 3-4 losses as a group 2 against pburg, St joes, Ridge- plus the middle of the pack Centrals Bridge water etc? Rank them as number 1 for small schools- as half the teams they play are not a real test.
How would Woodbridge or Aquinas etc due playing the Boscos and bergens- even if u had them go up against the bottom of the prep group- they would be lucky to be 500.
Your poll should be split for size.