Somerville head coach Matt Bloom talks to his team after a 41-0 win over Summit at Brooks Field on October 4, 2024. The Pioneers have taken over the No. 1 spot in the CJSR Top Ten. (Photo: Marcus Borden)
Though both teams won this week and remain undefeated, as we head into Cutoff Weekend, Somerville has overtaken Woodbridge in the Central Jersey Sports Radio High School Football Top Ten.
The Pioneers have generally blown out opponents this season, with frequent running clocks, and their speed appears to be unmatched. Their defense has allowed only 14 points in the last four weeks – a touchdown in each of their last two games, following back-to-back shutouts and their average margin of victory is just under 34 points in those games, three of which are likely playoff teams in Plainfield, Hillside and Summit.
Somerville (8-0) most recently won at Plainfield Friday night, 30-7. They host Watchung Hills (5-3) this coming Friday, and will likely be the overall No. 1 seed in the playoffs in South Jersey Group 3, which would give them home field through a potential group semifinal. (Finals are at neutral sites.)
Woodbridge (8-0) was a 28-17 winner over Summit on the road Saturday afternoon. The Barrons close out the regular season with a visit from No. 8 St. Joseph-Metuchen (5-2) this Friday night.
St. Thomas Aquinas (6-2) remains in third after a come-from-behind win at then-No. 7 St. Joseph-Metuchen Saturday afternoon, 34-20, as heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio. That extended their Big Central-record win streak to 30 games. This week, the Trojans host Sayreville (3-5), which snapped a two-game losing streak last week with a 7-0 win over Montgomery.
Bernards (8-0) keeps at No. 4 after a 34-7 road win at Governor Livingston Saturday afternoon, stretching their second-best active Big Central winning streak to 22 games. The Mountaineers will look to close out back-to-back undefeated regular seasons for the first time since 1995 and 1996 when they travel to Carteret (3-5) Friday night.
Ridge (6-1) holds in fifth. The Red Devils have now won six straight since a season-opening loss at St. Joe’s, 37-34. Friday night, they won 42-14 at North Brunswick, and will entertain Westfield (4-3) this Friday, with a chance to lock down a top seed in North Group 4. Currently, the Red Devils are second in the supersection, right behind Phillipsburg, but have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Stateliners.
Phillipsburg (6-1) stays in sixth after a 44-0 win over Union Friday night at Stewart Field. The Stateliners will be back down Route 78 – but not quite as far – then down 287 this Friday night when they travel to Bridgewater-Raritan (3-5).
Hillsborough (5-3) moves up from No. 10 to No. 7 after a 27-14 win at then-No. 8 Piscataway Friday night. The Raiders – after starting the season 2-3 – have won three straight. This Friday, they host Hunterdon Central (4-4), losers of two straight.
Falling a spot to No. 8 is St. Joseph-Metuchen (6-2), which lost its second in a row Saturday afternoon, falling 34-20 to No. 3 St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday afternoon. The Falcons will try and get back on track Friday night when they travel to No. 2 Woodbridge (8-0).
At No. 9 is Rahway (6-2). The Indians hold steady after a 42-0 victory over winless New Brunswick. They’ll face an 0-fer team for the second straight week, as they travel to Montgomery (0-8) Friday night.
Falling two spots to tenth is Piscataway (5-3), which had a three-game winning streak snapped by then-No. 7 Hillsborough, 27-14. The Chiefs close out the regular season Friday night at home against Monroe (4-4).
Also considered were Delaware Valley and Johnson, both 6-1.
Below is the complete Week 7 Central Jersey Sports Radio High School Football Top Ten:
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