High School Football Rankings: Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten

In the last high school football rankings before the season wraps up in late November/early December, St. Joseph-Metuchen and Phillipsburg remain Nos. 1 and 2 in the Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten, while about everyone else behind them shuffled around.

The playoffs begin this week for public schools, while St. Joe’s and St. Thomas Aquinas have one more week of play before their postseason begins. Non-public seeding will take place this coming Sunday.

St. Joseph (8-0) beat Woodbridge at home Saturday afternoon, 17-0, to complete its first regular season sweep through conference play since 2017 under previous coach Rich Hilliard. They did the same in 2016 and 2014 under Casey Ransone, as well. The Falcons close out their regular season down the Shore Friday night when they visit Donovan Catholic (6-3).

Phillipsburg (7-1) picked up a hard-fought win over visiting Bridgewater-Raritan Friday night at Maloney Stadium, 36-13. The Stateliners picked up the overall No. 1 seed in North Group 4 and will be the top-seed in North 2, Group 4, hosting 8-seed Newark Central (6-3) this Friday.

Up a spot to third is Somerville (8-1), which beat Watchung Hills on the road, 35-15, in its regular season finale Friday night. The Pioneers – the defending Central Jersey Group 3 champions – got the second-seed in that section and will face seven-seed Matawan (5-4) at home Friday night at 7:00.

Rising four spots to fourth is Sayreville (8-1), which beat previous No. 7 St. Thomas Aquinas at home Friday night, 33-26. The Bombers drew a two-seed in South Group 5 and will host 7th-seed Trenton (6-3) at 7 pm Friday.

Holding at five was Woodbridge (7-2). The Barrons fell to top-ranked St. Joe’s 17-0 Saturday afternoon, but picked up a two-seed in a North 2, Group 4 playoff section crowded with Big Central teams. They will face 7th-seed Rahway (6-3) Friday night at 6:00.

Dropping from third to sixth after a 28-7 loss at unranked Rahway was Montgomery (6-3). The Cougars have been a bit banged up, but will get to host a playoff home game, taking the third seed in North 2, Group 4, where they’ll host 6th-seed Westfield (4-5) Friday night at 7.

Down one spot to seven is Bernards (9-0), which just completed its third straight undefeated regular season with a 22-0 home win over Carteret on Friday. The Mountaineers will be the second seed in North 2, Group 2, and have a first round home game Friday at 7 against seventh-seed Madison (5-3).

Up two spots to eight after a solid, 42-22 home win over Colonia is Old Bridge (8-1). The Knights got a three-seed in South Jersey Group 5, where they’ll host a first-round game Saturday night at 6:00 pm against 6th-seed Freehold Twp (5-4).

Back in the top ten – even though they lost at No. 2 Phillipsburg Friday, 36-13, is Bridgewater-Raritan (6-3) at nine. The Panthers survived a couple games without QB Declan Kurdyla, and got the top-seed in North 2, Group 5, where they will host Linden (3-6) Friday night at 6 at Basilone Field.

And down a spot to ten is Piscataway, which picked up the second seed, right behind Bridgewater, in North 2, Group 5. The Chiefs were 36-0 winners at Monroe on Friday, and will play 6th-seed Plainfield (4-5) in the opening round of the playoffs Saturday afternoon at 1 pm, iun a game you can hear on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

Below is the full Bellamy & Son Paving Week 8 High School Football Top Ten: