We’re not done yet, but here’s a look at the NJSIAA playoffs through the sectional finals, by the numbers

Numbers don’t lie.

And sometimes statistics don’t tell the whole story, or even the current story, but they can tell an interesting story, too.

For example, while JP Stevens has struggled in recent years, did you know they have the best overall winning percentage in the playoffs of any Big Central Conference school, with a .714 mark (15-6). That might not stand for long however, as Phillipsburg – which has more playoff game wins than any other BCC team – is right behind them at .710, with a record of 49-20.

A victory over Ramapo this Friday in the Group 4 semifinals would tie the Stateliners with Stevens, but the Hawks still would lead Middlesex County – and by a lot – with the next closest team behind them being Piscataway at .682, though the Chiefs have a lot more overall wins, with 45.

Here are some other noteworthy stats on the Big Central and the state playoffs, which are now in their 51st season, having first come on the scene in 1974. (Remember, there were no playoffs in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.)

Who’s got the most titles?

While no BCC team has won a group championship yet – the NJSIAA only started that three seasons ago, in 2022 – Union leads the Big Central Conference in sectional titles with eleven, followed by Piscataway and Phillipsburg with ten each, and Somerville with nine. The next closest are Sayreville, JP Stevens, Highland Park, Franklin and Hunterdon Central with six each.

Here’s a look at where the Big Central stands statewide, among public schools. *Won title in 2025; BCC schools in bold.

• 1. Paulsboro – 19
• 2. Delsea – 16
• 3. Ramapo* – 15
• 4. Glassboro* – 13
• 5. Cherokee*, Manasquan – 12
• 6. Union, West Morris* – 11
• 7. Butler*, Cedar Grove*, Hoboken, Madison, Middletown South, Phillipsburg*, Piscataway, Wayne Hills, West Essex – 10
• 8. Mainland, Rumson-Fair Haven, Shawnee, Somerville, South River, Summit, Toms River North – 9
• 9. Elizabeth, Glen Rock, Montclair, Woodbury – 8

Who’s made the most finals?

Among public schools, which are more difficult to qualify for, especially in the last decade or so where essentially any non-public that doesn’t opt-out gets in the playoffs, New Providence leads the BCC with 21 trips to the finals after making its second straight appearance this season. But a few teams aren’t far behind. Phillipsburg has made 19 sectional title games, while Piscataway has made 17 and Somerville 16.

Here’s the statewide look again. *Made sectional final in 2025; BCC schools in bold.

• 1. Paulsboro – 30
• 2. Middletown South – 23
• 3. Delsea, Glassboro*, Montclair – 22
• 4. New Providence* – 21
• 5. Ramapo*, Wayne Hills* – 20
• 6. Manasquan, Phillipsburg* – 19
• 7. Hammonton, Hoboken, Mountain Lakes, West Essex – 18
• 8. Butler*, Cherokee, Piscataway – 17
• 9. North Bergen (SFC Ivy), Shawnee, Somerville, South River, West Morris* – 16
• 10. Rumson-Fair Haven, 15

What about playoff berths?

It’s New Providence leading the BCC at 41 appearances in 51 seasons. The next highest total also comes out of Union County, with Union at 36m, while Summit and Elizabeth each have 32. Piscataway has made 31, while South River and Somerville have made 30. Immaculata – a non-public – has 38.

Here’s a look at statewide playoff berth leaders among public schools. *Made playoffs in 2025; BCC schools in bold.

• 1. Paulsboro* – 43
• 2. Mountain Lakes* – 42
• 3. New Providence* – 41
• 4. Manasquan* – 40
• 5. Glassboro*, Hammonton – 39
• 6. Lenape Valley – 38
• 7. North Bergen (SFC Ivy), West Morris* – 37
• 8. Union – 36

Here are a few other statistical notes of interest around the Big Central and the playoffs:

• Somerset County saw history and milestones: Not counting Pingry, which opted out of the playoffs, ten of 12 Somerset County football programs made the finals, including Immaculata. Franklin (5-4 at the cutoff) and North Plainfield (3-6) were the only ones to miss. Meanwhile, Manville picked up its first playoff win ever in six appearances. Montgomery – in just its ninth – made its first ever sectional final, falling back on Friday in the North 2, Group 4 title game at Phillipsburg. The Cougars went 2-1 in the postseason, doubling their previous postseason win total; they had been 1-8, and now are 3-9. And laurels to Bridgewater-Raritan, which won its first-ever sectional title – in its fourth trip to the finals – beating Bayonne to win the North 2, Group 5 championship.
• Middlesex saw its fewest playoff qualifiers in the modern era, but still made history: Only seven “GMC” schools – five public – qualified for the postseason: Colonia, Woodbridge, Old Bridge, Sayreville and Piscataway. By the way, those are three Group 5 schools and two Group 4s. Not a single Group 1, 2 or 3 school from Middlesex County made the postseason – despite Spotswood being 8-1. Either way, it’s the smallest number of schools from Middlesex since the playoffs expanded to eight teams per section in 1998. The previous low was eight, in 2002 and 2003, and the best was 2014, a year when 13 GMC schools (at the time) qualified. And all five teams won their opening round games, the first time the county has gone perfect in the opening round – 5-for-5 – albeit without that many teams in action to begin with. Old Bridge was the only one to make a sectional final, falling to Washington Twp. Since the playoffs expanded, at least one Middlesex County school had made the sectional finals every year until 2013. And while that was only a temporary blip, Middlesex County has only had two sectional finalists since the playoffs resumed in 2021 after the COVID season with no playoffs in 2020. Edison won Central Jersey Group 5 over Lenape in 2022, and then Old Bridge made it this year, leaving the GMC with just one sectional title trophy since 2018.
• Far West BCC did well, but it didn’t pay off: There are seven “outpost” schools, if you will, in the Big Central, including five Hunterdon County schools (Voorhees, Delaware Valley, and the three Hunterdons – North, South and Central) and two from Warren (Phillipsburg and Belvidere). While South Hunterdon and North Hunterdon each struggled through one-win seasons, all the others had very respectable seasons. Besides Phillipsburg – which is 10-1 and playing this Friday in the Group 4 semifinals against Ramapo – Belvidere went 5-5, Delaware Valley 6-4, Voorhees 8-2 and Hunterdon Central 4-5. But only the Stateliners and Voorhees made the playoffs, the Vikings falling in the opening round to Camden. Hunterdon Central’s miss – along with that of Hillsborough – breaks a string of three straight years where all five schools in the American Silver Division had made the playoffs.
• Union had a so-so year, but those that did well… The Union County schools saw 10 of 17 football teams qualify for the postseason. And while only two of them advanced past the first round, those two went to the sectional finals. New Providence made it for the second straight year, falling for a second straight time to Cedar Grove, this time at home in the North 2, Group 1 final. Summit made the North 2, Group 3 title game, but lost at West Morris.