In one of the games that shuffled this week’s rankings, Sayreville upset Piscataway on October 23, 2027. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
It’s all the same teams – and still Elizabeth as No. 1, the only unbeaten team remaining in the Big Central Conference – but a trio of upsets shuffled much of the rest of the Week Nine Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten, the final one before the end of the season.
From the top, Elizabeth (8-0) held on to the top spot after a 29-14 come-from-behind home win over Somerville Friday night at Williams Field. The Minutemen got the overall top-seed in the North 5 supersection, and will be the No. 1 seed in North Jersey, Section 2, hosting eight-seed Linden Friday night. Elizabeth beat the Tigers 39-18 when they met on October 12th.
At No. 2 is Old Bridge (8-1), which came up with a huge 28-6 win at previous No. 3 Ridge Friday night. The Red Devils fall to four this week as a result, and will start the playoffs on the road as the five-seed in North 1, Group 4, traveling to fourth-seed Middletown South this Friday night. The Knights are the top-seed in Central Jersey Group 1, and will host eight-seed Lenape Friday night at Lombardi Field.
In fourth, it’s Phillipsburg (6-2), which pounded Hunterdon Central, 41-13, Friday night. This week, they’ll be back home at Maloney Stadium as the third-seed in North 2, Group 5, where they will host six-seed Ridgewood Friday evening at 7.
At No. 5 is Sayreville (7-2), which scored 16 unanswered points to erase a 7-0 first-half deficit and beat then-No. 4 Piscataway, 16-7 Friday night in a game heard live on Central Jersey Sports Radio. The Bombers got a three seed in Central Jersey Group 5, and will host sixth-seed Vineland Friday night at 7. Piscataway (7-2) drops to seventh, but still got a first-round home game as the three-seed in North 2, Group 5, and will host sixth-seed Bayonne Saturday at noon, in a game you can also hear live on CJSR.
In between the Bombers and Chiefs, Bridgewater-Raritan (7-2) checks in at No. 6. The Panthers were 28-7 home winners over Watchung Hills Friday, and the defending North 2, Group 5 champs got a five seed in the section this year. They will visit fourth-seed Passaic Tech Friday night.
Moving up two spots to No. 8 is Hillside (8-1), which spoiled Cranford‘s perfect season (7-1) with a 14-3 road win last week over the then-No. 7 Cougars. The Comets earned a six-seed in North 1, Group 2 and will visit third-seed Rutherford for a 6 pm kickoff Fridya, while Cranford is a two-seed in North 1, Group 3, and will host seven-seed Matawan Friday night at 7:00.
At No. 10, down one spot to make room for Hillside, is Rahway (8-1), which beat Edison 22-7 Friday night at Madden Field. They’ll be back there this Friday as the two-seed in North 2, Group 4, taking on seven-seed Mount Olive at 7 pm.
Below is the complete 2026 Week Nine Bellamy & Son Paving High School Football Top Ten. These are the last rankings before the end of the season.
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