Phillipsburg hosts Ramapo in the Group 4 semifinals on November 21, 2025. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
There are three Big Central Conference public schools playing for sectional titles this weekend, with all of them in Group 5. And if and when they bring home trophies this weekend, it’s on to the state semifinals.
Before the NJSIAA expanded the playoffs to include state championships in 2022, those state semifinals were called “Regional Championship,” and were the end of the line from 2018 through 2021. They were played at neutral sites, typically MetLife Stadium or Rutgers. Once the state championships were in the mix, those state semifinals moved back to high school sites.
According to NJSIAA regulations, the highest-ranked UPR team in each supersection will host the state semifinals. So, we’ve broken down the scenarios for you.
NORTH GROUP 5 SUPERSECTION
Sectional Finals:
North Jersey, Section 1: (4) Irvington at (3) Piscataway, 1 pm Saturday
North Jersey, Section 2: (4) Passaic Tech at (3) Phillipsburg, 7 pm Friday
UPR Standings
- (5) Phillipsburg, 4.8 UPR
- (5) Piscataway, 4.8 UPR
- (7) Passaic Tech, 7.6 UPR
- (8) Irvington. 8.6 UPR
Note: Tie-breaker goes to Phillipsburg over Piscataway on the following critera: 1) Head-to-head: none; 2) Common opponents: both beat St. Joseph-Metuchen; OSI: Phillipsburg gets the tiebreaker at 59.9 compared to 56.82 for Piscataway.
If Piscataway wins: The Chiefs would host the state semifinal next Saturday afternoon if Passaic Tech beats Phillipsburg. If the Stateliners win, Piscataway would visit Phillipsburg next Friday night.
If Phillipsburg wins: They would host either way, whether Piscataway or Irvington win, since they are the highest-ranked team of the four.
SOUTH GROUP 5 SUPERSECTION
Sectional Finals:
Central: (2) Rancocas Valley at (1) Old Bridge, 6 pm Friday
South: (3) Toms River North at (1) Washington Twp., 6 pm Friday
UPR Standings
- (1) Washington Twp., 1.4 UPR
- (2) Old Bridge, 2.2 UPR
- (3) Rancocas Valley, 2.4 UPR
- (5) Toms River North, 5.0 UPR
If Old Bridge wins: The Knights would host the state semifinal next Friday night if Toms River North upsets Washington Twp. If the Minutemen win, Old Bridge would travel down there next Friday night.
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