With just one more week before Cutoff Weekend in New Jersey High School football, we’re taking another detailed look at the standings and scenarios facing every public school in the Big Central Conference that’s in contention for a playoff berth.

Assuming scores are reported in a timely fashion Friday night, we’ll also publish updated standings and some light analysis late Friday or early Saturday morning. Our next update will be next week, leading up to the cutoff.

This season’s playoff coverage – both leading up to and in the postseason – is proudly presented by Dayton Collision on Route 130 in South Brunswick! That includes all our analysis over the next few weeks, as well as our LIVE Playoff Projection Show, scheduled for Saturday evening, October 23rd, and tentatively set for 6 pm.

Here’s a detailed team-by-team look at the Group 1 supersections, North and South as we head into Week 7 play this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

NORTH GROUP 1:

• After the top two teams – Cedar Grove (5-1, 1.0 UPR) and Newton (7-0, 2.0) – look fairly entrenched in their positions, the first Big Central team we find is Belvidere (6-1, 10.40) at No. 11. While they might have a chance at a top eight seed and a first round home game, we think the more likely scenario is that they start on the road, finishing in the bottom eight. The only question here is who they’ll play; the County Seaters don’t appear to be in danger of missing the playoffs. They finish at North Warren (2-5) this week and home against Delaware Valley (5-2) next Saturday.
• On the bubble, but on the right side this week, are Dayton (5-2, 14.8) and Brearley (5-2, 15.6). Clinching a playoff spot may come down to the final week. The biggest – and maybe only – threat behind them is Hawthorne (3-3, 16.2) at 17. That’s because at No. 18 is Kittatinny (16.8) at just 1-5. They have Sussex Tech (0-6) this week and North Warren (2-5) next week, and even a sweep may not move the needle. And, they will need to win at least one to qualify for the playoffs; there’s no backing in for them. The next team is back Wallington in 19th, and while they’re 3-4, their UPR is 19.0, and that’s a lot of ground to make up to catch Brearley, which is 3.4 points ahead. Dayton has a solid schedule from here out, with Highland Park (7-0) and Manville (5-2) next weekend. Brearley has Roselle Park (3-4) and North Plainfield (4-3), and while that may not be enough to move them up much, even if they sweep, they probably won’t be hurt much either. Bottom line: we like both team’s chances. One side note: the Bears’ leading rusher Monroe Passmoore just had one carry last week, and his health down the stretch could be a wild card in this scenario.

SOUTH GROUP 2:

• Paulsboro (5-2, 1.4 UPR) and Schalick (7-0, 1.6) are the top two teams here, and are in good shape generally, but could flip by the time all is said and done. After Salem (4-3, 3.0, 3rd) and Pennsville (4-3, 6.0), there are two Big Central teams: Delaware Valley (5-2, 7.6) and Highland Park (7-0, 7.6) tied for fifth. Either could potentially end up in the top four, but No. 4 is probably the ceiling for both. They didn’t and don’t play each other this year, so there’s no head-to-head tiebreaker that could be involved. The Terriers have North Plainfield (4-3) at home this week and Belvidere (6-1) on the road next week, so a move to fourth is doable. Same for the Owls, who have Dayton (5-2) on the road this week for the Freedom Gold Division title, and then close next Friday at home against Metuchen (2-4) in their annual rival game, at which L.J. Smith’s jersey will be retired by Highland Park.
• Manville (5-2, 10.8) checks in at No. 12, and we believe they are solidly in the field of 16 at this point, but, but getting into the top eight might be a big ask, with Penns Grove (4-2) and Shore (2-4) tied for eighth at 8.60 UPR. The Mustangs have Hillside (6-1) this week at home, then are at Dayton (5-2) next week. So, we’ll put emphasis on might in the previous sentence as far as earning a first-round home game.
• The biggest question here is can South Hunterdon (4-3, 19.2, 18th) make it? They’re tied with Woodbury (2-5), and the Herd play the last game on the schedule Saturday – at 6 pm! Why? – when they play Buena, which will be ineligible for the playoffs after multiple players were DQd in a fight that broke out in a game with Lindenwold (although they wouldn’t have qualified anyway). They also have to jump New Egypt (4-3, 18.6). Problem is their last two opponents are Dunellen (1-5) at home this week, and Lyndhurst (1-6) away on Cutoff Weekend. This may not be in the cards.

With just one more week before Cutoff Weekend in New Jersey High School football, we’re taking another detailed look at the standings and scenarios facing every public school in the Big Central Conference that’s in contention for a playoff berth.

Assuming scores are reported in a timely fashion Friday night, we’ll also publish updated standings and some light analysis late Friday or early Saturday morning. Our next update will be next week, leading up to the cutoff.

This season’s playoff coverage – both leading up to and in the postseason – is proudly presented by Dayton Collision on Route 130 in South Brunswick! That includes all our analysis over the next few weeks, as well as our LIVE Playoff Projection Show, scheduled for Saturday evening, October 23rd, and tentatively set for 6 pm.

Here’s a detailed team-by-team look at the Group 2 supersections, North and South as we head into Week 7 play this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

NORTH GROUP 2:

• Westwood (5-1, 1.0 UPR) and Caldwell (6-0, 1.6) currently lead the section and look like they will most likely finish in the top two – even if they flip-flop – and get the two No. 1 seeds. Then, it’s down to five for Bernards (5-2, 5.20). We think the Mountaineers can finish in the top four, just 1.4 UPR points behind Hoboken (6-1, 3.8) and 0.2 more behind third-place Waldwick/Midland Park (6-1, 3.6). If not, we think they’re a pretty solid top eight team right now. They should beat winless JFK, but they might need to beat a very tough Summit (5-2) on the road Saturday of Cutoff Weekend to hang on to that spot. The question is, will it be enough for a top-four finish? It could be, but they might need some help, with the Kennedy game a big detriment at the moment. (Side note: Bernards head coach Jon Simoneau played his high school ball at JFK.)
• New Providence (5-1, 10.0) checks in at No. 9, down three spots this week after the loss to Perth Amboy, their first of the season. That made a dent, but certainly the Panthers’ 6-1 record at the moment prevented the damage from being any worse. Still, that defeat may have cost them a first-round home game, sitting 1.2 UPR points behind High Point (6-1, 8.8). They are probably the only team the Pioneers can catch if they’re going to get into the top eight. Question is, will their schedule allow them to make a move? They’re at Spotswood (3-4) this week and home to Governor Livingston (3-4) next week; a sweep and a High Point loss might do it, but we’ll know a lot more after this week.
• Hillside (6-1) is the last Big Central team in the running here, and it looked like they might be the Spotswood of 2026. (The Chargers last year were 8-1 and missed the playoffs due to a one-point loss to Dayton, on a tiebreaker they lost to three-win Camden Eastside.) But now at 6-1, they made a big jump this week from 19 to 14, and are now squarely in the picture. They haven’t locked anything down yet, but they’re looking good. The schedule is tough – at Manville (5-2) and Cranford (6-0) in the final two weeks – but that also means that a win in either of both not only should be enough to get them in the playoffs, but could improve their standing greatly. They won’t get a first round home game, but they could be in the top half of the bottom eight if they can sweep the Mustangs and Cougars.

SOUTH GROUP 2:

• West Deptford (7-0, 1.6 UPR) and Rumson-Fair Haven (5-2) are pretty good bets for the No. 1 and 2 seeds, but beyond that, there’s just one Big Central team in the running, and it’s A.L. Johnson. The Crusaders are 14th at the moment, just as they were last week, sitting at 4-2 with a 15.0 UPR. It’s only 1.4 points back to No. 17, though, so nothing is set in stone here. The Crusaders are in Perth Amboy Friday night to take on the Panthers (6-1) for the Patriot Silver Division title, and a win could lock up a spot, since they would get 24 power points for that game – six for a win and 18 residuals – a big boost for their current 9.67 power point average. They may need that win to get in the playoffs, since they would only get six points from a victory over winless JFK in the final week. Stay tuned here…

With just one more week before Cutoff Weekend in New Jersey High School football, we’re taking another detailed look at the standings and scenarios facing every public school in the Big Central Conference that’s in contention for a playoff berth.

Assuming scores are reported in a timely fashion Friday night, we’ll also publish updated standings and some light analysis late Friday or early Saturday morning. Our next update will be next week, leading up to the cutoff.

This season’s playoff coverage – both leading up to and in the postseason – is proudly presented by Dayton Collision on Route 130 in South Brunswick! That includes all our analysis over the next few weeks, as well as our LIVE Playoff Projection Show, scheduled for Saturday evening, October 23rd, and tentatively set for 6 pm.

Here’s a detailed team-by-team look at the North 4 and North 3 supersections as we head into Week 7 play this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. (Note: There are no Big Central Conference teams classified in the South 4 or South 4 supersections.)

NORTH GROUP 4:

• While Middletown North (5-0, 1.8 UPR) sits atop the North 4 supersection, Rahway (6-1, 2.8) made a huge jump in the past week, climbing from the 5th spot, over Ridge, to pull up into the No. 2 overall position. They still have teams behind them that could catch them, like Roxbury (5-2, 3.4, 3rd) and Northern highlands (4-2, 3.6, 4th), and even possible Ridge (4-2, 4.6, 5th). The downside for the Indians is they are at Colonia and home against Edison next week, both 2-5 and not allowing for many residuals. Roxbury has Mount Olive (4-2) and Mendham (3-4), a tougher schedule, but then again, that also could mean a greater chance they drop one of those games than Rahway does. And Northern Highlands has Old Tappan (6-0) and Pascack Valley (3-4), so the same goes for the Highlanders.
• As for the Red Devils, the above scenarios with Roxbury and Northern Highlands could help them; despite having Hillsborough (1-5) this week and not many residuals, a win over Old Bridge, who could be 7-1 by next week could do the trick if Roxbury and/or Northern Highlands drop one of their two remaining games. Ultimately, we think Rahway has a good shot to finish with a top-seed, and Ridge likely finishes in the top four.
• Summit (5-2, 8.0) is probably out of reach of a top four finish, but is hardly assured a top eight finish, which would guarantee at least one home game in the playoffs. Their remaining two games are not necessarily daunting, but certainly are enough, we think, to keep them in the top eight should they win out. A split would be another matter.
• Montgomery (4-3, 9.4) is only one UPR point out of the top eight, but even winning out may not be enough to move the needle, as they play at winless North Hunterdon (0-7) this week ad home against Hillsborough (1-6) next week. They’re in the playoffs, but we think will start on the road in the opening round.
• Woodbridge (4-3, 14.0) and Carteret (4-3, 14.6) sit in 14th and 15th place, respectively, but are very much on the bubble, albeit the right side of it. They will need to hold off 16th-place Hackensack (3-3, 15.4) and Watchung Hills (3-4, 16.4), but are probably safe from 18th-place Nutley (2-5, 18.4). So, we see five teams battling it out for the last four playoff spots, if you want to throw Middletown South (3-3, 13.20) in the mix of potentially vulnerable teams, though they would be the least of all. We think the Barrons and Carteret will make it, assuming they at least split their last two games ; Woodbridge has Linden (3-3) and Franklin (2-5), both at home, while Carteret has a tougher slate, though both are at home: unbeaten Cranford (6-0) and Monroe (4-3). And what about the Warriors? They have a pair of road games with Plainfield (2-5) and Bridgewater-Raritan (6-1), and interesting mix. A split leaves them a good chance, but a sweep might be a big ask.
• Last one here: Does Colonia (2-5, 19.8, 20th) have a shot? They have a lot of teams to jump, and are 4.4 UPR points out of the top 16. They would probably have to sweep Rahway (6-1) and South Brunswick (3-4), both of which are at home, and do a lot of scoreboard watching, dig out the rabbit’s foot, etc.

NORTH GROUP 3:

• Cranford has edges closer in UPR to the top two, which would get them a top-seed, but the Cougars (6-0) still aren’t quite there yet. Old Tappan (6-0, 1.4 UPR) still leads the section, followed by Shabazz (5-1, 2.4), which leads Cranford by just 0.4 UPR points, as the lead shrunk by one full point after last week’s games. That makes this still too close to call. But the good news is Cranford has two strong opponents the next two weeks: at Carteret (4-3) for the United Gold championship Friday night, and home against Hillside (6-1) next week. At least one win there might still be enough to jump Shabazz, which hosts Snyder (1-6) then Newark West Side (3-4) the last two weeks. Bottom line: We like the Cougars’ chances at a top-seed if they win out. And it might even be possible to gain the overall No. 1, depending how Old Tappan does. Yes, they are unbeaten, but close with two road games: at Northern Highlands (4-2) and at Montville (6-1). Yes, we really like the Cougars’ chances.
• Somerville (4-3, 11.2) drops a spot this week from nine to ten, and at 4.2 UPR points behind eighth-place River Dell (5-2, 7.6), here’s a solid prediction: they’re in, and will start on the road, with little to no chance of a top eight finish.
• South Plainfield (4-3, 15.8) drops from 15 to 16 this week, and the Tigers will need to do some winning here in the final two weeks. They could move up, but they could also drop out – the epitome of a bubble team. South Plainfield closes at Governor Livingston (3-4) this week and with Perth Amboy (6-1) at home on Cutoff Weekend. As of now, we think they need to win both. But let’s see how the teams around them do this week before we make a determination on the Amboy game. Nipping at their heels are Pascack Valley (3-4, 16.2, 17th) just 0.4 UPR behind the Tigers, and 18th-place Paramus (4-3, 16.8 UPR), just one UPR point behind.

With just one more week before Cutoff Weekend in New Jersey High School football, we’re taking another detailed look at the standings and scenarios facing every public school in the Big Central Conference that’s in contention for a playoff berth.

Assuming scores are reported in a timely fashion Friday night, we’ll also publish updated standings and some light analysis late Friday or early Saturday morning. Our next update will be next week, leading up to the cutoff.

This season’s playoff coverage – both leading up to and in the postseason – is proudly presented by Dayton Collision on Route 130 in South Brunswick! That includes all our analysis over the next few weeks, as well as our LIVE Playoff Projection Show, scheduled for Saturday evening, October 23rd, and tentatively set for 6 pm.

Here’s a detailed team-by-team look at the Group 5 supersections, North and South as we head into Week 7 play this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

NORTH GROUP 5:

• The top two teams have flipped here, with West Orange (5-1, 1.6 UPR) now in first, ahead of Ramapo (4-2, 2.2). But that leaves Elizabeth (7-0, 2.6) still in the chase in third, but now 0.4 UPR points back, when last week they were just 0.2 away. However, Piscataway (6-1, 3.6) is a bit closer, even though they’re still at No. 4, since they’re just 1.4 out of the top two; last week the difference was two whole points. What’s that all mean? This is still wide-open, and the one to keep an eye on is Ramapo, which plays Wayne Hills (6-1) this week. A loss their could open the door for the Minutemen or the Chiefs.
• Bridgewater-Raritan (6-1, 6.2) is down two spots to seven, but a win at Phillipsburg this Friday night – in a game you can hear live on Central Jersey Sports Radio at 7 pm – likely does wonders for the Panthers. Even a trip to Union next week could give them a boost. They might need some help from the teams above them, however. We’ll know much more around 9:30 Friday night.
• Phillipsburg (4-2, 8.8) was idle last week but dropped one spot in the standings to ninth. We don’t think they have a shot at the top four, but they should finish in the top eight if they beat Bridgewater-Raritan at Maloney Friday night. If not, a win over Hunterdon Central on Cutoff Weekend might not be enough to earn a first round home game.
• Union (5-2, 10.4) is in tenth – same as they were last week – but they dropped in their UPR number, and likely aren’t within reach of the top eight, even if they were to beat Bridgewater-Raritan at home next week. The Farmers are in the playoffs, but likely start out on the road.
• Perth Amboy (6-1, 10.8) is having its best season in decades, and last week’s huge win at New Providence moves them up from a bubble team at No. 15 to squarely in the playoff picture at eleven. Like Union, they should end up on the road in the first round.
• Plainfield (2-5, 15.0) and Linden (3-3, 16.0) currently hold the last two playoff spots as true 15s and 16s (meaning they are both 15 and 16 in both power points and OSI). They are far from safe, however, with Bloomfield (3-4, 17.0) and Livingston (4-3, 18.0) the two most likely to challenge them. The Cardinals likely have to win Friday against Watchung Hills (3-4) and next Saturday at Westfield (2-5) to control their own destiny; same for Linden, which has a tougher schedule, but more points available this Friday at Woodbridge (4-3) and next Friday at home against Union (5-2)

SOUTH GROUP 5:

• This section is still led by unbeaten Washington Twp. (7-0, 2.2 UPR), but now Southern (6-1, 2.4) has jumped up into second, knocking Rancocas Valley (7-0, 2.6) to third and Old Bridge (6-1, 2.8) down to fourth, but the Knights are still in the thick of things. They have East Brunswick (3-4) at home this week, which may not move the needle much, but a win at Ridge (4-2) Friday night of Cutoff Weekend would, so don’t count them out for a top seed this year. The only thing we know here is it won’t be decided this week.
• Sayreville (5-2, 6.8) has pulled into a sixth-place tie with Williamstown (5-2), and with both a full four UPR points out of the top four, we think it’s unlikely either gets there. For the Bombers, that includes a scenario where they win both their remaining games. While they have Piscataway (6-1) Cutoff Weekend, having North Brunswick (1-6) this week doesn’t help much. A top eight finish, however, appears very likely, especially if Jackson Twp. (2-5, 9.6, 9th) splits their last two games with Wall and Point Pleasant Boro, both on the road. A win over the Chiefs’ would lock that in, for sure.
• Then, we get down to the 16th and final spot, currently a tie between Freehold Twp. (3-4, 16.6) and Monroe (4-3, 16.6). As for now, the tiebreaker would go to Freehold Twp. here, as they have not played head-to-head and have no common opponents; that puts it on OSI – where there are rarely ties – with Freehold at 42.49 and Monroe at 40.18. The Falcons have some winning to do, and the good news is neither of their last two games will hurt them, unless they lose both. They’ve got Piscataway at home this week and Carteret at the Pit next Friday. A split is good, but a sweep is better for the Falcons. But they also have a team nipping at their heels…
• …and that team is South Brunswick (3-4, 16.8). The Vikings are just 0.2 UPR points behind Monroe and Freehold Twp, so any movement they make upward in either power points of OSI would put them in the top 16. They’ve got Franklin (2-5) at home this week and Colonia (2-5) next week. They might have to win both. But here’s one positive: should they end up at 17 and Monroe at 16, South Brunswick would jump them and get in the playoffs on the head-to-head rule. But, keep in mind, you can only jump a team on head-to-head if they are directly above you. Inotherwords, if it was Monroe at 14, Freehold at 15 and South Brunswick at 16, the Vikings would be left out in the cold, but…
• …there’s one caveat to the above scenarios with Monroe and South Brunswick: Kingsway. The Dragons – the defending South Jersey Group 5 champions, who are 0-7 – currently sit in 14th place in the standings. (Yes, it’s ridiculous that a winless team should be up that high in any formula, but that’s another argument for another day.) The minimum for playoff qualification is two, so unless they win both remaining games, they’re out, and you can bump the Falcons and Vikings up one more spot. That puts Freehold and Monroe tied for 15, with South Brunswick at 17. Kingsway hosts 6-1 St. Augustine this Saturday, a pretty big ask for a winless team, so we highly anticipate them being ineligible and this revised scenario playing out. And with Cherokee (1-6, 18.6) and Hillsborough (1-6, 20.0) the closest teams behind Monroe and South Brunswick, we don’t think they will have the fend them off much.