Football: Check out Darren Cooper's predictions for Week 3 in North Jersey

Traveling to see North Jersey football teams play over the years has always been a joy.

Not so much this time.

After trekking (driving) to Baltimore and Cleveland in Week 0 for Bosco and Paramus Catholic, and then Youngstown, Ohio, in Week 1 for the St. Joe’s games, Week 2 was time to fly down to Miami for the Bergen Catholic/Chaminade-Madonna game.

My short trip included a hotel room with a bed with no sheets, being accused of being a spy − not once, but twice − at Bergen Catholic football practice (maybe Chaminade-Madonna did have spies) and then an early plane ride home next to a lady with a rather large, furry dog at her feet.

The dog spent most of the morning flight licking my leg and trying to escape (I’m an aisle man).

And what compels someone on a flight to sit in a middle seat when the window seat next to them is free and not slide over, rather, set all their stuff up on the empty window seat to ensure the person in the aisle seat is uncomfortable as well?

Next year maybe I will just stay home.

One good thing I did on the trip was watch the “BS High” documentary on the Bishop Sycamore story. This is right in my wheelhouse, obviously. And there is a North Jersey connection to the story, multiple ones, one of the Sycamore players, Mario Agyen, played at Northern Highlands. Bergen Catholic played Archbishop Hoban in Ohio to open the 2021 season (I was there, Bergen kicked butt) the week before Archbishop Hoban had played Bishop Sycamore.

So somewhere in Bergen Catholic files, there’s Bishop Sycamore game film.

And of course, game promoter Joey Maimone has North Jersey roots.

I won’t spoil the film, because you should watch it, it takes a real dark turn about 2/3 of the way through and I don’t want to give it away.

My worst travel week also coincides with one of my worst picks week of the season. I always – always – underrate Old Tappan. I don’t know why. I just do. It’s like I have a mental block on them or something. I was shocked at Pope John, but good for them, they can play, same for Clifton.

We are doing the picks early this week and probably next week because of so many good games Thursday night.

Let’s get going, I am happy to keep my feet on the ground, I mean, really with the empty window seat??

Pascack Valley at Old Tappan

Thursday, 6 p.m.

There were a few years where this was The North Jersey public school game of the year. Pascack Valley would line up and run the ball behind a big, strong offensive line and just maul people. Old Tappan would try to do the same, plus mix in their skill guys. It was always a dogfight.

This year they are both 2-0. Old Tappan blanked Valley last year, 35-0, the second of three straight shutouts.

Expect a physical football game, probably played in like two hours and fifteen minutes.

The pick: Listen, if Old Tappan is really for real, I mean, like they’re-gonna-go-12-1 for real, then what the program is doing is just amazing, because so many public school programs are up and down. But I’m buying. Fool me 17 times and maybe I will figure it out, but I love Evan Brooks (some college is going to get a real player), I had no idea Golden Knights QB Alex Orecchio could be a threat as a runner (that just elevates what an offense can do). I will take Old Tappan.

Ridgewood at Northern Highlands

Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

So now this game is interesting − Highlands coming off a loss to Old Tappan and Ridgewood coming off a loss to Clifton. On paper, Ridgewood is bigger, this is the official “Dave Cord Bowl,” since he coached at Ridgewood before coming to Highlands. How will both teams respond? Last year, they played one of the weirder games of the year, a 7-6 Ridgewood win. Few teams ever shut down the Highlands offense like that.

The pick: I am going to go back with Northern Highlands, but they have some concerns on defense that they need to improve.

Cliffside Park/Ridgefield at Fort Lee

Thursday, 7 p.m.

Someone was asking me what the best game this weekend was and I said Cliffside Park/Ridgefield vs. Fort Lee. They were like, ‘really?’ and I said yes. This is a great rivalry, and a great environment for a game.

I know people dismiss the Ivy League concept, and I think those people are missing the point. Yes, high-level football is awesome, but so is highly-competitive football. Listen, 61-21 is no fun to watch no matter how good the teams are.

Last year, the Royal Raiders won by a touchdown, and it was Fort Lee’s only loss of the season. Fort Lee hasn’t beaten a Cliffside Park team since 2017.

The pick: The job Charles Salame has done at Fort Lee is impressive, and completely overlooked by people like me. They are working on three straight winning seasons, but the one thing they haven’t done is beat Cliffside. Will March Madness King Jordan Sarnoff be in the house? I think he’ll be happy. I am taking Fort Lee.

St. Joseph’s Prep (Pa.) at Don Bosco, Friday, 7 p.m.

This is just a tough situation for Bosco to be in. They play St. Joseph Regional on Saturday, then lightning happens, they talk about playing Sunday, but the weather is still iffy, they finally get to play Monday and then more lightning and St. Joe's is “awarded” a 21-0 win.

Now the Ironmen get to play the No. 12 team in the country according to USA TODAY. The Hawks are 2-1 with that loss coming to IMG by three points. So yeah, St. Joe’s Prep is a beast.

Next week, back at home, Don Bosco has a shot to go at Bergen Catholic. I hear they are rivals. If Bosco beats Bergen, the complexion of the whole season changes and no one will care about this game at all. By the way, Bosco started 1-3 in 2021 and still made it to the state final.

The pick: Even in a perfect week, I am not sure the Ironmen would have had a great chance. I mean, listen, I know (and you know) they will play hard and make it competitive, but you must go with St. Joe’s Prep.

Bergen Catholic at Seton Hall Prep

Saturday, 1 p.m.

Vito Campanile gathered his team up on the goal line in Florida and said nothing changed how he felt about his team after losing by 40 points. He talked about how the 2022 team lost to Bosco and then responded to go all the way to a state title. Basically, his message was what matters now is how you respond.

Now, my feelings about Bergen Catholic did change a smidge. I was surprised that they weren’t able to run the ball consistently and they didn’t hold up super well in pass protection. But listen, everyone in the Big Six has flaws this year, which is why it is going to be so interesting to see how this all plays out.

I disagreed with my fellow voters in the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey statewide non-public rankings and still voted Bergen Catholic No. 1 in the state, but I think the Crusaders are going to have to find ways to beat teams down the stretch.

The pick: Against Seton Hall Prep, I think the defense plays a lot better and makes some plays late to win, so my pick is Bergen Catholic, but it won’t be easy. Last year, the Crusaders were sort of chalk in a lot games. I think they’re in for some fights every week going forward.

Quick picks

I asked Passaic Tech to score some points last week and they finally did. The Bulldogs get West Orange now, a team they beat twice last year. It’s a classic offense vs. defense fight, the Mountaineers have some studs on offense, Passaic Tech has a great defense. I just have a feeling that West Orange is going to be locked in. I will take West Orange.

Mahwah-Ridgefield Park is an interesting game. I think the Scarlets will test them and try to run the ball right at them, but I will take the T-Birds.

Hackensack is going to be a problem for somebody down the road. I think the Comets will beat Belleville and that sets up a nice matchup with Ramapo next week.

Does anyone have video of the West Milford game-winning field goal? I want to see it. I like the Highlanders to beat High Point.

Lyndhurst is lurking, but the Golden Bears better not be looking ahead to Waldwick/Midland Park next week. I will take them over Cresskill.

Bergenfield hadn’t beaten River Dell since 1959. That’s right, 1959 (granted they haven’t played all that much). No one gets more out of his kids than Rob Violante in Bergenfield. I think the Bears take down Ramsey.

Elsewhere, I will take Butler over an improved St. Mary, Bogota over Manchester, and Saddle Brook over North Arlington. They do a great thing for the Westwood-River Dell game, calling it the “Bird Bowl” and they have a trophy cage and everything. It’s cool. Westwood is my pick.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ football: Darren Cooper's predictions for Week 3