Football rankings: Final 2023 Big Central Conference Top 15

(Records in parenthesis)

1. Phillipsburg (10-2) – preseason ranked No. 1 – The Stateliners celebrated Thanksgiving with a resounding 47-12 win over rival Easton (Pa.) at Lafayette College in their 116th meeting, their first back-to-back wins in the series since 2002-03. Before that, Phillipsburg reached the North 2, Group 5 sectional final for the second straight season, losing to Union City, 24-17, in the title game.

More: Football awards: Central Jersey and Big Central Conference postseason honors index

2. St. Thomas Aquinas (10-1) – preseason No. 3 – The Trojans made a case for No. 1 with their second undefeated regular season in three years. The Edison school, which went 28-4 in that span, gained statewide respect with a close 13-10 loss to traditional power DePaul in the Non-Public B semifinals. STA allowed the fewest points per game (6.3) in the BCC and scored the second-most with 36.1 ppg.

3. Bernards (12-1) – preseason No. 7 – The Mountaineers rewrote their gridiron history books with a memorable and thrilling season. The achievements included capturing the North 2, Group 2 championship for the program’s first sectional title in the NJSIAA playoff era, as well as the most wins and points (461) in a season. Bernards’ 35.5 ppg was the third-most in the BCC and the 8.2 ppg allowed was the second fewest.

4. Ridge (8-2) – preseason No. 4 – The Red Devils always seem to be in the mix and this season was no exception. Ridge earned its eighth straight playoff berth and reached the sectional semifinals for the fifth consecutive time, falling to Northern Highlands, 31-26, in North 1, Group 4. Ridge entered with a seven game win streak after a 21-14 loss to Phillipsburg on Sept. 8.

5. Hillsborough (8-3) – preseason No. 5 – While the Raiders have relied on a high-powered offense in recent seasons, it was the defense that led Hillsborough to its third straight winning season and sixth straight playoff berth. Hillsborough, led by linebacker Jonathan Lobello, allowed just 11 points per game, including two shutouts and five games in which it held opponents to single-digit scoring.

6. North Brunswick (8-1) – preseason No. 6 – The Raiders had an undefeated regular season before falling to Freehold Township 21-20 in the Central Group 5 quarterfinals. North Brunswick owns a 75% winning percentage (47-16) over the past seven seasons under Mike Cipot. Transfer Samaad Hicks provided a spark as the Raiders were top five in the BCC in points scored (33.7 ppg) and fewest points allowed (9.6).

7. Sayreville (8-3) – preseason No. 12 – The sixth-seeded Bombers pulled the area’s biggest playoff upset with a 35-14 win over third-seeded Montgomery in the North 2, Group 4 quarterfinals. Sayreville fell just short in the semifinals with a last-second 30-28 defeat to sectional champion Mount Olive. The Bombers put together a five-game win streak after falling 21-20 to North Brunswick on Sept. 24.

8. Montgomery (8-1-1) – preseason No. 9 – The Liberty Silver Division champions not only scored the 100th victory in the program’s two-decade history this year, but also got win No. 100 for head coach Zoran Milich, who built the program from scratch. Led by quarterback Michael Schmelzer and receiver Matt D’Avino, the Cougars enjoyed the first 8-0 start in school history – increasing that to 8-0-1 after a tie with Linden in the regular-season finale. Montgomery’s only loss came 35-14 to Sayreville in the playoff opener, and it’s the first time the Cougars have ever finished a season with just one loss.

9. St. Joseph-Metuchen (7-3) – preseason No. 14 – The Falcons suffered two close loses (28-20 to Somerville and 22-15 to Union) before taking off with six-straight wins. That stretch included thrilling wins over Elizabeth, Westfield, Watchung Hills and state-ranked Pope John. Veteran QB Daniel DeGennaro ran the show and Jeremy DeCaro provided several highlight-film plays. St. Joes lost to Seton Hall Prep in the Non-Public A first round.

10. Summit (7-3) – preseason not ranked – The Hilltoppers emerged as Union County’s top team, nothing its second winning season in as many years and its first seven-win campaign since 2018. Summit’s only losses came to powerhouse St. Thomas, fellow Non-Public power St. Joseph, and to West Essex in the sectional semifinals, a club that went to the state Group 3 final.

11. Watchung Hills (8-3) – preseason No. 15 – Led by senior transfer Aleks Sitkowski at quarterback and a host of established talent, including seniors Jack Clintock and Scott Drews, and junior Brayden Kelly, the Warriors posted their first 5-0 start since 1978 and, at 8-3, their winningest season since that year. They also earned their first playoff win since that ’78 campaign — just the second in program history.

12. Westfield (6-5) –– preseason No. 11 – Led by senior quarterback Max Cho, the Blue Devils notched their second straight winning season and made the playoffs for the 10th straight campaign, including a first-round playoff win over Clifton, the Blue Devils first postseason victory since 2019.

13. Hunterdon Central (6-4) – preseason NR – The Red Devils made eight sectional finals and won five titles during a 15-year span, but had just two winning seasons since 2013 until this year. With quarterback RJ Hart at the offensive controls and Jake Saus posting a phenomenal season out of the backfield, Central went 6-4 this fall, its first winning season since 2018, a stretch that included a winless 2020.

14. Linden (6-3-1) – preseason NR – A few plays here and there, and the Tigers could have finished the regular season undefeated. Linden lost to Woodbridge 20-19, Summit 30-20 and had a wild 42-42 tie against Montgomery in one of the games of the year. They pushed Morris Knolls in a 17-7 defeat in the North 1, Group 4 opener. Linebacker Myles Hamilton finished as the program’s all-time leading tackler (856).

15. Plainfield (6-5) – preseason NR – The once-dominant program finally shook off nearly two decades of futility to post its first winning season in 18 years. Led by senior lineman Josue Cordoba, senior back Yasir Wyatt, junior quarterback/linebacker Ala-Meen Watkins, junior receiver/DBs Joel Cordoba and Al-Khabir Bethune. Plainfield also made the playoffs for the first time since 2010 and hosted a playoff game for the first time since 2001.

ALSO RECEIVING CONSIDERATION: Hillside (6-3), Somerville (5-5), South Hunterdon (9-2), Spotswood (8-2), Woodbridge (6-4).

Simeon Pincus has been covering New Jersey sports since 1997. He can be reached at SPincus@GannettNJ.com. Follow him on Twitter @SimeonPincus

Andy Mendlowitz can be reached at AMendlowitz@GannettNJ.com. Follow him on Twitter @Andy_Mendlowitz

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Football rankings: Final 2023 Big Central Conference Top 15