NJ football: Our Morris/Sussex predictions for Week 0 games
Many Morris and Sussex county football teams are getting started early, during the batch of games referred to as Week 0.
Who can start off the 2023 season with a good showing?
Each week, we will take a look at five of the most intriguing games involving Morris and Sussex county teams and attempt to pick what might happen. Here are our predictions for five key games this week:
Wallkill Valley (0-0) vs. Wood-Ridge (0-0)
Friday, 3 p.m.
The first local football game comes from the Grasso Classic, which moved to Westwood High School due to poor playing conditions at Overpeck Park. Wallkill Valley has an opportunity to make a big statement to start the season against the NJIC runner-ups. The Rangers must replace both a 1,000-yard rusher and receiver from a season ago and will have a lot of fresh faces on the field. The winning team will know exactly where it fits into the discussion of Group 1 contenders.
Prediction: Wood-Ridge 24, Wallkill Valley 14
Season Preview: 2023 Morris/Sussex football team-by-team capsules
Shabazz (0-0) at Randolph (0-0)
Friday, 6 p.m.
This is an uncharacteristic matchup featuring two programs that haven’t played each other in recent memory. First-year coach Naz Oliver takes over a Shabazz team that has struggled over the last four years. Last fall, the Newark school finished below .500 for the fourth-straight year at 5-6. Randolph, on the other hand, enters the 2023 season with high hopes. The Rams turned in a 9-2 record last fall, reaching the North 2, Group 4 title game. Despite losing some key contributors to graduation, Randolph returns enough talent to be considered serious contenders in Group 4. Small-school Shabazz boasts a big, strong front line led by senior two-way lineman and Boston College commit Judah Pruitt, while Randolph flashes skill and speed behind running back Jesse Wilfong.
Prediction: Randolph 35, Shabazz 24
Glen Ridge (0-0) at Lenape Valley (0-0)
Friday, 7 p.m.
There are some intriguing Week 0 matchups around the state, but this is the only one featuring two winners of the Regional Invitational Tournament, which debuted last fall to give non-playoff teams a consolation bracket. The Ridgers and Patriots are both viewed as potential playoff teams in 2023. Lenape Valley's Eric Perez is gone, but an offense that produced more than 2,600 yards on the ground last fall will keep the machine working.
Prediction: Lenape Valley 35, Glen Ridge 14
Rivalries and big-time matchups: 23 Morris/Sussex football games to watch in 2023
Warren Hills (0-0) at Vernon (0-0)
Friday, 7 p.m.
Here's another game between programs that have no recent history or familiarity. A year after reaching a North 2, Group 3 semifinal, Warren Hills makes the 50-mile trek to Sussex County to take on a Vernon team that finished with six wins and qualified for the postseason in back-to-back years. Warren Hills’ offense revolves around 1,000-yard rusher Jayden Aziz. Vernon hopes to keep its strong running game going behind tailback Logan Pych.
Prediction: Vernon 21, Warren Hills 17
Top 10: Our Morris/Sussex football rankings heading into 2023 season
Mendham (0-0) at West Morris (0-0)
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
It’s an old-fashioned backyard rivalry when these sister schools meet to kick off a season for the second year in a row. Mendham finished .500 last fall for the first time in eight years. Meanwhile, West Morris has been a model of consistency, historically among the best public-school teams in Morris County. Last fall, the Wolfpack went 12-1, running the table en route to the North 2, Group 3 title. Despite the heavy loss of talent to graduation, West Morris is expected to be a force once again. All bets are off when rivals meet, but this one is all about the home team.
Prediction: West Morris 35, Mendham 20
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ football: Morris, Sussex predictions for Week 0 games
