North Jersey football: Everything you need to know for the second week of playoff games

The high school football playoffs continue in North Jersey this week, as teams from Bergen, Passaic, Morris and Sussex counties are still alive in 11 sections.

The public-school playoffs began last week and have reached the sectional semifinals, while the non-public playoffs open up this weekend.

Here's a look at this week's games in each section.

North 1, Group 1 semifinals

(4) Mountain Lakes at (1) Park Ridge, 7 p.m. Friday 

(3) Hawthorne at (2) Hasbrouck Heights, 7 p.m. Friday

This is one of the few brackets in which results played out as expected in the first round. All the higher seeds held serve, and none played a truly close game – which also can be said about the two teams now facing a rematch.

Hasbrouck Heights (7-2) is on a six-game win streak that began with a 35-7 home victory against Hawthorne (7-2) on Sept. 22. The Aviators host again and hope for a similar effort from RB Jake Summers, who scored a career-high 3 TDs in the first meeting. The Bears are coming off a victory over New Milford in which QB Tyler Menne (5-of-8, 85 yards) threw 3 TD passes.

Meanwhile, Park Ridge (7-2) has leveled off slightly after a 5-0 start. The Owls face a Herd team that is 6-0 when it manages 30-plus rush attempts in a game, but 1-2 when held below that number. The home team will need QB Cole Hughes (10 carries, 140 yards, 1 TD) and RB Luke Macfie (19-219-2) to help control the ball as they did last week against North Arlington.

− Greg Tartaglia

North 2, Group 1 semifinals

(4) Weequahic at (1) Butler, 7 p.m. Friday

(7) Glen Ridge at (6) Shabazz, 7 p.m. Friday

Butler has a shot at revenge after being eliminated by Weequahic a season ago in this same round.

The Bulldogs average more than 36 points per game but the Indians have only allowed nine points all season. Butler faces a challenge on defense too, trying to control Weequahic RB Rashawn Marshall (1,545 rush yards, 28 TDs).

If Weequahic makes it through again, it could set up a Soul Bowl appetizer with rival Shabazz two weeks before their annual Thanksgiving game. Glen Ridge lost 52-7 to this same Shabazz team just two weeks ago. Shabazz QB Nazir Smith was bottled up last week by Cedar Grove, but expect the senior to bounce back.

− Robert Aitken Jr.

North 1, Group 2 semifinals

(4) Newton at (1) Westwood, 7 p.m. Friday 

(3) Hanover Park at (2) Rutherford, 6 p.m. Friday

Is this a prelude to an ultimate Westwood-Rutherford rematch, or another spot for Morris/Sussex teams to upset the apple cart?

That seems unlikely in the case of the top-seeded Cardinals (9-0), who have not allowed more than 12 points in any game. Newton (7-2) withstood a 27-point fourth quarter by Lyndhurst in its playoff opener and must be prepared to handle another team that scores in bunches. Westwood QB Robbie Carcich has accounted for 2,115 yards of offense and 25 TDs.

Rutherford (9-0) boasts two players with 100-plus tackles in senior LB Chris Lora (109) and Luke Cerulli (100), and its defense has been instrumental in taking the pressure off freshman QB Myles Balchan. The Bulldogs contend with a 7-2 Hanover Park team that went a perfect 13-for-13 passing (for 153 yards and a TD) in its opening-round rout of Pompton Lakes.

− Greg Tartaglia

North 2, Group 2 semifinals

(5) Lakeland at (1) Caldwell, 7 p.m. Friday

(6) Sussex Tech at (2) Bernards, 7 p.m. Friday

Caldwell looks to extend its state-best 37-game winning streak this week against the Lancers, whose seven wins this season match their total from the previous two years combined.

The Chiefs have beaten teams in a variety of ways, but can dominate with a defense that has 18 interceptions and is only allowing one touchdown per game. It's the first time these schools have met since being Northern Hills-Suburban rivals in 2008.

Speaking of firsts, Sussex Tech won a playoff game for the first time in program history last week. The Mustangs now gallop to Somerset County to take on a Bernards team that is 10-0 for the first time ever and chasing its first sectional title. Sussex Tech will challenge the Mountaineers with a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in quarterback Brian Gruber and running back Andrew Baker.

− Robert Aitken Jr.

North 1, Group 3 semifinals

(5) Lincoln at (1) Old Tappan, 6 p.m. Friday

(7) Sparta at (6) West Morris, 7:30 p.m. Friday

Old Tappan, the defending sectional champion, is making its 10th straight semifinal appearance. Dual-threat quarterback Alex Orecchio has thrown for 1,063 yards and 18 touchdowns and run for 582 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Teamed with running back Nick Rossi (657 yards, 13 TD) and receiver Evan Brooks (29 catches, 473 yards, 9 TD), the Golden Knights are tough to contain, even for a Lincoln defense that has limited opponents to 15 or fewer points in seven of nine games, including three shutouts.

The other side of the bracket features an intriguing matchup between Morris/Sussex rivals meeting for the second time this season. West Morris, which won a sectional title last fall in North 2, Group 3, ran past Sparta, 31-7, in Week 4 and has defeated the Spartans four straight times. Sparta pulls into the semifinals with a 4-5 record but has come alive in the second half of the season with three straight wins.

− Nick Gantaifis

North 2, Group 3 semifinals

(4) West Essex at (1) Summit, 1 p.m. Saturday

(7) Montville at (6) Passaic Valley, 6:30 p.m. Friday

Passaic Valley rides into the semifinals behind dual-threat quarterback Damian Kribs, who has thrown for 613 yards and four touchdowns, and run for 571 yards and 11 touchdowns. He made key plays on defense and scored the winning touchdown in overtime against Vernon last week.

Montville is playing in the sectional semifinals for the first time since 2006. The Morris County school stunned second-seeded Parsippany Hills, 17-14, avenging a Week 3 loss to the Vikings. Quarterback Mike Ciullo (1,054 yards, 5 TD; 301 rushing yards, 5 TD ) and all-purpose back Anthony Feaster (802 rushing yards, 13 TD; 451 receiving yards, 3 TD) have made up one of the best tandems in Morris County the last two seasons.

Top-seeded Summit is playing in its first sectional semifinal in five years. The Hilltoppers average 38 points a game and feature a balanced offense led by sophomore quarterback Cole Sabol (1,027 yards, 13 TD) and senior running back Carter Shallcross (1,318 yards, 14 TD). They face West Essex, a team that has turned it around since starting the season 0-2.

− Nick Gantaifis

North 1, Group 4 semifinals

(4) Morris Knolls at (1) Ramapo, 6:30 p.m. Friday 

(3) Northern Highlands at (2) Ridge, 7 p.m. Friday

Northern Highlands beat Ramapo in last year’s sectional final in overtime, 49-42. The Highlanders, ranked 14th in the Statewide Public Top 20, and No. 11-ranked Ramapo will meet for the second time this season and fifth time in three seasons if they both win this week.

Ramapo (9-0) averages 38.1 points per game and the offense is spearheaded by senior quarterback Landon De Prima (2,133 yards passing, 23 TD). His cast of targets includes senior Zach Schnorrbusch (941 yards receiving, 15 TD). The Green Raiders' defense is much improved and must neutralize a a running game that averages 240 yards per game for Morris Knolls (6-3).

Northern Highlands (8-2) will face a much stiffer challenge at No. 12-ranked Ridge (8-1). Junior quarterback Nate Johnson (1,656 yards passing, 22 TD) leads the Highlanders, who average 29.7 points per game and have scored 33 or more points in their last five games. Ridge has a 1,000-yard rusher in senior Will Deady and dual-threat QB in senior Ryan Olivo.

− Greg Mattura

North 2, Group 4 semifinals

(4) Irvington at (1) Roxbury, 7 p.m. Friday

(6) Sayreville at (2) Mount Olive, 7 p.m. Friday

Roxbury held on for a memorable victory over Mount Olive in September in what was perhaps the game of the year in the Morris/Sussex area. It both teams win this week, they'll get a rematch in the sectional final.

The Gaels have shattered decades-old school records with the first 10-game win streak in program history and can tie another single-season record with its 11th win of the year this week. Standing in Roxbury's way is an Irvington team that began the season 0-2 with consecutive shutout losses but has outscored opponents, 194-57, with six wins in the last eight weeks.

All the Marauders have done since that loss to Roxbury is rattle off four straight wins and average more than 33 points per game. Now they'll host a Sayreville team with an outstanding run offense that has scored 34 touchdowns, led by senior Zaimer Wright's 1,372 yards. Mount Olive won one game last season and is one win away from a sectional final.

− Robert Aitken Jr.

North 1, Group 5 semifinals

(5) Union at at (1) Passaic Tech, 6 p.m. Friday

(3) Montclair at (2) Watchung Hills, 7 p.m. Friday

Passaic Tech (10-0) is the defending North Group 5 regional champion and the state’s top-ranked public school. The Bulldogs’ boast an outstanding defense that has posted four shutouts and outscored opponents, 285-53.

Passaic Tech has a talented, veteran cast that includes senior twins and two-way standouts Trashon and Travon Dye. Trashon Dye leads the ground game with 1,399 yards and 16 TDs, while senior quarterback Ma’Kao Taylor has thrown for 1,072 yards and nine scores. Union (5-5) needs a big game from junior QB Omalley King to balance a solid run game.

Montclair (7-3) at Watchung Hills (8-2) should feature plenty of points. Junior QB Malachi Lewis (1,704 yards passing, 21 TD) triggers Montclair, and junior Ja-khi Chance is the top running threat. Watchung Hills senior QB Aleks Sitkowski has run and passed for more than 2,000 yards and 27 TDs.

There are no Bergen, Passaic, Morris or Sussex teams remaining in North 2, Group 5.

− Greg Mattura

Non-Public A first round

(9) Notre Dame at (8) Paul VI

(12) St. Peter's Prep at (5) St. Augustine

(13) Paramus Catholic at (4) Donovan Catholic

(11) Seton Hall Prep at (6) St. Joseph (Metuchen)

(10) Don Bosco at (7) Pope John XXIII

When St. Joseph (Metuchen) edged Pope John Saturday afternoon, it threw this entire bracket into chaos. The NJSIAA seeding committee gave teams from outside of North Jersey a boost into the No. 4, 5 and 6 seeds, setting up three intriguing games with Super Football Conference teams on the road.

Let’s start with Seton Hall Prep, which has played everyone tough, except for Bergen Catholic, and is 3-6. The Pirates now get a Falcons team that hasn’t played the same schedule they have, but does that still matter?

That’s also what St. Peter’s Prep and Paramus Catholic are counting on in their first-round games.

Don Bosco hasn’t played Pope John since 2019. The Ironmen have won three out of four games, but made mistakes down the stretch in a one-point loss to DePaul on Friday.

Notre Dame is 10-0, but in this bracket, that means you don’t even get a first-round home game. Irish QB AJ Surace has thrown for 23 touchdowns. He’s a Rutgers commit.

− Darren Cooper

Non-Public B quarterfinals

(5) Immaculata at (4) Holy Spirit

(6) St. Mary at (3) DePaul

At 6-4, St. Mary is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2019 and is guaranteed its first winning season since 2015. The Gaels have a dynamic playmaker at running back in Nasir Owens, and QB Brad Higgins has improved each week. However, they are big underdogs against the Spartans, who are the defending state champs and coming off a win over Don Bosco. These two teams haven’t played since 1974.

Immaculata makes the two-hour ride down to Absecon to face Holy Spirit and sophomore quarterback Ty Costabile. Immaculata running back Joe Fleming leads a ground game that has almost 2,000 yards as a team.

Red Bank Catholic and St. Thomas Aquinas each have byes. This is only a six-team bracket, which means the teams will have a long break in between next week's semifinals and the state final at MetLife Stadium scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 28.

− Darren Cooper

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: North Jersey football: Everything to know for second week of playoffs