Shore Conference Football: Predictions for all of the games on biggest weekend of season

It is the biggest week of the scholastic football regular season.

The cutoff for qualification for the NJSIAA public school playoffs is Saturday. It is also a week where the outcome of five of the Shore Conference's seven divisions will be finalized.

One of the most-anticipated games of the season will take place at Toms River North's Gernerd Field on Friday night when Toms River North hosts Red Bank Catholic.

More: Shore Conference Week 8 football rankings: Which unbeaten teams moved up

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Twenty-three Shore Conference teams are currently in a position to qualify for the public school playoffs. Several other teams can give themselves a chance to qualify with wins this week.

The top 16 teams in the final power rankings in each of the NJSIAA's 10 super sections - North groups 1-5 and South groups 1-5, will be seeded into the public school playoffs Sunday morning.

The qualifiers will then be snaked into sections - North 1 and 2 for the North and Central and South for the South.

Seeds 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 16 will go into the section of the top seed's geographical section. Seeds, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14 and 15 will go into the opposite section.

Teams must have at least two wins to qualify. Head-to-head movement will take place in the super sections if a team defeats a team directly above it in the rankings.

More: With one week left in the NJ football season, here's how the public playoff brackets look

The Non-Public playoffs will be seeded by a committee on Oct. 29.

Other big games this weekend are Brick at Brick Memorial Friday night; Middletown North at Marlboro Saturday and Long Branch at Colts Neck Saturday.

There are only two unbeaten teams - Brick Memorial and Holmdel - remaining in the Shore.

The weather and field conditions could once again be a factor with rain in the forecast, especially on Saturday.

Here are this week's picks. We were 18-1 last week and are 114-30 for the season.

NJ high school football: Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023

LIBERTY DIVISION

Monmouth (5-3, 3-1) at Pinelands (5-2, 3-1), 6:30 p.m.

The winner has a chance to earn a share of the divisional title if Central defeats Toms River South.

It would be the second divisional title in three seasons for Monmouth. It won the outright National Division championship in 2021. It would be Pinelands' first divisional championship since 1987, when it shared Class C with Shore.

Monmouth is 17th in South 2 and can give itself a chance to qualify with a win.

Pinelands is trying to clinch its second straight winning season. The Wildcats are 20th in South 3.

The Pick: Pinelands

NJ high school football: Friday, Oct. 20, 2023

AMERICAN DIVISION

Red Bank Catholic (6-1, 3-0) at Toms River North (7-1, 3-1), 6 p.m.

This game has been highly anticipated since last winter when it was announced Toms River North was moving up the American Division.

The biggest question is how much will standout senior quarterback and Stanford University recruit Micah Ford play after he returned from a knee injury sustained Sept. 15 late in Toms River North's 21-7 defeat and played a limited role in the Mariners' 49-0 win over Toms River South. Ford had four carries for 24 yards and scored his team's first touchdown on a 4-yard run and was 2-for-3 for 61 yards with a TD on a 49-yard screen pass to senior receiver Jeremiah Pruitt.

During Ford's absence, junior T.J. Valerio and Pruitt, as a "Wildcat'' split the time. Valerio got better each week during Ford's absence.

However, the presence of Ford, even if he does not play every down, makes a very talented Toms River North team even more dynamic.

Red Bank Catholic also has a Stanford recruit in senior wide receiver/defensive back Emanuel Ross. Ross is also a dynamic playmaker.

Toms River North's secondary, led by Pruitt and senior cornerback Tareq Council, is outstanding

Expect the game to be decided on both the offensive and defensive lines. Both teams are big and physical and tough to run the ball against.

Toms River North junior Ja'Elyne Matthews, senior Justin Kaye and Red Bank Catholic seniors Lorenzo Portella and Tyler Burnham are among the best linemen in the state.

Red Bank Catholic senior linebacker and Pitt recruit Davin Brewton is among the best in the state.

Expect a defensive slugfest. Red Bank Catholic is allowing 11.6 points a game. However, powerful Bergen Catholic put up 24 of the 81 points the Caseys have allowed.

Toms River North is allowing 7.8 points a game and has allowed just 13 points over the last four weeks.

The Mariners are third in South 5 but could move up because they will get their second Non-Public multiplier from this game. If the playoffs were seeded today, Toms River North would host Lenape in a Central Group 5 first-round game.

The Pick: Toms River North. But it really is a coin flip.

Donovan Catholic (6-1, 3-0) at Middletown South (3-3, 1-3), 7 p.m.

Donovan Catholic can either clinch a tie for the divisional title, or at worse, set up a divisional championship game with Red Bank Catholic next week, with a win, pending the result of the Red Bank Catholic-Toms River North game.

Middletown South is currently ninth in South Group 4 and would play a South Group 4 first-round game at Long Branch, if the playoffs were seeded right now. The Eagles will pick up their second Non-Public multiplier of the season. That could result in them moving up. Middletown South defeated the Griffins last season.

The Pick: Donovan Catholic

Rumson-Fair Haven (3-4, 1-3) at Wall (2-5, 0-4), 7 p.m.

Rumson-Fair Haven snapped a four-game losing streak last week with a 24-3 win over then-unbeaten and No. 4 ranked Marlboro.

The Bulldogs are second in South 2 and would host Delran in a Central Group 2 first-round game if the playoffs were seeded today.

Wall, which is coming off a bye, is ninth in South Group 3 and would play at Manasquan in a South Group 3 first-round game if the playoffs were seeded today.

The Pick: Rumson-Fair Haven

COLONIAL DIVISION

Manalapan (3-4, 2-2) at Red Bank (1-5, 0-3), 6:30 p.m.

Manalapan has been the hardest team in the Shore all season. It had lost three in a row before it upended then unbeaten and No. 4 Point Pleasant Boro in its last game on Oct. 6.

Manalapan is 13th in South 4 and would play at Winslow in a South 4 first-round game if the playoffs were seeded today.

Red Bank is 18th in South 4 but would give itself a chance to qualify with a win.

The Pick: Manalapan

Point Pleasant Boro (6-1, 3-1) at Raritan (2-5, 2-2), 7 p.m.

Point Boro can clinch at least a tie for the divisional title with a win. It can win the title outright with a win and a Long Branch win over Colts Neck on Saturday.

The Panthers are atop the South Group 2 power rankings and would be the No. 1 seed in South 2 and host Raritan if the playoffs were seeded today.

Raritan, 16th in South 2, could need a win to ensure qualification.

The Pick: Point Pleasant Boro

CONSTITUTION DIVISION

St. John Vianney (2-6, 2-2) at Asbury Park (0-6, 0-4), 6 p.m.

St. John Vianney is coming off a 41-27 defeat to Colts Neck and has wins over Ocean and Shore.

Asbury Park was defeated 27-22 by Manchester.

The Pick: St. John Vianney

Shore (5-2, 2-2) at Holmdel (7-0, 4-0), 7 p.m.

Holmdel, which is 7-0 for the first time since it started 9-0 in 2007, can clinch the divisional championship outright. The Hornets have already clinched a tie for their first divisional title since 2018. Holmdel is currently third in South 3 and would host Hopewell Valley in a Central 3 first-round game if the playoffs were seeded today.

Shore is fifth in South 1 and would host Clayton in a South 1 first-round game if the playoffs were seeded today.

The Pick: Holmdel

FREEDOM DIVISION

Howell (2-5, 1-3) at Lacey (2-6, 1-3), 6:30 p.m.

Howell, which got the Non-Public multiplier last week in a defeat to Red Bank Catholic, is 15th in South 5. Howell has a win over No. 16 Southern and would play at Hillsborough in a Central 5 first-round game if the playoffs were seeded today.

Lacey is coming off a defeat to unbeaten Brick Memorial.

The Pick: Howell

Southern (3-5, 1-3) at Jackson Memorial (6-1, 3-1), 6:30 p.m.

Jackson can still earn a share of the divisional championship with a win and a Middletown North win over Marlboro. The Jaguars are sixth in South 4 and would host Ocean City in a Central 4 first-round game if the playoffs were seeded today.

Southern has lost three straight and scored just eight points total in those games. The Rams, currently 16th in South 5, could need a win to ensure qualification. They would play at Cherokee in a South 5 first-round game if the playoffs were seeded today.

The good news for Southern is the current 17th team in South 5 is Williamstown, which is ineligible because it is 0-8.

The Pick: Jackson Memorial

INDEPENDENCE DIVISION

Brick (4-4, 2-2) at Brick Memorial (8-0, 4-0), 6 p.m.

A lot going on here.

Brick Memorial, 8-0 for the first time, can clinch the outright divisional championship with a win. The Mustangs last won a divisional title outright in 2010, when they won Class A South. They have already clinched a tie for the divisional title - their first since 2015 when they shared Class A South with Brick and Toms River North.

However, Brick has won nine of the last 10 meetings. Brick Memorial's lone win in that span came in 2020.

The Mustangs are third in South 4 and would host Pennsauken in a Central 4 first-round game, if the playoffs were seeded today.

Brick, which has lost four straight, is 19th in South 4 and needs a win to have a chance to qualify.

The Pick: Brick Memorial

Freehold Township (5-3, 3-1) at Barnegat (1-7, 0-4), 6:30 p.m.

Freehold Township is 11th in South 5 and would be at Rancocas Valley in a Central 5 first-round game if the playoffs were seeded today.

Barnegat's lone win was over Point Pleasant Beach and has already scheduled a game against Neptune at Barnegat on Oct. 26 in a regional consolation game.

The Pick: Freehold Township

LIBERTY DIVISION

Central (3-5, 1-3) at Toms River South (5-2, 4-0), 6 p.m.

Toms River South clinches the outright divisional title with a win. It has already clinched a tie for the divisional championship - its first divisional title since 2002, when it won the outright Constitution Division championship.

Toms River South is coming off the 49-0 defeat at Toms River North but had won five straight before that defeat. It is 12th in South 4 and would be at Hammonton in a first-round South 4 game if the playoffs were seeded today.

Central has defeated Neptune and Lakewood in the past two weeks.

The Pick: Toms River South

Toms River East (3-5, 1-3) at Neptune (2-4, 0-4), 6:30 p.m.

Both teams are coming off wins.

Toms River East defeated Point Pleasant Beach. Neptune snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over Freehold.

The Pick: Toms River East

PATRIOT DIVISION

Point Pleasant Beach (0-8, 0-4) at Jackson Liberty (2-5, 2-2), 6 p.m.

Jackson Liberty has lost three straight, including a defeat at Jackson Memorial last week.

Point Pleasant Beach was defeated by Group 4 Toms River East last week and a very good Keyport team the previous week.

The Pick: Jackson Liberty

NJ high school football: Saturday, Oct. 20, 2023

COLONIAL DIVISION

Long Branch (4-3, 1-2) at Colts Neck (4-3, 3-1), noon

Colts Neck can clinch at least a tie for the divisional title with a win. The Cougars can win the divisional championship outright with a win and a Point Boro defeat at Raritan.

The Cougars have scored 81 points over the last two weeks.

Major power points in South 4 are also at stake.

Colts Neck is seventh in South 4 and would host Shawnee in a Central 4 first-round game if the playoffs were seeded today.

Long Branch, which has won two straight, is eighth in South 4 and would host Middletown South in a South 4 first-round game if the playoffs were seeded today.

The Pick: Colts Neck

CONSTITUTION DIVISION

Ocean (3-4, 1-3) at Manasquan (3-3, 3-1), 1 p.m.

Manasquan can earn a share of the divisional championship with a win and a Shore win over Holmdel.

Manasquan is eighth in South 3 and would host Thanksgiving Day rival Wall in a South 3 first-round game if the playoffs were seeded today.

Ocean, which has lost four of its last five and scored just seven points in those defeats, is 15th in South 3 and would be at powerful Delsea in a Central 3 first-round game if the playoffs were seeded today.

The Pick: Manasquan

FREEDOM DIVISION

Middletown North (4-3, 2-2) at Marlboro (6-1, 4-0), noon

Marlboro can clinch the outright divisional championship with a win. The Mustangs have already clinched a tie for the divisional title - its first divisional championship since it won Class A North in 1994.

The Mustangs, who were defeated by Rumson-Fair Haven last week, are fifth in South 5 and would host West Windsor-Plainsboro in a South Group 5 first-round game if the playoffs were seeded today.

Middletown North has won two straight and is 12th in North Group 4 and would be at Mount Olive in a North 2 Group 4 first-round game if the playoffs were seeded today.

The Pick: Marlboro

INDEPENDENCE DIVISION

Matawan (3-5, 2-2) at Freehold (2-5, 1-3), noon

Matawan had its three-game winning streak snapped last week with a 42-7 defeat at Point Pleasant Boro.

The Huskies are 16th in South 3 and need a win to ensure qualification. Matawan would be at Timber Creek in a South 3 first-round game if the playoffs were seeded today.

Freehold has lost three straight.

The Pick: Matawan

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PATRIOT DIVISION

Manchester (6-2, 3-1) at Lakewood (2-5. 2-2), 1 p.m.

Manchester has clinched its first winning season since 2020 and its first six-win season since 2010. The Hawks have won two straight since defeats to strong Group 1 programs Keyport and Shore.

Lakewood was defeated 30-24 by Central last week. Manchester defeated the Piners last season.

The Pick: Manchester

NONCONFERENCE

KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy (1-6) at Keansburg (2-5), noon

Keansburg's two-game winning streak was snapped with a defeat to Keyport last week.

Kipp Cooper Norcross Academy was defeated 48-18 by Shore in Week 1 and by Point Pleasant Beach and Keansburg by a combined 92-16 last season.

The Pick: Keansburg

New Egypt (3-5) at Keyport (7-1), noon

These two are likely to be in the same division next season when New Egypt joins the Shore Conference.

Keyport, which has won six straight since a defeat to Freehold on Sept. 2, is 11th in South 1 and would be at Florence in a Central 1 first-round game if the playoffs were seeded today.

The Pick: Keyport

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore football: Experts pick games on biggest weekend of season