The opening weeks of the high school football season brought significant changes to the New Jersey Super 25 rankings.
Morris Knolls, Old Tappan, Paramus Catholic, Somerville and Washington Township all joined the rankings after strong starts to the season.
There are two battles of ranked teams coming up this weekend: Millville will face Mainland in a rematch of last year's South Group 4 sectional final, and St. Augustine visits Cherokee.
Every week, voters from across the Network will rank the top teams in the state. The rankings will be posted every Tuesday morning.
25. Somerville (2-0)
Public ranking: 16
The Pioneers opened the season with a 21-20 win over then-No. 25 Hillsborough and followed it up with a 32-14 victory over Cranford. Josh Rodriguez led the way with three touchdowns, including an 80-yard run and a 40-yard catch from Brenden Pacheco.
Next game: Friday at Montgomery (0-2)
24. Morris Knolls (1-0)
Public ranking: 15
The Golden Eagles overcame a 10-0 halftime deficit to force overtime and earn a thrilling 27-26 win over West Morris on Friday night. Bobby Brickner's 6-yard touchdown run in overtime put Morris Knolls up by seven. Jaylin Jones intercepted a two-point conversion attempt to seal the victory.
Next game: Saturday vs. Bridgewater-Raritan (1-1)
23. Glassboro (1-0)
Public ranking: 14
The Bulldogs bolted to a 22-point lead in the opening 13 minutes of play but had to settle for a 22-12 win over Haddon Heights on Saturday. While it waits for running back Kenny Smith to become eligible following his transfer from Hammonton, Glassboro’s high-powered offense relied on junior Amari Sabb, who caught five passes for 121 yards, including an 89-yard TD.
Next game: Saturday at Penns Grove (1-1)
22. Northern Highlands (1-1)
Public ranking: 13
The Highlanders responded from a disappointing 23-8 loss to Washington Township with Friday’s 31-6 victory over Wayne Valley. Senior Nate Johnson threw for 194 yards and two TDs, and ran for 71 yards and two scores for the Bergen County school. Senior Shane Hanlon caught seven passes for 110 yards, including a 51-yard score.
Next game: Friday at Hackensack (1-1)
21. Old Tappan (2-0)
Public ranking: 12
The Golden Knights opened with a 19-7 win over West Essex and continued with Friday’s 44-0 victory over River Dell. The Bergen County school has two quality QBs in sophomore Zach Miceli and senior Alex Orecchio. Miceli threw for 201 yards and three TDs, and Orecchio threw for 30 yards and a score, caught a pass, converted all three extra points and intercepted a pass.
Next game: Friday vs. Bergenfield (0-1)
20. Holy Spirit (1-1)
Non-public ranking: 9
After absorbing a 35-0 loss to Millville in the season opener, the Spartans got back on track with an impressive 39-0 home win over Oakcrest. Senior Jachere Ward rushed for three touchdowns and Emanuel Gerena returned a punt for a score.
Next game: Friday at Hammonton (0-2)
19. Washington Township (2-0)
Public ranking: 11
The Minutemen marched to their first 2-0 start since 2021 with victories over Northern Highlands and Pennsauken by a combined 51-15 score. Junior running back Colin Beeler rushed 25 times in each of the two games, piling up 279 yards and five touchdowns. Junior linebacker Andrew Osborn has registered four of Township’s seven sacks through the opening two contests.
Next game: Friday vs. Delsea (0-1)
18. Passaic Tech (2-0)
Public ranking: 10
The two-time defending Group 5 state finalists find a way to survive, opening with a 14-10 victory over Lenape and Friday’s 28-21 win over West Orange. Sophomore Ian McDuffie had a stellar performance against West Orange, catching five passes for 115 yards and three TDs, making eight tackles and forcing a key fumble for the Passaic County program.
Next game: Friday at Paterson Eastside (0-2)
17. Cherokee (2-0)
Public ranking: 9
Following a workmanlike 30-0 season-opening victory against Middletown South on Aug. 30, Cherokee registered a 27-10 win over Lenape, improving to 2-0 for the second straight season. Sophomore quarterback Connor Burti rushed for three touchdowns while senior running back Murad Campfield ran for a career-high 208 yards with a TD.
Next game: Friday vs. St. Augustine (2-0)
16. Paramus Catholic (2-0)
Non-public ranking: 8
The Paladins are averaging a point per minute, opening with a 48-47 win over St. Peter’s Prep and following with Saturday’s 49-29 victory at Pope John. Senior Xavier Williams ran for 264 yards and six TDs against Pope John and has more than 500 yards in two games for the Bergen County program. Senior Crew Colon threw for 196 yards, including a 5-yard score to junior Jordan Moreta.
Next game: Sept. 21 at St. Joseph (Montvale) (1-1)
15. Mainland (2-0)
Public ranking: 8
The Mustangs extended the state’s longest current winning streak to 16 with victories over Atlantic City and Hammonton to start the season. It’s one victory shy of the program record set during in 2002 and 2003. After scoring 603 points last fall, Mainland has posted 67 over its first two games.
Next game: Friday at Millville (2-0)
14. St. Thomas Aquinas (1-1)
Non-public ranking: 7
The Trojans split two games against out of state opponents to open the season. After falling to Mount St. Joseph (Md.), 36-26, in Week 0, St. Thomas Aquinas used a big second half to beat Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.), 53-28. Josiah Zayas had two interceptions and more than 100 receiving yards in each contest, with four touchdowns.
Next game: Friday at North Brunswick (0-2)
13. Rumson-Fair Haven (1-0)
Public ranking: 7
Senior quarterback Owen O'Toole threw TD passes of 62 and 31 yards to Nick Thomas, and 18 yards to Nick Economou as the Bulldogs opened their season by avenging a defeat from last season with a 41-28 win over Point Pleasant Borough. Junior running back Kellen Murray had TD runs of 3, 1 and 56 yards.
Next game: Friday vs. Marlboro (1-1)
12. Camden (2-0)
Public ranking: 6
After posting a 39-17 road win over Virginia’s St. Christopher on Aug. 30, the Panthers returned to the Garden State with a dominating 30-0 win over Kingsway. Mahki Brunson threw for 173 yards and a score while Christian Braxton rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown to power the Camden offense. Talib Shakir had an interception for the second straight game to highlight the shutout. It’s the Panthers’ first 2-0 start since 2019.
Next game: Friday at Shawnee (2-0)
11. St. Augustine (2-0)
Non-public ranking: 6
After a 35-6 season-opening win over Donovan Catholic on Aug. 30, the Hermits rode a stellar defensive effort to a 29-0 shutout of Paul VI on Friday. St. Augustine recorded five takeaways and yielded just 26 yards with two first downs (one on a penalty) to the Paul VI offense. Julian Turney rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown, and Luke Tanzola booted three field goals for the Hermits.
Next game: Friday at Cherokee (2-0)
10. Phillipsburg (1-0)
Public ranking: 5
Jah’quil Dooley ripped off a 79-yard touchdown run on Phillipsburg’s first play from scrimmage and the Stateliners cruised to a 44-17 win over Westfield in their season opener last week. Dooley and Sam Dech each rushed for over 100 yards, and Jett Genovese threw two touchdown passes to Felix Matos.
Next game: Friday vs. Hunterdon Central (2-0)
9. Mount Olive (1-0)
Public ranking: 4
Tyler Cumming rushed 13 times for 105 yards and four touchdowns as the Marauders dominated in a 48-0 win over Roxbury in a rematch of last season's North 2, Group 4 sectional final. Quarterback Jake Asbury completed 16 of 21 passes for 261 yards in the victory.
Next game: Friday vs. Randolph (1-0)
8. Winslow (2-0)
Public ranking: 3
The Eagles soared to victories over Montclair and Highland by a combined 74-14 score. Ausar Heard and Ben Carter each had two sacks and Jasiah Bullock recovered a fumble during Winslow’s 21-0 shutout against Montclair. The offense took center stage against Highland as quarterback Jalen Parker threw for five touchdowns, two each to NaKeem Powell and Nyqir Helton. Powell also returned the game’s opening kickoff 75 yards for a score.
Next game: Friday at Williamstown (1-1)
7. Don Bosco (1-1)
Non-public ranking: 5
The Ironmen rebounded from a 21-7 loss at Archibshop Hoban (Ohio) with Friday’s 44-0 victory at Red Bank Catholic. The Bergen County team ran for more than 200 yards and five TDs on Friday, with junior Colin Brennan rushing for 131 yards and a TD, and junior Dante DeLuca scoring twice. Senior Deven Sisler ran for a TD and threw a 20-yard score to sophomore Zakai Murphy.
Next game: Friday vs. St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) (0-1)
6. Toms River North (2-0)
Public ranking: 2
The Mariners outscored their first two opponents 86-2. They defeated Downingtown East (Pa.), 31-2, then Toms River East, 55-0. Senior quarterback T.J. Valerio threw three TD passes and ran for a score against Downingtown East (Pa.), and threw a TD pass and ran for a TD against Toms River East. Senior running back Mordecai Ford ran for three TDs against Toms River East.
Next game: Friday vs. Jackson Memorial (2-0)
5. Delbarton (1-1)
Non-public ranking: 4
The Green Wave spoiled a 17-0 lead and dropped a 27-17 game on Saturday against Malvern Prep (Pa.). Delbarton got a good performance from quarterback Jadon Prinzivalli, who completed 18 of 31 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown. Kyle Checchio led the Green Wave defense with 18 tackles and a sack.
Next game: Friday at Monsignor Farrell (N.Y.)
4. DePaul (2-0)
Non-public ranking: 3
The Spartans defeated Maryland power Good Counsel on Friday, 28-17, after opening the season with a 47-14 victory over Pope John. Against Good Counsel, junior Derek Zammit for 242 yards, including an 11-yard TD to senior Dez Jones and a 59-yard score to senior Elijah Burress. Senior Nolan James ran for 174 yards and his 3-yard TD put the game out of reach.
Next game: Friday at Cardinal Hayes (N.Y.) (1-0)
3. Millville (2-0)
Public ranking: 1
The Thunderbolts are flying high out of the gate, outscoring opponents by a combined 84-6 score during wins over Holy Spirit and Atlantic City. Sophomore quarterback Robert O’Connor, a transfer from Paul VI, has thrown for 401 yards, with six touchdowns and one pick, in his first two starts. Alabama-bound Lotzeir Brooks has four TD catches in two games, raising his career total to a state-record 55.
Next game: Friday vs. Mainland (2-0)
2. St. Joseph (Montvale) (1-1)
Non-public ranking: 2
The Green Knights followed a 31-21 loss to Maryland power St. Frances with Saturday’s 28-7 victory at Seton Hall Prep. The Bergen County school amassed more than 400 total yards against Seton Hall, including 270 yards through the air. Junior transfer Lamar Best threw for 172 yards and three scores, including a 47-yarder to senior Mekhi Rossignol in the first quarter to provide a 14-0 lead.
Next game: Saturday at Stepinac (N.Y.) (0-2)
1. Bergen Catholic (1-1)
Non-public ranking: 1
The Crusaders bounced back from a 27-14 loss to national power IMG Academy (Fla.) with Friday’s 35-21 win at nationally-ranked Massillon (Ohio). Junior transfer Najee Calhoun ran for 237 yards and two TDs. Senior Dominic Campanile threw for 107 yards, including a 55-yard score to senior Quincy Porter in the first quarter. Porter had six catches for 84 yards.
Next game: Saturday at Iona Prep (N.Y.) (1-1)
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES (listed alphabetically): Pascack Valley (2-0), Ramapo (0-1), Ridgewood (2-0), St. Peter's Prep (1-1), West Morris (1-1)
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Football: 5 new teams join latest New Jersey Super 25 rankings
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