Monday, September 15, 2003

1. Don Bosco Prep (1-0) -- Don Bosco Prep reached the top spot in the NJS.com Top 11 last September 30 and hasn't really come close to relinquishing the position since. Bosco is expected to post another undefeated State championship season with Division 1 players aplenty on both sides of the ball.

Mike Teel is the area's top quarterback, Brian Toal is its best linebacker and Marquise Liverpool might be the State's most explosive player. Maybe Hackensack has a shot and you can never count out Bergen Catholic or St. Joseph Regional, but a big upset this season would be for the Ironmen starters to have to play a meaningful fourth quarter.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: There was none. NEXT GAME: Friday vs. Montclair, 7

2. St. Peter's Prep (1-0) -- Prep lost a Division 1 quarterback and a host of other talented players that led the Marauders to a second straight Hudson County championship and an 10-1 record last season. But some transfers from the now-defunct Bishop Francis like Kee-Ayre and James Tindall, and the solid first start by junior Ryan Boysen, who takes over at QB for Joe Dailey shows there is still plenty of talent in the system.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: There was none. NEXT GAME: Friday at Hoboken, 7

3. RAMAPO (1-0) -- Normally at this time of the year we would be counting the days to the Green Raiders' annual league-title-or-nothing matchup against Wayne Hills in the final regular season game. But with the Patriots loss to Indian Hills on Friday night, Ramapo is clearly in the catbird's seat in the race for this season's NBIL Division 1 title.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: There was none. NEXT GAME: Friday vs. Bergenfield, 7

4. HACKENSACK (1-0) -- Being pointed to as one of the few teams that has a shot to knock off No.1 Don Bosco Prep is compliment enough for the Comets. Hackensack was a dropped pass in the corner of the end zone from taking the North 1, Group 4 State title last sesaon and with both Jean Beljour and Davon Smart returning in the backfield, the Comets are the early line favorite to take that title this year.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: There was none. NEXT WEEK: Sept. 27 at Eastside

5. ST. JOSEPH (1-0) -- The Green Knights have No. 1 Don Bosco Prep ahead of them in the NJILL Division C pecking order, but that does not mean all is lost. St. Joseph is working on a string of four straight Parochial Group 3 State titles and have a legitimate shot to make it five in a row.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: There was none. NEXT GAME: Friday at Bloomfield, 7

6. BAYONNE (1-0) -- Even with the Smith twins -- Brandon and Bryan -- graduated from last season's State championship backfield and also with the loss of quarterback Shawn Ellerson, the Bees should have plenty of offense. Ken Jaworski is the QB in front of Jerome Hayes, the talented junior runner. If Saturday night's 45-0 blanking of Snyder is any indication, Bayonne, which won North 1, Group 4 last season, is ready to contend again this year after a move to the North 2, Group 4.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: There was none. NEXT GAME: Friday vs. Union Hill, 7

7. BERGEN CATHOLIC (1-0) -- When you see Sam Johnson on TV catching touchdown passes for Rutgers in a hostile environment at Michigan State and realize that he is just the tip of the iceberg as far graduation losses go, it becomes obvious that BC has a heck of a lot of retooling to do. So far the replacements have done pretty well. Brad Dussault rushed for 84 yards and two TDS and senior quarterback Chris Allison hit on 10 of his 21 passes for 179 yards in a 36-0 victory over Passaic on Saturday.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: There was none. NEXT GAME: Saturday at Eastside, 1:00

8. GLEN ROCK (1-0) -- In its first game since winning its fifth straight State title, Glen Rock blanked Manchester 22-0 on Saturday with more run than shoot. With its entire offensive line -- Doug Muller, Zach Emery, Harry Dorost, Dan Guariglia and Bill Berger -- returning starters and seniors, the Rockers' offense is again potent. The next two weeks will tell a lot about the B-PSL Carpenter Division as the Panthers travel to Paterson Catholic and Saddle Brook, their main competition.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: There was none. NEXT GAME: Saturday at Paterson Catholic, 1:00

9. PASSAIC VALLEY (1-0) -- Nick Varcadipane is the real deal. Of the 102 yards that PV gained in the first half of its 30-9 opening night win over Wayne Valley, Varcadipane accounted for 65 of those. He also caught three passes for 58 yards, rushed for a pair of scores and on defense he recorded 10 tackles, a sack, and forced a fumble. The QB tandem of Brandon Schreck and Pat Reilly also played well and, with Wayne Hills' shocking loss to Indian Hills in Week 1, PV is squarely in the running for the title of Passaic County's best team.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: There was none. NEXT GAME: Saturday vs. West Orange, 1:00

10. LAKELAND (0-1) -- One game, one loss and the Lancers still make the Top 11. How could that be? It's because Lakeland had a 14-10 lead over Delbarton, a team ranked in the State's Top 5, with just three minutes to go in Saturday's season opener before the Green Wave punched in the winning points in a 17-4 victory. Lakeland quarterback Eric Santagato was 22-of-26 passing for 280 yards in the near upset.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: There was none. NEXT GAME: Friday at Millburn, 7:00 p.m.

11t. EVERY OTHER TEAM (1-0) -- that started the new season with a win.

11t. EVERY TEAM (0-0) -- that has yet to start the season.

DROPPED OUT: NONE

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