Thursday, November 20, 2003

1. DON BOSCO PREP (8-0) -- Bosco has not had a winning margin of less than 28 points all season and that was all the way back in Week 1 against Ridgewood. Since then the Ironmen have been on the long end of 56-7, 49-8,
67-0, 68-14, 42-0, 63-17 and 54-0 final results. This week Bosco gets a rematch against St. Peter's Prep, the No. 2 team in the state and in the Top 11, in the Parochial Group 4 semifinals. We'll see how many points actually make up the difference between the two spots in the rankings.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: No. 1 NEXT GAME: Saturday vs. St. Peter's Prep, 1

2. ST. PETER'S PREP (10-0) -- St. Peter's Prep has all the credentials. The Marauders are ranked No. 2 in the state, they won their fourth straight Hudson County championship earlier this season and have a balanced offensive attack with three quality running backs, a quarterback that can make important throws and playmakers on the outside. But waiting in the Parochial Group 4 semifinals is Don Bosco Prep, the same team that ended St. Peter's season last year in the same playoff round, 42-6. Have the Marauders closed the gap? Only the Super Computer™ knows and it won't be releasing its predictions until Friday.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: No. 2 NEXT GAME: Saturday at Don Bosco Prep, 1

3. RAMAPO (9-0) -- The Raiders have their annual playoff matchup against Wayne Hills coming up on Saturday, but got a scare in the first round last weekend against Cliffside Park. Gianluca Ragone ran for two scores and Charlie Granatell hooked up with Kyle Roeder for 80 yards for the other as Ramapo stayed unbeaten.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: No. 3 NEXT GAME: Saturday vs. Wayne Hills, 1

4. BERGEN CATHOLIC (8-1) -- Make it six straight wins for the Crusaders, who ran out to a big lead against Hudson Catholic, let the Hawks back in the game, then blew them out with a 28-point third quarter. Wolver Jean-Pierre ran wild in setting a BC playoff rushing record with 237 yards, production the Crusaders could use this week against top-seeded Notre Dame in the semifinals of the Parochial Group 4 playoffs.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: No. 4 NEXT GAME: Friday at Notre Dame, 7

5. ST. JOSEPH (8-1) -- The Green Kinghts knocked off Pope John, 33-14, in the opening round of the Parochial Group 3 state playoffs as they began their quest for a fifth straight state title. Ron Girault ran for 180 yards and two scores as SJR won its 12th straight playoff game. They will try to make it 13 straight this weekend against Holy Cross in the semifinals.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: No. 5 NEXT GAME: Saturday vs. Holy Cross, 1

6. PATERSON CATHOLIC (10-0) -- PC let Morris Catholic score first in last weekend's first round matchup in the Parochial Group 1 playoffs and then proceeded to score 65 of the game's next 72 points, including nine straight touchdowns. The Cougars can finish off a perfect season with a win this weekend in the state final against Bayley-Ellard.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: No. 7 NEXT GAME: Saturday vs. Bayley-Ellard, 1

7. WEST MILFORD (10-0) -- The Highlanders handled the role of playoff favorite just fine in a 28-7 win over Old Tappan last Friday night, overcoming a early deficit with four unanswered scores. The NHC-Skyline Division champions will try to make it a clean sweep of the Northern Valley school district when they host Demarest, which pulled one of the first round's biggest upsets when it defeated Teaneck on the road last Saturday night, in the North 1, Group 3 semifinals.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: 8 NEXT GAME: Friday vs. N/V Demarest, 7

8. HACKENSACK (7-2) -- The Comets gave up the first three points in their first round playoff matchup against North Bergen, then scored the final 48 on the way to the North 1, Group 4 semifinals. Next up is Ridgewood in a rematch of last season's section semifinal won by the Comets on a stopped two-point conversion in the third overtime.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: No. 9 NEXT WEEK: Saturday vs. Ridgewood, 1

9. RUTHERFORD (9-0) -- As a member of the North 2, Group 2 state playoff bracket, the Bulldogs are grouped with a bunch of unfamiliar opponents. They introduced themselves to Hackettstown in the opening round last weekend with a 50-7 win that was a close as the final score indicated. Senior quarterback Sean Ryan accounted for all seven TDs, throwing for four and running for the other three. Cranford is next up in the sectional semifinals.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: No. 10 NEXT GAME: Friday vs. Cranford, 7

10. RIDGEWOOD (7-2) -- The Maroons' lone losses of the season came to No. 1 Don Bosco Prep in the opening game of the season and to No. 5 St. Joseph and make their first appearance in the Top 11 after knocking off West Orange in the opening round of the North 1, Group 4 playoffs. Derek Pilipiak's three touchdowns against West Orange gave him 27 for his career, breaking the school record that was held by Damian Ross since 1985.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: N/R NEXT GAME: Saturday at Hackensack, 1

11. BECTON (9-0) -- The Wildcats won their 20th game in their last 21 outings last weekend in an 18-13 win over Cedar Grove. James Ross forced a fumble recovered by Mike Pappas that sealed the win in the waning seconds. Next up is Hoboken in the North 2, Group 1 sectional semifinals.
LAST WEEK'S RANK: 11 NEXT GAME: Saturday vs Hoboken, 1

DROPPED OUT: BAYONNE (8-2), CLIFTON (5-4)

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