November
10, 2006
Well ladies and gents, it is that time of year where the leaves are falling, Rutgers is pulling off major upsets at home, and us computers are getting all revved up. Why you ask? Although we’ve had a batch of warm weather this week, playoff football is upon us. Since we have been so successful in picking winners in the past, it’s time to power up and pick this year’s section champions.
For those new to the genius of the Super Computer™, click here to learn about the Sussex County Rule. For the rest of you, read on to see which football teams will be hoisting the trophies in a few weeks.
North 1, Group 1
Teams
We’ve Seen:
(1) Bogota
(3) Glen Rock
(4) Hasbrouck Heights
(5) Pascack Hills
(8) Cresskill
Teams We Haven’t:
(2) Ridgefield Park
(6) Mountain Lakes
(7) Cedar Grove
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DAN
CROWLEY |
Player To Watch: Dan Crowley, Glen Rock
Crowley, a senior quarterback, is the general who can lead a team to victory with either his arms or with his legs. He has a tendency to try and force the action at times, which can lead to turnovers. But when he’s hot, there aren’t many that are better in the clutch. If he heats up early with a slew of offensive weapons around him, Glen Rock will be tough to stop.
Dark Horse: Cresskill
You can’t be more of a dark horse than being the lowest seed in the section. The Cougars had a slow start to the season. But victories against Hasbrouck Heights and a shutout of reigning Parochial Group 1 champion St. Mary’s (Ruth) shows that their stingy defense will more often than not keep them in the game.
First-Round Winners: Bogota, Glen Rock, Pascack Hills, Cedar Grove
Finalists: Bogota, Glen Rock
Champion: Bogota
The Bucs have the complete package on both sides of the ball. All the pieces are in place from a solid offensive and defensive line to scoring threats in Shane Stanek, Ray Carrasco, and Dan Brown. But the key to their offense will be the play of quarterback James Lynch, who may be the most underrated player in the area.
North 2, Group 1
Teams
We’ve Seen:
(1)
Hoboken
(7) Wood-Ridge
Teams
We Haven’t:
(2)
David Brearley
(3) Belvidere
(4) Verona
(5) Secaucus
(6) Palisades Park
(8) New Providence
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DAMIEN
BATES |
Player to Watch: Damien Bates, Hoboken
Bates is a 5’11” 200 lb. back who can run over, through, or around just about any defense in the state. The senior H-back is the best in North Jersey, and possibly the state. Even with teams potentially stacking the box to stop Bates, no team has even come close yet and it’s doubtful one will in this section.
Dark Horse: Hoboken
We’re so convinced that Hoboken will roll through this section that we can’t even pick a dark horse, even though there are several quality teams in the bracket.
First-Round Winners: Hoboken, Belvidere, Verona, Wood-Ridge
Finalists: Hoboken, Belvidere
Champion: Hoboken
Bates and receiver Duval Kamara are the top two skill position players by far in this section. Mix that with solid quarterback play from Norman Smith and a mammoth offensive line led by 6’6” 345 lb. guard Bearthur Johnson and you have a virtually unstoppable team for a Group 1 school. Originally, the Super Computer thought that no team would stay within 35 points of the Red Wings. But in punching up the numbers, I have backed off that stance a bit. No team will stay within 28 points of the Red Wings.
North 1, Group 2
Teams
We’ve Seen:
(1)
Mahwah
(3) Pascack Valley
(4) Tenafly
(5) Westwood
Teams
We Haven’t:
(2)
Hopatcong
(6) Kittatinny
(7) Ramsey
(8) Dumont
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MAHWAH'S
GREG STRIPE |
Player to Watch: Joe Martinek, Hopatcong
Martinek runs with the toughness of a bull and the speed of a gazelle. He holds the state record for rushing yards in a career with 7,456 and is just 54 yards away from his second consecutive 2,000-yard season. He is getting several Division 1 looks and with good reason.
Dark Horse: Ramsey
Coming off a win over previously undefeated Cedar Grove, the Rams are flying high and come in with nothing to lose. They have a tough a first-round game against Martinek-led Hopatcong. But if they can get by that game, they have a chance to run the table and upset their way to a section title.
First-Round Winners: Mahwah, Hopatcong, Pascack Valley, Tenafly
Finalists: Mahwah, Hopatcong
Champion: Mahwah
The final between Mahwah and Hopatcong is going to be a close one without question with a stout Thunderbirds defense trying to contain Martinek. If Martinek goes nuts, it will be Hopatcong’s crown to lose. But when in doubt, always go back to the
North 1, Group 3
Teams
We’ve Seen:
(1)
Teaneck
(2) Wayne Hills
(6) Passaic Valley
(7) Northern Valley/Old Tappan
Teams
We Haven’t:
(3)
Wayne Valley
(4) Parsippany Hills
(5) Roxbury
(8) Morris Hills
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RASHAD
WHITE |
Players to Watch: Rashad White, Teaneck; Ray Van Peenan, Wayne Hills
Both were highly regarded tailbacks coming into this year with loads of talent. They are both players to watch but for different reasons. White has emerged from a raw talent to a more polished back that has a better grasp of the offense. He has used that knowledge to shred opposing defenses throughout the year with a mixture of power and speed. Van Peenan led the state in scoring last year until a knee injury in a pre-season game derailed him for the first half of the season. He has returned, but on guts alone. The senior is not playing at 100% and has yet to have a breakout game. For the Patriots to repeat as section champs, they will need a consistent running attack. With teams starting to key on Dan DeCicco, that task falls mainly on the shoulders of Van Peenan.
Dark Horse: Wayne Valley
It’s tough to call a third seed as a dark horse. But when the one and two seeds are Teaneck and Wayne Hills, everyone else is a longshot to win the title. The Indians have been solid under head coach Brian O’Connor, but have flown under the radar all year. They have one of the most diverse players in the county and in this section in Matt Dortch, who can beat you running the football or running routes as a slot receiver. The junior has 16 touchdowns on the season and over 1,300 total yards of offense. Versatile senior Bob Bishop is a leader on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Charlie Rigoglioso will look to erase the only blemish on the Indians’ record, a 17-16 loss to Passaic Valley, with a first-round victory over the Hornets.
First-Round Winners: Teaneck, Wayne Hills, Wayne Valley, Teaneck
Finalists: Teaneck, Wayne Hills
Champion: Wayne Hills
Sure they have a backup quarterback at the helm and Van Peenan is still coming along from his knee injury. But as the old cliché goes, ‘Defense Wins Championships’; and there are few teams that can match up with the Patriots. Led by Dave Ogden and Matt Johnson, the Patriots for the past two years have dominated the line of scrimmage. When a game has to be won in the trenches, the Patriots will find a to make a push at the initial point of attack and that will be the difference.
North 1, Group 4
Teams
We’ve Seen:
(1) North Bergen
(3)
Paterson Eastside
(8) Clifton
Teams
We Haven’t:
Everyone
Else
(2)
West Orange
(4) Randolph
(5) Bergen Tech
(6) East Orange
(7) Bloomfield
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EVAN
RODRIGUEZ |
Player to Watch: Evan Rodriguez, North Bergen
Rodriguez seems like he has been in high school forever. Although that is understandable since he has started every game from his freshman year until now. One thing missing from the Division 1 prospect’s resume is a state championship. Whether it’s as a versatile quarterback or as a hard-hitting safety, he seemingly has his hand in every big play over the course of a game. At 6’3” 215 lb., the senior can beat you in a multitude of ways, but he usually just does it with his deceptive speed.
Dark Horse: Bergen Tech
The talk before the season was how Bergen Tech would get embarrassed now that they have moved from the BCSL-Olympic, largely Group 1 schools, to the rugged NNJIL. But it is the Knights who are doing the laughing now with their first North 1, Group 4 berth. With nothing to lose and a rock solid back in Donny Londono, if the Knights can control the clock, they will be in position to pull off a few upsets.
First-Round Winners: North Bergen, Randolph, Paterson Eastside, Bloomfield
Finalists: North Bergen, Paterson Eastside
Champion: North Bergen
Rodriguez has a tendency to be a one-man show for the Bruins on sheer talent alone. But the Bruins have three other offensive weapons in Chris Macias, Eric Selgado, and Jean Mentor, who are all capable of breaking a big play at any time. For the Bruins to win the title, they will have to play consistent defense. Holding a powerful Hudson Catholic attack to just 14 points, seven of those coming in the final minute, bodes well for another strong playoff run under longtime head Vin Ascolese, who has over 300 victories to his credit.
Parochial Group 1
Teams
We’ve Seen:
None.
Teams
We Haven’t:
(1)
Paterson Catholic
(2) St. Mary’s (Rutherford)
(3) St. Joseph’s of the Palisades (West New York)
Player to Watch: Yessy Tejada, St. Joe’s of the Palisades
Tejada is one of the area’s finest athletes and will need to put on a display if the Blue Jays are going to pull off an upset in their first go-round in the state tournament. The shifty senior tailback is currently in the top 5 in the state with 22 TD’s. He will have his hands full against a St. Mary’s defense that is chomping at the bit after a loss to Cresskill last week.
Dark Horse: Um, St. Joe’s of the Palisades?
Tough to pick a dark horse when a section has only three teams in it, so the SuperComputer went with the easiest choice. It doesn’t get much easier than going with the Blue Jays, who didn’t even have a football program when Tejada was a freshman.
Finalists: Paterson Catholic, St. Mary’s (Ruth.)
Champion: Paterson Catholic
The Cougars just continue to wear teams down with the physicality of their play at the line of scrimmage. Markeece Preston is a huge tackle who paves the way for a bevy of quality rushers, led by Jerome Mack. No matter who they play in the final, the Cougars will beat their opponent into submission with old-fashioned, smash mouth football.
Parochial Group 3
Teams
We’ve Seen:
(4)
Hudson Catholic
(6) St. Joseph’s (Montvale)
Teams
We Haven’t:
(1)
Immaculata
(2) Pope John XXIII
(3) Holy Cross
(5) Holy Spirit
(7) Delbarton
(8) St. John Vianney
 |
DARIUS
KINNEY |
Player to Watch: Darius Kinney, Hudson Catholic
Even with opposing teams keying in on him, Kinney is a threat to go the distance every time he gets his hands on the ball. He is arguably the fastest player in North Jersey and has a knack for making the most out of a busted play. The senior is an all-county tailback, but is an even bigger threat on special teams when he has an open field to work with.
Dark Horse: St. Joe’s (Mont.)
I have another pick in mind here, which you will see about a paragraph from now. But when can you ever say that the Green Knights are a dark horse? They have won seven consecutive state titles coming into this year. They raced off to a 4-0 start, until head coach Tony Karcich ran into his longest losing streak of his illustrious career. They are riding a four-game skid heading into a first-round game with perennial powerhouse Holy Cross. But if they can get by that game, they will have their championship swagger back. That is always a dangerous weapon to carry in your back pocket during the month of November.
First-Round Winners: Immaculata, Hudson Catholic, Holy Cross, Delbarton
Finalists: Hudson Catholic, Delbarton
Champion: Delbarton
When punching up the numbers here, it is come to my attention that the winner of the Pope John-Delbarton game is going to win this section. Pope John has a phenomenal running back in Jeremy Tucker, one the state’s highest scorers in its history. But an early drubbing at the hands of St. Peter’s Prep and some close ballgames have let the Green Wave limp into the states without much fanfare. What they do have is plenty of senior leadership. The biggest of those leaders being quarterback Jake McBride. The 6’3” 200 lb. Right-hander is as streaky as they come and can pick apart any defense when he is on his game. Terry White has taken the load off of him by running the football well lately, which will help particularly against Pope John. The Super Computer had to show that it has some personality here, so here’s our upset special.
Parochial Group 4
Teams
We’ve Seen:
(1)
Don Bosco Prep
(2) St. Peter’s Prep
(4) Paramus Catholic
(7) Bergen Catholic
Teams
We Haven’t:
(3)
Seton Hall Prep
(5) Notre Dame
(6) Red Bank Catholic
(8) Camden Catholic
 |
GUY
GERMINARIO |
Players to Watch: Justin Trattou, Don Bosco; Will Hill, St. Peter’s Prep
The Notre Dame-bound Trattou is a physical specimen at defensive end. He can stop the run with ease, but he his more known for his ability to get to the quarterback. Any signal-caller who drops back to pass against the Ironmen will likely have an eye on where Trattou is at all times. At 6’5” 260 lbs., he is rare mix of sheer power, amazing agility, and speed all rolled up into one.
Hill is possibly the most elusive player in the state when he gets his hands on the football, and that seems to happen all the time, even on defense and special teams. “The Thrill” as he is affectionately known, has 11 TD’s this year, with them being scored in a variety of ways. He will be spotted all over the field from quarterback to tailback to wide receiver on offense; and at either cornerback of safety on defense.
Dark Horse: None
While there are a slew of solid teams in this section, Don Bosco and St. Peter’s Prep are far and away above the rest of the field. The Super Computer™ tried to compute things in such a way in where an upset is possible, but always came same result: the Ironmen and the Marauders in the section final.
First-Round Winners: Don Bosco, St. Peter’s, Seton Hall Prep, Paramus Catholic
Finalists: Don Bosco Prep, St. Peter’s Prep
Champion: St. Peter’s Prep
This is a toss-up between possibly the state’s top two teams. Matt Simms will get another shot to shine under the bright spotlight, but it is running back Guy Germinario who will have to support Simms with turnover-free football. The Marauders will counter with another speedy runner in Shariff Harris. The difference makers for the Marauders will come on defense with Will Thompson and Ravi Paradahang. They are two of the most fundamentally solid tacklers you’ll see and they can cause an opposing offense fits.
This game, like last year’s, will go right down to the wire. This time, with the Marauders winning it late on the offensive side of the ball.
Because teams from outside Bergen, Hudson and Passaic County are not readers of our site, we anger less people by picking against them and we get to 'Root, Root, Root for the home teams.'
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