Circle Your Calendars: Cutoff Weekend’s Top Friday Games Part II

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 8 is the cutoff for the NJSIAA playoff race. With several teams still vying to get in and even more jockeying for position, here are a few interesting matchups to key in on this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Big Central Conference</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Montgomery (8-0) at Linden (6-2)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pre-playoff matchup pits two North IV teams against each other as the #6 Cougars travel to take on the #8 Tigers. A win for either team could very well mean two playoff games. Defensively for Linden two junior edge-type players should be tone-setters if they expect to win. [player_tooltip player_id='1054403' first='Shahad' last='Brown'] has been very active as he has made 48 tackles on the season. He has also collected 3 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, and 4 fumble recoveries. Equally as disruptive has been teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1054407' first='Kevin' last='Taylor']. Taylor has made 52 tackles on the year with 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 16 tackles for loss. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Linden to come out on top, Brown and Taylor must get pressure on senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='380410' first='Michael' last='Schmelzer']. A starter for three seasons, Schmelzer is as efficient as ever going 107/172 for 1563 yards with 17 touchdowns to 5 interceptions. Schmelzer does more than keep you honest as he has 55 rushing yards for 300 yards and 9 touchdowns on the season. This favorite target? Fellow 2024 graduate [player_tooltip player_id='378556' first='Matthew' last='D'Avino']. The classmates and quarterback-receiver combo have hooked up for 52 catches, 856 yards, and 12 touchdowns for D'Avino. D'Avino has scored double-digit touchdowns the last two seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hillside (5-2) at Carteret (7-1)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two Group III teams on opposite sides of the bracket link up as the north's #4 Comets travel across county lines to take on the south's #9 Ramblers. This matchup features freakish athletes on both sides of the ball for either team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A win will ensure Carteret has a home game. Doing their best to ensure that happens will be athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1054378' first='Jahad' last='Thompson']. Thompson has slashed 14/210/2 on the ground and 25/341/3 through the air, while on defense he has made 18 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 1 interception. [player_tooltip player_id='1054381' first='Jeremiah' last='Serrano'] has been a reliable target for the Ramblers all year long as he has made 12 catches for 249 yards and scored 5 touchdowns. A threat to go the distance any time the ball is in his hands, Serrano has 2 kickoff returns for touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='376634' first='Hezekiah' last='Ragland'] does contribute on offense as a target (7/140/3), but defense is where he earns his bones. The standout defender has 81 tackles (48 solo), 1 fumble recovery, 1 pick-six, and 11 tackles for loss on the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In what I expect to be an explosive game, two senior receivers for the Comets could snap at any moment for big games. [player_tooltip player_id='380393' first='Darvens' last='Tunis'] has been shifty as he has made 12 catches for 346 yards and 5 scores on the season - a 28.7 YPC average. He can no doubt take the top off the defense, as he has scored touchdowns of 50-, 64-, and 80 yards on the season. [player_tooltip player_id='723586' first='Al-Jamir' last='Davis'] is a stud for the Comets. He has 23 catches for 332 yards and 3 scores on the season. If you watch his film, you can tell he is one of the top athletes on the field at any moment. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Super Football Conference</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Immaculata (5-1) at Weequahic (7-0)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For as dominant as Weequahic has been - outscoring their opponents 423-2 on the season (no typo) - they only sit 8th in the North I's playoff bracket. Relatively untested by their opponents, parochial school Immaculata will certainly present a major test for the Indians. All season long [player_tooltip player_id='379679' first='Rashawn' last='Marshall'] has been, without question, the most explosive player in the state. With every game obviously being a blowout, Marshall has had very limited carries on the season (72); however, he has turned that into 1215 yards and 22 touchdowns. Allow me to do the calculations, as this is a 16.875 yard per carry average. When they do decide to pass, the Indians look to sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='284071' first='Paul' last='Jones'] to sling it and make clean reads. He has been doing this all season long going 45/71 for 1071 yards with 19 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions. Jones has also slashed 15/171/5 on the ground. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Immaculata has gotten some Prep Redzone coverage in the past, so as I dive a bit deeper two-way lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1054402' first='Aaron' last='Melick'] might cause problems up front for the Indians. At 6'5" 270lbs Weequahic does not roster a player that size. Defensively, a junior, Melick faces numerous double teams but has produced 13 tackles (9 solos), 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and blocked 2 kicks. A freshman who is seeing early returns for the Trojans has been [player_tooltip player_id='1054410' first='Jahmier' last='Black']. In limited opportunities at running back, Black has slashed 11/119/3; however, from his spot in the secondary he is more active and has been coming along, making huge strides in the secondary. Black has made 25 tackles (11 solos), 1.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Fair Lawn (5-1) at Teaneck (5-1)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite neither the Cutters nor host Highwaymen being eligible for the playoffs due to being a part of the Super Football Conference's Ivy Red division, I felt it necessary to highlight two teams who are competing for a division crown - and possibly a "promotion" to a playoff-eligible division in 2024. For the visiting Cutters, [player_tooltip player_id='1054409' first='Nick' last='Shahinian'] has emerged as the lead back for his squad. In five games worth of stats, Shahinian has accrued 420 total yards of offense - 344 as their leading rusher. Fair Lawn's top target is [player_tooltip player_id='1054408' first='Edward' last='Guy']. Also in just five games worth if statistics, Guy has amassed 19 receptions for 364 yards and 4 scores. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unfortunately there is no available data to highlight top prospects from Teaneck. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Shore Conference</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Shore (5-2) at Holmdel (7-0)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top matchups across the state features South III's #3 seed Hornets host South I's #5 seed Blue Devils. With a loss on either side, I do not expect much of a shakeup; however, Holmdel has a shot to be a top seed in either bracket or top overall see; whereas Shore has a potential home game at stake.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two defenders that I was intrigued by, a bit on the younger side, for Holmdel were [player_tooltip player_id='1054401' first='Cipriano' last='Bodnar'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1054423' first='Alex' last='Reyes']. Bodnar, a junior, has been stout with 33 tackles on the season with 5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1054423' first='Alex' last='Reyes'] has been a tough defender in his own right, holding his own in the varsity lineup. Reyes has made 29 tackles, 19 of which have been solos. A playmaker, Reyes has made 3 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, forced 4 fumbles, and recovered 2 fumbles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shore has a few names that we are familiar with as well, but two linebackers are making noise locally for the Blue Devils. [player_tooltip player_id='1054650' first='Michael' last='Marotta'], a sophomore, has 3 tackles for loss and 2 sacks in four games. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1054649' first='Tommy' last='Schroeder'] has been a quality player for Shore as well. In six games, Schroeder has made 45 tackles (20 solos), with 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">West Jersey Football League</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Millville (6-1) at Cherokee (6-1)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the clear-cut game of the week, South IV's #2 seed travels in to Marlton to take on South V's #1 seed Cherokee. I do not suspect a loss hurts either team all that much, but unquestionably each team wants the road to Rutgers go to through their city. Starting with the host Chiefs, [player_tooltip player_id='1041986' first='Murad' last='Campfield'] has been a workhorse this season. Campfield a junior, has slashed 136/813/8 on the year, including 5, 100-yard rushing games. Defensively [player_tooltip player_id='462997' first='Austin' last='Lenart'], a senior, has been hyper-productive for Cherokee. The talent has had 66 tackles on the season with 3 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, and 1 school-and-score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Millville, a team I covered extensively through camp season, has had two players emerge as key components to their well-oiled machine. [player_tooltip player_id='1054404' first='Demere' last='White'] appears to have won the title of lead back, as the junior has rushed for 378 yards and 4 scores on 57 carries this season. An interesting defender who has carved himself out a role in the linebacker corps is [player_tooltip player_id='829418' first='Xavier' last='McBride']. McBride has made 26 tackles on the season, including 3 tackles for loss and 1 forced fumble. Further, McBride is second on the team in sacks with 4 for the Thunder Bolts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Pleasantville (6-1) at Middle Township (7-1)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jockeying for position in South II's playoff bracket will be going on in this matchup as the #11 Panthers welcome in the #7 Greyhounds. Both teams are locks for the state playoffs, but will the Greyhounds rise up enough to earn two potential home games? Will the Panthers finagle their way into the top 8 for one home game?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tri-sport athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1054400' first='Remi' last='Rodriguez'] is the leading rusher for Middle Township this year. He has scored 11 times and rushed for 961 yards on 121 attempts, with 6, 100-yard-or-better games and 4 multi-score games. Rodriguez runs against a tough, fellow 2025 graduate [player_tooltip player_id='354984' first='Micah' last='McAnaney'] in practice. One of the Panther's top linebackers has made 36 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, intercepted 2 passes, and returned one interception for a score this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1054424' first='Ahmad' last='Jones'] lead the offensive attack for the Greyhounds. Jones, just a sophomore, is actually in his second season as the starting quarterback for Pleasantville. Jones has gone 41/73 with 674 yards and 8 touchdowns to 3 interceptions this season. A chess piece on the defensive side for Pleasantville is [player_tooltip player_id='1029739' first='DeJuan' last='Martin']. Martin lines up either at 'backer or with his hand in the dirt for the Greyhounds. The results have been stellar all season long, as Martin has made 29 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->