Circle Your Calendars: Cutoff Weekend’s Top Saturday Games

<!-- 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>Summit (6-1) at St. Joseph (Metuchen) (5-2)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#2 Summit will need a win and a little bit of help to become more than just the Hilltoppers of their town - with their sights set on rising to the top of the hill in the North III playoff bracket. St. Joe's has been one of the hotter teams as of late, rattling off four wins in a row. In what is sure to be an ugly, wet, and sloppy game by two teams who prefer to run the ball, the host Hawks will look to two skill players to lead the way. [player_tooltip player_id='1055360' first='Jahcir' last='Styles'] has been Joe's Wing-T fullback all season long and leads the team with 359 yards. He has scored twice and ran the rock 67 times this season. The senior also spells at linebacker as he has made 19.5 tackles (13 solos), 3.5 tackles for loss, and forced 1 fumble. A mister do-it-all for the Hawks - for several years now - is [player_tooltip player_id='723590' first='Jeremy' last='Decaro']. One of my favorite players in the BCC, Decaro stays involved in many ways in all three phases of the game. Decaro has slashed 40/253/5 on the ground and is his team's leading receiver with a 29/482/5 stat line. An impact player on defense, he has been credited with 29.5 tackles/22 solos, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and one pick-six. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Against the Wing-T I expect [player_tooltip player_id='653907' first='Tyler' last='Kessel'] to have an extremely active game from his linebacker position. Already super-active, the senior leads the Hilltoppers with 97 tackeles - 41 of which have been solos. He makes plays behind the line of scrimmage frequently too, with 11 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. Should Summit get behind the chains, expect 2024 graduate [player_tooltip player_id='1055359' first='Jake' last='Procaccini'] to be their primary target. Although he has just 12 receptions on the season - remember, Summit loves to run the ball - he has 6 touchdowns and 419 yards. Procaccini is a big play waiting to happen with a 32.25 YPR average.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Super Football Conference</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Montclair (5-3) at Columbia (4-3)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In North V #8 Montclair puts a playoff home game on the like against #10 Columbia. A win might just propel Columbia to host a home playoff game. One defender that the home Cougars will rely on is [player_tooltip player_id='1055364' first='Ethan' last='Parlin']. A linebacker, through four games he has made 28.5 tackles, including 16 tackles for loss. Defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1055365' first='Steve' last='Memo'] also mixes it up on defense as he has made 21 stops/12 solos and 1 tackle for loss. Memo also appears to be one of the Cougars' leading rushers, as through four games he led the team with a 49/367/4 stat line. Memo has also returned a punt for a touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the Mounties, junior [player_tooltip player_id='995083' first='Richard' last='Williams'] has proven an effective contributor on both sides of the ball. Primarily a linebacker, Williams has 41.5 tackles (30 solo) on the season as well as 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery. A spell player on offense, Williams has scored one rushing touchdown on 14 attempts and one of his three receptions went for a score. Another junior is making waves maybe a year earlier than expected. Although [player_tooltip player_id='1055375' first='Jayden' last='Lee'] is third on the team in receiving yards, he is second in receptions. His 21/275/2 stat line is a tell-tale sign that he is going to be "the guy" before much longer. Right now he currently plays behind two seniors but makes the most of his chances. Lee is also a lacrosse player and wrestler. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Orange (6-1) at Lincoln (5-2)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For as great of a season as Orange Tornados have had, they currently sit on the outside-looking-in as the #18 team in North IV. A win in Jersey City against North III's #12 team the Lincoln Lions will go a big way to helping their cause, as Lincoln, also, has an outside shot at a home game. For as prolific as an offense Orange has, they have defenders who get it done as well. [player_tooltip player_id='1032176' first='Tyshawn' last='Boyd'], just a sophomore, has had a tremendous debut season. As a defensive lineman he has made 31 stops, 2.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 blocked kicks, and 1 pick-six. He is also a reliable redzone target as he is second on the team in touchdown catches with 7 for 304 yards on 16 catches. Lining up behind him is junior [player_tooltip player_id='345384' first='Shamar' last='Myers']. Myers leads the team in tackles with 63 on the season. He also has 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 1 interception. Myers is also amongst the team leaders in rushing with 260 yards and 3 scores on 46 attempts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Looking to slow down Orange's passing attack is [player_tooltip player_id='1031719' first='Mekai' last='Casseus']. After transferring out of Bayonne last year, Casseus' game has really developed and taken a tremendous step forward. The junor defensive back has 36 tackles and 3 tackles for loss; however, taking possessions and potential points off the board has been his speciality. Casseus has 4 interceptions and 1 blocked kick. Two of those interceptions have gone the other way for six points each. A spell back, he has found the endzone once this year on 11 attempts. Offensively the Lions rely on senior [player_tooltip player_id='796146' first='Nick' last='Hinds'] to move the ball. Although the quarterback is 17/60 for 212 yards with 4 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, Hinds gets much of his work done on the ground as he has slashed 64/425/4 on the ground. In limited defensive reps, Hinds has 1 sack and 1 interception to add to his productivity. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Shore Conference</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ocean Township (3-4) at Manasquan (3-3)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A Constitution Division matchup pits two South III teams against one another as the #15 Spartans travel to take on the #8 Warriors. A playoff home game is at stake for Manasquan; as for Ocean it is probably a must-win to get in. Manasquan will be relying on the two-way play of [player_tooltip player_id='1055388' first='Caden' last='Eastmond'] for big plays. As a receiver Eastmond, a junior, has gone 17/169/3 on the season - including 3 scores in his last game at Asbury Park. On defense he has played like a solid defensive back as he has made 19 tackles (17 solos) with 2 tackles for loss. In the trenches senior [player_tooltip player_id='1055387' first='Noah' last='Mammeri'] controls the line of scrimmage for the Warriors on offense. On defense, he commands the second level. As a linebacker Mammeri has been a stalwart, making 43 tackles on the season. Big play wise he has 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unfortunately for Ocean there is not much to report on due to a lack of available data. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">West Jersey Football League</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Woodstown (5-2) at Penns Grove (4-4)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two Diamond Division rivals close out the regular season with much left on the table. With a win, Penns Grove would claim the division title by virtue of the head-to-head victory; whereas Woodstown would win it outright with a win. Further, in the South I playoff bracket the visiting Wolverines would love to jump from the #3 seed and knock their rival Red Devils out of a first round home game, Penns Grove currently sits at #8. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the Wolverines, senior [player_tooltip player_id='1055397' first='Max' last='Webb'] is more than just a quarterback. Yes, he is 41/69 for 481 yards and 4 touchdowns to 5 interceptions this year; and yes, he has scored 5 times on the ground this year. However, few times do you see a team's quarterback play defense. Effective as a defensive back, Webb has made 20 stops (12 solos), along with 5 tackles for loss this year. Protecting Webb in the pocket is junior [player_tooltip player_id='1055395' first='Walter' last='Carter']. Carter holds down the trenches, but also does much as a defensive lineman. Carter has made 27 tackles this season including 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 scoop-and-score. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Penns Grove the future appears bright as there is a bit of a youth movement going on. Although he is a junior and does not necessarily fit the mold of "youth movement," [player_tooltip player_id='1055396' first='Bryce' last='Wright'] is the leading rusher for the Red Devils. Wright has 783 yards on 134 attempts with 9 touchdowns, while also throwing for a score. Defensively as a linebacker, Wright is all over the field as he has been credited with 69 tackles. Moreover, he is a big play waiting to happen with 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 17 tackles for loss. Back to the youth movement. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1055401' first='Karon' last='Ceasar'] is Penns Grove's second leading rusher with 682 yards and 4 touchdowns on 104 attempts. Also a vital contributor on defense, the young defensive back has made 24 tackles/19 solos and intercepted two passes. Lastly, [player_tooltip player_id='1055398' first='Remello' last='Erickson'], a sophomore, is leading the way at quarterback for the Red Devils. In a run-first offense Erickson has managed games effectively as he has gone 18/44 with 140 yards on the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->