Circle Your Calendars: Week 7’s Top (Saturday) Matchups, Part I

<p>As cutoff week is just two weeks away, across the state teams are fighting it out for playoff positioning. Here are some big time matchups that impact not just those teams playing, but also the playoff prospects of several others.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Big Central Conference</h2>   <ul> <li>Johnson (4-2) at Spotswood (7-0)</li> </ul>   <p>With a division title already wrapped up, Spotswood is now off to more lofty goals as the end of the regular season draws near. The Chargers have a tenacious defense as they have had four consecutive shutouts and five shutouts on the season. Perhaps an unsung hero of that defense is the youngster [player_tooltip player_id='1043534' first='Sebastian' last='Saracino']. Saracino, just a sophomore, is projecting to be a four-year letterman for Spotswood. On defense Saracino has made 31 tackles on the season to go along with 3 tackles for loss and 1 sack. On offense Spotswood is paced by the play of [player_tooltip player_id='712944' first='Trey' last='Lazar']. A spectacular athlete in is own right, Lazar is 45/80 for 536 yards with 7 touchdowns and 2 interceptions when he drops back to pass. Nearly as equally as proficient as a scrambler, Lazar has 515 yards and 6 touchdowns on 98 carries. In a very limited role on defense this year, Spotswood's lead talent has intercepted 1 pass. </p>   <p>They will be opposed by the Crusaders, who by all accounts are fighting for their playoff lives. There are two defenders who make numerous plays on the quarterback that will aim to slow down Lazar and his attack. First is Mark Hansen. A senior, Hansen has proven a dependable playmaker with 3 sacks and 1 forced fumble on the season to go along with his 36 tackles. Teaming up with Hansen will be fellow 2024 graduate [player_tooltip player_id='1043563' first='Sebastian' last='Perez']. Perez is the team leader in sacks with 5 so far. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Super Football Conference</h2>   <ul> <li>St. Joseph (Montvale) (5-1) at Bergen Catholic (5-1)</li> </ul>   <p>Two parochial school rivals, both at 5-1, fighting for the honor of being the top team in the state. What more could you possibly as for as the Green Knights travel to take on the Crusaders. Starting with the home team Bergen Catholic, the Campanile legacy lives on as as coaches have children and those children play football. [player_tooltip player_id='525275' first='Dominic' last='Campanile'], a junior, is having a very strong season for the Crusaders. Campanile is 72 of 118 (61%) for 1120 yards this season to go with 16 touchdowns to just 2 interceptions. The true pro-style quarterback has also rushed for a score this season. Defensively the Crusaders' secondary is anchored by [player_tooltip player_id='366484' first='Jordan' last='Thomas']. Just a sophomore, this physical specimen stands at 6'1" 175lbs and is the team leader in interceptions with 3. Thomas has also made 2.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage to go along with his 29 tackles - 20 of which he made solo.</p>   <p>The visiting Green Knights will present a worth challenge in hostile territory. On offense [player_tooltip player_id='212398' first='Nate' last='Bailey'] has been their big-play maker line out wide. Just a sophomore, Bailey leads the team in receiving yards with 410 and is just one reception off the team lead with 26 on the season. He has also scored 3 times on the season, twice through the air and once on the ground. [player_tooltip player_id='475348' first='Jahmir' last='Joseph'] has been an animal on defense for St. Joe's this season. Also a basketball star, the junior makes plays - by himself- all over the field. Of Joseph's 29 tackles, 20 have been solo stops. He has also make 1 tackle for loss this season to go along with 4 forced fumbled and 2 interceptions. </p>   <ul> <li>Mount Olive (6-1) at Morris Knolls (4-2)</li> </ul>   <p>A Liberty White division title is on the line as Mount Olive travels into Morris Knolls. Morris Knolls has only lost two games by one possession each - one of those games to undefeated Roxbury. Mount Olive on the other hand, they lost a three point game to Roxbury as well - making this matchup about as close as could be.</p>   <p>The host Golden Eagles will look to two defenders out of the flock to make stop after stop. [player_tooltip player_id='1043565' first='Kyle' last='Hardie'] is a rain maker in the secondary and as a returner. In addition to his 2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries, and 1 forced fumble, Hardie has 37 tackles on the season. As a return specialist, Hardie has 4 kickoff returns for 129 yards and a long of 65 yards as well as 15 punt returns for 182 yards with a 38 yarder as his longest return. [player_tooltip player_id='1043551' first='Bobby' last='Brickner'] is Morris Knolls' second defender that makes a big impact for the Golden Eagles. The junior defender has made 45 tackles, forced 2 fumbles, and had one pick-six for his squad. </p>   <p>Coming for the end zone is [player_tooltip player_id='1043545' first='Tyler' last='Cumming']. A junior, Cumming is the lead back in the Marauders' backfield with 742 yards. Cumming has hit the jackpot, scoring 10 times this season on 129 tries. Also a contributor in the passing game, Cumming has snatched 11 balls for 85 yards. Defensively he has made 29 tackles, including 7 tackles for loss. As Cumming lines up behind him, Jake Asbury is Mount Olive's quarterback. Also a junior, Asbury is 86 of 153 for the season with 10:7 touchdown to interception ratioand 1088 yards. Asbury will catch opponents sleeping too as he has ran for 207 yards and 3 scores, adding to his offensive totals. </p>

As cutoff week is just two weeks away, across the state teams are fighting it out for playoff positioning. Here are some big time matchups that impact not just those teams playing, but also the playoff prospects of several others.