Playoff Performers to Watch from the North, Group V Region

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the calendar turns to November, the second season begins: playoff football. Below I review each matchup in this specified region within this article's title, highlighting one offensive and one defensive player from each team that I anticipate rising to the occasion when everyone's record resets to 0-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">North 2, Group V Section</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#8 Newark East Side @ #1 Union City</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>Offense</strong></td><td><strong>Defense</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em>Newark East Side</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1100627' first='Ja'kem' last='Brown'], 2025, WR<br><br>8 receptions, 159 yards, 3 TD<br>18 tackles (9 solo), 1 Int, 1 safety</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1544964' first='Imaad' last='Kelly'], 2026, DL<br><br>22 tackles (9 solo), 2 tackles for loss, 2 Int<br>5 receptions, 97 yards</td></tr><tr><td><em>Union City</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='341839' first='Mark' last='Boyd'], 2025, RB<br><br>86 carries, 869 yards, 17 TD<br>20 tackles (14 solo), 6 tackles for loss</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1216611' first='Reynaldo' last='Mercedes'], 2025, DL<br><br>45 tackles (20 solo), 20 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 1 forced fumble </td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5 Irvington @ #4 Bridgewater-Raritan</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>Offense</strong></td><td><strong>Defense</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em>Irvington</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1544965' first='Jamir' last='Howell'], 2027, QB<br><br>46-85, 413 yards, 2 TD, 3 Int<br>70 carries, 402 yards, 7 TD<br>28 tackles, 3 Int</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1544967' first='Jordan' last='Ogbewele'], 2025, DL<br><br>31 tackles (23 solo), 5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 Int, 1 pick-six<br>9 receptions, 116 yards</td></tr><tr><td><em>Bridgewater-Raritan</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1524423' first='Declan' last='Kurdyla'], 2026, QB<br><br>96-190, 1412 yards, 15 TD, 6 Int<br>116 carries, 308 yards, 3 TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1196871' first='Dylan' last='Tierney'], 2025, DB<br><br>72 tackles (49 solo), 5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#6 Plainfield @ #3 Passaic County Tech</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>Offense</strong></td><td><strong>Defense</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em>Plainfield</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1093216' first='EJ' last='Brown'], 2025, RB<br><br>105 carries, 735 yards, 10 TD<br>13 receptions, 170 yards<br>32 tackles (19 solo), 2 Int</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1048201' first='Ala-Meen' last='Watkins'], 2025, LB<br><br>35 tackles (13 solo), 4 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 safety, 4 blocked kicks<br>12-32, 142 yards, 1 TD, 2 Int<br>20 carries, 104 yards, 3 TD<br>8 receptions, 116 yards</td></tr><tr><td><em>Passaic County Tech</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1538176' first='Gabe' last='Miles'], 2026, QB<br><br>86-139, 1328 yards, 12 TD, 9 Int<br>64 carries, 420 yards, 8 TD<br>2 tackles</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1052330' first='Aarom' last='Mendoza'], 2025, LB<br><br>43 tackles (27 solo), 12 tackles for loss, 6 sacks<br>42 carries, 279 yards, 1 TD</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#7 Morristown @ #2 Elizabeth</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>Offense</strong></td><td><strong>Defense</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em>Morristown</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1176378' first='Reed' last='Donegan'], 2025, RB<br><br>157 carries, 790 yards, 13 TD<br>8 receptions, 92 yards, 1 TD<br>80 tackles (42 solo), 1 forced fumble, 1 scoop &amp; score</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1041981' first='Dimitrios' last='Mihalakakos'], 2025, DL<br><br>87 tackles (46 solo), 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack</td></tr><tr><td><em>Elizabeth</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='934015' first='Arique' last='Fleming'], 2027, QB<br><br>90-141, 1171 yards, 12 TD, 4 Int<br>93 carries, 519 yards, 7 TD<br>1 solo tackle</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='857107' first='Nahjae' last='Smith'], 2027, DB<br><br>67 tackles (32 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, 2 Int<br>8 carries, 38 yards<br>38 receptions, 510 yards, 7 TD<br>3 Punt Returns, 33 yards</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">North I, Group V Section</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#8 Passaic @ #1 Ridgewood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>Offense</strong></td><td><strong>Defense</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em>Passaic</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='990209' first='Justin' last='Griffin'], 2026, RB<br><br>181 carries, 1555 yards, 13 TD<br>1 reception, 6 yards<br>1-1, 14 yards, 1 TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1537252' first='Aasod' last='Adams'], 2025, DB<br><br>17 tackles, 4 Int, 1 pick-six</td></tr><tr><td><em>Ridgewood</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1043555' first='Colin' last='Burns'], 2025, RB<br><br>76 carries, 613 yards, 7 TD<br>16 tackles (12 solo), 2 tackles for loss<br>3 Kickoff Returns, 37 yards</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1011815' first='Nick' last='Brigliadoro'], 2025, LB<br><br>90 tackles (31 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 Int</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5 Montclair @ #4 East Orange</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>Offense</strong></td><td><strong>Defense</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em>Montclair</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1043550' first='Ja-khi' last='Chance'], 2025, RB<br><br>35 carries, 320 yards, 2 TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1545247' first='Zahmir' last='Lee'], 2025, LB<br><br>1 Int, 1 pick-six</td></tr><tr><td><em>East Orange</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1303085' first='Sa'eed' last='Cole'], 2025, QB<br><br>60-94, 1016 yards, 7 TD, 6 Int<br>49 carries, 377 yards, 6 TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1199938' first='Alex' last='Hanks'], 2026, LB<br><br>19 tackles (4 solo), 2 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery, 1 Int</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#6 Bayonne @ #3 Piscataway</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>Offense</strong></td><td><strong>Defense</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em>Bayonne</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1183272' first='Chance' last='Fischer'], 2026, RB<br><br>129 carries, 1128 yards, 15 TD<br>15 tackles (10 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble<br>2 Kickoff Returns, 148 yards,<br>3 Punt Returns 44 yards</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1513535' first='Xavier' last='Paulino'], 2026, DL<br><br>44 tackles (31 solo), 15 tackles for loss, 12 sacks</td></tr><tr><td><em>Piscataway</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1196466' first='Jahai' last='Johnson'], 2025, WR<br><br>38 receptions, 451 yards, 6 TD<br>9 receptions, 97 yards, 3 TD<br>18 tackles, 2 Int, 1 pick-six<br>3 Kickoff Return TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1040415' first='James' last='Bodley'], 2025, LB<br><br>60 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss<br>90 carries, 626 yards, 9 TD<br>8 receptions, 118 yards, 2 TD<br>2, two-point conversions</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#7 Linden @ #2 West Orange</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>Offense</strong></td><td><strong>Defense</strong></td></tr><tr><td><em>Linden</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1169095' first='Tyrone' last='Hinton'], 2025, QB<br><br>28-50, 267 yards, 2 TD, 3 Int<br>134 carries, 760 yards, 11 TD<br>2 receptions, 17 yards<br>49 tackles (29 solo), 7 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1265486' first='Daryl' last='Agyei'], 2026, DL<br><br>35 tackles (18 solo), 8 tackles for loss, 4 sacks</td></tr><tr><td><em>West Orange</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='796165' first='Terrell' last='Wilfong'], 2025, WR<br><br>42 receptions, 773 yards, 11 TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='994289' first='Eahjay' last='McAdams'], 2025, LB<br><br>54 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 Int</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table -->