Playoff Performers to Watch from the North, Group IV 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 I, Group IV Section</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#8 Colonia @ #1 Morris Knolls</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>Colonia</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1048200' first='Nygel' last='Hill'], 2025, WR<br><br>46 receptions 680 yards, 5 TD<br>24 tackles (11 solo), 1 Int</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1467565' first='Julien' last='Jones'], 2026, LB<br><br>123 tackles (75 solo), 13 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recoveries, 1 Int, 1 pick-six<br>8 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TD<br>18 carries, 47 yards, 2 TD<br>1, two-point conversion<br></td></tr><tr><td><em>Morris Knolls</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1043551' first='Bobby' last='Brickner'], 2025, LB<br><br>130 carries, 995 yards, 9 TD<br>60 tackles (41 solo), 4 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 2 Int</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1546495' first='Max' last='Minervini'], 2026, DL<br><br>30 tackles (19 solo), 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5 Newark Central @ #4 Mount Olive</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 Central</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1453963' first='Zahir' last='Wilson'], 2025, RB<br><br>126 carries, 1064 yards, 8 TD<br>89 tackles (42 solo), 18 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery<br>4, two-point conversions</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1475735' first='Andrew' last='Wheeler'], 2026, DL<br><br>66 tackles (25 solo), 17 tackles for loss, 6 sacks</td></tr><tr><td><em>Mount Olive</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1043553' first='Jake' last='Asbury'], 2025, QB<br><br>108-166, 1303 yards, 13 TD, 5 Int<br>38 carries, 151 yards, 4 TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1087572' first='Lincoln' last='Youtz'], 2025, LB<br><br>100 tackles (74 solo), 11 tackles for loss, 45 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#6 Randolph @ #3</strong> <strong>Ramapo</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>Randolph</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1546502' first='Joey' last='Sommer'], 2026, WR<br><br>39 receptions, 561 yards, 5 TD<br>44 tackles (18 solo), 2 tackles for loss, 2 fumble recoveries</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1546508' first='Zayne' last='Carswell'], 2027, DB<br><br>20 tackles (10 solo), 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recoveries, 3 Int, 1 blocked kick</td></tr><tr><td><em>Ramapo</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1546513' first='Casey' last='Grusser'], 2026, QB<br><br>112-177 yards, 1422 yards, 11 TD, 6 Int<br>96 carries, 559 yards, 8 TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1023090' first='Charlie' last='Wingfield'], 2025, LB<br><br>48 tackles (22 solo), 3 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumbls, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 scoop &amp; score, 1 Int<br>16 receptions, 281 yards, 3 TD<br>5-7 FG, 39-yard long<br>28-28 PAT</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#7 Rahway @ #2 Ridge</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>Rahway</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1002386' first='Andrew' last='Avent'], 2026, RB<br><br>166 carries, 1173 yards, 15 TD<br>2 receptions, 14 yards<br>87 tackles (45 solo), 16 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 scoop &amp; score, 1 blocked kick<br>1, two-point conversion</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1054407' first='Kevin' last='Taylor'], 2025, DL<br><br>43 tackles (26 solo), 12 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble.</td></tr><tr><td><em>Ridge</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1529472' first='Aidan' last='Stieglitz'], 2025, RB<br><br>113 carries, 946 yards, 16 TD<br>3 receptions, 18 yards<br>27 tackles (20 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 0.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1546516' first='Nate' last='Schneider'], 2025, DL<br><br>45 tackles (28 solo), 7 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">North II, Group IV Section</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#8 Nutley @ #1 Phillipsburg</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>Nutley</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='309537' first='Jeremiah' last='Tirado'], 2026, WR<br><br>23 receptions, 366 yards, 2 TD<br>7 carries, 23 yards, 1 TD<br>68 tackles (39 yards), 6 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 1 Int<br>7 Kickoff Returns, 177 yards, 1 TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1546518' first='Aidan' last='Rotbaum'], 2027, LB<br><br>46 tackles (28 solo), 7 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 1 fumble recovery<br>105 carries, 509 yards, 1 TD<br>6 receptions, 55 yards, 1 TD</td></tr><tr><td><em>Phillipsburg</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1189137' first='Felix' last='Matos'], 2025, RB<br><br>39 carries, 416 yards, 12 TD<br>28 receptions, 548 yards, 4 TD<br>1-1, 25 yards, 1 TD<br>31 yards (22 tackles), 2 fumble recoveries, 2 Int, 2 pick-six, 1 blocked kick</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1189138' first='Matthew' last='Scerbo'], 2025, DB<br><br>30 tackles (22 solo), 1 tackles for loss, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 Int, 1 pick-six<br>33 receptions, 841 yards, 9 TD<br>4 carries, 102 yards, 1 TD</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5 Chatham @ #4 Wayne Valley</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>Chatham</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1524822' first='Will' last='Allen'], 2025, QB<br><br>123-215, 1616 yards 12 TD, 4 Int<br>59 carries, 226 yards, 5 TD<br>1, two-point conversion<br></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1524825' first='Hunter' last='Bigham'], 2026, LB<br><br>65 tackles (17 solo), 9 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 Int</td></tr><tr><td><em>Wayne Valley</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1515098' first='Danny' last='Ferrauilo'], 2026, QB<br><br>154-234, 2032 yards, 14 TD, 8 TD<br>17 carries, 15 yards, 3 TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1453965' first='Aidan' last='Kindler'], 2025, DL<br><br>53 tackles (39 solo), 2 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#6 Westfield @ #3 Northern Highlands</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>Westfield</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1546525' first='Colin' last='Coyle'], 2025, TE<br><br>26 catches, 361 yards, 3 TD<br>26 rushing yards, 2 TD<br>19 tackles (6 solo), 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1546526' first='Jordan' last='Walsh'], 2027, DB<br><br>26 tackles (16 solo), 2 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 scoop &amp; score, 1 interception, 1 pick-six</td></tr><tr><td><em>Northern Highlands</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1328743' first='Shane' last='Hanlon'], 2025, WR<br><br>34 receptions, 509 yards, 2 TD<br>4 tackles</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1546528' first='Jesse' last='Denobile'], 2025, DL<br><br>49 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 scoop &amp; score</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#7 Watchung Hills @ #2 Woodbridge</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>Watchung Hills</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='723582' first='Brayden' last='Kelly'], 2025, WR<br><br>26 receptions, 532 yards, 3 TD<br>21 tackles (15 solo), 2 tackles for loss, 5 Int<br>1, two-point conversion</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1206811' first='Jake' last='Arakelian'], 2025, LB<br><br>80 tackles (42 solo), 12 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble</td></tr><tr><td><em>Woodbridge</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='354983' first='Derek' last='Anderson'], 2025, QB<br><br>67-117, 1223 yards, 16 TD, 4 Int<br>51 carries, 378 yards, 4 TD<br>2, two-point conversions<br></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='354982' first='Bryan' last='Anderson'], 2025, DB<br><br>55 tackles (16 solo). 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 4 Int, 2 pick-sixes<br>39 receptions, 684 yards, 8 TD<br>16 carries, 202 yards, 1 TD<br>1, two-point conversions</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table -->