Playoff Performers to Watch from the North, Group I 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 I Section</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#8 Weehawken @ #1 Butler</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>Weehawken</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1021046' first='Christian' last='Ramirez'], QB, 2025<br><br>45-78, 675 yards, 6 TD, 6 Int<br>60 carries, 507 yards, 7 TD<br>6 receptions, 120 yards, 2 TD<br>53 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles<br>1, 50-yard Kickoff Return TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1548600' first='Caleb' last='Araoz'], LB, 2027<br><br>20 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks</td></tr><tr><td><em>Butler</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1530306' first='David' last='Smith'], QB, 2026<br><br>75-118, 1179 yards, 20 TD, 2 Int<br>63 carries, 323 yards, 4 TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1530304' first='Peyton' last='Kiburz'], 2026, LB<br><br>47 tackles (21 solo), 5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5 Pompton Lakes @ #4 Glen 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>Pompton Lakes</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1475663' first='Vinnie' last='Stigliano'], WR, 2025<br><br>29 receptions, 419 yards, 5 TD<br>22 carries, 67 yards<br>3-9, 27 yards, 1 TD<br>25 tackles (15 solo), 2 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 3 Int<br>8 Punt Returns, 168 yards, 1 TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1021612' first='Baran' last='Caymaz'], DL, 2025<br><br>42 tackles (26 solo), 16 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 scoop &amp; score, 1 safety</td></tr><tr><td><em>Glen Ridge</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1143116' first='Brad' last='Foster'], QB, 2025<br><br>50-103, 1046 yards, 8 TD, 3 Int<br>96 carries, 642 yards, 9 TD<br>36 tackles (17 solo), 3 tackles for loss</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1548603' first='Jake' last='Liola'], DL, 2025<br><br>48 tackles (15 solo), 4 sacks</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#6 Lenape Valley @ #3</strong> <strong>Mountain Lakes</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>Lenape Valley</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1537287' first='Kevin' last='Giusti'], RB, 2026<br><br>140 carries, 1116 yards, 10 TD<br>1-1, 18 yards<br>6 receptions, 124 yards, 2 TD<br>77 tackles (62 solo), 4 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 3 Int</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1548604' first='Jakob' last='Bell'], LB, 2025<br><br>72.5 tackles (45 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble<br>21 carries, 50 yards, 3 tD</td></tr><tr><td><em>Mountain Lakes</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1087585' first='Carson' last='Fitch'], RB, 2026<br><br>123 carries, 804 yards, 10 TD<br>3 receptions, 49 yards, 1 TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1548618' first='Jack' last='Bronico'], DL, 2027<br><br>36 tackles (14 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#7 Park Ridge @ #2 New Milford</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>Park Ridge</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1548605' first='Patrick' last='Randolph'], RB, 2028<br><br>121 carries, 891 yards, 11 TD<br>5 receptions, 70 yards, 2 TD<br>52 tackles (27 solo), 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 Int</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1004631' first='Andrew' last='Rozzi'], LB, 2025<br><br>71 tackles (28 solo), 9 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 Int<br></td></tr><tr><td><em>New Milford</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1548608' first='Jerzey' last='Ryan'], QB, 2025<br><br>68-114, 1210 yards, 9 TD, 3 Int<br>15 carries, 46 yards, 2 TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1548612' first='Kristoffer' last='Dunne'], LB, 2025<br><br>60 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 6 sacks</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">North II, Group I Section</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#8 Wallkill Valley @ #1 Cedar Grove</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>Wallkill Valley</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1005646' first='Zack' last='Clarken'], QB, 2025<br><br>115-118, 1436 yards, 15 TD, 5 Int<br>84 carries, 544 yards, 7 TD<br>55 tackles (41 solo), 3.5 tackels for loss, 1 fumble recovery, 1 Int</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1548613' first='Jake' last='Van Eeuwen'], LB, 2025<br><br>79 tackles (42 solo), 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 safety</td></tr><tr><td>Cedar Grove</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='933995' first='Stephen' last='Paradiso'], QB, 2025<br><br>146-231, 2232 yards, 27 TD, 6 Int<br>53 carries, 238 yards, 5 TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1540900' first='Thomas' last='Cannataro'], LB, 2026<br><br>61 tackles (38 solo), 4 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 scoop &amp; scores<br>1 reception, 22 yards, 1 TD</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5 Belvidere @ #4 Verona</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>Belvidere</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1538541' first='Elijah' last='White'], WR, 2026<br><br>19 receptions, 421 yards, 11 TD<br>7 carries, 53 yards<br>1-1, 30 yards<br>42 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 scoop &amp; score, 3 Int<br>5 Punt Returns, 143 yards, 1 TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1548614' first='Luke' last='Tipton'], LB, 2025<br><br>81 tackles, 4 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries</td></tr><tr><td>Verona</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1032178' first='Bodie' last='Maisano'], RB, 2026<br><br>127 carries, 784 yards, 5 TD<br>7 receptions, 67 yards<br>82.5 tackles (44 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1476934' first='Logan' last='Knoetig'], DL, 2026<br><br>41 tackles (22 solo), 7 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#6 Wood-Ridge @ #3 Hasbrouck Heights</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>Wood-Ridge</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1548615' first='Chris' last='Rios'], QB, 2026<br><br>60-114, 607 yards, 6 TD, 5 Int<br>118 carries, 867 yards, 12 TD</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1548616' first='Michael' last='Prato'], LB, 2027<br><br>79 tackles (54 solo), 2 Int<br>2 receptions, 11 yards</td></tr><tr><td><em>Hasbrouck Heights</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1529469' first='Michael' last='Napolitano'], RB, 2026<br><br>119 carries, 1348 yards, 15 TD<br>9 receptions 86 yards, 2 TD<br>32 tackles (9 solo), 5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 Int</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1228165' first='Joseph' last='Russo'], DL, 2025<br><br>57 tackles (23 solo), 16 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 1 fumble recovery</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#7 Boonton @ #2 New Providence</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>Boonton</em></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='991826' first='Sylas' last='White'], RB, 2025<br><br>124 carries, 991 yards, 15 TD<br>1 reception, 5 yards<br>38 tackles (14 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 2 Int</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1540904' first='Drew' last='Cabalar'], LB, 2025<br><br>110 tackles (44 solo), 11 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble<br>101 carries, 685 yards, 6 TD</td></tr><tr><td><em>New Providence</em></td><td><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1467528' first='AJ' last='Whitehead'], RB, 2026<br><br>137 carries, 862 yards, 10 TD<br>12 tackles (6 solo), 1 tackle for loss</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1515075' first='James' last='Keneally'], DL, 2026<br><br>55 tackles (35 solo), 5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks<br>5 receptions, 63 yards<br></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table -->