State Championship Game Preview: Non-Public Groups A and B

<p>We are down to the season's final seven games. These seven games, however, have the most gravitas as they represent one game to win it all. Congratulations to each and every team throughout the state for their efforts and performance this season. Without further adieu, I present to you my preview for the upcoming NJSIAA State Championship games.</p>   <p>Be sure to vote on who you think will win each playoff matchup by voting on our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/11/vote-who-will-win-the-state-championship-finals/">reader's poll</a>.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Friday, November 29, 11:00am - Non-Public Group B Final at MetLife Stadium</h2>   <p>The first game of the state playoff final features the Non-Public B's #1 seed DePaul Catholic Spartans and the #6 seed Pope John Lions.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pope John wins the game if...</h2>   <p>... they can control the game's tempo with their offense. The Lions certainly have the type of back that can do it, too. [player_tooltip player_id='344220' first='Tylik' last='Hill'] is one of the more "special" backs in a class full of them. Hill has been their single biggest threat with 2161 yards and 24 scores this season on a hearty 282 carries. Additionally, Hill has 18 grabs for 99 yards - enough to keep a defense honest. In this case, Pope John's best defensive might be an unrelenting offensive run game. Expect Hill to rely on his bigger bretheren up front. A few standouts that come to mind are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1568022' first='Dan' last='O'Leary'], [player_tooltip player_id='1568020' first='Quinn' last='Muli'], and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1286666' first='Evan' last='Kennedy']. </p>   <p>Should they control the time of possession battle, in theory this renders DePaul a one-dimensional team. I would anticipate DePaul would abandon the run as a result of the clock; however, Pope John rosters two tremendous senior linebackers who gobble up everything in sight. [player_tooltip player_id='624700' first='Tyler' last='Houser'], a Wake Forest commit, has made 110 stops (83 solo) on the season. He is also edged out slightly by 0.5 tackles, currently sitting second on the team with 13 tackles for loss, but does lead them in sacks with 6. Houser has also recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass that he took the other way for a score. Right on his heels is [player_tooltip player_id='1031721' first='Wes' last='Johnston']. Owner of an Army offer himself, Johnston has made 97 stops (70 solo) with 9 tackles for loss and 2 sacks, adding a blocked kick to his ledger too. </p>   <p>The outstanding play of Houser and Johnston, juxtaposed with controlling the game tempo on offense with Hill, O'Leary, Muli, and Kennedy ought to produce strong results for Pope John.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">DePaul wins the game if...</h2>   <p>... they spread the ball around, playing a game of "whack-a-mole" with their touch distribution amongst their stars. Should Pope John execute the game plan that I suspect, DePaul would be wise to spread the ball around in order to divert the attention of the Lion's defense. The Spartans have two very capable targets in Ohio State-bound [player_tooltip player_id='218550' first='Dez' last='Jones'] (57/984/15) and Notre Dame-bound [player_tooltip player_id='1033349' first='Elijah' last='Burress'] (36/937/14). With production like this, I find it hard to imagine the Lions doubling both of them without allowing another player to step up and take over the game. The minute that happens, one of these two will suddenly become open. </p>   <p>Moreover, the Spartans have the quarterback with the aptitude, ability, and skillset to do this in [player_tooltip player_id='275127' first='Derek' last='Zammit']. Zammit has gone 141-209 for 2461 yards with 34 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Zammit's TD-to-Int ratio speaks to his aptitude, but that same decision making shows when you consider that he is second on the team in every major rushing category, going 61/485/4 when he tucks it and runs. If DePaul can execute this game of targeting someone and opening up opportunities for others, running lanes may open for Notre Dame-bound rusher [player_tooltip player_id='396564' first='Nolan' last='James'] - thus leading to a high level of success.</p>   <p>In order to thwart Pope John's vaunted ground game, linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1099792' first='Logan' last='Monteyne'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1099787' first='Anthony' last='Nittoli'] to constantly be around the ball. Nittoli, a prospect I happen to absolutely love, has recorded 100 tackles (54 solo) on the season with 13 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles - all team highs. Additionally, Nittoli has sacked the quarterback once and intercepted two passes, one of which he took back for a score. Monteyne, a junior, looks to support this litany of seniors by adding to his 89 tackle (37 solo), 3 TFL, 3 sack, 1 FF, 2 FR, 1 interception campaign.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Friday, November 29, 8:00pm - Non-Public Group A Final at MetLife Stadium</h2>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Non-Public Group B Final</h2>   <p>The first playoff day's finale features the Non-Public A's #1 seed Bergen Catholic Crusaders and the #2 seed Don Bosco Ironmen</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Don Bosco wins the game if...</h2>   <p>... they can keep the Bergen Catholic pass rushers off balance. It seems as though the Crusaders' defensive line is predicated on disruption through speed. Examples of this are [player_tooltip player_id='343145' first='Delaney' last='Fludd'], [player_tooltip player_id='939676' first='Jermaine' last='Kinsler'], [player_tooltip player_id='1270594' first='Jackson' last='Vaughn'], and [player_tooltip player_id='402201' first='CJ' last='Edwards']. A way that the Ironmen can tame this quartet is by mixing in their play call varieties. If I am Don Bosco, I am mixing in screens and draws, as well as working in PAP, boots, misdirection, and motions. Doing so ought to create creases for [player_tooltip player_id='1524826' first='Dante' last='DeLuca'] to run through for big gains, adding to his 179/840/14 campaign. The blocking prowess of [player_tooltip player_id='855011' first='Matt' last='Maietti'], a senior tight end, ought to make this extremely accomplishable for the Ironmen.</p>   <p>Furthermore, this approach should free up easier throws and rhythm throws for senior signal caller [player_tooltip player_id='675617' first='Deven' last='Sisler']. Siser has had a very efficient season, completing 129-189 passes for 1516 yards with 20 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. It would behoove Don Bosco to continue to make easy opportunities for Sisler to get the ball out early and let his young playmakers, particularly sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='852611' first='Isaiah' last='Alvarez'] (42/658/9) and [player_tooltip player_id='751492' first='Zakai' last='Murphy'] (48/448/6) and let them do work.</p>   <p>On defense, this is exactly the moment [player_tooltip player_id='389775' first='Renick' last='Dorilas'], commonly known as "Stretch," transferred out of Union and into Don Bosco for: the opportunity to showcase himself against neither just the state's best competition nor best wide receiver, but the state's top overall prospect. Should Dorilas be able to corral [player_tooltip player_id='525111' first='Quincy' last='Porter'], expect a positive outcome for Don Bosco <em>and </em>another wave of big-time offers.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bergen Catholic wins the game if...</h2>   <p>... they pound the rock, and then pound it some more. The Crusaders have the distinct advantage of rostering two-of-the-three top running backs in our 2026 rankings in [player_tooltip player_id='284069' first='Najee' last='Calhoun'] and [player_tooltip player_id='212385' first='Dante' last='Kain']. Calhoun has absolutely exploded since transferring in from Donovan Catholic during the offseason, rushing for a career-high 1182 yards on 202 carries for 13 scores. Kain brings a little different of an approach out of the backfield in terms of his running style and is more of a threat as a target. Kain has rushed 82 times for 535 yards and 5 scores, while making 15 grabs fro 143 yard and scoring 4 times. This dual-headed Medusa out of the backfield running behind the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='212390' first='Jack' last='Harris'], [player_tooltip player_id='1017733' first='Chris' last='Vigna'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1250036' first='Benjamin' last='Shue'] ought to be enough on its own merit - independent the greatness of [player_tooltip player_id='525111' first='Quincy' last='Porter'] - to land them victorious.</p>   <p>It is worth noting that Don Bosco currently rosters the #1 prospect as per Prep Redzone New Jersey in both the classes of 2025 (Porter) and 2026 ([player_tooltip player_id='284065' first='Jordan' last='Thomas']). Anticipate Thomas neutralizing at least one of the Ironmen's receivers in [player_tooltip player_id='852611' first='Isaiah' last='Alvarez'] or [player_tooltip player_id='751492' first='Zakai' last='Murphy'], leaving the other perhaps double-teamed and eliminating Don Bosco's threat of a passing game in the process.</p>

We are down to the season's final seven games. These seven games, however, have the most gravitas as they represent one game to win it all. Congratulations to each and every team throughout the state for their efforts and performance this season. Without further adieu, I present to you my preview for the upcoming NJSIAA State Championship games.