Week 4 Preview: Big Time Matchups + Big Time Players, Part 2

With as much football action as our Great Garden State has this coming weekend within the high school ranks, here are a handful of games – and as a fan what I am looking for in each one. This article features matchups from across the West Jersey Football League (WJFL), Super Football Conference (SFC), and independent schools not governed by the NJSIAA.   Be sure to follow me on <a href="https://x.com/BrendanScoutsNJ">Twitter</a> for the latest New Jersey high school football prospect news and not miss a beat!   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">West Jersey Football League</h2>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Haddonfield (4-0) at West Deptford (4-0) To-date, West Deptford has been able to handle everything that came their way -- rather handedly -- allowing just 3, 6, 0, and 7 points, respectively, in each of their four games. However, they now welcome in a hostile Haddonfield team that will certainly be their toughest test yet. Haddonfield has scored 31+ in all but one of their game, allowing a total of just 32 points on defense. For Haddonfield, their primary threat appears to be quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='2414697' first='James' last='Farrell']. A junior, Farrell has dropped back to throw 42 times (completing 24 passes), while carrying the ball 40 times (good for second on the team). The results have been fruitful. Farrell has thrown 8 touchdowns, 2 picks, and scored 4 times on the ground while rendering 416 passing yards and 221 rushing yards. As if that was not enough to ask of your quarterback, Farrell has made 28 tackles (8 solo) and picked off a pass. His tackle total is good for second on the team. When Farrell is not commanding the offense, [player_tooltip player_id='2414700' first='Lino' last='Tete'] has proven to be a stabilizing force on offense -- which is contrary to what you would typically expect from a sophomore. The 2029 graduate has seized primary ball carrier duties and produced 358 yards and 4 scores on 42 attempts. In addition to Farrell, there have been two players for Haddonfield that have proven to be the backbone of their defense: seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2414703' first='Cormac' last='Flanagan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1958057' first='Mike' last='Keenan']. From the defensive secondary, Keenan has produced a team-high 3 interceptions and blocked a hick, adding 16 tackles (12 solo) to his credit. Moreover, Keenan is their leading receiver with 6 receptions and 3 touchdowns, producing 96 yards of offense though the air and 89 yards of offense on the ground in 11 attempts. Flanagan, a two-way lineman, finds himself atop the team leaderboard in tackles (32), tackles for loss (4), and sacks (6). West Deptford has been getting it done on the ground, featuring a formidable, two-pronged rushing attack that are just about dead split in production. [player_tooltip player_id='1267838' first='Zamir' last='Davis'] is their big-play threat on the ground. In just 46 attempts, he has produced 511 yards and 6 touchdowns -- an 11.1 yards per attempt. While Davis rips off big plays, [player_tooltip player_id='1958061' first='Cole' last='Paskiewicz'] has been a steadying force. Outrushing Davis by a single attempt, Paskiewicz has matched Davis' scoring total while adding 397 yards of his own. This same tandem has been all over the field in the defensive secondary as well. Davis is tied for the team lead with 3 interceptions, while making 14 tackles (7 solo, 1 for loss); while Paskiewicz has intercepted a pass of his own, forced and recovered a fumble, sacked the quarterback once, and made 13 tackles (8 solo, 3 for loss). Putting the figurative bow on West Depford's defense is linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1412222' first='Al' last='Dayrell']. A senior, Dayrell has been an extremely disruptive force with his 13 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. He has also made 28 tackles (15 solo).</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Hammonton (3-1) at Oakcrest (4-0) With two shutouts to their name and two additional wins by at least two possessions, Oakcrest has every reason to be feeling good. They welcome to town a Hammonton team that, despite being 3-1, probably feels that they gave away a game in Bridgeton where they lost 20-6. Hammonton seems to prefer to hammer the ball down your throat. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='2414707' first='JoJo' last='Scott'] in the backfield. Scott has led the way in touches (50) and yardage (305), while finding paydirt 3 times. Scott is spelled by [player_tooltip player_id='2414719' first='Kyree' last='Broadnax']. Just a freshman, Broadnax has earned major varsity burn, leading the team in touchdowns with 5 (4 rushing, 1 receiving) on 38 attempts for 210 yards. The youthful trend continues with [player_tooltip player_id='2414716' first='Sha'Mee' last='Coley']. Coley, who is just a sophomore, leads the team with 2 sacks and 1 fumble recovery. Amongst his production is 11 tackles (5 solo). Meanwhile, [player_tooltip player_id='2414717' first='Stephen' last='Ruhf'] has been all over the field making plays. Ruhf has a team-high 9 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and returned a pick for a score; he has also made 29 tackles (6 solo). There is a quintet of defenders in Oakcrest that have all had breakthrough seasons - and the scary thought is that they are all still underclassmen. [player_tooltip player_id='2371222' first='Julian' last='Davis'] as stepped up in a big way, leading the team in tackles with 47 (21 solo) and tackles for loss (6), adding a sack to his credit as well. Speaking of sacks, [player_tooltip player_id='1230986' first='Jayden' last='Graves'] has four of his own thus far, amongst his 39 tackles (19 solo, 5 for loss) and lone forced fumble and fumble recovery. However, the team leader in sacks is [player_tooltip player_id='2414725' first='Cam' last='Scippio-Morton']. Scippio-Morton leads the team with 5 sacks, while adding 4 tackles for loss, 28 tackles (11 solo), and a forced fumble of his own. Also with 39 tackles (15 solo, 2 for loss) is [player_tooltip player_id='2414726' first='Malik' last='Hughes']. Hughes also adds a forced fumble, interception, and safety to his credit. Lastly, we highlight the youngster of the bunch [player_tooltip player_id='1560947' first='Uthman' last='Mitchell']. Mitchell is a sophomore who has the team lead with 2 interceptions - one of which he took back for a score. Additionally, he has made 36 stops (22 solo, 2 for loss). With this much production, look for Oakcrest to have continued defensive success now and in the future.</li> </ul>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Super Football Conference</h2>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Wayne Hills (4-0) at Old Tappan (3-0) There is no doubt that Old Tappan feels that last season got away from them. After going 12-0, they finally fell in the Group III State Final to Cedar Creek. Different year, same goal out to be their mantra. Off to a 3-0 start, they have a week 1 victory vs. North V's current #1 seed Ramapo to their credit and are now looking for the Wayne sweep, having doubled-up Valley 42-21. Wayne Hills looks to continue to make waves and show that they are a serious contender this season. After traveling to Texas to knock off Midland Christian, they returned to Jersey and knocked off Northern Highlands in week 1. Doing the same to Old Tappan would have serious reverberations within North III. Wayne Hills looks to get the ball into [player_tooltip player_id='1141072' first='Ethan' last='Zacharski']'s hands. Zacharski is their leading rusher with 357 yards and 3 scores on 56 attempts. A threat in the passing game too, he leads the team with 3 receiving touchdowns on 8 catches for 130 yards. As Zacharski is a a steady, consistent force in their offense, senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='2044218' first='James' last='Wolf'] knows that, quoting one of my favorite movies Training Day, "to protect the sheep, you gotta catch the wolf, and it takes a wolf to catch a wolf." As such, Wolf has done a great job spreading the ball around. Despite going just 39-62 passing, he has completed passes to 7 different receivers this season, 4 of which have found the endzone at least once. Wolf has a total of 8 touchdowns to 1 pick and thrown for 545 yards. Two defenders who protect the sheep are Evan Rapaport and [player_tooltip player_id='1515107' first='Shaun' last='George']. George has been a terror in the backfield thus far. Of his 21 total tackles -- which is good for third on the team -- he has made 15 solo stops, forced a fumble, has 10 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks -- of which the latter two are good for team-highs. Lastly senior [player_tooltip player_id='2414729' first='Evan' last='Rapoport'] gets it done both on offense and defense. Rapoport has two sacks, 5 tackles for loss, and made 16 solo tackles of his 19 total stops. Moreover, he is the team's second-leading rusher, going 22/148 with a team-leading 4 scores on the ground. Old Tappan is clearly [player_tooltip player_id='910743' first='Zach' last='Miceli']'s team. Miceli, a three-year starter, leas the team in both passing and rushing yardage, going 39-50 for 682 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 1 interception through the air and 5 scores for 236 yards on 24 totes on the ground. Miceli works the ball to mostly two receivers, [player_tooltip player_id='1894097' first='Leo' last='Etter'] (16/207/2) and [player_tooltip player_id='1568372' first='Christakis' last='Nicolaou'] (12/301/2). On defense senior [player_tooltip player_id='1894098' first='Nick' last='Blanchard'] has been tough to contain. Blanchard leads the way with 2 sacks and 6 tackles for loss amongst his 19 tackles (12 solo), while also forcing a fumble; whereas [player_tooltip player_id='1049463' first='John' last='Bilali'] has been Old Tappan's top tackler. Bilali has made 27 stops (16 solo) and forced a fumbe.</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>East Orange (2-1) at West Orange (3-1) Two very good teams, and perennial playoff qualifiers, face off as East Orange travels westbound into West Orange for Jersey's rendition for the Orange Bowl. East Orange allowed Piscataway to come back late in week 0, losing to them by a score, but has since knocked off two straight playoff teams in Bloomfield and Union City, both on the road. West Orange went toe-to-toe, losing by a single point, week 0 against North V's current top seed Ramapo before shutting out their next two opponents, and then getting redemption against a Shabazz team that stifled them last year. East Orange quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='909997' first='Zachary' last='Concepcion'] has stepped into his own this season. The senior has put it all together this year so far, going 42-71 for 1092 yards with 8 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. His 1000+ yardage, to this point, puts him as one of only about 4 quarterbacks in the state with such totals. Concepcion works the ball to [player_tooltip player_id='2414738' first='Je'zi' last='Lewis'], a junior, and senior [player_tooltip player_id='2414732' first='Eric' last='Wilkins']. Lewis holds a slight edge in receptions -- 13 to Wilkins 10 -- and yardage -- 308 to 300; however, Wilkins has scored twice relative to Lewis' single score. The Jaguars' top prospect is [player_tooltip player_id='910052' first='Esa' last='Wittingburg']. The Wake Forrest commit has been on a roll on defense. Sitting second on the team with 23 tackles (9 solo), he sits pretty atop the team leaderboard with 5 sacks, 6 tackles for loss, and 3 forced fumbles. Similar to this week's foe, West Orange's offense appears to be fully in the hands on [player_tooltip player_id='1300160' first='Daniel' last='Lewis']. The senior quarterback has gone 34-67 for 618 yards with 8 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, while leading the team in rushing with 201 yards on just 11 attempts, scoring once. [player_tooltip player_id='2414734' first='Nasir' last='Doughty'] has been his primary target so far. The fellow 2027 graduate has broken out for team highs with 13 receptions and 242 yards, while scoring twice. Opposite him is a prospect that I saw this spring at a camp and thought that he could have a breakout season - [player_tooltip player_id='969674' first='Evian' last='Mishoe']. Mishoe leads the team with 4 touchdown receptions on 9 receptions and 219 yards. The Mountaineers' most revered prospect is current Rutgers commit [player_tooltip player_id='1648966' first='Sydney' last='Padilla']. Padilla, a defensive lineman, leads West Orange with 25 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. Padilla also adds a dimension in the passing game, slashing 6/103/2 when targeted.</li> </ul>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Independents</h2>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Horace Mann (NY) (0-1) at Montclair Kimberley (2-0) After winning just two games in 2026, Montclair Kimberley has already matched their win total from last year, and looks to surpass it this week as they welcome Horace Mann from New York. Mann lost their first game of the season on Sunday. For Kimberley, they are best suited to continue running the ball the way that they have. [player_tooltip player_id='2414739' first='KJ' last='Wade'], their quarterback, is leading the offense through the air and on the ground. As a ball carrier, Wade leads the team with a 25/180/4 slash line, while also going an uber-efficient 18-23, 220 yards, 2 TD when asked to drop back and throw. Supporting Wade out the backfield is tailback [player_tooltip player_id='2414740' first='Alex' last='Scuorzo']. Scuorzo is nipping at Wade's heels with a slash line of 20/167/2 of his own, while also being Kimberley's top target in the passing game with 8 receptions for 74 yards. Scuorzo continues his production on defense, where he also finds himself as Kimberley's leading tackler with 19 stops (12 solo, 1.5 for loss). [player_tooltip player_id='2414741' first='Nathan' last='Abebe'] has broken through this year, his senior. The 2027 graduate has a team-leading 3 sacks on the year. I was unable to identify either reliable roster or statistical information for Horace Mann (NY).</li> </ul>

With as much football action as our Great Garden State has this coming weekend within the high school ranks, here are a handful of games – and as a fan what I am looking for in each one. This article features matchups from across the West Jersey Football League (WJFL), Super Football Conference (SFC), and independent schools not governed by the NJSIAA.