Week 5 Preview: Big Time Matchups + Big Time Players, Part 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Be sure to follow me on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BrendanScoutsNJ">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for the latest New Jersey high school football prospect news and not miss a beat!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">West Jersey Football League</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Rancocas Valley (5-0) at Millville (3-1)<br><br>Rancocas Valley was a team that many had high expectations for last fall. Largely fulfilling those expectations, some may argue that they did not live up to their full potential -- in his case due largely to injuries to key offensive pieces. Fast-forward one year, Rancocas Valley has shown to be on a mission, allowing just 6 points in their 5 victories. They travel south into Millville, to take on a Bolts team that is always explosive, yet has one loss on their ledger -- albeit to the reigning Group V champion Washington Township on the road. In other words, this one is a case of the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object.<br><br>Rancocas Valley's offensive attack has been led by quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1087135' first='Zach' last='Merhar']. Merhar, a prospect that I first encountered on the road this spring during camp season, has been efficient and explosive. On the season, his senior, he has gone 53-91 for 1009 with 16 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Along the trenches is where Rancocas Valley dominates. [player_tooltip player_id='1151578' first='Michael' last='Beasley'] has been a name that, for years now, has been tough on offensive lines. Still just a junior, he has made 43 tackles (12 for loss) with 3 sacks and 1 forced fumble. Beasley is paired with [player_tooltip player_id='1533565' first='David' last='Ogunsola'], a senior, to form a pairing up front that reigns down heavy on opposing offenses. Ogunsola is the outright team-leader with 51 tackles -- 6 of which are sacks and 21 are for loss. Despite how many games Beasley and Ogunsola have been in, a young sophomore by the name of [player_tooltip player_id='2423785' first='Amari' last='Harrison'] is emerging as a key contributor when rushing the passer. Harrison is second on the team with 4 sacks, while making 40 tackles (6 for loss).<br><br>Millville has benefitted from the explosive offensive play of [player_tooltip player_id='1476891' first='Reggie' last='Holley']. It appears that Holley has changed position full-time to play running back. The Bolts' leading rusher, he has gone for 259 yards with 6 touchdowns on 49 carries. Somehow, Holley still finds himself as the team's second-leading receiver with a 10/240/2 slash line. The dynamic prep star has also made 12 tackles (3 solo, 2 for loss) on defensive and recorded a pick-six. Along the defensive trenches, [player_tooltip player_id='2217992' first='Andrew' last='Pinnock'] has had a breakthrough season. Pinnock, a junior, leads the team with 6 sacks, while also intercepting a pass and making 18 tackles (2 for loss, 3 solo). Furthermore, senior defender [player_tooltip player_id='2044339' first='Darnell' last='Williams'] has found a way to come up big, making a team-high 7 tackles for loss amongst his 27 total stops, which includes 2 solo tackles.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Paul VI (3-1) at Eastern (4-1)<br><br>After a 6-5 finish last fall, Paul VI is ahead of 2025's pace with a 3-1 start. Their most recent, upcoming formidable test to surpass next year's total is a strong Eastern team that is off to a 4-1 start. <br><br>I am unsure where the time goes, as [player_tooltip player_id='1160587' first='Nate' last='Klecko'] is already a senior. The star prospect for Paul VI, Klecko has ran 64 times for 546 yards, scoring 6 times. A two-way standout, Klecko might be a better defensive prospect than offensive one. Third on the team with 22 tackles, Klecko leads Paul VI -- by a large margin mind you -- with 5 sacks, 10 tackles, 4 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries. When Paul IV steps back to throw, more times than not they look to [player_tooltip player_id='513683' first='Kevin' last='Bunt']. A senior, Bunt has a 14/214/3 slash line. This represents, respectively 40%/ 54%/100% of his team's total production through the air. Lastly, [player_tooltip player_id='2423787' first='Owen' last='Smith'] has cleaned much of what is in front of him up. A senior, Smith has made 39 tackles on the season, while making one stop for loss, forcing a fumble, and recovering another.<br><br>For Eastern, they like to get much of their production on the ground. Thus far, they have ran the ball 181 times as a team. The most impressive stat, however, is that a whopping 15 different players have had the opportunity to carry the ball; none more so than [player_tooltip player_id='1524876' first='A'Shaad' last='Carter']. A sophomore, Carter has 78 attempts on the season for 640 yards and 5 scores. This total is, by far, the largest individual output by any player. Another prospect from Eastern's class of 2029 that has arrived is [player_tooltip player_id='1883025' first='Jonah' last='Lee']. Lee finds himself first on the team with 9 tackles for loss and second in: sacks (2), solo tackles (23), and tackles (30). Meanwhile, part of the old guard [player_tooltip player_id='1905681' first='Brayden' last='Dove'] continued to do [player_tooltip player_id='1905681' first='Brayden' last='Dove'] things, amassing 33 tackles (27 solo, 9 for loss) and an interception.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Super Football Conference</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Fort Lee (4-0) at Pascack Hills (4-0)<br><br>Despite this being an Ivy matchup, meaning neither team can qualify for the state tournament, The Ivy White division could be at stake, as two divisional foes square off. Each team will have one more regular season schedule, assuming neither falls again, this could decide the division and seeding for the Ivy tournament. <br><br>For the visiting Bridgemen, [player_tooltip player_id='1921830' first='CJ' last='Senatore'] has done it all. With 47 carries on the year, Senatore has produced 8 touchdowns and 567 yards. Moreover, Senatore has found a way to lead his team in receiving yards, 134, while being third on the team with 4 receptions and scoring twice. On the defensive side of the ball, Senatore has found himself squarely in the mix with 19 tackles (10 solo), while leading the team with 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 pick-six, and 1 blocked kick. Controlling both the trenches and setting the tone on defensive is [player_tooltip player_id='2423794' first='Robert' last='Conte']. Conte is the Bridgemen's leader with 26 tackles (13 solo, 2 for loss) and has recorded a sack. <br><br>Pascack Hills likes to get it done on the ground with two backs who have nearly matched each other's production to a Tee. Leading the way is [player_tooltip player_id='2423806' first='Andrew' last='Hamilton'], who is the outright team leader in carries (39), yards (282), and touchdowns (6). [player_tooltip player_id='2423807' first='Jack' last='Epstein'] is Pascack Hills second-leading rusher, as he has accrued a 38/255/3 slash line on the ground. Moving to defense, their most disruptive defender has been [player_tooltip player_id='2423808' first='Mason' last='Hennessy']. Hennessy puts offenses down smooth, as he leads his squad in sacks (2), tackles for loss (3), and pick-sixes (1), while making 11 tackles.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Caldwell (4-0) at West Essex (5-0)<br><br>Both these teams are having meteoric rises at the same time. After a 5-5 season last fall, Caldwell looks to match last year's win total in half the games. Conversely, West Essex is in a similar situation. Last fall West Essex had 6 victories, and now find themselves 5-0 looking to -- like Caldwell -- match their 2025 win total.<br><br>Like the Dallas Cowboys had in the 1990s, Caldwell has their own version of the triplets. Under center for Caldwell is [player_tooltip player_id='2044418' first='Adam' last='Sepe'], a junior. Sepe has had a strong season with 7 touchdowns to 3 interceptions and 677 yards on 35-49 passing, adding 86 yards and 2 rushing scores on the ground. On the ground is where [player_tooltip player_id='2423809' first='Nicco' last='Capaldo'] earns his keep. Capaldo already has 10 touchdowns and 504 yards on just 51 attempts, keeping his yards per carry average just about 10. The third offensive piece to the Caldwell triplets is [player_tooltip player_id='2044533' first='Dante' last='Placenti']. Placenti has a 16 receptions, 406 yards, and 6 touchdowns through the air. Placenti's totals represent 46% of Caldwell's total receptions, 60% of their aerial yardage, and 86% of their passing touchdowns. <br><br>Opposing the trio from Caldwell will be the defensive tandem [player_tooltip player_id='2423811' first='DJ' last='Fiore'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2044491' first='Frank' last='Iavarone']. Starting with the elder player, [player_tooltip player_id='2423811' first='DJ' last='Fiore'], he has done a great job setting the pace with 1.5 sacks on the season. Of Fiore's 20 tackles, he has made 6 for loss and 17 have been solo stops. Iavarone, a junior, has made a few more plays. Iavarone has made a team-leading 10 tackles for loss, while forcing a fumble and recovering another. Additionally, he has 1 sack and 28 total stop, where all but one have been solo tackles. Speaking of Iavarone, [player_tooltip player_id='2423814' first='Gaetano' last='Iavarone'] is West Essex's primary weapon on offense. A senior quarterback, Iavarone has been a highly efficient 67-88 passing (76%) for 753 yards with 7 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Moreover, Iavarone is also West Essex's leading ball carrier in all categories with 59 attempts, 9 touchdowns, and 270 yards. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Independents</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Pingry (3-1) at Rye Country Day (NY) (2-0)<br><br>Pingry is off to a solid, 3-1 start, and are looking to surpass last year's win total of 6. The next test afforded to them will be in upstate New York against Rye Country Day. Rye Country Day is off to an undefeated start at 2-0 and looks to keep their momentum going<br><br>Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='2423840' first='Zach' last='Zaslow'] has been highly effective for the Pingry offense. So far on the season, Zaslow has gone 46-75 for 676 yards with 6 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, while adding another 126 yards and 1 score on the ground. Defensively they are led by junior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='2381772' first='Conor' last='Albert']. Albert is the team leader in sacks and tackles, with 1.5 and 41 respectively. Additionally, defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='2423841' first='Zach' last='Richardson'] has been a disruptive force along the trenches. To go along with his 23 stops (6 solo), Richardson has a sack, tackle for loss, forced fumble, and fumble recovery to his credit.<br><br>For Rye Country Day, [player_tooltip player_id='1545196' first='Alex' last='Vlasto'] appears to be their primary weapon. Two games into his junior season, Vlasto already has 285 yards on 31 carries, scoring once. Moreover, Vlasto has made 16 tackles of defense (12 solo) and has intercepted a pass. Rye Country Day's leading pass defender is [player_tooltip player_id='2423842' first='Sam' last='Kietlinski']. The senior linebacker has already picked off and defended 2 passes each, making him a key clog to passing lanes. Lastly, Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2423845' first='James' last='Greear'] is active in stopping the run. A standout sophomore, Greear has already been credited with 17 tackles (7 solo, 2 for loss) and has interecpted as well as defended a pass.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->