As the games get bigger, the focus of the High School Football America New Jersey Top 25, powered by NFL Play Football, gets sharper. The latest rankings, created with our proprietary algorithm, feature a new No. 2 and three new teams in the statewide rankings.
First, Don Bosco Prep jumps three spots to No. 2 this week after throttling St. Joseph Regional (Montvale) 31-7). The Ironmen, who avenged at October 23 loss (21-14) to St. Joe’s, now face No. 7 St. Augustine in the Non-Public Group A semifinals this week.
In the other semifinal, No. 1 Bergen Catholic will meet No. 4 St. Peter’s Prep. On October 30, BC shut-out the Marauders 21-0.
The Non-Public Group B semifinal round also features a Top 25 head-to-head with No. 12 Red Bank Catholic taking-on No. 14 St. Joseph of Hammonton. In the other semi, No. 3 DePaul Catholic goes against Holy Spirit.
On the public school side of things, it sectional championship time. There are four games with head-to-head Top 25 matchups:
- No. 10 Rumson-Fair Haven vs. No. 15 Woodrow Wilson (Camden) – Group 3, Central
- No. 11 Ocean City vs. No. 14 Millville – Group 4, South
- No. 12 Northern Highlands vs. No. 22 Ramapo – Group 4, Section 1
- No. 20 Winslow Township vs. No. 21 Shawnee – Group 4, Central
New to the statewide rankings this week are East Orange at No. 24 and Clifton at No. 25
East Orange will play Passaic Tech for the Group 5, Section 1 title this weekend. Clifton will face Paterson-Eastside for the Group 5, Section 2 crown.
High School Football America New Jersey Top 25
| Team | Record | Last Week |
| No. 1 Bergen Catholic | (10-0) | 1 |
| No. 2 Don Bosco Prep | (7-4) | 5 |
| No. 3 DePaul Catholic | (8-2) | 2 |
| No. 4 St. Peter’s Prep | (8-3) | 6 |
| No. 5 Seton Hall Prep | (7-4) | 3 |
| No. 6 St. Joseph Regional (Montvale) | (6-4) | 4 |
| No. 7 St. Augustine | (9-1) | 7 |
| No. 8 Delbarton | (5-6) | 8 |
| No. 9 Cedar Creek | (11-0) | 9 |
| No. 10 Rumson-Fair Haven | (9-1) | 10 |
| No. 11 Ocean City | (11-0) | 12 |
| No. 12 Northern Highlands | (11-0) | 13 |
| No. 13 Red Bank Catholic | (9-1) | 14 |
| No. 14 Millville | (8-1) | 15 |
| No. 15 St. Joseph (Hammonton) | (8-2) | 16 |
| No. 16 Woodrow Wilson (Camden) | (7-2) | 20 |
| No. 17 Hillsborough | (11-0) | 21 |
| No. 18 Donavan Catholic* | (6-5) | 11 |
| No. 19 Union | (9-2) | 17 |
| No. 20 Winslow Township | (8-2) | 22 |
| No. 21 Shawnee | (7-3) | 23 |
| No. 22 Ramapo | (10-1) | 24 |
| No. 23 Middletown South | (9-1) | 25 |
| No. 24 East Orange | (10-0) | NR |
| No. 25 Clifton | (9-2) | NR |
Dropped-out: No. 18 Cherokee, No. 19 Somerville
* Donovan Catholic forfeited three games due to use of ineligible player
Editor’s Note: The High School Football America national, regional and state rankings are developed using our proprietary algorithm.
