***Very productive spread option chewed up much clock plus paved way to solid win as Morris Knolls persisted past a strong West Essex in entertaining last regular season game as schools now eye playoffs!

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***St. Benedict's would prevail as expected in 50th ECT final, while Seton Hall Prep gave a solid effort in its loss. See "Feature Articles"

***Livingston's 2-sport star, fresh off superb showing in ECT soccer final, is latest Parisi/SC Athlete of the Week. Check out "The Buzz"

Junior running back Nick Mignone (2) helps propel surging Caldwell which has won 3 in a row as it prepares to host Shabazz in one of the North 1, Group 2 first round playoff contests set for Friday evening at Bonnel Field. The two teams met three weeks ago in Newark as Chiefs won that one 21-6. (Photo by Jeff Stiefbold-jstiefbold.smugmug.com)

Key Rematches Plus The Not-So-Familiar
Help Add Flavor To Early Playoff Rounds

By Steve Tober
For sidelinechatter.com

What might change in a second meeting in less than a month between two teams that feel they are now headed in a very positive direction?

What about a seemingly-rare clash as a Brick City public school on the rise heads out to the far reaches of Morris County to take on a school it wouldn’t normally play?

And what lower seed will rise up and perhaps win a couple of playoff games to rattle the makeup of a particular state section?

The much-anticipated point of the New Jersey high school football season is now upon us once again as the field is set and preparation is already underway with coaches busy with film study to help formulate a game plan.

Action commences Friday night (Nov. 1) around the state and continues with Saturday afternoon action as well as the three rounds of the sectional playoffs are contested through mid-November before the group semifinals and overall state championship games wrap up the 2024 scholastic gridiron campaign.

Two opponents meeting for the second time in less than a month are 5-Shabazz (6-2) and 4-Caldwell (4-4) in a key North 1, Group 2 first round matchup Friday night at Bonnel Field.

The surging Chiefs, who have won three in a row and four of their last five, earned a solid 21-6 road win at Shabazz back on Oct. 10. And while Bulldogs are certainly playing much better football the past couple of weeks, including this past Friday night’s 52-0 rout of Verona, defeating Caldwell at Bonnel Field will not be an easy chore.

The Chiefs have been rolling of late led by their young, freshman quarterback Adam Sepe (999 yards passing with 8 TDs and 407 yards, 2 TDs rushing) and their versatile junior running back Nick Mignone (933 yards rushing, 13 TDs and 20 receptions for 165 yards and a TD).

Plus, Caldwell’s defense, which held Nutley to just 11 total yards in this past Friday night’s 35-7 victory, is also playing very solid football while led by Nick’s big brother, senior middle linebacker Mike Mignone.

Shabazz has a bevy of superb athletes including much coveted FBS recruit Zaiden McDonald (20 receptions for 278 yards, 2 TDs), running back Jalen Cline (469 yards, 4 TDs) and senior QB Romelo Tables (539 passing yards, 8 TDs).

Central At Mount Olive Intriguing Matchup In N1G4

The Brick City team heading out to Morris County is 5-Central (6-2) which visits 4-Mount Olive (5-3) in Flanders in a North 1, Group 4 opening-round contest. Coach Mark Ingram’s Blue Devils have their own impressive cast including Monmouth commit Jahsyn Reid, a probable safety at the college level, but also a talented wide receiver who has stepped in at QB this fall to help his high school team and has 541 rushing yards and 7 TDs.

Running back Zahir Wilson (1,064 yards, 8 TDs), WR Alsajade Pray (19 receptions for 376 yards, 4 TDs) and standout linebacker Wakeel Balogun (78 tackles) are among the other stalwart performers for Central.