West Orange lines up as the top seed in North 2, Group 5 with its first-round opponent yet to be determined.

A look at potential N2G5 sectional semifinal teams could include 4-Passaic Tech (4-3), which despite getting off to a slow start this season, has played much better of late after adding additional talent including St. Joe’s of Montvale transfer Bryce Longo, the team’s new starting QB, and the large Wayne-Bull Dogs always feature a strong ground game which is led this season by senior running back Randy Lewis.

Among other North, Group 5 teams to watch are the aforementioned Elizabeth (7-0) and Irvington (5-2), which has put together a solid showing vs. a strong schedule this fall.

The Minutemen, who are enjoying one of their best seasons in years under second-year head coach Gene Kline, feature one of the state’s top QBs in Arique Fleming, who is having a first-team all-state type season while already passing for more than 1,500 yards.

East Orange Campus (4-2) and Phillipsburg (4-2) are other North, Group 5 teams to watch.

The elevation by the NJSIAA moving both Ramapo and P-Burg up from Group 4 to Group 5 this season just adds to what could be the strongest North, Group 5 alignment in the history of the current playoff format, especially when you consider that there are several other strong teams that could also make an impact in the group such as Piscataway and Bridgewater-Raritan.

All told, it should be intriguing to see how the playoff brackets all wind up when they are revealed on Sunday, Nov. 1, and officially on Monday, Nov. 2.                     

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This Week’s Schedule Involving Essex Teams; Pick To Win In Boldface:
Thursday, Oct. 15:
Lincoln at West Side (Untermann Field) (West Side wins 40-0)
Millburn at North Bergen (Millburn wins 27-7)
Fort Lee at Belleville (Fort Lee wins 26-0)

Friday, Oct. 16:
Passaic Tech at Livingston (PCT wins 35-13)
MKA at Pingry (Pingry wins 29-7)
Union City at Columbia (Union City wins 58-0)
Verona at Cedar Grove (Cedar Grove wins 26-3)
Chatham at Weequahic (Chatham wins 28-0)
Snyder at Shabazz (Shabazz wins 60-6)
Montclair at Nutley, 8:30

Saturday, Oct. 17:
Bloomfield at Bayonne, noon
St. Joe’s (Mont.)  at Seton Hall Prep, 1
Irvington at East Orange Campus, 1
Orange at Parsippany Hills, 1
West Orange at Barringer (Schools Stadium), 1
Caldwell at Madison, 1
West Morris at West Essex, 1:30

Bye week: Glen Ridge and Newark Central

Record on Thursday night picks: 3-0; for the season: 85-27 (76%)