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Among the individuals to watch in this weekend's opening round of the playoffs are Cedar Grove's outstanding passer Stephen Paradiso (9), Central's ultra-athletic star Jahsyn Reid (7), surprising Glen Ridge with first-year coach Chris Strumolo, Cadwell's very precocious freshman quarterback Adam Sepe (15), Verona's consistent two-way standout Gianluca Checchetto (5) and Montclair's own young QB in sophomore Jaylin Bullock (10). (Photos by Jeff Stiefbold, Gene Nann and courtesy of Central football)
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Mount Olive (5-3), which is coming off a thrilling 35-28 win over a good West Morris team, has perhaps underachieved to date following an 11-2 record and berth in the Group 4 state semifinals last fall, but coach Brian O’Connor’s Marauders are a dangerous 4-seed in a loaded N1G4 field that also includes state-ranked and top-seeded Morris Knolls (8-0) and 2-Ridge (7-1) along with a red-hot third-seeded Ramapo (5-3).
Irvington At Bridgewater-Raritan Another 5 Vs. 4 Contest To Watch
Another 5-4 match-up that is not between familiar foes is 5-Irvington (4-3) at 4-Bridgewater-Raritan (3-6) on Friday night. The Blue Knights, who own a significant 24-21 regular season win over a good Passaic Tech team, have won three of four and have an exciting, young QB in sophomore Jamir Howell for first-year head coach Marco Soto and company from Camptown.
Bridgewater-Raritan does not have an impressive won-loss log; however, coach DJ Catalano’s team plays a very tough schedule and has regular season wins over playoff teams Piscataway and Elizabeth.
Undefeated Cedar Grove Heavy Favorite In N1G1
One Essex County team that is a heavy favorite to win a sectional playoff title is Cedar Grove (9-0), which is the top seed in North 1, Group 1. The Panthers are led by one of the state’s most prolific QBs in Stephen Paradiso (146 of 231 for 2,232 yards, 27 TDs, 6 Int.) who has a number of terrific targets including fellow seniors Jackson Morrice (53 receptions for 1,010 yards, 14 TDs) and Nick Russo (49-541-9), who is also an excellent defender (35 tackles, 2 Int.).
The Panthers also boast one of the state’s top placekickers in junior Sebastian Kovacs (5 of 6 in field goals with a long of 42 yards and 49/51 extra points) who could be a difference-maker in any close game if there are any in the upcoming playoffs for the talented team from The Grove.
Many fans think a Group 1 semifinal clash between the Panthers and top-seeded Butler in N2G1 is going to be on the horizon come Nov. 22.
Undefeated MKA Aims For MIFL Playoff Championship
While they are not participating in the NJSIAA playoffs, an undefeated team in Essex County is competing for another championship as second-seeded Montclair Kimberley Academy (8-0) will host Poly Prep of New York (6-1) in this Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. semifinals in the Metropolitan Independent Football League playoffs.
Coach Anthony Rea’s Cougars feature one of the state’s best yet still relatively unknown talents in senior running back Kalvin Thomas of Orange who has rushed for a school-record 1,663 yards and 23 TDs plus has four other TDs (1 receiving, 1 on a fumble recovery and 2 on kickoff returns).
If MKA is in a close contest it also has an outstanding placekicker in senior Josh Katz who is 2 of 3 in field goal attempts with a long one of 39 yards plus has not yet missed an extra point this fall (28 of 28).
Should MKA advance past Poly Prep it would advance to the MIFL championship game 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9, at SUNY Purchase, against the other semifinal survivor between Riverdale Country Day and undefeated and top-seeded Hackley (N.Y.) which is 7-0 and has already posted an impressive regular-season win over Riverdale (35-16 on Oct. 19).
North Jersey Mourns Passing Of Terrific Man In Coaching Circles
Seton Hall Prep is mourning the recent passing of beloved, former Pirates assistant coach Bill Fitzgerald, the father of SHP head football coach Bill Fitzgerald, Jr., who was also the longtime head coach at Secaucus High School among numerous coaching stops along the way.
Coach Bill ‘Fitz’ Sr., who passed away on Oct. 21 at age 80, also coached at St. Peter’s Prep where his son was a former standout QB, Dumont High School, Poly Prep in his native Brooklyn, N.Y., and at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
This reporter got to know Bill Sr. while preparing for a Suburban Cable-TV 3 broadcast in the early 1990s and, as was the custom during those days in preparing for a game telecast, the play-by-play man/producer of the game would visit in person with the coach.
In Coach Bill, Sr’s case, he invited me to his house in Montville where we got to discuss a number of topics about football and life and he was undoubtedly one of the more personable coaches that I’ve dealt with in 50 years in the business.
I was fortunate to also have a very nice in-person conversation with Bill, Sr., before SHP’s 2024 season opener with Union at the Kelly Athletic Complex on Aug. 30, and am very happy to have had that opportunity to have a very nice chat with a terrific man from the Jersey football coaching circles who will be remembered mostly for his warmth and hospitality.
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Playoff pairings in North Jersey:
North Jersey, Section 1, Group 1
- 8-Wallkill Valley (5-4) at 1-Cedar Grove (9-0), 7, Friday
- 7-Boonton (6-3) at 2-New Providence (7-2), 2, Saturday
- 6-Wood-Ridge (4-4-1) at 3-Hasbrouck Heights (6-2), 7, Friday
- 5-Belvidere (8-1) at 4-Verona (6-3), 7, Friday
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1
- 8-Weehawken (4-4) at 1-Butler (8-0), 7, Friday
- 7-Park Ridge (4-3-1) at 2-New Milford (6-2), 7, Friday
- 6-Lenape Valley (4-5) at 3-Mountain Lakes (4-4), 7, Friday
- 5-Pompton Lakes (3-5) at 4-Glen Ridge (4-4), noon, Saturday
North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2
- 8-Lakeland (4-5) at 1-Westwood (7-1), 7, Friday
- 7-Rutherford (6-2) at 2-Bernards (9-0), 7, Friday
- 6-Madison (5-3) at 3-Pequannock (7-2), 7, Friday
- 5-Shabazz (6-2) at 4-Caldwell (4-4), 7, Friday
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2
- 8-Waldwick (4-4) at 1-Glen Rock (7-1), 1, Saturday
- 7-Newton (5-3) at 2-Hanover Park (7-1), 7, Friday
- 6-Lyndhurst (7-1) at 3-Ramsey (6-2),7, Friday
- 5-Becton (6-2) at 4-High Point (8-1), 7, Friday
North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3
- 8-West Milford (5-4) at 1-Pascack Valley (7-1), 6, Friday
- 7-River Dell (6-3) at 2-Mendham (8-1), 7, Friday
- 6-Snyder (6-3) at 3-Passaic Valley (6-2), 7, Friday
- 5-Sparta (7-1) at 4-Montville (6-2), 7, Friday
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3
- 8-Weequahic (3-5) at 1-Old Tappan (7-1) 6, Friday
- 7-Dwight-Morrow (5-2-1) at 2-West Essex (6-2), 6:30, Friday
- 6-Wayne Hills (5-4) at 3-West Morris (7-2), 7:30, Friday
- 5-Summit (5-3) at 4-Cranford (6-2) 7, Friday
North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4
- 8-Colonia (4-5) at 1-Morris Knolls (8-0), 1, Saturday
- 7-Rahway (7-2) at 2-Ridge (7-1), 7, Friday
- 6-Randolph (4-4) at 3-Ramapo (5-3), 7, Friday
- 5-Newark Central (6-2) at 4-Mount Olive (5-3), 7, Friday
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4
- 8-Nutley (4-5) at 1-Phillipsburg (7-1), 7, Friday
- 7-Watchung Hills (5-4) at 2-Woodbridge (9-0), 6, Friday
- 6-Westfield (4-4) at 3-Northern Highlands (4-4), 7, Friday
- 5-Chatham (6-2) at 4-Wayne Valley (6-3), 7 Friday
North Jersey, Section 1, Group 5
- 8-Newark Eastside (3-6) at Union City (7-1),7, Friday
- 7-Morristown (4-5) at 2-Elizabeth (5-4), 7, Friday
- 6-Plainfield (5-3) at 3-Passaic Tech (7-2), 7, Friday
- 5-Irvington (4-3) at 4-Bridgewater-Raritan (3-6), 7, Friday
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 5
- 8-Passaic (4-4) at 1-Ridgewood (5-3), 7, Friday
- 7-Linden (4-5) at 2-West Orange (7-2), 7, Friday
- 6-Bayonne (6-2) at 3-Piscataway (6-3), 1, Saturday
- 5-Montclair (4-5) at 4-East Orange (6-2), 1, Saturday
Seton Hall Prep and the North Jersey football community are mourning the passing of the former longtime Secaucus head coach and SHP assistant Bill Fitzgerald (left), seen at the KAC with his son, Pirates head coach Bill Fitzgerald, Jr. Among teams not participating in the NJSIAA tournament, but in its own league playoffs is MKA with the dynamic running back Kalvin Thomas, who has scored total of 27 TDs. (SC photo and also by Gene Nann)
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