In a battle between teams from two of the largest cities in New Jersey, the Brick City-based Bulldogs of first-year head coach Nasir Gaines entered the state Top 20 this week at No. 19, while Camden stands a bit higher in the rankings at No. 13.

Shabazz, like Cedar Grove, saw its QB and top running back graduate off last fall’s 10-4 squad which was edged by Rumson-Fair Haven, 26-24, in the overall Group 2 final at Rutgers.

Now it’s junior Kariem Costan and a host of different backs getting the job done, including seniors Noah Foxworth (391 yards, 2 TDs) and Stanford University commit Zaiden McDonald (373 yards, 4 TDs), who does a little bit of everything including operating out of the Wildcat offense, and juniors Yahzeed Sharif (270 yards, 5 TDs) and last weekend’s star Faheem Ausbon (289 yards, 6 TDs).

Ausbon, a transfer from Bergen Catholic, had a second half to remember at Westwood with 5 carries for 102 yards and 3 rushing TDs along with a ‘Pick-6’ interception return.

Costan (73-of-128 for 1,233 yards, 16 TDs, 4 Int.) has had a superb initial season as a full-time starting QB and had a TD pass to sophomore Nosym Brown (22 receptions for 396 yards and 6 TDs) at Westwood.  

Defensively, the Bulldogs feature the talented LB McDonald (66 tackles) and strong junior D-lineman Adekunbi Adetoyo (41 tackles, 12 TFL). 

Like Cedar Grove with Kovacs, Shabazz has a superb placekicker in Basit Raimi,who has converted 4 of 5 field goal attempts and beat Essex County rival West Orange, 10-7, with a 23-yard field goal in the season opener at Suriano Field way back on Aug. 30. 

Camden, which had its own impressive Group 2 semifinal victory with a 37-18 thrashing of Haddonfield, is led by multi-talented senior QB Ahmad Jones (82 of 119 for 1,290 yards, 14 TDs, 0 Int.), a transfer from Pleasantville who had to sit out the first three games of the season and really didn’t get rolling via the air until the last two weeks when he has thrown 8 of his TDs.

He finished 16-of-24 for 213 yards and 2 TDs at Haddonfield and also rushed for a TD in the semifinal contest.

RB Christian Braxton (665 yards, 5 TDs) and WR Ibn Muhammad (37 receptions for 587 yards, 9 TDs) are among the other offensive threats for the Panthers, while the stingy defense is led by D-lineman Jerome Foster (13.5 sacks, 48 tackles, 13.5 TFL).

Upcoming Games Involving Essex Teams- Pick To Win In Boldface:
Group 1 Final, Sunday, Nov. 30, at Rutgers:
Cedar Grove vs. Glassboro, noon

Group 2 final, Wednesday, Dec. 3, at Rutgers:
Shabazz at Camden, 5 p.m.
Record on Picks last week: 2-0; for the season: 140-31 (82%)