“We consider both guys starters and have complete faith in either one,” said Grant. “It all depends on the situation we find ourselves in at the time, and who is helping our offense get us down the field.”

Defensively, West Orange can be a lockdown unit and has been for a long stretch now led by standouts such as junior linebackers Dylan Adams (72 tackles) and Israel Giles (73 tackles, 12 TFL), junior DB Xavier Davis (88.5 tackles, 14 TFL), senior DB Moore and powerful junior D-linemen in Padilla (50 tackles, 11 sacks, 13 TFL) and Faheem Issah (39 tackles, 8 sacks, 14 TFL).

Padilla, a strong tight end on offense, who makes the most of his receiving opportunities, including hauling in a pair of TD passes from LaBanca vs. Livingston, is one of the more highly recruited underclassmen in North Jersey with a dozen different Football Championship Subdivision (FCS, formerly 1-A) offers already in tow, including from Rutgers, Kentucky, Boston College, West Virginia and Syracuse.

Grant (183-76), who is in his 23rd year as a high school head coach with previous stints at both Shabazz and his alma mater Irvington, knows all about this time of the year and he feels his Mountaineers will be up to the challenge, as mighty as it may be from a red-hot PCTI.   

“We’re battle tested and we have played some of the best people out there, but we also have great respect for Passaic Tech,” he said. “Having Miles at QB gets more of their guys involved in the offense, and they can put the ball anywhere on the field and cause different problems; but, we also have our share of weapons as well, and we’re confident of our abilities to get the job done in a big spot!”

This Week’s Schedule Involving Essex Teams. Pick To Win In Boldface:
Friday, Nov. 14:
North 2, Group 1 final:
Cedar Grove at New Providence, 6:30

North 2, Group 2 final:
Madison at Shabazz, 7

North 1, Group 5 final:
Passaic Tech at West Orange, 7

Non-Public, Group A:
Seton Hall Prep at Don Bosco Prep, 7

Record on picks last week: 7-1; for the season, 133-30 (82%)