FOOTBALL

NJ football rankings: Statewide Top 25 after Week 3

After a thrilling Week 3 of the high school football season, three new teams have entered the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey Top 25 rankings. 

Every week, voters from across the Network rank the Top 25 teams in the state. The statewide rankings will be posted every Tuesday morning.

Here are the Top 25 rankings after Week 3:

25. Ridge (2-0)

Last game: The Red Devils excelled on both sides of the ball as Mike Olivo and Lucas Hudkins handled most of the offense and the defense pitched a shutout in a 24-0 win over Bridgewater-Raritan.

Next game: Friday vs. Hunterdon Central (0-3)

24. Clifton (3-0)

Hackensack football at Clifton on Friday, September 10, 2021. Clifton coach Ralph Cinque.

Last game: The Mustangs defeated Old Tappan, 34-22, with senior QB Kyle Vellis rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown and throwing for 93 yards and a score, and senior RB Jacob Maldonado rushing for 116 yards and two scores.

Next game: Friday at Passaic (1-2)

23. Morris Knolls (3-0)

Last game: The Golden Eagles used three second-quarter touchdowns to cruise to a 38-7 victory over Morristown at home. They have scored 30 points or more in each of their first three wins to start the season.

Next game: Saturday at Morris Hills (1-2)

22. Hillsborough (3-0)

Last game: The Raiders continued to roll, scoring a 34-13 victory over Franklin and are now averaging 33 points per game, surrendering just 16 per contest.

Next game: Thursday at Bridgewater-Raritan (2-1)

21. Colts Neck (2-0)

Last game: Senior quarterback Tommy Fallon ran for 211 yards and three touchdowns and also threw a TD pass to John Runfolo as the Cougars defeated Matawan, 33-0.

Next game: Saturday vs. Donovan Catholic (2-1)

20. West Orange (2-1)

Last game: A shutout of Livingston gave the Mountaineers their second straight win after an opening loss to St. Peter’s Prep. Excluding the two losses to the Marauders in each of the past two seasons, West Orange has won 11 of its last 12 games.

Next game: Friday vs. East Orange Campus (3-0)

19. Donovan Catholic (2-1)

Donovan Catholic runs onto the field before the Donovan Catholic vs. Rumon-Fair Haven game at Rumon-Fair Haven Regional High School in Rumson, NJ Thursday, September 10, 2021.

Last game: Dante Vernieri returned an interception for a touchdown – his third INT return for a TD this season – and Kyree Drake had a receiving TD and a 90-yard TD run as the Griffins defeated Toms River North, 34-13.

Next game: Saturday at Colts Neck (2-0).

18. Newton (3-0)

Last game: The Braves scored another convincing victory, 35-7 over Sussex Tech. Thaylor Sibblies ran for 151 yards and scored three times, while Jack Young threw for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Newton racked up five sacks in the win.

Next game: Friday vs. Jefferson (1-2)

17. Winslow (3-1)

Last game: The Eagles churned out a season-high 44 points en route to their third straight win – a 44-7 triumph over Timber Creek. Quarterback Hamas Duren threw for 228 yards and four touchdowns, raising his season total to 13 in four weeks.

Next game: Friday at Camden (2-2)

16. St. Joseph (Montvale) (1-2)

Last game: The Green Knights come off a bye week and thus have two weeks of practice to work on an offense that suffered its first shutout in decades, 17-0 to DePaul in Week 2.

Next game: Saturday at Pope John (1-3)

15. Ramapo (3-0)

Last game: Junior quarterback Jack Grusser threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter and the defense did not allow a score until the fourth quarter of Friday’s 41-6 home victory over Kennedy.

Next game: Friday at Lakeland (3-0)

14. Don Bosco (1-2)

Last game: The Ironmen come off a bye week before a big game against rival Bergen Catholic, which they beat last year by one point on after scoring a touchdown as time expired.

Next game: Friday vs. Bergen Catholic (3-0)

13. Woodbridge (4-0)

Last game: Matt Stanton threw for 187 yards (9 of 13) with three touchdowns as the Barrons won 33-0 over Montgomery in the Big Central Football Conference Division 4 game.

Next game: Friday vs. North Hunterdon (1-2)

12. Somerville (3-1)

Last game: The Pioneers ran their Big Central Football Conference winning streak to 12 games with a 45-7 victory over Rahway. Ethan MacNair rushed for 108 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown and scored four 2-point conversions.

Next game: Oct. 1 vs. South Plainfield (1-3)

11. Red Bank Catholic (3-0)

Last game: Senior quarterback Alex Brown threw touchdown passes to Naijh Rahman and Alex Bauman and ran for a 36-yard score as the Caseys defeated Raritan, 49-7.

Next game: Saturday at Manasquan (2-1)

10. Rumson-Fair Haven (2-0)

Last game: The Bulldogs, who shut out Wall and Donovan Catholic by a combined 49-0 in the first two games, did not play in Week 3.

Next game: Friday vs. Lacey (2-0)

9. St. Augustine (3-1)

St. Augustine's Nasir Hill (4) runs for a gain during Friday's game against visiting St. Joseph Academy. The Hermits defeated the Wildcats, 24-7. Sept. 17, 2021.

Last game: The Hermits have rattled off three straight wins after a 24-7 triumph over St. Joseph Academy. After posting its first shutout of the season in the previous week against Williamstown, St. Augustine’s defense held the Wildcats to 104 yards of total offense. 

Next game: Friday at Millville (3-0)

8. Millville (3-0)

Last game: The Thunderbolts had their game against Highland postponed when the Tartans had to shut their program down for two weeks because of COVID-10 situation. 

Next game: Friday vs. St. Augustine (3-1)

7. Seton Hall Prep (3-1)

Last game: It took a double-overtime loss to No. 2 St. Peter’s Prep, on a two-point conversion, to hand the Pirates their first loss in 336 days. Seton Hall Prep measured up and could have won in the first overtime if not for a blocked field goal attempt.

Next game: Saturday vs. Bayonne (2-1)

6. Northern Highlands (3-0)

Last game: Sophomore Daniel Moor kicked a 32-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to lift the Highlanders to a 33-30 home win over then-No. 25 West Morris. Senior QB Enzo Arjona threw four TD passes, including two to senior Jack Murray.

Next game: Friday at Eastside (3-0)

5. Delbarton (2-1)

Delbarton football at Bergen Catholic on Saturday, September 18, 2021. D #8 Nicholas Petrillo celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter.

Last game: The Green Wave kept it close but came up short in a 28-19 loss to No. 1 Bergen Catholic on the road. Robert Russo threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns, and Chuck Nnaeto had a pair of sacks.

Next game: Saturday vs. Paramus Catholic (0-4)

4. DePaul (3-0)

Last game: Sophomore Jadin Johnson returned two first-half punts for touchdowns, junior Anthony Almeida ran for three scores, and the Spartans did not allow a TD for the second consecutive game in a 35-3 win over Pope John.

Next game: Friday at St. Peter’s Prep (4-0)

3. Holy Spirit (2-1)

Last game: The Spartans enjoyed a bye week after rattling off consecutive wins over St. Joseph Academy and Camden. Holy Spirit has won 12 straight games against South Jersey competition, with games against St. Augustine and Winslow looming in October.

Next game: Friday at Pleasantville (0-4)

2. St. Peter's Prep (4-0)

Last game: The host Marauders survived, 22-21, thanks to a trick-play two-point conversion in the second overtime against Seton Hall Prep. Senior RB Sam Slade took a snap and pitched to sophomore slot Hassan Moore, who threw to junior QB Robert Long.

Next game: Friday vs. DePaul (3-0)

1. Bergen Catholic (3-0)

Delbarton football at Bergen Catholic on Saturday, September 18, 2021. BC #7 Saeed St. Fleur.

Last game: Senior running back Ryan Butler carried 29 times for 186 yards and four touchdowns, and senior DB Jaeden Gould had two of the Crusaders’ three interceptions, in Saturday’s 28-19 home victory over then-No. 3 Delbarton.

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Cranford, Delsea, Irvington, North Brunswick, Ocean City, Shawnee, West Morris