It’s the last Friday night before the state playoffs begin and JSZ has plenty of exciting action on tap. Ramapo and Northern Highlights write the latest chapter in their SFC rivalry. Butler and Rutherford collide for the NJIC Championship. In the Shore Conference, Wall tries to end the regular season with a bang against St. John Vianney, while Neptune looks to clinch the D-North Division title. Plus, Ewing and Hamilton West go down to the wire in an epic finish and Winslow Twp. looks to bring home the WJFL American Division title. Check back as the highlights are posted throughout the night!
Ramapo 28 Northern Highlands 21 | Super Football Conference
The latest chapter in one of North Jersey’s most competitive football rivarlies stays in favor of the Raiders. Ramapo (7-1) closed out the regular season with a proverbial bang after taking out the Highlanders in decisive fashion. Senior QB Casey Grusser had three total touchdowns while Joseph Yessis hauled in a pair of touchdown passes in the win. The Raiders secure an SFC Liberty Red Division title and head into the state playoffs as the likely top-overall seed in North Group 4. Northern Highlands (6-2) leaned heavily on their ground game as Tucker Kanning and Chase Calarco each had rushing touchdowns.
JSZ’s Jay Cook has the highlights and reaction from Allendale:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Ramapo is made possible by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Northern Highlands is brought to you by American Dream in East Rutherford.
Butler 41 Rutherford 20 | NJIC Championship
Butler repeated as NJIC champions with a 41-20 win over Rutherford to secure back-to-back conference titles. David Smith accounted for four total touchdowns, throwing for 171 yards and rushing for two scores in the victory. CJ Bentley added 100 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Evan Croker made plays on both sides of the ball with a 109-yard receiving performance and two interceptions. Yadi Perez chipped in with a touchdown run for Butler (8-0). Myles Balchan threw for two scores, including a 40-yard strike to Jo Jo Marullo, in the loss for Rutherford (7-1).
JSZ’s Nick Doll has the highlights from Rutherford:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Rutherford is made possible by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
Ewing 30 Hamilton West 24 | West Jersey Football League
It was a magical night for the Blue Devils as Dasan Jones walked it off with a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown as time expired, capping off a furious comeback and a 20-point third quarter after trailing 21–10. The win clinched the Valley Division title—Ewing’s first division crown and soon-to-be official first playoff berth in four seasons. Josh Missick powered the offense with 168 rushing yards and two touchdowns, leading Ewing (7–2) to its seventh straight victory heading into the postseason. Hamilton West (5–3) showcased some fireworks of their own, pulling off a trick play that saw WR Carmelo Brown connect deep with Xavier Jackson for a touchdown. The Hornets will now wait to see where they land when the playoff brackets are announced.
JSZ’s Tyler Mroz has the highlights + post-game reaction from Ewing Township:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Ewing and Hamilton West is brought to you by Princeton Orthopaedic Associates.
Wall 28 St. John Vianney 0 | Shore Conference
Dylan Cohen had three rushing touchdowns and topped the 100 yard mark on the ground for the fourth time this season and the Wall defense was dominant to wrap up a Crimson Knights Shore Conference “B” North outright title. Brian McKenna threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Maddox Mizelle in the second quarter on fourth down to make it a 14-0 game. The Crimson Knights (6-2) are expected to be a top seed in the upcoming Central Jersey Group 2 state playoffs.
JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from Holmdel:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Wall is brough to you by Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of St. John Vianney is made possible by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
Neptune 26 Raritan 13 | Shore Conference
Caleb Brown had 160 yards of total offense including three touchdown passes to lead the Scarlet Fliers (8-1) to their first outright division title since 1998. Hassin McMillan had two touchdown catches and a fumble recovery on defense. Brown ran for 107 yards to top 1,000 for the season and added 53 through the air. Neptune was a two win team a year ago, now they have a division title and are gearing up for the playoffs.
JSZ’s Mike Griggs has the highlights from Neptune:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverge of Neptune is brought to you by Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch
Winslow Twp. 41 Cherokee 6 | West Jersey Football League
The Eagles exploded for 28 points in the first quarter and rolled to their sixth-straight victory to clinch a second-straight WJFL American Division crown. Jalen Parker tossed five touchdown passes, with Boston College commit Nyqir Helton and UConn commit hauling in a pair of TDs each in the victory. Julian Peterson opened the scoring, while Ka’ron Ceaser had a touchdown and interception for Winslow Township (7-2). Tennessee baseball commit Cooper Burti found John Serzan for a touchdown in the loss for Cherokee (3-6).
JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights from Marlton:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Winslow Township Football and Cherokee is brought to you by Kwartler Manus Personal Injury Attorneys.
