Happy Halloween from Jersey Sports Zone! We had a few tricks and even more treats for a number of football teams around New Jersey as the football state playoffs are officially underway. Stay tuned throughout the night as ALL of our coverage rolls in!

Middletown North 28 Middletown South 19 | Central Group 4 Quarterfinal

The Lions used some big plays on the ground and a timely pick-six to snap a nine-year losing streak to their crosstown rivals. Matt Belenko gave third-seeded Middletown North (4-4) the lead with a 75-yard touchdown on the game’s first play – the Lions would hold that lead for the entirety of the night. Kade Little’s massive pick-six late in the fourth quarter sealed the win for good. Sixth-seeded Middletown South (3-6) will now turn their focus to preparing for the annual Thanksgiving Day game against the Lions. Middletown North will go on the road to play second-seeded Manalapan next week.

JSZ’s Jay Cook has the highlights + reaction from the Battle of Middletown:

Jersey Sports Zone’s Shore Conference Game of the Week is brought to you by ACI Medical & Dental School.

Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of both Middletown North and Middletown South is brought to you by Monmouth Medical Center.

Steinert 14 Red Bank Regional 6 | Central Group 4 Quarterfinal

Issac Pate had a pair of first half touchdown runs and the Spartans defense blanked the Bucs in the second half to give Steinert (7-2) its first playoff win since 2015. Brett Laude’s 11-yard TD pass to Ari Fraser early in the second quarter made it a 7-6 game but Pate was able to cash in from 5-yards out for his second score of the game and his 15th of the season to make it a 14-6 game. Steinert will face top seed Brick Memorial in the CJ Group 4 semifinals next week.

JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from Little Silver:

Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Steinert is brought to you by Princeton Orthopaedic Associates.

Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Red Bank Regional is brought to you by Monmouth Medical Center.

Toms River North 22 Cherry Hill East 14 | South Group 5 Quarterfinal

The three-time defending Group 5 champion Mariners used a big night from Cole Garrison and a stingy effort from the defense to fend off the fouth-seeded Cougars. Garrison’s 86-yard kickoff return touchdown proved to be the difference as the junior finished with a pair of touchdowns in the victory. Lucas Elias had a 40-yard rushing touchdown for fifth-seeded Toms River North (5-5). Josh Greenberg and Jaden Green had rushing touchdowns in the loss for previously unbeaten Cherry Hill East (9-1). Toms River North will face top-seeded Atlantic City in the sectional semifinals next week.

JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights and reaction from Cherry Hill:

Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Toms River North is made possible by Community Medical Center in Toms River.

Northern Burlington 24 Central Regional 14 | South Group 4 Quarterfinal

QB Brent Walulak had 16 carries for 132 yards and three touchdowns including a wild 41-yard run that saw him pop up from a potential tackle for loss to sprint to the end zone. The Northern Burlington defense produced three turnovers to preserve its first playoff win since 2013. The Greyhounds (7-3) will face the winner of Millville and Toms River East in the semifinals. Central Regional’s season comes to an end with an 8-2 record.

JSZ’s Michael Griggs has the highlights and post-game reaction from Bayville:

Wayne Hills 21 Sparta 20 | North 1 Group 3 Quarterfinal

The Patriots were tested on Friday night and punched their ticket to the sectional semifinals with a clutch defensive play in the late stages of the fourth quarter. Shane Hoover scored a touchdown for seventh-seeded Sparta (6-4) to make it a one-point game, setting up the Spartans to go for two and the lead. Vasili Vasilopoulos made a great play for second-seeded Wayne Hills (8-2) to turn away the pass and preserve the win. David Van Hook, Evan Zacharski and James Wolf accounted for all three of the Patriots’ touchdowns. Wayne Hills will host three-seed Passaic Valley next week.

JSZ’s Sean Dugan has the highlights from Passaic County:

Neptune 21 Hopewell Valley 11 | Central Group 3 Quarterfinal

The Scarlet Fliers earned their biggest win in over a decade, not only appearing in their first playoff game since 2019 but also capturing their first postseason victory since 2014. Quarterback Caleb Brown continued his stellar season with two touchdown passes — one to Daaron Lynch and the other to Mike MacLennan. Running back Kingston Pinnock sealed the game with his lone score and finished with a game-high 115 rushing yards. Neptune (9-1) won on the road to end Hopewell Valley’s season (7-3) and will now face a major challenge next week as they travel to Holmdel to take on Jack Cannon and the top-seeded Hornets.

JSZ’s Tyler Mroz has the highlights from Pennington: