A fun Week 3 that featured several big upsets allowed two new teams to join the New Jersey Super 25 rankings.
Seven ranked teams lost last week, including then-No. 10 Phillipsburg. The Stateliners lost to Ridge, which joins the rankings for the first time this season. Ridge’s ascension also vaulted St. Joseph (Metuchen) into the rankings thanks to a Week 1 win over the Red Devils.
This week’s slate features five games between ranked teams: Ridgewood at Passaic Tech, DePaul at Paramus Catholic, Mainland at St. Augustine, Winslow at Millville, and Don Bosco at Bergen Catholic.
Every week, voters from across the Network will rank the top teams in the state. The rankings will be posted every Tuesday morning.
25. Ridgewood (4-0)
Public ranking: 15
The Maroons squeezed out a 14-13 victory over Piscataway on Friday night. They ran for more than 200 yards, with senior Colin Burns rushing for 102 yards and a fourth-quarter TD and junior Kyle Caramagno adding the game-winning extra point. Junior James Nugent scored on a 2-yard run in the first quarter to provide a 7-0 lead.
Next game: Friday at Passaic Tech (4-0)
24. Phillipsburg (2-1)
Public ranking: 14
The Stateliners fell to Ridge, 28-21, for their first defeat of the season. The Red Devils scored with five minutes left to claim the win and hand Phillipsburg just its second regular-season loss in the last three years.
Next game: Friday vs. Hillsborough (2-2)
23. Ridge (2-1)
Public ranking: 13
The Red Devils stunned then-No. 10 Phillipsburg, 28-21, to snap a nine-game losing streak against the Stateliners. Aidan Stieglitz rushed for 220 yards and scored three touchdowns, including the 6-yard game winner with five minutes left.
Next game: Friday at Bridgewater-Raritan (2-2)
22. Morris Knolls (3-0)
Public ranking: 12
Justin Hanson rushed for two touchdowns and also returned a kickoff 91 yards for a score in a 36-18 win over Randolph on Friday. Quarterback Chris Kaiser threw a touchdown pass to Ayden Espeut, and also ran in a two-point conversion and hauled in an interception.
Next game: Saturday vs. Roxbury (1-3)
21. Northern Highlands (3-1)
Public ranking: 11
The Highlanders’ 31-6 home win Friday over previously-unbeaten Pascack Valley was dampened when senior standouts Nate Johnson and Matthew Boydell left in the fourth quarter with knee injuries. Johnson had thrown for 217 yards and three TDs, and Boydell had caught five passes for 64 yards and ran for a score.
Next game: Friday vs. Union City (2-1)
20. Washington Township (3-1)
Public ranking: 10
After surrendering 21 points in the first three weeks combined, the Minutemen were knocked around during a 36-7 home loss to Millville on Friday. Colin Beeler rushed 16 times for 66 yards and accounted for the team’s lone touchdown. The junior has seven rushing TDs in the first four games.
Next game: Friday vs. Williamstown (1-3)
19. Mount Olive (2-1)
Public ranking: 9
Jekori Zapata’s 29-yard touchdown catch from Jake Asbury was the Marauders’ only score as they were stunned in a 31-6 loss to Chatham on Saturday. Mount Olive saw a pair of drives stall with a turnover on downs and turned the ball over three times in defeat.
Next game: Friday vs. Morristown (2-2)
18. St. Joseph (Metuchen) (3-0)
Non-public ranking: 10
The Falcons enter the rankings after a hot start that included beating Ridge in Week 1. They jumped to a 21-0 halftime lead last week against Elizabeth and held on for a 21-20 win. Junior quarterback Justin Scaramuzzo has excelled (672 passing yards) and seniors Ashton Irving and Jacob Pappas each amassed more than 200 receiving yards.
Next game: Saturday at Westfield (2-1)
17. Camden (3-1)
Public ranking: 8
The Panthers suffered just their second loss in the last three years at Farnham Park as Holy Spirit pinned a 23-12 loss on the home team. Camden’s offense produced more than 330 total yards but had trouble turning yardage into points. Mahki Brunson threw for 239 yards with a TD pass and two picks. He also rushed for 80 yards. Camden had been averaging 37.6 points over its first three games.
Next game: Friday vs. Rancocas Valley (3-1)
16. Paramus Catholic (2-1)
Non-public ranking: 9
The Paladins could not slow down host St. Joseph (Montvale) in Saturday’s 44-19 loss. Senior Crew Colon and sophomore Nekhi Martin ran for TDs, freshman AJ Lopez caught a TD pass from junior Marco Green, and the Paladins registered more than 200 total yards. Colon passed for 98 yards and senior Xavier Williams ran for 74 yards.
Next game: Friday vs. DePaul (4-0)
15. Old Tappan (4-0)
Public ranking: 7
The Golden Knights fought off host Ramapo, 27-21, behind versatile senior Alex Orecchio. He threw for 74 yards, two TDs and a 2-point conversion, ran for 138 yards and a score, and caught three passes for 34 yards. He had seven solo tackles, two interceptions near the goal-line and kicked an extra point.
Next game: Friday vs. Paramus (1-3)
14. Holy Spirit (3-1)
Non-public ranking: 8
The Spartans extended their winning streak to three with a 23-12 victory at Camden on Friday. The team has outscored its opponents 103-12 during its successful stretch. Holy Spirit’s defense surrendered some yardage, but also produced seven sacks and second-half interceptions by Emmanuel Gerena and Ty Watson, the latter of which iced the game. Linebacker Tommy Innocente recorded three sacks.
Next game: Friday vs. Cedar Creek (3-1)
13. Mainland (3-1)
Public ranking: 6
After watching a 16-game winning streak end last week, the Mustangs rebounded in a big way with a 31-0 home rout over Cherokee. Chase Hoag and Rocco DeBlasio each rushed for touchdowns, and John Franchini fired a pair of TD passes to Jake Blum to power the offense. It was the first shutout of the season for Mainland, which posted six shutouts during its state championship run in 2023.
Next game: Friday at St. Augustine (3-1)
12. Passaic Tech (4-0)
Public ranking: 5
The Bulldogs registered their first shutout, 42-0, Friday at Columbia. Special teams scored three times, with senior Jayden Santiago returning a punt 84 yards for a TD and returning a kickoff 71 yards for a score, and junior Jose Trinidad returning a punt 62 yards for a TD. Junior Gabe Miles threw for 85 yards and two scores.
Next game: Friday vs. Ridgewood (4-0)
11. St. Augustine (3-1)
Non-public ranking: 7
The Hermits surrendered 21 points for the first time this season and just the third time in their last 15 games during a 21-7 loss at Winslow. Julian Turney gave St. Augustine a 7-0 lead in the second quarter on a 34-yard touchdown run, but the team ran for minus-5 yards on its other 24 carries. St. Augustine’s defense held Winslow to 56 yards, but yielded 185 yards through the air.
Next game: Friday vs. Mainland (3-1)
10. St. Thomas Aquinas (3-1)
Non-public ranking: 6
The Trojans stopped previously-undefeated Franklin, 56-6, and have outscored their two New Jersey opponents by a combined 98-12. STA again used a stout defense and a balanced offensive attack for the win. Josiah Zayas caught five passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns.
Next game: Friday at Elizabeth (2-2)
9. Rumson-Fair Haven (3-0)
Public ranking: 4
Senior quarterback Owen O’Toole threw three TD passes to give him eight on the season, and went 16 for 18 for 189 yards, as the Bulldogs defeated Long Branch, 35-0. Two of O’Toole’s TD passes went to senior Jordan Angstreich and the other went to senior Nick Thomas. Junior running back Kellen Murray had TD runs of 36 and 8 yards and ran for 93 yards on 11 carries.
Next game: Friday at Middletown South (2-2)
8. Winslow (4-0)
Public ranking: 3
Going up against one of South Jersey’s stingiest defenses, Eagles quarterback Jalen Parker completed 16 of 18 passes for 180 yards and touchdowns to NaKeem Powell and Cam Miller to spark a 21-7 home win over St. Augustine. Winslow’s defense was even more impressive, holding the Hermits to just 85 total yards. KaRon Ali and Ben Carter combined for four of Winslow’s five sacks while Marcus Upton, a transfer from Timber Creek, recorded a sack in his team debut.
Next game: Friday at Millville (4-0)
7. Don Bosco (2-1)
Non-public ranking: 5
The Ironmen are coming off a bye week and renew one of the state’s top rivalries when they play Saturday at Bergen Catholic. Senior Deven Sisler is 28 for 45 for 386 yards and five TDs this season, and sophomore Zakai Murphy has 10 catches for 127 yards and two scores. Junior Dante DeLuca has rushed for 195 yards and four TDs.
Next game: Saturday at Bergen Catholic (3-1)
6. Toms River North (4-0)
Public ranking: 2
Senior quarterback T.J. Valerio ran for 121 yards with a 35-yard TD run, and threw a 19-yard TD pass to senior running back Mordecai Ford as the Mariners made it 30 straight wins against public schools with a 35-6 win over Brick Memorial. Ford ran for 97 yards with a 6-yard TD run, senior Camryn Thomas returned an interception 31 yards for a TD and sophomore Cole Garrison had a 75-yard punt return for a TD.
Next game: Friday at Point Pleasant Borough (3-1)
5. Delbarton (3-1)
Non-public ranking: 4
Brock Dandridge rushed for 212 yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns as the Green Wave rattled off 37 unanswered points in a 44-21 win at St. Peter’s Prep on Saturday. Senior Troy Bailey led the Delbarton defense with three interceptions, which helped lead to a pair of second-half touchdowns during the comeback.
Next game: Saturday at Seton Hall Prep (2-2)
4. DePaul (4-0)
Non-public ranking: 3
The Spartans are off to their best start in a decade thanks to Friday’s 34-14 victory over Seton Hall Prep. Junior Derek Zammit threw for 225 yards and four TDs, with senior Dez Jones catching eight passes for 155 yards and three scores. Senior Nolan James ran for 249 yards and a TD, made four tackles and intercepted a pass.
Next game: Friday at Paramus Catholic (2-1)
3. Millville (4-0)
Public ranking: 1
The Thunderbolts put together an impressive all-around performance in a 36-7 win over previously-unbeaten Washington Township in front of a sold-out crowd. Lotzeir Brooks scored twice, raising his career TD total to 75, and moved within 50 receiving yards of reaching 4,000. Jamal Wallace handled the rushing chores with 116 yards and three touchdowns. Millville’s defense held Township to 102 total yards.
Next game: Friday vs. Winslow (4-0)
2. St. Joseph (Montvale) (3-1)
Non-public ranking: 2
The Green Knights surpassed 40 points for the second consecutive week with Saturday’s 44-19 victory over Paramus Catholic. Junior Lamar Best carried six times for 101 yards and five TDs, and completed 7 of 10 passes for 113 yards, including a 40-yard TD pass to junior Brady Shust. Junior Nathan Bailey carried for 105 yards.
Next game: Saturday vs. St. Peter’s Prep (2-2)
1. Bergen Catholic (3-1)
Non-public ranking: 1
The Crusaders scored on all nine possessions of Saturday’s 63-7 win at Pope John. Senior Dominic Campanile went 14 for 16 and threw for 149 yards and three TDs in the first two quarters to build a 49-7 halftime lead. Junior Najee Calhoun ran for two first-quarter TDs, and junior Dante Kain ran for a score and caught a TD pass.
Next game: Saturday vs. Don Bosco (2-1)
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES (listed alphabetically): Cherokee (2-2), Glassboro (3-0), Montville (4-0), Somerville (4-0), West Morris (3-1)
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ football rankings: Super 25 shaken up ahead of massive week
