NJ football rankings: Two new teams join Statewide Public Top 20 after wild week

After a wild second week of the high school football playoffs, two new teams joined the USA TODAY NETWORK Statewide Public Top 20 rankings.

Bernards jumped into the rankings for the first time this season, while Winslow rejoined after dropping out during the regular season. The changes came after four state-ranked teams lost playoff games last week.

The Statewide Non-Public Top 10 rankings remained unchanged after the opening games of the non-public playoffs.

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

PUBLIC TOP 20 RANKINGS

20. Winslow (9-2)

Deante Ruffin completed 14 of 21 passes for 348 yards and three touchdowns as the Eagles soared to a 33-6 victory over Hammonton in the Central Group 4 semifinals on Friday. Junior Cam Miller caught three passes for 185 yards and two scores. Miller’s season receiving total of 1,182 yards is a new program record. Winslow has won four straight.

Next game: Friday vs. Long Branch (6-4)

19. Bernards (11-0)

The second-seeded Mountaineers advanced to the North 2, Group 2 final with a 48-0 win over sixth-seeded Sussex Tech. Bernards has now scored 438 points this season, breaking the program record of 400 points set in 2012. Additionally, the 11 wins are the most in a single season in school history.

Next game: Friday vs. Lakeland (8-3)

18. Rutherford (10-0)

The three-time reigning NJIC champions defeated Hanover Park, 28-7, Friday in a North 1, Group 2 semifinal. Freshman Myles Balchan threw for 205 yards, including TD passes of 77 and 28 yards to senior Ryan Ward, for a 21-0 halftime lead. Senior Cole Goumas ran for 153 yards and two scores.

Next game: Friday at Westwood (10-0)

17. Mount Olive (10-1)

Izzy Kolbusz's 20-yard field goal in the final seconds sent the Marauders to the North 2, Group 4 final with a 30-28 win over Sayreville in Friday's semifinal. Jake Asbury rushed for a pair of touchdowns while Tyler Cumming led all rushers with 111 yards on the ground. Mount Olive will play in a sectional final for the first time since 2017.

Next game: Friday at Roxbury (10-1)

16. Ridge (8-2)

The Red Devils fell to Northern Highlands, 31-26, in the North 1, Group 4 semifinals. An interception at the goal line with 1:06 left sealed Ridge’s fate in its fifth-straight trip to the sectional semifinals. The Red Devils also lost to Phillipsburg, 21-14, during the regular season.

Next game: Season complete

15. Union City (9-1)

The Soaring Eagles stretched their winning streak to nine with Friday’s 20-14 win over West Orange in a North 2, Group 5 semifinal. Junior Mark Boyd ran for 119 yards and two TDs. Senior Tyler Koffa ran for a second-quarter score to make it 20-0. Junior Ja’Zaire Aurelus registered seven tackles and an interception.

Next game: Friday at Phillipsburg (9-1)

14. Roxbury (11-0)

Anthony Skawinski threw for 125 yards, including a game-winning 13-yard touchdown pass to Connor Patton in the fourth quarter, to beat Irvington, 15-12, in Friday's North 2, Group 4 semifinals. The Gaels trailed 12-0 in the third quarter before Jahmani Miller's 3-yard touchdown run put them on the board. Roxbury will play in its first sectional final since 2012.

Next game: Friday vs. Mount Olive (10-1)

13. Northern Highlands (9-2)

The defending North Group 4 regional champs won Friday’s North 1, Group 4 semifinal at Ridge, 31-26. Junior Nate Johnson threw for 233 yards, including TD passes of 6 and 17 yards to senior Fred Kanning. Johnson and junior Matt Boydell ran for TDs, and junior Peter Vafiadis kicked a 37-yard field goal.

Next game: Friday at Ramapo (10-0)

12. Caldwell (9-1)

For the first time in nearly three years, the Chiefs lost a football game. Their 33-28 loss to Lakeland in Friday's North 2, Group 2 semifinals snapped a 37-game win streak that dated back to Nov. 6, 2020. Joey Marinello rushed for two touchdowns and caught one from Louie Anemone as the Chiefs held a 28-21 lead in the fourth quarter.

Next game: Season complete

11. Old Tappan (9-1)

The reigning Group 3 state champs posted their fifth shutout, 36-0, over Lincoln in Friday’s North 1, Group 3 semifinals. Senior Jack Small registered nine tackles, with two sacks. Junior Nick Rossi ran for 175 yards and two TDs. Senior Evan Brooks caught five passes for 81 yards and a score for the top-seeded Golden Knights.

Next game: Friday vs. West Morris (6-5)

10. Ramapo (10-0)

The top-seeded Green Raiders scored a season high with Friday’s 52-27 win over Morris Knolls in a North 1, Group 4 semifinal. Senior Landon De Prima threw for 477 yards and six TDs. Senior Zach Schnorrbusch caught 10 passes for 208 yards and three TDs, and senior Brandon Del Valle caught 10 for 140 yards and a score.

Next game: Friday vs. Northern Highlands (9-2)

9. Phillipsburg (9-1)

The Stateliners snagged four turnovers – three of which led to scores – as they rolled to a 49-24 win over fourth-seeded Westfield in the North 2, Group 5 semifinals. Top-seeded Phillipsburg will host the sectional final for the second straight season after losing to West Orange last year.

Next game: Friday vs. Union City (9-1)

8. Delsea (9-1)

Xavier Wyatt rushed for two touchdowns and Zach Maxwell, Daniel Russo and Wayne Adair each ran for a score as the Crusaders pounded out a 43-7 win over Manasquan on Friday in the South Group 3 tournament.. Delsea’s ground game racked up 255 yards and pushed its season total over 3,000 yards. The Crusaders have scored 40 or more points in each of their last five games.

Next game: Friday vs. Seneca (9-1)

7. Cherokee (8-2)

Murad Campfield rushed for a pair of touchdowns and returned the second-half kickoff 99 yards for a third score as the top-seeded Chiefs earned a 28-21 win over Kingsway in the South Group 5 semifinals on Friday. Campfield finished with a career-high 195 yards on 26 carries. Cherokee has won two straight and six of its last seven games. The 21 points surrendered was a season-worst.

Next game: Friday vs. Marlboro (8-2)

6. Westwood (10-0)

The Cardinals, the defending North 1, Group 2 champs and top seed, scored all of their points in the first half of Friday’s 42-8 semifinal victory over Newton. Senior Robbie Carcich threw for 249 yards, including TDs of 24 and 98 yards to senior Tommy Bussanich. Carcich and junior Aidan Dugan each ran for two scores.

Next game: Friday vs. Rutherford (10-0)

5. Camden (9-1)

Mahki Brunson fired two touchdown passes to help power the Panthers to a 21-7 win over Holmdel in the Central Group 3 final. The Panthers have won nine straight and haven't surrendered more than seven points in any contest during the streak. Brunson completed 16 of 21 passes for 242 yards while Judah Anthony rushed for 100 yards, the fourth straight game he has hit the century mark.

Next game: Saturday vs. Cedar Creek (8-3)

4. Mainland (11-0)

The second-seeded Mustangs continued to dominate during a 49-7 rout over Colts Neck in the South Group 4 semifinals. Jamie Tyson scored three touchdowns, two off passes from John Franchini and another on a pick-six. Cohen Cook ran for a pair of touchdowns and Stephen Ordille and Rocco DeBiaso each scored TDs of more than 60 yards. Mainland has scored 49 or more points in six consecutive games.

Next game: Friday at Millville (9-1)

3. Millville (9-1)

Lotzeir Brooks continued his climb up the South Jersey record books with 202 receiving yards and three touchdown catches during Friday’s 41-7 win over Shawnee in the South Group 4 semifinals. The junior surpassed 3,000 receiving yards for his career, becoming just the third player in South Jersey history to achieve the feat. His 3,109 yards trails only Cedar Creek’s JoJo Bermudez (3,264 yards, 2021).

Next game: Friday vs. Mainland (11-0)

2. Toms River North (9-2)

Senior quarterback/safety Micah Ford ran for two touchdowns, threw for two more, and returned an interception for a touchdown as the Mariners beat Freehold Township, 54-13, in the Central Group 5 semifinals. Senior Tareq Council returned a punt 70 yards for a TD, senior running back Josh Moore had a 12-yard TD run and junior running back Mordecai Ford had an 80-yard TD run in the win.

Next game: Friday vs. Washington Township (9-2)

1. Passaic Tech (11-0)

The defending North Group 5 regional champs beat Union, 35-8, in Friday’s North 1, Group 5 semifinal. Senior Trashon Dye ran for 230 yards, including two first-half TDs to propel the top-seeded Bulldogs to a 21-0 lead. Senior Ma’Kao Taylor threw a 47-yard TD pass to senior Cashmere Jones, and ran for a score.

Next game: Friday vs. Montclair (8-3)

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Butler (9-1)

NON-PUBLIC TOP 10

10. Holy Spirit (8-1)

Ty Costabile’s 20-yard touchdown strike to Matt Abbott with 11 seconds left in regulation gave No. 4 seed Holy Spirit a thrilling 36-33 come-from-behind win over No. 5 seed Immaculata in the Non-Public B quarterfinals. Costabile threw for four scores, raising his season total to 17. Spirit surrendered the lead in the closing minute of regulation, but needed 31 seconds to complete the go-ahead scoring drive.

Next game: Friday at Red Bank Catholic (8-1)

9. Don Bosco (5-5)

The 10th-seeded Ironmen rallied in the fourth quarter to win at seventh-seeded Pope John, 28-17, in Saturday’s Non-Public A first round. Junior Deven Sisler and sophomore Dante DeLuca each scored their second TDs of the game in the final quarter to erase a 17-14 deficit. Seniors Jayden Brown and Vincent Bertone had fourth-quarter interceptions.

Next game: Saturday at Delbarton (8-1)

8. DePaul (5-5)

The Spartans opened defense of their Non-Public B title with a season-high scoring performance in a 63-21 victory over St. Mary in Friday's semifinals. Sophomore Derek Zammit threw for 159 yards and two TDs. Junior Elijah Burress caught four passes for 113 yards and two scores. Junior Nolan James rushed for 115 yards and two TDs.

Next game: Friday at St. Thomas Aquinas (9-0)

7. St. Augustine (8-2)

Julian Turney rushed 23 times for 196 yards and four touchdowns – both career-highs − as the fifth-seeded Hermits opened their postseason with a 35-14 home rout over 12th-seeded St. Peter’s Prep. St. Augustine rumbled for 240 yards, including Turney’s career night. The sophomore raised his season total to 1,228 rushing yards, which ranks seventh on the program’s all-time list.

Next game: Saturday at Donovan Catholic (8-2)

6. St. Thomas Aquinas (9-0)

The Trojans return to action after two off weeks and will host third-seeded DePaul in the Non-Public B semifinals. St. Thomas Aquinas drew the No. 2 seed after outscoring opponents 345-42 this year. The Trojans are 27-3 over the last three seasons.

Next game: Friday vs. DePaul (5-5)

5. Donovan Catholic (8-2)

A 30-yard field goal by senior Dante Priolo with no time remaining gave the Griffins a wild 31-28 win over Paramus Catholic in Saturday's Non Public A first round. Donovan Catholic led 21-0 in the second quarter before falling behind 28-21 at the start of the fourth quarter. A 6-yard TD pass from senior quarterback Todd Lambertston to sophomore Jayden Nascimento tied the game.

Next game: Saturday vs. St. Augustine (8-2)

4. St. Joseph (Montvale) (6-3)

The Green Knights are seeded No. 3 in Non-Public A and had a first-round bye. Senior Patrick Grusser has thrown for 1,927 yards and 10 TDs. Senior Yasin Willis has rushed for 587 yards and 10 TDs in seven games. Sophomore Nathan Bailey and junior Jovon Williams have combined for 71 catches, 1,044 yards and five scores.

Next game: Saturday vs. Seton Hall Prep (4-6)

3. Red Bank Catholic (8-1)

The Caseys are the No. 1 seed in the Non Public B playoffs and had a first-round bye.

Next game: Friday vs. Holy Spirit (8-1)

2. Delbarton (8-1)

The Green Wave had a bye last week as the No. 2 seed in Non-Public A, and will host for Don Bosco in the quarterfinals. It's the first playoff matchup between the two schools since 2018, a 42-22 win for the Ironmen.

Next game: Saturday vs. Don Bosco (5-5)

1. Bergen Catholic (8-1)

The Crusaders are the two-time defending Non-Public A champs and, as the top seed, received a first-round bye. They own a 14-game winning streak against state opponents. Junior Dominic Campanile has thrown for 1,496 yards and 22 TDs. Junior Quincy Porter has 37 receptions for 795 yards and 15 scores.

Next game: Saturday vs. Paul VI (8-1)

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ football rankings: Two new teams join Statewide Public Top 20