A preview of what to look forward to in North Jersey high school football this Friday night. The highlights: 11 teams will be putting their undefeated records on the line tonight, including Pascack Valley, Paramus Catholic, Saddle Brook, Ramsey, Hasbrouck Heights, River Dell, Ramapo, Lakeland, New Milford, Elmwood Park and Butler. For our staff (and fans) Week 4 picks, CLICK HERE.
Pascack Valley RB Chris Garcia provided two touchdowns for The Record's fourth-ranked team in last week's 35-7 win over Bergenfield. (JOE CAMPOREALE/Freelance Photographer)
Where we’ll be:
No. 4 Pascack Valley (3-0) vs. No. 21 DePaul (1-2) – The Record’s Andy Vazquez will be here tonight for a showdown between an undefeated Pascack Valley team and a DePaul team looking to bounce back from a lopsided loss to No. 1 Don Bosco last week. Pascack Valley senior RB Chris Garcia played a big role in the Indians’ 35-7 win over Bergenfield last week (PV scored 35 unanswered after falling behind, 7-0, early), rushing for 91 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. QB Kyle Schneider continued his strong play for undefeated Pascack Valley, completing 10-of-15 passes for 129 yards and one TD. Jaleel Felton also rushed for 92 yards and a score on just three caries. The PV defense stepped up in the win, too, keeping Bergenfield’s dangerous RB Will Rodriguez in check for most of the game. And Mike Mamente received some high praise from his coach Craig Nielsen after coming up with the play of the game — a blocked punt and scoop and score before halftime that swung momentum heavily in the Indians favor. “He’s one of the best players in the state,” Nielsen told Vazquez after the game. “Forget the county. He’s one of the best players in the state. [The play was] a safety punt with a one-man rush. That’s all it was. That’s just Mike being Mike.”
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Paramus Catholic QB Steve Shanley is taking advantage of the weapons around him through the first three weeks of the year. (CHRIS MONROE/Special to The Record)
No. 5 Paramus Catholic (3-0) at No. 16 Ridgewood (2-1) – The Record’s Jim McConville will be here tonight as Paramus Catholic looks to remain unbeaten after its 54-7 win over Demarest last week. In the win, QB Steve Shanley connected on four touchdown passes and later explained how his outside weapons — Jabrill Peppers, Tyrone Washington, Najee Clayton and Dejon Harrison – make his job easy. “If you look around to my four receivers … you’re probably not going to find another team in the country with skills like that,” he told Andy Vazquez. “If you can, come find me. It’s a privilege to throw to them. It just makes it a lot easier.” Paramus Catholic continues raising some eyebrows through the first few weeks of the season, but the Paladins’ true tests are coming soon. After a bye next week, they’ll travel to Don Bosco on Oct. 12 (the Jabrill Peppers homecoming) and host St. Joseph on Oct. 20 (the Paladins actual Homecoming). Ridgewood suffered its first loss of the season last week, falling to Hackensack, 27-21, in a game it held a second-half lead.
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Ramsey's Nick Dispoto scored the game-winning TD in last week's overtime win over Ridgefield Park. (LESLIE BARBARO/Staff Photographer)
No. 13 Ramsey (3-0) at No. 18 Mahwah (2-1) – The Record’s Greg Mattura will be here for this one, featuring a Ramsey team coming off a big 14-7 overtime win over Ridgefield Park last week. QB Nick Dispoto was the hero, accounting for 21 of the possible 25 yards in overtime, capped by a go-ahead 10-yard TD run to give the Rams a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Courtesy of Mattura’s game story from last week, Ramsey ran the ball on all 26 first-half plays, totaling 182 yards, to jump out to a 7-0 halftime lead. Senior RB Dejan Adair gave Ramsey the first-half lead with a 4-yard plunge to the end zone. Mahwah is coming off a big 56-18 win over Cliffside Park last week. As for Mahwah, Zach Herrmann threw for 250 yards and four touchdowns, Rob Askew rushed for 125 yards and 2 TD and Eric Wong hauled in two touchdown receptions in the Thunderbirds’ big 56-18 win over Cliffside Park.
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Hasbrouck Heights is off to a nice 3-0 start, thanks in large part to the play of Anthony Seidel. (JOE CAMPOREALE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
No. 19 Hasbrouck Heights (3-0) vs. Becton (2-1) — The Record’s Ed Mills will be in Hasbrouck Heights tonight as the Aviators look to improve to 4-0 this season after their 40-6 win over North Arlington last week. Anthony Seidel continues to have an outstanding year, adding two more touchdown runs last week of 14 an 22 yards. Darren Iurato added an 11-yard TD run and Franklin Garcia provided a 15-yard TD reception from Iurato. AJ Traina and Stephen Salerno both also scored for Hasbrouck Heights in the lopsided win.
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No. 10 Saddle Brook (3-0) vs. No. 25 Palisades Park/Leonia (2-1) – The Record’s Mark Czerwinski will be here for this matchup featuring undefeated Saddle Brook and a Palisades Park/Leonia team that made its debut in the Top 25 for the first time this season. Every time I see this Palisades Park/Leonia team mentioned, I can’t help but think back to the dog days of summer when I saw them take down Bergen Catholic at the Fordham 7-on-7 tournament in a multiple-overtime championship game. They absolutely refused to lose and had some serious speed, quickness and playmakers at their skill positions. As for Saddle Brook, it rolled to victory last week, 55-14, over Waldwick/Midland Park thanks to another huge day from RB/DB Chris Jacobsen. The junior had his second straight four-touchdown game, rushing for 204 yards with three TD and also returned a punt 65 yards to the house, made eight tackles and deflected two passes. Palisades Park/Leonia WR/S Charles Simons also had a big week last week, rushing for 130 yards and 2 TD on 15 carries and also threw a TD pass in the team’s 24-7 win over Weehawken. And junior QB Tajh Huggins rushed for 85 yards on six carries. Late edit: Just found out this game is being played tomorrow (Saturday) at 1 p.m.
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Butler QB Chris Heredia tossed for nearly 400 yards in last week's 32-0 win over Whippany Park. (JOE SARNO/Staff Photographer)
No. 22 Kinnelon (2-1) vs. Butler (3-0) — The Record’s Keith Idec will be at this one. Kinnelon is coming off an impressive 42-7 win over Morris Catholic last week, but it’s Butler who comes in undefeated after its 32-0 win over Whippany Park last Friday. QB Chris Heredia has been excellent and completed 20-of-36 for 397 yards with four touchdown passes last week. On the year, the senior signal caller has completed 67% of his passes (57-of-85) for 1,054 yards, 10 touchdowns, and most importantly, zero interceptions. For Kinnelon, Sean Robbins accounted for six touchdowns last week, throwing for 191 yards and four touchdowns and adding 141 yards rushing with two more scores to power the Colts.
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OTHER TOP 25 IN ACTION
No. 6 River Dell (3-0) vs. Westwood (2-1) — Dwight-Morrow put quite a scare into undefeated River Dell last week, battling back from a 15-point fourth quarter deficit to force overtime, but the Golden Hawks prevailed after a Ben Shapiro field goal in extra time sealed the 31-28 victory. Offense certainly wasn’t an issue for River Dell, in its first game without starting QB Tim Barnes. Replacement QB Ryan Duran, originally the starting RB, served primarily in that same role anyway, rushing 22 times for 152 yards and two touchdowns. He also tossed two TD passes to Christian DeSanctis. According to the Town News, Duran has undergone surgery on his leg and will miss the remainder of the season. After the win, Duran told the Town News, “It feels good to just come in and make up for a great quarterback which we’ve lost. I am just trying to play my game and get the job done just like he would.”
No. 9 Ramapo (3-0) vs. Northern Highlands (1-2) — Ramapo remained unbeaten last week, rolling to a 41-0 win over Eastside. The aerial attack was in full force once again, as QB Anthony Lovecchio tossed another three touchdowns while Nick Larson added one as well, a 71-yard score to John Goldschrafte in the third quarter. In total, four different players hauled in touchdown receptions: Goldschrafte, Andy Gilard, Pat O’Hagan and Logan Schulte. On the year, Lovecchio has completed 43-of-62 passes for 582 yards and seven touchdowns.
No. 14 Hackensack (2-1) vs. Eastside (0-3) – Hackensack rallied past Ridgewood for a critical Week 3 win last week, needing a second-half comeback effort to get past the Maroons, 27-21. Brandon Davis tied the game with a 12-yard TD run in the third and added the go-ahead score late in the fourth on another touchdown run to pull out the win. The highlight of the game-winning drive was a 39-yard completion to Justin Wimberly that moved the ball to the Ridgewood 29 yard line. In the first half, when Hackensack built a 14-7 lead, Reco Facey provided a 4-yard TD run and senior Lemar Thomas added a 79-yard run for a score. “Urgency, that was the word of the week and definitely the word at halftime,†Hackensack coach Benjie Wimberly said. “These guys sensed the urgency and they stepped it up, especially the seniors.â€
No. 15 Lakeland (3-0) at Demarest (1-2) – Another week, another lopsided Lakeland victory, as the Lancers defeated Teaneck, 31-8, their last time out. RB Dave Shellhammer was the offensive star again, rushing for 170 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries and Kyle Allegrini got the scoring started with a 58-yard touchdown reception and finished with six catches for 128 yards. Lakeland will now turn its attention to Blake Geller and Demarest’s strong offensive attack this week. “It’s a huge week coming up,” Lakeland coach Bill Weigel said after last week’s win. “It’s a game we’ve been looking forward to. This is the position we wanted to be in, 3-0 and going in with a lot of confidence. I know Demarest’s record is not real indicative of what they are, but we feel we match up well and that it’s going to be a good, hard-fought game.”
No. 20 New Milford (3-0) vs. Ridgefield (0-3)Â – New Milford’s hot start continued last week with a 26-12 win over Secaucus. Said coach Bill Wilde: “This is a good 3-0. Lyndhurst. Secaucus. And Bogota. Those three teams were tough, but this is how we waned to start to set us up.” Tobler, in the running for The Record Offensive Player of the Year, rushed 20 times for 201 yards and two touchdowns, and added an 82-yard kickoff return TD as well. “The kid is as good as anybody I’ve ever coach,” Wilde said. On the year, Tobler has racked up 606 yards and scored nine touchdowns, two on kick returns. “This team has a lot of heart,” junior linebacker Joe Victory said after making 15 tackles in last week’s win. “This is the best team I’ve ever been on, in any sport.”
No. 24 Elmwood Park (3-0) at Rutherford (1-2) — Big game for Elmwood Park regarding its state tournament aspirations. As Mark Czerwinski pointed out earlier this week, a state playoff team doesn’t come around Elmwood Park very often (just two berths in 37 years).  ”Honestly, I’m not thinking about the playoffs right now,” said coach Scott Wisniewski, whose team has opened with three straight wins and is second for power points in North 1, Group 2. “If we’re fortunate enough to be there at the end, that will be the icing on the cake, but we won’t cross that bridge until we get there.” Late edit: This game will be played tomorrow at 1 p.m.
MORE HS FOOTBALL COVERAGE FROM THE RECORD
Photos: The Record’s Top 25 Rankings
This weekend’s 10 games to watch
North Jersey group-by-group Week 4 rankings
Week 3 Wrap: Playoff Periscope
VARSITY ACES
Week 4 HS Football Forecast: Plenty of teams looking to remain unbeaten Friday night