NJSIAA Football Group 1 Playoff Preview: Shore, Point Beach Aim for Upsets in Championship Chase

Shore Sports Insider is breaking down the NJSIAA public school playoffs with previews on each bracket involving Shore Conference teams.

A total of 25 Shore teams have qualified for the public playoffs across all five groups and 14 different sections. Here is what to watch for beginning this Friday night when the battle for a state championship begins across New Jersey.

 

GROUP 1

Defending Champion: Glassboro (Moved up to Group 2 under the NJSIAA’s non-traditional enrollment and competitive balance rules)”

 

Central Jersey Group 1

(8) Point Beach at (1) Paulsboro

(5) Clayton at (4) Audubon

(6) Highland Park at (3) Woodstown

(7) Penns Grove at (2) Salem

 

The Favorite: Paulsboro

The Red Raiders (7-2) enter the postseason as the top seed in the bracket, looking to add to their storied history that includes 19 sectional championships, one of the highest totals in New Jersey. Under head coach Kevin Harvey, Paulsboro has already proven it can beat one of its biggest challengers, earning an 8-6 victory over No. 2 seed Salem during the regular season. Its two losses came against West Deptford (22-0) and Schalick (16-8).

Junior quarterback Jahsir Johnson has thrown for 714 yards and 11 touchdowns, while senior Zay Mears leads the rushing attack with 423 yards. Senior Marques Eil provides a dangerous deep threat with 467 receiving yards and four touchdowns, averaging 27.5 yards per catch. Defensively, senior Frank Damminger leads the Red Raiders with eight sacks and eight tackles for loss. Paulsboro’s postseason pedigree, balanced offense and home-field advantage make it the team to beat.

 

Contender: Salem

The Rams (6-3) enter the playoffs riding a five-game winning streak after a 1-3 start that included narrow losses to top-seeded Paulsboro (8-6) and Schalick (16-14). Salem has found its rhythm offensively during the winning streak, scoring at least 26 points in each victory, including 40 against Woodstown and 52 against Pennsville. The Rams have already defeated several teams in the bracket and have the opportunity to avenge their early-season loss to Paulsboro if both teams reach the sectional final.

Sophomore running back Cashmir Parsley has been the driving force behind Salem’s offense, rushing for 1,041 yards and 12 touchdowns on 114 carries. Senior quarterback Desmund Thomas has added 579 passing yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 259 yards and six scores. Defensively, junior Antonio Merendino has been a disruptive force with 12.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss, while junior Myshion Barnes has added 11 sacks and eight tackles for loss. With a powerful rushing attack and a defense capable of pressuring opposing quarterbacks, Salem has the pieces to challenge for the sectional championship.

 

Dark Horse: Audubon

A balanced offense and an improving defense could make Audubon (5-2) a difficult out. The Green Wave have won five of their last six games under head coach Dan Reed, including recent victories over Collingswood (27-6) and Bishop Eustace (28-14). A first-round meeting with Clayton stands between Audubon and a potential semifinal showdown with top-seeded Paulsboro.

Junior quarterback Jude Cotter has thrown for 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns, spreading the ball among several capable receivers. Sophomore Michael DeLuca has emerged as a versatile weapon with 435 rushing yards and 255 receiving yards, while senior tight end Noah Battilo has caught four touchdown passes. Audubon has also generated pressure defensively, recording 12 sacks and 39.5 tackles for loss, including eight TFLs from junior Ethan Haines. If the Green Wave can continue their late-season momentum, they have the offensive firepower to threaten the favorites.

 

Shore Shots: Point Beach

Point Beach (7-1) has overwhelmed its opponents throughout the regular season, winning six straight games since a 21-13 loss to Shore in Week 1. The Garnet Gulls captured their second consecutive Class C South championship under head coach Joe Zaccone and have outscored opponents 295-48 during their winning streak. However, the biggest question surrounding Point Beach is its strength of schedule. The Garnet Gulls have not faced the same caliber of competition as several of the top teams in the bracket, making their first-round trip to top-seeded Paulsboro a significant test.

Point Beach has piled up 2,085 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns behind a three-headed backfield featuring junior Thomas Aiosa (614 yards, 10 TD), senior Danny Neal (610 yards, 8 TD) and junior Gage Boyle (572 yards, 9 TD). Junior quarterback Billy Cavanaugh has complemented the ground attack with 712 passing yards and 11 touchdowns. Defensively, Boyle leads the Garnet Gulls with 77 tackles, while Aiosa and sophomore Ethan Sulkowski have each recorded 13 tackles for loss. Point Beach has the offensive production to challenge opponents, but whether that success translates against a battle-tested Paulsboro team remains to be seen.

 

Non-Shore Player to Watch: Jeremiah Carr, Sr., WR/DB, Paulsboro

A Syracuse offer holder, Carr is a versatile playmaker who can impact the game in all three phases. The senior has rushed for 245 yards and five touchdowns on 42 carries while leading the Red Raiders with 25 receptions for 187 yards and six touchdowns. He has also tallied a kickoff return touchdown. Defensively, Carr has recorded 52 tackles, an interception and four passes defended. His ability to contribute in so many different ways makes him one of the most dangerous players in the bracket.

 

South Jersey Group 1

(8) Maple Shade at (1) Schalick

(5) Shore at (4) Manville

(6) Burlington City at (3) Pennsville

(7) Gateway at (2) Delaware Valley

 

The Favorite: Schalick

Few teams in Group 1 have been as dominant as Schalick (9-0), which completed an undefeated regular season with victories over fellow playoff contenders Salem (15-14) and Paulsboro (16-8). The Cougars have outscored their opponents 301-95, including a 41-0 shutout of Woodstown and a 27-0 victory over Penns Grove. Their ability to win both high-scoring games and defensive battles makes them a formidable opponent as they pursue the South Jersey Group 1 championship.

Schalick’s offense revolves around junior quarterback Kenneth Bartee, who has rushed for 1,127 yards and 16 touchdowns while throwing for 425 yards and three scores. The Cougars have accumulated 2,257 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns, with senior David Stewart adding 462 yards and five scores and senior Ayden Jenkins contributing 338 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, senior Evan Elliot has recorded six sacks and 11 tackles for loss, while senior Gary Simonini has 50 tackles and nine tackles for loss. With a powerful ground attack, an unbeaten record and home-field advantage throughout the section, Schalick has established itself as the team everyone else must beat.

 

Contender: Shore

Shore’s 3-5 record might not turn many heads, but the Blue Devils have faced arguably the toughest schedule of any Group 1 team in New Jersey. Head coach Don Klein’s squad has tested itself against significantly larger schools, including a 27-7 victory over Group 5 Freehold Township and a competitive 34-20 loss to Group 4 Middletown North. That level of competition could pay dividends against opponents closer to the Blue Devils’ size in the state playoffs. Shore also handed Point Beach its only loss of the regular season, 21-13.

Although Shore’s statistics do not include its regular-season finale against Manasquan, senior running back Cole Torres, the program’s all-time leading rusher, has been the centerpiece of the offense with 956 yards and nine touchdowns on 151 carries. Senior quarterback Logan Clark has completed 55 of 79 passes for 578 yards and six touchdowns, providing balance to the Blue Devils’ ground attack. Shore travels to fourth-seeded Manville in the opening round, with a potential semifinal matchup against unbeaten Schalick awaiting. The Blue Devils may be the No. 5 seed, but their demanding regular-season schedule makes them a dangerous opponent capable of knocking off the higher seeds.

 

Dark Horse: Manville

Manville (6-3) has the offensive production to give any opponent in South Jersey Group 1 problems, averaging more than 320 yards per game behind a rushing attack that has accumulated 2,180 yards and 33 touchdowns. The Mustangs have scored at least 28 points in seven of their nine games, including a 48-43 victory over Dayton to close the regular season. Under head coach David Markowitch, Manville has also defeated Middlesex (28-20) and suffered a narrow 21-18 loss to Brearley.

Junior Cassius Carter leads the ground game with 767 yards and nine touchdowns on 92 carries, while junior Aidan Johnson has added 520 yards and four scores. Junior Elijah Bennett has contributed 428 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, giving the Mustangs three productive options in the backfield. Senior quarterback Jonathan Gosk has thrown for 739 yards and 10 touchdowns, providing another dimension to an offense capable of moving the ball in several ways. Defensively, Bennett leads the team with 60 tackles, while junior Tyler Johnson has recorded four sacks and eight tackles for loss. Manville’s offensive firepower makes it a threat, although its defense will need to tighten up after allowing 97 points over its final two regular-season games.

 

Non-Shore Player to Watch: Kenneth Bartee, Jr., QB, Schalick

Bartee is the driving force behind Schalick’s undefeated regular season, posing a constant threat with both his arm and legs. The junior has rushed for 1,127 yards and 16 touchdowns on 113 carries, averaging 10 yards per attempt, while throwing for 425 yards and three touchdowns. His ability to break off long runs and stretch defenses through the air makes him one of the most dangerous offensive players in Group 1. Bartee’s versatility will be critical to the Cougars’ pursuit of a sectional championship.

 

North Jersey 1 Group 1

(8) Verona at (1) Newton

(5) Kinnelon at (4) Boonton

(6) Hawthorne at (3) Wallkill Valley

(7) Belvidere at (2) New Milford

 

North Jersey 2 Group 1

(8) Glen Ridge at (1) Cedar Grove

(5) Mountain Lakes at (4) Wood-Ridge

(6) Dayton at (3) Butler

(7) Pompton Lakes at (2) Hasbrouck Heights

 

Overall Group 1 State Championship Favorite

Cedar Grove

For the past two seasons, the only thing standing between Cedar Grove and a Group 1 state championship was Glassboro. The Panthers reached the state final in both 2024 and 2025, only to fall to the Bulldogs each time. With Glassboro moving up to Group 2 under the NJSIAA’s non-traditional enrollment competitive balance rules, the path to a state title has opened considerably for Cedar Grove (7-1), which has won seven of its eight games and outscored opponents 260-80. Its lone setback was a 28-20 loss to Hoboken, and the Panthers have responded with four consecutive victories, including wins over Mountain Lakes (34-0), Verona (26-3) and Caldwell (27-21).

Cedar Grove has plenty of offensive firepower, led by senior running back Jake Catanzarite, who has rushed for 813 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 169 receiving yards and four scores. Senior wide receiver Jack Velonas has been another major weapon with 35 receptions for 517 yards and three touchdowns, while junior Chris Miller has caught 29 passes for 301 yards and six touchdowns. The Panthers have also received production from sophomore quarterback Daniel Lastella and junior Andrew Loftus, who have combined for 1,011 passing yards and 13 touchdowns. Defensively, junior linebacker Dane Catanzarite leads the team with 75 tackles, seven sacks and eight tackles for loss.