NJSIAA Football Group 2 Playoff Preview
Shore Sports Insider is breaking down the NJSIAA public school playoffs with previews on each bracket involving Shore Conference teams.
A total of 23 Shore teams have qualified for the public playoffs across all five groups and seven different sections. Here is what to watch for beginning this Friday night when the battle for a state championship begins across New Jersey.
GROUP 2
Defending Champion: Rumson-Fair Haven
Central Jersey Group 2
8-Voorhees at 1-Camden
5-A.L. Johnson at 4-Manasquan
6-Point Boro at 3-Rumson-Fair Haven
7-Bordentown at 2-Wall
The Favorite: Rumson-Fair Haven
Rumson-Fair Haven junior linebacker Ryder Izzo. (Photo credit: Bob Badders | rpbphotography.com)
Until someone can knock them off, Rumson-Fair Haven has to be viewed as the favorite in this section. The Bulldogs have won three consecutive sectional titles in addition to coming away with the overall Group 2 championship last year after a perfect 13-0 season.
The Bulldogs have won nine sectional titles in their history, all of which have come since 2010. They have reached a Shore Conference-record 11 straight sectional finals.
This is not the same team as last year, but is still a strong, battle-tested team that holds wins over five state playoff teams including Brick Memorial, which is the top-seeded team in Central Jersey Group 4. Their losses are to the Shore Conference’s top-ranked team in Red Bank Catholic, as well as Holmdel, which is the No. 1 seed in Central Jersey Group 3, and a Toms River North team that is the three-time defending Group 5 champion.
The road will not be easy for the Bulldogs, who will have to defeat Point Boro for a second time this season before likely having to travel to Wall and Camden instead of playing in the confines of Borden Stadium. The first-round matchup will mark the fourth time Rumson and Point Boro have played since the start of last season, and the Bulldogs have won the first three.
On offense, Rumson-Fair Haven averages 29 points per game. The Bulldogs’ rushing attack remains strong as junior running back Ryder Izzo has rushed for 875 yards and nine touchdowns on 132 carries while starting senior running back Kellen Murray has been out with an injury. Murray has not played since early in the game in Week One and his status for this week remains unknown, but his return could be a huge boost psychologically and on the field.
The Bulldogs are one of the few teams that split snaps with their quarterbacks as sophomore quarterback Brady Williams and junior quarterback Casey Moore have both appeared in each game. It will be interesting to see if the Bulldogs continue with the quarterback rotation into the playoffs or if they have settled on a starter after a full regular season.
On defense, Rumson-Fair Haven has allowed 20.1 points per game, which is a bit higher than the past few years, but they have forced 12 turnovers this season. Senior defensive lineman Ben Roberts has been the breakout star with a team-leading 70 tackles. Junior defensive tackle Ben Gredell remains a disruptor on the interior with 47 tackles, including 13 for a loss.
Senior kicker Drew Cavise is a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals including a 28-yarder. He is an efficient 25-for-27 on extra points. In a one-score game, having a reliable kicker can make all the difference.
Contender: Camden
In terms of active Division 1 talent, no one stacks up better on paper than Camden. The Panthers have several high major commits and others that hold a plethora of offers. Camden has won three sectional titles, with its last one coming in 2023. The Panthers hold several strong wins including Kingsway, Holy Spirit, and Rancocas Valley. Their two losses are to Winslow Township, the top-ranked public school in New Jersey, and a one-point loss to Shawnee.
Camden will be heavily favored against Voorhees before hosting either Manasquan or A.L. Johnson in the semifinals. A Camden-Manasquan match-up in the semifinals would be of great interest to those who have followed the two schools’ basketball rivalry the last two years.
The Panthers would then be likely to host a Shore Conference team in the sectional final as Wall, Rumson-Fair Haven and Point Boro are all on the opposite side of the bracket. Point Boro defeated Camden in the South Jersey Group 2 final last season, so Camden would most likely like to see them in a revenge game.
The Panthers have a balanced offensive attack with no singular player standing out with gaudy stat-lines. Senior quarterback Ahmad Jones has thrown for 637 yards and four touchdowns after having to sit out three games due to transferring from Pleasantville.
Senior running back Christian Braxton, who is considered their speed back, has carried the ball 99 times for 552 yards and four touchdowns. Junior running back Roman Duckett, who at 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds is considered their power back, has rushed 53 times for 391 yards and five touchdowns.
The top target in the passing game has been senior wideout Ibn Muhammad, a Syracuse commit who has recorded 27 catches for 400 yards and 4 touchdowns. Senior wideout Jaiden Steele, who is also a track star who runs a 10.63 in the 100-yard dash, has caught 19 passes for 302 yards.
Camden’s defense has been its calling card this season. The Panthers have allowed 12.75 points per game behind senior defensive lineman Jerome Foster, who leads the team with 9.5 sacks from his interior tackle spot. Senior defensive back Talib Shakir has a team-leading 58 tackles.
Contender: Wall
Wall celebrated clinching the outright Class B North title. (Photo by Patrick Olivero)
Wall is peaking at the perfect time as the Crimson Knights have won six games in a row after starting the season 0-2 with losses to Brick Memorial and Tottenville, which is one of the top teams in Staten Island. The Crimson Knights have defeated five playoff teams, including Manalapan, the No. 2 seed in Central Jersey Group 4.
Wall has won five sectional titles, with its most recent being in 2019 when it defeated Rumson-Fair Haven. Notably, the 2020 Wall team finished the Covid-shortened season with the No. 1 ranking in New Jersey, but they did not win a sectional title since the state tournament was canceled due to the virus.
The Crimson Knights average 23.4 points per game on offense. Head coach Ed Gurrieri’s team has balance this year as senior quarterback Brian McKenna has thrown for 923 yards and eight touchdowns to five interceptions in his first year as a starter.
Senior running back Dylan Cohen is a battering ram with 822 yards on 131 carries, including 11 touchdowns. The top weapon in the passing game is senior wideout Heath Reinhardt, who has 35 receptions for 427 yards and two touchdowns. Senior tight end Justin Davis, who was ejected from the last game of the regular season and will be suspended for the first round of the playoffs, has 14 receptions for 257 yards and four touchdowns.
Wall’s defense has improved tremendously as the season has gone along, allowing 13.8 points per game and registering three shutouts, including two in a row heading into the playoffs. Davis, who is a Colgate commit, has a team-leading 79 tackles and 12 sacks from his defensive end position. Cohen, who plays linebacker on defense, has 77 tackles and 5.5 sacks.
Shore Shots: Rumson-Fair Haven, Wall, Manasquan, Point Boro
As mentioned above, Rumson-Fair Haven remains the favorite in this bracket due its dominance in this section dating back to 2010. The Bulldogs will have home-field advantage against Point Boro, who they defeated 34-0 earlier in the season, before likely having to travel to Wall and Camden. It will not be an easy road for the Bulldogs.
Wall looks to have the next best shot as they should be heavily favored against Bordentown before hosting either Rumson-Fair Haven or Point Boro in the semifinals.
Manasquan has a Shore Conference-leading 12 sectional titles, with its last title coming in 2016. Manasquan has wins over three playoff teams, including Point Boro, Shore and Red Bank, while their lone loss is to Matawan, who is also a playoff team.
The Warriors will be favored at home against A.L. Johnson before likely having to win tough road games against Camden and Rumson-Fair Haven or Wall. Senior running back Ace Etienne has been the team’s biggest weapon with 1,058 yards on 136 carries including 17 touchdowns. Etienne’s cousin, senior running back Justice Morgan, had a breakout game in the backfield against Colts Neck in the final game of the regular season with 16 carries for 203 yards and three touchdowns. Junior linebacker Luke Barry leads the defense with 43 tackles and two interceptions.
Manasquan celebrated a 14-10 win over rival Point Boro in Week One. (Photo credit: Bob Badders | rpbphotography.com)
Point Boro looks to be the darkhorse of this section. The Panthers are the defending South Jersey Group 2 champions after defeating Camden last year. They have five sectional titles overall. Point Boro has wins over three playoff teams, including St. John Vianney, Howell and Toms River North. All four of their losses are to playoff teams in Rumson-Fair Haven, Manasquan, Brick Memorial and Donovan Catholic.
Junior quarterback Jake Clayton, who has missed some time with injuries, is the team’s focal point on offense with 529 yards rushing and five touchdowns in the Panthers’ flexbone offense. Senior running back Calvin Videon-Perino has rushed for 414 yards on 93 carries along with four touchdowns, but has battled an injury late in the season.
Senior linebacker Jack Scalabrini leads the defense with 80 tackles. Notably junior running back Nick Spanola, senior offensive lineman Declan Miles and senior defensive back James Bradley have all suffered season-ending injuries. The Panthers managed to earn a playoff spot despite starting several freshmen, including defensive lineman Trevor Evans, who also made his debut as a fullback on offense, offensive lineman Nico Cangiano and defensive backs Owen Hart and Lincoln Blasi.
Point Boro quarterback Jake Clayton. (Bob Badders | rpbphotography.com).
Non-Shore Player to Watch: JoJo White, Sr., OL, Camden
The six-foot-5, 270-pounder is committed to Syracuse to play offensive line alongside his teammate Ibn Muhammad. White is a three-star recruit ranked as the 84th best offensive tackle prospect, according to 247 Sports’ composite rankings. White and Muhammad will not be the first Camden products to play for head coach Fran Brown at Syracuse, as others including Duce Chestnut and Alijah Clark, who now plays for the Dallas Cowboys, have suited up for the Orange.
South Jersey Group 2
8-Willingboro at 1-Haddonfield
5-Gloucester City at 4-Lower Cape May
6-Overbrook at 3-Delran
7-Camden Eastside at 2-West Deptford
North Jersey matchups
North 1
8-Newton at 1-Westwood
5-Dumont at 4-Caldwell
6-High Point at 3-Ramsey
7-Waldwick at 2-Glen Rock
North 2
8-Lyndhurst at 1-Shabazz
5-Hoboken at 4-Rutherford
6-Becton at 3-Hanover Park
7-Madison at 2-Bernards
