NJSIAA Football Group 5 Playoff Preview: Southern, Toms River North Lead Shore’s Hopefuls

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 5

Defending Champion: Washington Township

 

Central Jersey Group 5

(8) Lenape at (1) Old Bridge

(5) Freehold Township at (4) Williamstown

(6) Vineland at (3) Sayreville

(7) Jackson at (2) Rancocas Valley

 

The Favorite: Rancocas Valley

Rancocas Valley (9-0) has steamrolled nearly every opponent on its schedule, establishing itself as the team to beat in Central Jersey Group 5. The Red Devils have recorded six shutouts and outscored their opponents 326-42, with their only close game coming in a 21-20 victory over Millville. Their impressive résumé includes dominant wins over Shawnee, Cherokee, Kingsway, and Burlington Township, along with a 23-0 shutout of Wayne Valley to open the season. Rancocas Valley has allowed just 22 points outside of the Millville game, making its defense one of the most imposing units in New Jersey.

Junior quarterback Zach Merhar directs an explosive passing attack, completing 83 of 142 passes for 1,622 yards and 30 touchdowns. Senior receiver Mikey McQueen has been his favorite target with 31 receptions for 543 yards and 15 touchdowns, while junior Andre Byrdsong has added 22 catches for 501 yards and five scores. Junior Hakim Theresa Jr. leads the rushing attack with 552 yards and five touchdowns, complemented by junior JJ Stewart’s 346 yards and three scores. Defensively, senior David Ogunsola has been unblockable, recording 93 tackles, 39 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks, while junior Michael Beasley has contributed 76 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks. With an overwhelming defense and an offense capable of scoring in bunches, Rancocas Valley has the talent to compete for both a sectional championship and the overall Group 5 state title.

 

Contender: Old Bridge

Old Bridge (8-1) has rattled off eight consecutive victories since opening the season with a 43-35 loss to Shawnee, earning the No. 1 seed in Central Jersey Group 5. Head coach Matt Donaghue’s Knights have demonstrated a knack for winning close games, edging St. Thomas Aquinas, 26-24, Piscataway, 27-26, and Sayreville, 14-12, during their winning streak. They have also found another gear offensively in recent weeks, scoring 109 points over their final three games against Monroe, East Brunswick, and Ridge.

Junior quarterback Aiden Rios has been outstanding as a dual-threat weapon, throwing for 1,539 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing for another 768 yards and five scores. Senior running back Chase Rizzo has surpassed 1,000 rushing yards with 1,003 and 11 touchdowns, while also catching 23 passes for 456 yards and 10 scores. Junior receiver Amari Alsbrook leads the team with 39 receptions for 638 yards and seven touchdowns. Defensively, junior linebacker Jaxon Cronin has recorded 87 tackles, while senior Thomas Boyhan has contributed 81 tackles. Senior Griffin Nugent has also been a difference-maker with 76 tackles and three interceptions.

 

Dark Horse: Sayreville

Sayreville (7-2) has the potential to disrupt the Central Jersey Group 5 bracket after proving it can compete with the section’s top seed. The Bombers pushed Old Bridge to the limit in a 14-12 loss on Oct. 2, one of just two defeats on their schedule. Their other setback came against Ridge, 21-7, while their victories include a 37-21 win over St. Thomas Aquinas and a 16-7 triumph over Piscataway. Sayreville has won three straight games entering the playoffs and has allowed just 31 points during that stretch, giving the Bombers momentum as they pursue a sectional championship.

Senior running back Sherwin Appiah has been the centerpiece of Sayreville’s offense, rushing for 1,156 yards and 18 touchdowns on 138 carries. Junior Dion Osae has added 455 rushing yards, while sophomore quarterback Marcus Butka has thrown for 599 yards. The Bombers have accumulated 2,167 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns, relying heavily on their ground game to control possession. Defensively, junior Kellan Bowers has recorded 57 tackles and nine sacks, while junior Connor Eckert has contributed 37 tackles and 11 tackles for loss.

 

Shore Shots: Freehold Township and Jackson

Freehold Township (5-4) enters the Central Jersey Group 5 playoffs with a dangerous passing attack and renewed confidence after stunning previously undefeated Middletown North, 43-42, in its regular-season finale. Head coach Cory Davies’ Patriots have endured an up-and-down season, but the return of senior quarterback Dakota Lasater has transformed their offensive outlook. Lasater missed approximately two and a half games due to injury, including time against Shore, Freehold Boro, and Manasquan, before returning to help Freehold Township win its final two games. The Patriots also own victories over Matawan and Howell, and their ability to put points on the board makes them an intriguing sleeper team.

Lasater has completed 137 of 222 passes for 1,895 yards and 16 touchdowns while rushing for another 409 yards and six scores. Senior receiver Jake Schultzel, a Monmouth University commit, has been his primary target, hauling in 51 passes for 915 yards and 11 touchdowns, while senior Mikey Lorenzo has added 38 receptions for 380 yards. Junior Elijah Msomi has contributed 24 catches for 365 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, senior linebacker Jake Platt leads the Patriots with 91 tackles, while senior Dennis Quattrache III has recorded 90 tackles. With Lasater healthy and the passing game operating at full strength, Freehold Township has the offensive firepower to challenge teams with better records, although its defense will need to limit big plays for the Patriots to advance.

Jackson (2-7) faces an uphill battle in Central Jersey Group 5 after enduring a seven-game losing streak against a demanding Class A South schedule. The Jaguars opened the season with victories over Ocean, 21-0, and Toms River South, 21-10, but have not won since. Their losses include matchups against Southern, Donovan Catholic, Toms River North, Brick Memorial, and Point Boro, giving Jackson plenty of experience against some of the Shore Conference’s strongest programs. The Jaguars were competitive in a 21-17 loss to Toms River North, but have struggled offensively throughout the season.

Jackson has relied primarily on its ground game, rushing for 1,012 yards compared to just 426 passing yards. Sophomore Brayden Ramos leads the team with 377 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while senior Farrin Blake has added 371 yards and three scores. Sophomore quarterback Brooklyn Mann has contributed 173 rushing yards and thrown for 358 yards, while sophomore receiver Sha’Zir Taylor has caught seven passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Blake leads the Jaguars with 56 tackles, while senior Anthony Salais has recorded 38 tackles and six forced fumbles.

 

Non-Shore Player to Watch: David Ogunsola, Sr., DL, Rancocas Valley

Ogunsola has been a dominant force on Rancocas Valley’s undefeated defense, recording 93 tackles, 39 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks in nine games. Ogunsola has received multiple college offers, including Hampton and Bucknell, and will be a major challenge for opposing offensive lines throughout the Central Jersey Group 5 playoffs.

 

South Jersey Group 5

(8) South Brunswick at (1) Washington Township

(5) Eastern at (4) Egg Harbor

(6) Manalapan at (3) Toms River North

(7) Trenton at (2) Southern

 

The Favorite: Washington Township

The defending Group 5 state champion has shown no signs of slowing down. Washington Township (9-0) enters the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in South Jersey Group 5 and the favorite to capture another overall state championship. Head coach Mike Schatzman’s Minutemen have navigated a demanding schedule without a loss, defeating Millville, 39-20, Atlantic City, 21-19, and St. Augustine, 28-14. They also delivered a convincing 42-17 victory over defending Group 4 champion Winslow. Washington Township has outscored its opponents 277-103 and has surrendered more than 20 points just once, combining a dominant defense with an offense that can attack opponents in multiple ways.

Senior quarterback Jalen Parker has completed 47 of 67 passes for 844 yards and 12 touchdowns with just one interception while adding 337 rushing yards and six scores in just six games since sitting out the first three due to the NJSIAA transfer rule. Senior receiver Issac Parra leads the passing attack with 33 receptions for 549 yards and 10 touchdowns, while senior Drew Dorsey has rushed for 493 yards and five scores. Defensively, senior Gabe Palaganas has recorded 47 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and eight sacks, while senior Elliott Seibert has added 62 tackles.

 

Contender: Southern

Southern (6-3) may be entering the South Jersey Group 5 playoffs on a two-game losing streak, but the Rams have shown they can compete with some of the Shore Conference’s strongest teams. Head coach Matthew Abbato’s squad has wins over Point Boro, 21-14 and fellow sectional contender Toms River North, 27-19. Since then, Southern has suffered a 21-20 loss to undefeated Middletown North and a 14-13 setback against Brick Memorial, the top seed in Central Jersey Group 4. Those two one-point defeats demonstrate how close the Rams are to competing with the Shore’s best public school programs.

Senior quarterback Carson Abbato has been efficient throughout the season, completing 105 of 152 passes for 1,554 yards and 12 touchdowns against just one interception. His top target has been senior Chris Raub, who has caught 35 passes for 657 yards and nine touchdowns, while senior Luke Iorio has added 29 receptions for 319 yards. The ground game features senior Levi Foote, who has rushed for 636 yards and seven touchdowns, and junior Niko Iliescu, who has contributed 263 yards and four scores. Iliescu has also been a force defensively with a team-high 94 tackles, while junior Lukas Iliescu has recorded 76 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and two interceptions.

 

Dark Horse: Toms River North

Toms River North (6-3) has dealt with injuries to two of its most important players, but the Mariners remain a dangerous out in South Jersey Group 5. Senior quarterback Cole Garrison has returned after missing time with an injury, while standout senior linebacker Jack Baker has been sidelined since Week 2. Toms River North has recorded victories over Northern Highlands, Point Boro, Jackson, and Manalapan. The Mariners have also been competitive against some of the Shore Conference’s best teams, falling to Brick Memorial, 24-14, Southern, 27-19, and Donovan Catholic, 20-10. As the No. 3 seed, Toms River North will open the playoffs with a rematch against Manalapan, which it defeated 29-23 during the regular season.

The Mariners have relied heavily on their rushing attack, accumulating 2,170 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground. Senior running back Lucas Elias leads the way with 883 yards and seven touchdowns, while senior Wesley Tanner has rushed for 830 yards and a team-high 11 scores. Garrison adds another dimension with 440 rushing yards and five touchdowns, giving opposing defenses multiple dangerous runners to account for. Defensively, sophomore Finn Boland has continues to be a force in year two with 115 tackles and 22.5 tackles for loss, while senior Frank Bonich has contributed 58 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss. Toms River North’s physical ground game and defensive playmakers give the Mariners a chance to make another postseason run, particularly if Garrison can regain his rhythm and the team can overcome Baker’s absence.

 

Shore Shots: Manalapan

Manalapan (4-5) has been much more competitive than its record suggests, with four of its five losses coming by seven points or fewer. The Braves endured a four-game losing streak against Wall, Red Bank Catholic, Rumson-Fair Haven, and Toms River North, but three of those defeats came by a combined 16 points. They rebounded with victories over St. John Vianney and Central before suffering another heartbreaking loss to Holmdel, 15-12, in their regular-season finale. Manalapan has also demonstrated its offensive potential in wins over Hillsborough, 41-25, and St. John Vianney, 32-29. The sixth-seeded Braves will get another opportunity against Toms River North in the opening round after falling to the Mariners, 29-23, earlier this season.

Senior running back Nick Palmieri has been the focal point of Manalapan’s offense, rushing for 949 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding 211 receiving yards. Senior quarterback Cameron Desfosse has thrown for 1,203 yards and 10 touchdowns while contributing 416 rushing yards and four scores. Senior receiver Cooper Savage leads the team with 30 receptions for 316 yards, while senior Ethan Fogelstrom has stood out on the edge, recording 89 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. Junior linebacker Chase Osmun has been a defensive standout with 125 tackles and 12 tackles for loss, while Palmieri has added 93 tackles and 16 tackles for loss. The Braves have spent much of the season coming up just short against quality opponents, but their familiarity with Toms River North and ability to keep games competitive could make them a difficult first-round opponent.

 

Non-Shore Player to Watch: Jalen Parker, Sr., QB, Washington Township

Few players entered the 2026 season with more attention surrounding their future than Parker, whose high-profile transfer saga began when he left Winslow. Parker was announced as heading to Camden, Gloucester Catholic, and Deptford at different points before ultimately landing at Washington Township. The senior quarterback also holds the New Jersey state record for career touchdown passes, adding another distinction to an already remarkable high school career. This season, Parker has helped the defending Group 5 state champion Minutemen remain undefeated, completing 47 of 67 passes for 844 yards and 12 touchdowns against just one interception while rushing for 337 yards and six scores. His experience, record-setting passing ability, and dual-threat versatility make him one of the most accomplished players in New Jersey.

 

North Jersey matchups

North Jersey 1 Group 5

(8) Franklin at (1) Ramapo

(5) Perth Amboy at (4) Irvington

(6) Bayonne at (3) Piscataway

(7) Union at (2) West Orange

 

North Jersey 2 Group 2

(8) Linden at (1) Elizabeth

(5) Bridgewater-Raritan at (4) Passaic Tech

(6) Ridgewood at (3) Phillipsburg

(7) Union City at (2) East Orange

 

Overall Group 5 State Championship Favorite

Washington Township

Defending state champion Washington Township (9-0) is the team to beat in Group 5 after navigating a difficult regular-season schedule undefeated. The Minutemen have the experience, depth, and playmakers to capture a second straight state championship, led by record-setting senior quarterback Jalen Parker. With impressive victories over Winslow, Millville, and St. Augustine, Washington Township has established itself as the favorite to finish the season on top once again.