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A massive shakeup at the top headlines this week's New Jersey Super 25 rankings after Don Bosco, the state's No. 1 team, was knocked off by St. Peter's Prep in a dramatic showdown, opening the door for a new leader.
Several contenders strengthened their cases with statement victories, including an unbeaten Washington Township team that extended its winning streak to 23 games, and Rancocas Valley delivering its sixth shutout of the season.
Elsewhere, multiple ranked teams closed the regular season undefeated, while a pair of Top 10 programs suffered costly losses that reshaped the title picture heading into the playoffs.
Now, with postseason football arriving, the race for a state championship feels as wide open as it has all season.
Every week, voters from across USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey rank the Top 25 teams in the state. The rankings are posted every Tuesday morning.
The Braves completed a perfect regular season for the second time in five years with a dominant 42-0 victory over Morris Catholic on Oct. 23. Evan Cotter rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns on just six carries, while Reid Corino added a pair of rushing scores to lead the offense. The Sussex County squad also continued to shine on the defensive side, recording its third shutout of the season. Through nine games, the Braves have surrendered just 75 total points.
The Redwings remained unbeaten against state foes and debut in the Top 25 after a 38-6 win over Snyder. Senior Kyle Mercorelli threw for 91 yards and two TDs. Senior Devin McMillan and junior Nathaniel Saint Jean ran for scores. Junior Algelis Reyes recovered a fumble for a TD and 32-0 lead.
The Eagles completed the regular season with an unbeaten record for the first time since 2016, thanks to a 42-14 win at Seneca on Friday night. The Eagles rushed for 239 yards and four touchdowns. West Deptford has racked up over 200 yards on the ground in eight of their nine games.
Aiden Rios threw touchdown passes to Amari Alsbrook and Chase Rizzo and rushed for another as the Knights topped Ridge 28-6 for their eighth straight win. Jaxon Cronin had 16 tackles with a fumble recovery and a sack to lead the defense. The Knights earned the top seed in Central Group 5.
The defending state Group 4 champion Eagles snuffed out a two-point conversion attempt to earn a 14-13 win at Millville, locking up a home game in the opening round of the South Group 4 playoffs. Ka’ron Ceasar returned an interception 70 yards for a score and Andrew Bailey hauled in a 31-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to power Winslow.
The Minutemen finished the regular season undefeated with a 29-14 win over Somerville. Down 14-7 at halftime, Elizabeth scored 22 unanswered points in the second half. A'rique Fleming threw touchdown passes to Alvin Hunter and Nahjae Smith, while Jha'ki Williams rushed in a score. Elizabeth is the No. 1 seed in North 2, Group 5.
Senior Shawn Fowler had TD runs of 31 and 5 yards and ran for 83 yards on eight carries and freshman Zyion Weaver made the tackle on an aborted game-tying extra point attempt as the Mustangs defeated Southern 14-13. Senior quarterback Tyler Pierce was 9-for-10 for 91 yards.
The Panthers got back into the win column with a 36-0 home rout over Mainland on Friday. Camden improved to 4-0 at Farnham Park this season, earning the first shutout of ’26. Camden’s defense had a pick-6 from Keyon Ali and sacks from Jayden Trainer, Bryce Jones and Aaron Spaulding. Sophomore quarterback Gregory Wyche Jr. threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns to power the offense.
Playing without starting quarterback Kahden Davis and leading receiver Aidan Kelly, who were both sidelined due to injuries, the Griffins defeated Toms River North 20-10 and clinched the outright Shore Conference Class A South champion. Senior running back Alex Staten had a 50-yard TD run and ran for 102 yards on 17 carries, senior linebacker Sean Byrnes recovered a fumble in the end zone and senior placekicker Sal Reynosa booted field goals of 35 and 25 yards. Reynosa is 7-for-8 on the season.
Sophomore quarterback Rahmir Rivera was 10-for-11 for 172 yards and four touchdown passes as the Caseys clinched the outright Shore Conference Class A North championship with a 31-7 win over Wall. Rivera's TD passes were 19 yards to senior tight end T.J. Walsh, 20 yards to senior receiver Joe Corchado and 19 and 33 yards to junior receiver Jason Berecsky. . Sophomore Simon Picinich added a 50-yard field goal - the longest of his career and fourth of the season.
The Vikings produced their fourth-straight win with a 35-7 triumph over Kingsway on Friday. The team has scored 155 points over the successful stretch (38.8 ppg). Marvin Burroughs threw for two touchdowns, Ahmad Chambers rushed for a pair of scores and linebacker Omar Kelly sparked the defense with five sacks.
The Bulldogs' defense continued its dominant season with its fifth shutout of the year in a 34-0 victory over intra-city rival West Side on Oct. 23. The Newark school has now won five straight games and has been nearly untouchable during that stretch, surrendering just six total points.
In a rematch of last year’s Non-Public B state final, the defending champion Spartans couldn’t run the ball or stop the run in a 21-7 loss at Paramus Catholic. Junior Gavin Sblendorio scored on a 5-yard run in the first quarter to tie the score, 7-7. Junior Frank Morano threw for 110 yards before leaving with a knee injury.
The Mountaineers clinched the SFC Freedom White title and extended their winning streak to seven games with a dominant 56-0 victory over Montclair on Oct. 23. Quarterback Daniel Lewis put on a show, throwing for 300 yards and four touchdowns to four different receivers. Sydney Padilla hauled in five catches for 134 yards and a score, while Nasir Doughty added four receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown.
The Patriots scored 34 or more points for the eighth time this season with a 36-14 win at Fair Lawn. Senior James Wolf threw for 217 yards, featuring TD passes of 65 and 30 yards to senior Chase Canning. Junior Ethan Zacharski rushed for 73 yards and two TDs and junior CJ Puglisi ran for 53 yards and a score to help build a 29-0 halftime lead.
The Bulldogs earned their sixth straight win in dominating fashion with a 42-0 home win over Ocean City on Thursday, clinching the West Jersey Football League Classic Division title. Glassboro has outscored the competition 216-31 over the stretch and includes three shutouts. Senior quarterback and Syracuse commit Charlie Foulke threw for five touchdowns, including three to Mekhi Parker.
The Hermits took a seven-point lead early in the first quarter, but couldn’t maintain the momentum during a 28-14 home loss to Washington Township on Friday. St. Augustine had its three-game winning streak snapped. Cincinnati commit Roman Coney rushed for 139 yards and a first-quarter TD. The Prep defense couldn’t keep pace with the Minutemen, who rushed for 177 yards and threw for 176.
The Crusaders couldn’t run the ball and a 10-7 loss at St. Joseph tied for their fewest points scored this decade. Junior Trey Tagliaferri threw for 205 yards, with a 7-yard TD in the third to senior Anthony Willis to tie the score, 7-7. Sophomore Cruz Araujo had eight tackles and senior Amare Newell and sophomore Austin Bryan had seven apiece.
The Paladins allowed their fewest points of the season in a 21-7 victory over visiting DePaul. Senior Austin Barrett had 11 tackles and sophomore James Brown 10. Senior Chukwuma Odoh ran for 126 yards and a TD. Sophomore Walker Snee threw a 4-yard score to senior Nehki Martin in the first quarter before leaving with an ankle injury.
The Green Knights’ stellar defense led the way in a 10-7 home victory over Bergen Catholic. Seniors Ryan Barry and Jonathan Galette and junior Tahj Gray each had interceptions. Freshman William Mitchell threw for 172 yards, with a 42-yard TD to senior Stalin Knowlden, and junior Kyle Salinas kicked the deciding 41-yard field goal.
The Red Devils matched the 9-0 record from the program’s only undefeated team from six decades ago. That 1966 squad was honored before Saturday’s game before the current players went out and posted a 42-0 win over Burlington Township. It was RV’s sixth shutout of the season, matching the program record set in 1932.
The Golden Knights surpassed 40 points for the fourth time with a 42-7 win at Montville. Senior Leo Etter caught five passes for 93 yards and a TD and had an interception and fumble recovery. Senior Nick Blanchard caught a TD and had five tackles and an interception as they held their third foe in the last four games to seven points or less.
The Ironmen fell from No. 1 after losing at then-No. 6 St. Peter’s Prep, 13-10. Their offense did not score a TD. Junior Joseph Bercovicz kicked a 33-yard field goal in the second quarter for a 3-2 halftime lead, and senior Isaiah Alvarez returned a punt 76 yards for a TD in the third to tie the score, 10-10. Senior Aidan Ekins made 12 tackles.
The Marauders defeated then-No. 1 Don Bosco, 13-10, on junior Bradley Abraham’s 20-yard field goal on the final play. Senior Abdul Turay rushed for 101 yards and junior QB Zack Karelis ran for 94 yards, including a 21-yard score and conversion run in the third for a 10-3 lead. They earned a safety on a Don Bosco punt snap out of the end zone.
The Minutemen ran the gauntlet in the West Jersey Football League American Division, completing the regular-season sweep with a 28-14 win at St. Augustine on Friday. That’s a state-best 23 straight wins for Township. Senior quarterback Jalen Parker threw for two touchdowns and rushed for a third score. He completed 8-of-11 passes for 176 yards, raising his career passing yards total to 8,567 with a state-record 119 TD passes.
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