North Jersey’s must-see games in ’23
Mark your calendar, save these dates on your Google Home, set a reminder on Alexa.
These are the North Jersey high school football games to see this fall.
Be aware that there are more games starting at 6 p.m. than ever before. There are more “crossover” games than before, with teams competing from different parts of the state. There are more Thursday night games than usual, to help handle the shortage of officials.
North Jersey plays some of the best high school football in the nation, and this is the best of the best. However, you set your calendar, be there.
Jim Grasso Classic at Overpeck Park Friday, Aug. 25 and Saturday, Aug. 26
If you really can’t wait for high school football season, the place to be is Overpeck Park in Palisades Park for a fivegame, two-day event put on by the Super Football Conference in memory of one of the league’s creators.
The five games include a vintage Group 5 showdown between Montclair and Clifton, the debut of Westwood coach Bobby Guy and an 11 a.m. kickoff on the season’s opening between West Milford and Nutley.
Lombardi Field (yes, named for that Lombardi) at Overpeck Park is dramatically underutilized by North Jersey teams. You’ll look around and think you’ll want to come back.
New Milford at Cresskill/Emerson Thursday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m.
We have a brand-new co-op program in North Jersey as Cresskill and Emerson have partnered. The Cougars should be contenders in the NJIC Liberty Division.
Meanwhile, somewhere copy editors and headline writers live in fear of the late September matchup between Cresskill/Emerson and Waldwick/ Midland Park.
Northern Highlands at Wayne Valley Friday, Sept. 1 at 6:30 p.m.
These two teams combined to go 19-5 last year and make the playoffs. This is the first meeting since the 2019 regional final at MetLife Stadium won by the Indians. Which quarterback will take the job for Northern Highlands?
Park Ridge at Wood-Ridge Friday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m.
Wood-Ridge had its best season in school history and Blue Devils’ 14-12 win over the Owls on the road may
have been the upset of the 2022 season. I don’t think Park Ridge has forgotten.
The Owls feature UConn commit Deron McLaughlin on the line — who says small schools don’t produce Division I kids? — while the Blue Devils have a dynamic offense.
Bergen Catholic at Chaminade-Madonna (Fla.) Friday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m.
Remember last year when Bergen Catholic went west and pounded Arizona powerhouse Saguaro? This year, the Crusaders carry the North Jersey banner down to Miami to take on another powerhouse. Can the top-ranked Crusaders survive the heat? Or have they bitten off more than they can chew?
Passaic Tech at Ridgewood Friday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m.
Passaic Tech reached the Group 5 state championship game last season, but lost to Ridgewood during the regular season. In fact, the Maroons have won five of the last six meetings against the Bulldogs. Maybe there’s something about the Wing-T that the Bulldogs just can’t solve, but will the Maroons mastery continue under new coach Torre Watson?
West Milford at Lakeland
Friday, Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m.
Do you like your rivalries with a dash of family? Maybe a drum corps in tow? Nothing is better than this Passaic County battle.
Lakeland has won the Suburban Trends Cup for the last thee years. The trophy may be new, but the rivalry isn’t.
Bergen Catholic at Don Bosco Friday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m.
Bergen-Bosco LXXIX. It’s the 79th meeting between the two schools.
The other number you should know? 45-0. That was the score in the NonPublic A state final last year.
It was the most lopsided result in this rivalry since a 54-0 win by Bergen Catholic in 1991.
Yeah, it’s on.
Lodi at Garfield Saturday, Sept. 30 at 1 p.m.
The house that Benny Babula Built in Garfield (look him up) has finally − finally! — undergone a serious facelift, giving the Boilermakers a new home.
The place will be packed for the annual Battle of Outwater Lane. Lodi won last year for the first time in the last nine meetings.
DePaul at Bergen Catholic Saturday, Sept. 30 at 1 p.m.
It’s literally Brother vs. Brother on the sidelines as Vito Campanile and Bergen Catholic host Nick Campanile and DePaul.
The Campaniles are the First Family of North Jersey football (truth be told, they don’t really like playing against one another), but this game also pits the defending Non-Public A champs against the defending Non-Public B champs.
Mahwah at Ramsey Friday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.
This is Bergen County’s answer to Lakeland/West Milford (except for the drums), two close towns with great athletic reputations who were old Thanksgiving Day rivals. Ramsey has won the last three meetings.
Old Tappan at Ramapo Friday, Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Sure, we know Old Tappan was the first state champion from North Jersey last year (winning Group 3) but remember, they didn’t go undefeated. Ramapo beat the Golden Knights, 30-22.
Both teams are retooling this year but this game will showcase an incredible level of public-school football.
Wayne Hills at Passaic Valley Friday, Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Passaic Valley is underrated as a great high school football environment.
The Hornets were one of the last teams to play on grass, but now it’s turf and lights. If they’re to take a step toward the playoffs, they have to beat the Patriots for the first time since 2014.
Seton Hall Prep at St. Joseph Saturday, Oct. 21 at 1 p.m.
The Pirates upset the Green Knights in Montvale in last year’s Non-Public A quarterfinals, showing that the gap between the Big Six and everyone else may be closing.
St. Joe’s can end that narrative with a big win back at home, or the Pirates can step forward into the state’s elite with a late-season win that will surely have playoff seeding ramifications.
NJIC championship game Friday, Oct. 20 or Saturday, Oct. 21
In a nutshell, the first five weeks of the NJIC regular season are full of division games. The four division winners meet in the semifinals and the two winners play for an overall conference title. It’s a brilliant way to crown a champion.
This will be the eighth NJIC championship game. Rutherford has won the last two and is a favorite (along with Park Ridge) to play for it all.