Lakeland jumps up in rankings

Lakeland catapulted several spots in the North Jersey Public Top 20 football rankings after delivering arguably the biggest upset of the season in all of New Jersey.

Lakeland snapped Caldwell’s state-leading 37game winning streak that dated back to 2020 with a 33-28 upset in Friday’s North 2, Group 2 semifinal. The Lancers climbed three spots to No. 10.

Passaic Valley and Butler also produced notable sectional semifinal wins in Week 10. Passaic Valley knocked off Montville, 28-13, in North 2, Group 3, and Butler stopped previously-unbeaten Weequahic, 21-14, in North 2, Group 1.

Meanwhile, the top of the Public Top 20 remained unchanged, with No. 1 Passaic Tech, No. 2 Westwood, No. 3 Ramapo, No. 4 Rutherford and No. 5 Old Tappan all registering double-digit victories in sectional semifinals.

In the Big Six non-public rankings, Bergen Catholic (8-1) remains No. 1 and St. Joseph (6-3) holds at No. 2. The Crusaders and Green Knights had firstround byes in the Non-Public A playoffs and will host quarterfinals Saturday.

All season long, the Varsity Aces will rank the Top 20 public-school teams and Big Six non-public teams in North Jersey. Here are the rankings after Week 10.

Public Top 20 rankings

20. Hackensack (5-4)

Last game: Did not play

Next game: Nov. 23 vs. Teaneck (7-2)

19. Teaneck (7-2)

Last game: Lost to Dwight Morrow, 28-18 Next game: Wednesday vs. River Dell (2-8)

18. Weehawken (8-0)

Last game: Did not play

Next game: Season complete

17. Dwight Morrow (8-1)

Last game: Beat Teaneck, 28-18

Next game: Season complete

16. Paramus (6-4)

Last game: Did not play

Next game: Season complete

15. Mahwah (6-3)

Last game: Did not play

Next game: Season complete

14. Waldwick (6-3)

Last game: Did not play

Next game: Season complete

13. Hasbrouck Heights (7-3)

Last game: Lost to Hawthorne, 34-9 Next game: Season complete

12. Pascack Valley (6-3)

Last game: Did not play Next game: Season complete

11. Park Ridge (7-3)

Last game: Lost to Mountain Lakes, 21-14 Next game: Season complete

10. Hawthorne (8-2)

Last game: Beat Hasbrouck Heights, 34-9 Next game: North 1, Group 1: Friday vs. Mountain Lakes (8-2)

9. Lakeland (8-3)

Last game: Beat Caldwell, 33-28

Next game: North 2, Group 2: Friday at Bernards (11-0)

8. Passaic Valley (7-2)

Last game: Beat Montville, 28-13

Next game: North 2, Group 3: Friday at West Essex (8-3)

7. Butler (9-1)

Last game: Beat Weequahic, 21-14

Next game: North 2, Group 1: Friday vs. Newark Shabazz (7-3)

6. Northern Highlands (9-2)

Last game: Beat Ridge, 31-26

Next game: North 1, Group 4: Friday at Ramapo (10-0)

5. Old Tappan (9-1)

Last game: Beat Lincoln, 36-0

Next game: North 1, Group 3: Friday vs. West Morris (6-5)

4. Rutherford (10-0)

Last game: Beat Hanover Park, 28-7

Next game: North 1, Group 2: Friday at Westwood (10-0)

3. Ramapo (10-0)

Last game: Beat Morris Knolls, 52-27

Next game: North 1, Group 4: Friday vs. Northern Highlands (9-2)

2. Westwood (10-0)

Last game: Beat Newton, 42-8

Next game: North 1, Group 2: Friday vs. Rutherford (10-0)

1. Passaic Tech (11-0)

Last game: Beat Union, 35-8

Next game: North 1, Group 5: Friday vs. Montclair (8-3)

Others receiving votes: Pascack Hills (8-2), Ridgewood (4-5).

Big Six rankings

6. Paramus Catholic (3-8)

Last game: Lost to Donovan Catholic, 31-28 Next game: Season complete

5. St. Peter’s Prep (1-9)

Last game: Lost to St. Augustine, 35-14

Next game: Season complete

4. Don Bosco (5-5)

Last game: Beat Pope John, 28-17

Next game: Non-Public A: Saturday at Delbarton (8-1)

3. DePaul (5-5)

Last game: Beat St. Mary, 63-21

Next game: Non-Public B: Friday at St. Thomas Aquinas (9-0)

2. St. Joseph (6-3)

Last game: First-round bye

Next game: Non-Public A: Saturday vs. Seton Hall Prep (4-6)

1. Bergen Catholic (8-1)

Last game: First-round bye

Next game: Non-Public A: Saturday vs. Paul VI (8-1)

MICHAEL KARAS Hawthorne head coach John Passero celebrates with his son, senior Dominic Passero, after Hawthorne defeated Hasbrouck Heights on Friday.