Before I get to my playoff stuff, you need to read this. I had heard that former Long Branch star and Rutgers recruit Berkely Hutchinson had joined the Army after things did not pan out for the linebacker during his time with the Scarlet Knights.
Hutchinson is now deployed in Iraq, so our good wishes to come home soon are out there for him. I covered Berkeley when he was at Long Branch, and he was a top 50 recruit at linebacker in the nation and one of the top recruits Greg Schiano had ever signed at that time. He was an excellent athlete in high school and worked with kids, but there always seemed to be a troubled side to him. He apparently sensed that as well and it led him to joining the military. For all of the Dwayne Joneses and Trent MacCrays of the world who went down the wrong path and are paying the price for it, there are people like Hutchinson, who has turned it around and become a role model. That’s one of the stories that makes you feel good and then makes you feel scared for Hutchinson given the situation in Iraq.
OK, now on to what seems a little less important than my opening comments, but still the weekend we’ve all been waiting for. First off, let me say that this weekend’s games, with the exception of maybe Colts Neck and Howell, don’t do a whole lot for me. The fun thing about that game, besides the fact that it is a rematch of a game that the Rebels won 28-26 in the season opener, is that a ton of stars on both sides are former teammates in Howell Pop Warner. Some of Colts Neck’s players are Howell residents thanks to the always entertaining Freehold Regional District. Colts Neck’s Ashton Jackson, Alex Muka, Sean Smith and Justin Boxman, among others, were teammates with Howell’s Tim Lamirande, David Hayes, Alex Killian, Jason Amato and Chris Turiello, among others.
Other than that, no real juicy match-ups, just teams trying to win a playoff game for the first time in a long time or for the first time ever at Southern, Freehold and Holmdel, or just pretty much regular playoff games.
Anything can happen in the next two days and blow these picks to smithereens, but here are my picks for each bracket with Shore teams.
Central Jersey Group IV – I think Howell wins it all, althought it may have to go through a Jackson team that beat the Rebels already.
Central Jersey Group III – Long Branch is my pick here, although it could be an all-out dogfight in the semis against Freehold if both advance, then it could be Middletown South waiting at Rutgers Stadium, where they haven’t given up a point in like 320 quarters.
Central Jersey Group II – I’m going with Rahway to win this section, but maybe it can get picked off before Rumson or Holmdel reaches the final. I’m leaning toward picking Rumson to go to the final, but I may waffle on this one. Let’s get to that game against Holmdel first.
Central Jersey Group I – This one is really hard to pick. I kind of like Asbury Park as a sleeper to win it all. I think the Bishops have the firepower to beat South River. I like Keansburg to make the semis, but Florence may be too tall of an order. Florence isn’t its usual powerhouse self, but still has won four straight CJ I titles.
South Jersey Group IV – I think Toms River North makes the final and plays for a championship on its home field, but Eastern or Mainland, probably Mainland, might be too much. Mainland’s QB is a Division I kid, although Mainland still has to get past a tough Toms River East team. I think the Raiders really need to get a win in that game because if they lose here and then lose to TR North on Thanksgiving, they will end up with a 7-3 season that probably isn’t even Top 10-worthy.
South Jersey Group III – I think Lacey takes this bracket again. They have a settled situation at tight end and a rugged backfield. I say they go all the way for a second straight crown.
South Jersey Group II – This is a wide-open bracket, and I think Point Boro meets old nemesis West Deptford in the final on the Panthers’ home field. I like Point Boro’s run defense, which will have to play huge to bring this one home.
Non-Public Group IV – Red Bank Catholic just needs to get out in one piece against Bergen Catholic and try to finish the season on a high note with a win over Rumson-Fair Haven in their annual Thanksgiving meeting.
Of course, I’m sure this will all go out in the window in a matter of hours when all the crazy scores start coming in.
Ten Playoff Questions
1. Is Toms River North’s defense good enough to take the Mariners all the way?
2. Is Howell ready to finish the job after coming up short in the final last year?
3. Will Middletown South regroup and remind everyone who’s boss?
4. Will it be seasons of destiny for Holmdel, Freehold and Asbury Park?
5. Is Rumson’s defense, which has recorded four straight shutouts, good enough to take the Bulldogs to a title?
6. Can Keansburg do it without Justin Laguna?
7. Will a Shore Conference team win South Jersey Group IV or fall short yet again after a litany of disappointments in this bracket with the exception of the Jackson teams in the early part of the millennium?
8. Can Brick summon the old playoff magic in Warren Wolf’s 50th season?
9. Is Jackson a threat to go all the way in CJ IV?
10. How many Shore teams will win titles?
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