Week 8 for most teams which means the cutoff for the playoffs. Lakeland, Pompton Lakes, Kinnelon, and West Milford are all still alive in the hunt to varying degrees. Their games this week can determine where they will be seeded as well, so here goes. Can’t believe the season is in its final weeks.
Lakeland plays DePaul Friday night in Wanaque. Last week the Spartans were demolished by Delbarton by 30 points, a team which the Lancers beat. Not that that means a whole lot, but the fact is Lakeland is playing so well on both sides of the ball, they have the strength and the speed to take away what DePaul does best. The Lancers currently are in third place with 47 points. A win here will give them at least 12 more and should be enough to keep them in that spot. Should they win and West Orange knock off Wayne Valley, the Lancers could vault into second place; a good spot to be because then you would not have to face 4-time reigning champion and presumed top seed Wayne Hills until the final. A loss, and wins by Pascack Valley, Sparta, and Fair Lawn could drop them to seventh place, so this game is huge. The pick is Lakeland.
West Milford versus Millburn should be a relatively easy win for the Highlanders, but last week’s loss to West Orange has put them in peril. Yes, with 37 points they are currently in seventh place but Ramapo has thirty and plays Demarest and Northern Highlands, two imminently winnable games that would allow them to pass. Paramus also has 30 points and two games, one easier than the other game. Should they win both however, including over Bloomfield, a Group 4 team that may have five wins, they too can shoot past West Milford. The Highlanders take this one then sit back and hope that the Rubik’s cube of playoff permutations falls in their favor.
Pompton Lakes has earned their spot so their game against Glen Rock is for seeding. A win and the Cardinals could be the third seed in all likelihood unless Westwood or Hasbrouck Heights stumbles which could move them up. Mountain Lakes has many points still on the board for the taking as they face Glen Ridge and Cedar Grove. If they sweep those, Pompton would be the fourth seed. A loss and Pompton could drop behind Park Ridge as well into sixth place. The Panthers will be the toughest game for them this side of Paterson Catholic but in 2005, they got past Glen Rock en route to the title. That was a playoff game; this one will only seem like one. It’s at Glen Rock but I have a hunch that when pressed, the team will respond with what some will consider an upset.
Kinnelon plays Newark Academy and they will get the win. Then they face Boonton and will need to win that game in order to qualify. There are so many combinations but suffice to say, if the Colts win both games they will earn around 7 more points, giving them 27. Emerson with 19 points can get as many as 11 power points if they win over winless Ridgefield and Pascack Hills, 3-4. Both are Group 2 schools. If that happens, the Colts, currently in eighth place, could be 7-1 and miss the playoffs. That would be an unpleasant way to end the season and sort of spells out some of the flaws in the power point system. Kinnelon will win, but they need help, especially from Pascack Hills on November 7.
Butler and Pequannock face off and the only good thing to say about this game is that one of these teams will win the first game. Two proud but struggling programs will each be out there giving it their all trying to avoid remaining winless. I’ve seen both teams and this will be an evenly matched contest but Pequannock should find a way to win. Sorry Bulldogs but you still have Montville and Caldwell after this one so perhaps you can get the win out of one of those.
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