Week 10 picks

Welcome to the playoffs, cue the NFL films music and resurrect the voice of God, John Facenda. Four local teams made it to the post season this year and while every team that qualifies is a good team, none of the locals got a favorable draw in the first round. Still they get to play a meaningful game with a chance to make it all the way to Giants Stadium, which is the dream of every high school football player.

Kinnelon is in for just the second time in the school’s history. That’s pretty amazing but what’s more amazing is the job that the kids have done in the three years since Kevin White took over the program. Once a joke, the Colts are now a team that other’s don’t want to play. Winning seven games put them in but irony has a cruel way of rearing itself; they must play Mountain Lakes, their 8-0 arch-nemesis and annual Thanksgiving opponent. An informal discussion with AD Scott Rosenberg at the boy’s soccer game on Tuesday revealed that according to former Kinnelon coach Bob McLain, Kinnelon beat Mountain Lakes in football one year on Thanksgiving after Lakes played a tough playoff game against Butler and had a number of key players out of the game. The Colts won’t get that kind of break this time, as Lakes will be loaded and looking to squelch the dreams of their rivals. This game cannot turn into a track meet. Kinnelon needs to control the ball and keep the high-powered Lakes offense off the field. Imagine the Giants game plan in Super Bowl 25 (I don’t do Roman numbers) in 1991. Even with Brain DeVeau and a hard hitting, opportunistic defense, I don’t think the Colts can keep up in the game. I’d like to see it happen, but Mountain Lakes, playing at home in a loaded bracket should have enough to move on to the second round. Hey, in 12 days they get to play again so Kinnelon has a chance at redemption and a share of the Colonial Hills title.

Pompton Lakes makes the trek to Hasbrouck Heights for the second straight season to open the playoffs. In fact, the Cardinals last three playoff games have been against the Aviators. In 2005, Pompton beat them for the championship and last year Height exacted their revenge. As usual, Heights is an offense juggernaut both passing and running. Strength upfront can harass passers and stop backs dead in their tracks, so this will not be an easy contest for Pompton; then again the Cardinals love being in the role of underdogs that are not given a chance. They have to play mistake free football to win this game. Mike Ward needs to have a big game running the ball and catching passes out of the backfield. Paul Mason will need to show his versatility running, catching, and yes, passing. Sean Carey needs to show he is fully recovered from the hit he took at Glen Rock and play his best. The offensive line needs to control the point of attack. On defense, the pressure will be on the secondary to control the airways. Heights’ attack is similar to that of Glen Rock, explosive with speedy receivers that know how to get open with a QB that can get them the ball. A turnover or two could change the momentum of this game. It will not be easy, but something makes me think that Pompton Lakes has a surprise or two up their collective sleeve and they will pull off the upset in a very close game.

Lakeland gets to host a game and for their great season get to play Ramapo, a Bergen County power that has had a resurgent season. They can run, pass, and play defense. They come from a proud program that was the last team to beat Wayne Hills, in the 2004. They also put the last playoff loss on Hills in the 2003 State title game. Lakeland also has a proud tradition and this year has been storybook; undefeated, wins over Delbarton, DePaul and rival West Milford. The team has overcome injuries and led by their outstanding QB Dan Deighan, the multi-threat speedster, who can single-handedly change the outcome of any game, I think they get the win and move on to the next round.

West Milford makes the postseason for the first time in three years and all they have to do is play Wayne Hills. The public school Don Bosco has seniors on the squad that have never lost a game. Under Chris Olsen, this school has been doing things that public schools aren’t supposed to be able to do. This has been a strange year for the Highlanders as they have been winning more with defense and special teams than with offense. A win is a win, Head Coach Shawn Poppe is not particular how his teams gets more points than the other guys, but to beat Hills you need to play a perfect game. You can’t miss an assignment on defense, not get your pads on a pass rusher, or not catch a catchable ball. Runners have to follow their blockers and not miss the hole. Most importantly, they cannot turn the ball over, not once. A difficult task for them but someone has to play Wayne Hills and if you had any aspirations to get the title, you would have to play them at some point anyway, why not in the first round? Should they win it would be the biggest upset in New Jersey High School football in recent memory. It would make for a great story for the players, staff, school, and town to talk about for years, but being a pragmatist, I don’t see it happening.

In two consolation games, I think Pequannock gets their second win of the year over Manchester and Butler will lose a close one to New Milford. The Knights have a record-breaking running back, AJ Scoppa, who is six yards shy of the Bergen County rushing mark of 5,180.