Who’s No. 1?
Yearly, a whole lot of highschool soccer groups in New Jersey compete for convention titles, sectional championships and the suitable to assert the No. 1 rating within the Backyard State.
Some groups kick off their schedules this weekend, the beginning of a season that can finish with the NJSIAA crowning true state champions for the primary time.
Each week, voters from throughout USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey will rank the High 25 groups within the state. The rankings shall be posted each Tuesday morning.
Right here, the Community ranks New Jersey’s preseason High 25:
25. Passaic Tech
The Bulldogs deliver again two of essentially the most gifted gamers in North Jersey in twins Trashon and Travon Dye. Passaic Tech expects to be bodily up entrance and prepared for a tough Group 5 schedule.
24. Somerville
The Pioneers have a brand new head coach in Ian Tempo, who spent the final 12 years teaching on the faculty degree. He’ll inherit senior quarterback Mike Miller (1,295 passing yards, 16 TDs) and working again Hashem Hobbs, who had a breakout second half final fall. Somerville should substitute All-New Jersey receiver Jaimen Bryant and high rusher Ethan MacNair.
23. Phillipsburg
The Stateliners have some questions, particularly at quarterback, however they return 11 beginning gamers with good steadiness all through the lineup, together with three within the secondary. Phillipsburg is at all times a type of groups within the dialog and the newcomers are anticipated to be prepared.
22. West Morris
The Wolfpack are coming off a North Group 3 championship at MetLife Stadium to finish final season. Senior Stefano Montella, a Brown commit, returns after dashing for a school-record 1,793 yards and 19 touchdowns whereas additionally setting a college document in tackles with 152. Coach Kevin Hennelly seems to be to retool a West Morris offense that scored no less than 21 factors in all 10 victories final season.
21. Donovan Catholic
The Griffins, who have been defeated by Bergen Catholic within the Non-Public A semifinals final 12 months, should discover replacements at quarterback and working again and at 4 of the 5 offensive line spots. However they do return linebacker Dante Verniei, who returned 4 interceptions for TDs final 12 months, sophomore receiver Michael Thomas III, junior linebacker/tight finish Hunter Johnson and two-way lineman Elijah Smith.
20. Clifton
The Mustangs are the North Jersey anaconda of soccer packages; they use their dimension and bulk to only slowly squeeze opponents to loss of life. Clifton shall be massive and powerful, led by two-way All-New Jersey performer Joe Abill up entrance. Sophomore Romelo Tables takes over at quarterback and brings lots of expertise.
19. Cherokee
Cherokee brings again 12 starters, none larger than two-time All-New Jersey working again Brandon “Bam” Boria, a Stony Brook commit who’s averaged greater than 8 yards per carry every of the previous two campaigns. The Chiefs even have dual-threat quarterback Ryan Bender behind middle once more, a robust core of receivers and a few key leaders again on protection. If a younger offensive line can develop rapidly, Cherokee will problem for a sectional title.
18. Hillside
The Comets return a pair of 1,000-yard, Division I rushers in Muwaffaq Parkman (Syracuse commit, 1,303 yards, 14 TDs) and Kyon Simonson (Military commit, 1,257, 13 TDs). In addition they have DT Zaimir Hawk (55 tackles, presents from Marshall, Temple, FCS colleges), OL Charles Allen (Kent State and FCS presents) and QB Caleb Salters (1,386 passing yards). Hillside has turn into an influence below coach Barris Grant and completed No. 6 in 2019. Will that proceed after shifting as much as Group 3 from Group 2?
17. Caldwell
With 15 straight wins relationship again to the 2020 season, the Chiefs share the state’s longest lively successful streak with Cedar Creek. Coach Tom Lamont left this system, however not a lot else has modified for Caldwell. Quarterback Luke Kurzum returns for his senior season after throwing for 1,812 yards and 19 touchdowns. Julian Casale is again for a junior season after main the Chiefs with 106 tackles and 9 sacks. Harry Boland returns as a senior to comply with up on 24 complete touchdowns and greater than 1,100 yards from scrimmage.
16. Toms River North
Final 12 months’s South Group 5 runner-up returns 10 starters on each side of the ball, together with junior quarterback/defensive again Micah Ford, senior tight finish/linebacker Ty Kazanowsky, junior huge receiver/defensive backs Jermaine Pruitt and Tareq Council and sophomore lineman Ja’elyne Matthews.
15. Kingsway
The defending South Jersey Group 5 champions must be even higher in 2022 as they return 19 of twenty-two starters, together with four-year starter Nate Maiers at quarterback, a pair of threats in receivers Darrell Brown an Benny Liles, and a bodily, skilled protection that includes standouts Carter Williams and Brady Whitzell on the road and Luke Van Brill at linebacker, who’s trying like a breakout candidate as a junior.
14. Salem
A Group 1 college within the High 20? The Rams need to be right here because the reigning South/Central regional champions are stacked from high to backside. They’re led by four-year beginning quarterback Jahki Coates, who holds a proposal from Temple, and brothers Amare and Cam Smith, each of whom have Division I presents, main the best way at linebacker and Monmouth commit Emmanuel Lane manning the skin at nook.
13. St. Augustine
The Hermits misplaced a powerful senior class, leaving them looking for a brand new quarterback and finding out a bunch of potential playmakers within the backfield and on the skin. St. Augustine will nonetheless be a handful, although, because of a powerful offensive line anchored by Vincent Isom, Noah Cressman and Kevin Quinn, a deep defensive entrance led by Rob Adamson, and a gifted again seven that includes lockdown nook Na’Cire Christmas and security Tristan McLeer.
12. St. Joseph (Montvale)
St. Joe’s modified offensive philosophies this offseason, shifting to extra of a passing/unfold type. Whether or not it succeeds is likely one of the greatest questions of the 2022 season. Quarterback Luke Henrich is below middle for the second 12 months and the protection is anchored by two-time state wrestling champ Jimmy Mullen.
11. East Orange Campus
The Jaguars accomplished their first 13-0 season in class historical past final 12 months, capped off by a controversial win within the North Group 5 title sport towards Clifton. East Orange loses a number of impactful gamers from final 12 months’s workforce, however nonetheless returns nice expertise like Maryland commit Josh Richards, who led the Jaguars with 9 receiving touchdowns final season. Senior defensive again BJ Covington leads a secondary that allowed fewer than eight factors per sport final season.
10. DePaul
Patrick Grusser takes over at quarterback for the Spartans, and he’ll be surrounded by some gifted skill-position gamers, significantly huge receiver Dez Jones. The protection has to exchange some manufacturing that graduated. Nobody says makes use of the phrase “rebuilding” anymore about any Huge Six packages, however it is a transition 12 months.
9. Pink Financial institution Catholic
The defending Non-Public B champion Caseys return six starters on each offense and protection, together with working again/robust security Sabino Portella, linebacker Davin Brewton, huge receiver Najih Rahmann, working again/defensive again Torin Harmon and lineman Lorenzo Portella. Quarterback is a serious query mark.
8. Delsea
The South Jersey Group 3 runner-up final season brings again 15 returning starters, together with quarterback Zach Maxwell, greater than 2,500 dashing yards between Luke Maxwell, Wayne Adair, Jared Schoppe and Zach Maxwell, their main sacker (Ashton Blose), tackler (Dan DiGiovacchino), and interceptor (Dom Teti). The Crusaders are chasing their first championship since 2017.
7. Camden
The Panthers are actually below the management of Rob Hinson, who gained 4 sectional championships in his final stint at Timber Creek earlier than spending the previous two years on Rutgers’ employees. Camden provides a load of gifted transfers, together with sophomore quarterback Deante Ruffin, West Virginia commits James Heard and Richard James on the defensive entrance, and junior receiver Jaylan Hornsby, who boasts presents from Georgia, Michigan and a bunch of others. Mix them with a robust returning core and Camden is positioned to seize its first sectional title since 1976.
6. Seton Corridor Prep
The Pirates went 7-4 final 12 months, however confirmed they’ll play with the most effective groups in New Jersey. Their greatest win got here towards Don Bosco, the primary win over the Ironmen since 1976. Quarterback Liam Londergan strikes effectively and exhibits poise, and junior huge receiver Jaylen McClain has a boatload of great Division I presents.
5. Irvington
After 102 seasons of soccer, the Blue Knights lastly hoisted a sectional championship trophy final 12 months, following it with a North Group 4 regional title win over previously-unbeaten Northern Highlands. Rutgers commit Famah Toure leads a gifted receiving group offensively, whereas Notre Dame commit Adon Shuler is essentially the most adorned school prospect in New Jersey at security.
4. St. Peter’s Prep
After beginning final 12 months 5-0, the Marauders got here again all the way down to Earth and completed 8-4. However nobody ought to take St. Peter’s Prep calmly. The Marauders have ability and expertise again at quarterback in Champ Lengthy (a Maryland commit) and solely misplaced one starter on the offensive line.
3. Millville
The reigning South/Central Group 4 regional champions deliver again six starters on each side of the ball. They’ve to exchange their quarterback, however junior Jacob Zamot is effectively regarded and will slide seamlessly into the position. He’s aided by a bevy of younger playmakers, headlined by standout sophomore Lotzeir Brooks and a gifted line that featured two freshmen final 12 months in Marcus Provide and Darian Blachewicz. The protection is quick and aggressive too.
2. Don Bosco
With 32 seniors, that is the 12 months this program has been constructing in direction of. Don Bosco has a veteran quarterback in Nick Minicucci and an offense with a robust working sport led by sort out Chase Bisontis and working again Ronnie Heath. The protection is loaded too. On paper, the Ironmen might be New Jersey’s finest workforce, however they will should beat No. 1.
1. Bergen Catholic
We choose up proper the place we left off in 2021. Coming off a season by which the Crusaders completed No. 3 within the nation, Bergen Catholic has to retool its offense with a brand new starter taking up for quarterback Steve Angeli. However this Crusaders protection is a monster, led by DJ Samuels (Maryland commit) and Sydir Mitchell (Texas) up entrance and Malachi Mercer at linebacker.