One of the first things I did Tuesday after speaking to Chris Partridge from Paramus Catholic was call DePaul to see if they had finalized their football schedule. I spoke to someone and left a message.
DePaul AD Joe Lennon called me back first thing Wednesday morning and said that the Spartans, the reigning Group 2 state champs (and possible pre-season North Jersey Number 1 – of course, a bunch of teams can say that) had finalized their 2014 schedule.
It does not include any big trips, except for one down to South Jersey. But I am sure DePaul’s profile will continue to rise, especially with star RB Kareem Walker, so I’m real interested on seeing how this plays out going forward.
So let’s get right to it.
DePaul will open with Pope John on Friday night, Sept. 5th. In week 2, they will host Wayne rival Passaic Valley. In week 3, its a match-up of two 2013 champions as the Spartans travel to Hillsdale to face defending sectional champions Pascack Valley (remember, New Jersey has state champs for non-public schools and sectional champs for public schools. If you need to know why…well, no one really knows, but it will never change).
In week 4 you get DePaul’s biggest trip as they will go down to South Jersey to face Lawrencevile Prep on Saturday the 27th at 1 p.m. That’s an interesting match-up.
In week 5, the Spartans will host Northern Highlands in a game that will likely be Thursday night, Oct. 2 because of the Jewish holidays. In fact, when I put out the schedules for the other schools in the Big 5, I probably had a mistake because no one is probably going to play Friday night the 3rd).
The Spartans open Big North United play in week 6 against Bergen Catholic, a team they beat last year and which sort of signaled their rise. Then they have a bye and its all Big North United games after that. They go to Montvale to play St. Joes on the 25th, they host PC on Halloween at 7 p.m. and they go to Bosco on November 7th to close out their regular season.
Boy, I am so tempted to post some early, early predictions. I was talking it over with my boss yesterday. 5 teams….what kind of seasons will they have? Who is going to play quarterback for all 5? I kind of see 2014 being a lot like 2013, no real super-duper dominant team, but a definite pecking order. I mean, I just can’t see anyone going through the Big North United undefeated, or any of the Big 5 going undefeated total, but they all can’t be 10-1, you know what I mean? Someone has to lose. I kind of see 4 teams being really strong and one team a notch below. And yes, I’m not going to say which team for a couple of months. I might change my mind by then….in fact, I probably will.
2014 DePaul Football Schedule
Sept 5 vs. Pope John XXIII, 7 p.m.
Sept. 12 vs. Passaic Valley, 7 p.m.
Sept. 19 at Pascack Valley, 6 p.m.
Sept. 27 at Lawrenceville Prep, 1 p.m.
Oct. 2 vs. Northern Highlands, 7 p.m.
Oct. 11 at Bergen Catholic, 1 p.m.
Oct. 25 at St. Joes, 1 p.m.
Oct. 31 vs. Paramus Catholic, 7 p.m.
Nov. 7 at Don Bosco, 7 p.m.