So much vacation time, so much to think about, so much terrible Saints football to watch.
My first topic I want to tackle is looking back at the Big 5 (Big North United) football schedules from 2014 and see how everything shook out. What was the most impressive win? How did all of the teams from out of New Jersey finish? Look at the numbers and see, now that everything is done, who can claim they played toughest schedule.
I did this last year as well.
I will do it in alphabetical order, and then conclude with some final thoughts.
Bergen Catholic – final record 8-3, NJ Non-Public Group 4 semifinalists
The Crusaders played 3 out-of-state teams in 2014 and finished 3-0 against those teams.
They beat 3 state champions total this season. And finished 3-2 against state champs total.
-They beat DePaul (NJ Non-Public Group 2).
-They beat Bentonville from Arkansas (After starting 0-4, Bentonville finished 9-4 and Arkansas 7A state champs).
-They beat St. Edwards from Ohio. (13-2 and Ohio Division 1 state champs). St. Edwards finished 17th in final MaxPreps poll.
The combined record of Bergen’s out-of-state opponents was 30-9, a winning percentage of .770.
Bergen played one other state champion this year….St. Peter’s Prep from NJ. As we know, they played twice, and lost twice. So technically, Bergen played 4 state championship football teams in 2014.
The final overall record of Bergen’s opponents was 95-33, a winning percentage of .742.
Bergen did not play a team that finished with a losing record. The closest was Ridgewood, who finished 5-5.
DePaul Catholic – final record was 8-4, Non-Public Group 2 state champions
The Spartans were the only team in the Big North United to play 12 games.
They did not play any games against teams from out of New Jersey.
They played 1 state championship team, but that comes with an asterisk….I don’t know if you have heard, but New Jersey is the only state in the US that doesn’t crown public school state champs. DePaul beat Pascack Valley in week 3 and the Indians were New Jersey sectional champions.
The final overall record of DePaul’s opponents was 68-60, for a winning percentage of .531. The Spartans were also the only team in the Big Five to win a winless team, Gloucester Catholic, who finished 0-10, but nothing they could do about that. That is who they played in the first round of the playoffs.
DePaul played 6 teams that finished with winning records and 4 with losing records and 2 that finished 5-5.
Don Bosco Prep – final record was 7-4, Non-Public Group 4 semifinalists
Don Bosco played 3 out-of-state teams and finished 3-0 against those teams.
Don Bosco also played 3 state championship teams in 2014, and finished 3-0.
-They beat St. Joe’s Prep from Philly, Prep finished 11-3 and Pennsylvania AAAA champs.
-They beat St. Thomas Aquinas from FLA, who finished 14-1 and Florida 7A state champs. Yes, Bosco was the only team to beat Aquinas. Aquinas finished 12th in country in MaxPreps poll.
-They beat DePaul.
The final overall record of Bosco’s out-of-state opponents was 29-11, a winning percentage of .725, brought down only because Ft. Pierce Central finished 4-7.
The total overall record for Bosco’s opponents was 92-36, a winning percentage of .719. Bosco played two teams that finished with losing records (Ft Pierce Central and Eastside).
Paramus Catholic – final record was 9-2, Non-Public Group 4 finalists
The Paladins played 4 out of state teams and went 4-0 against them.
They played against three teams that won state championships, and went 2-1.
– PC beat Gilman, who finished 8-3 and won a share of the MIAA A championship.
– PC beat DePaul
– PC lost to St. Peter’s Prep in the Non-Public Group 4 NJ final
The final overall record of PC’s out-of-state opponents was 23-21, for a winning percentage of .523. This was brought down by Eastern Christian, who finished just 3-9 with star QB David Sills injured.
The total overall record for PC’s opponents was 77-47, a winning percentage of .621. The Paladins played two teams that finished with losing records, Eastern Christian and St. Frances Academy of Maryland.
But, it should be noted, that PC was the only team in the Big Five not to play a NJ public school in 2014.
St. Joe’s – final record was 8-3, Non-Public Group 3 semifinalists
Joes played 3 out-of-state teams and went 2-1 against them.
They played against five teams that would win state titles and went 3-2 against them.
– Joes beat McDonogh of Maryland, who finished 7-3, and shared the MIAA A title with Gilman.
– They lost to St. Edwards, who went 13-2 and won the Ohio Division 1 state title.
– They beat St. Joe’s Prep, who won the Pennsylvania AAAA title.
– They beat DePaul.
– They lost to Red Bank Catholic who went on to win the Non-Public Group 3 title in NJ.
Joes did not play a team that finished with a losing record. The closest they came was playing Wayne Hills who finished 5-5.
The winning percentage for St. Joe’s out-of-state opponents was 31-8, a winning percentage of .795. The total overall record for Joe’s foes was 95-33, a percentage of .742.
So….
As usual, every team can hang there hats on something.
Bergen, Joes and Bosco can all say they beat 3 state championship football teams, which is really impressive because neither of the 3 schools won in NJ.
Bergen and Joes each played 11 games and their opponents had the exact same winning percentage at .742, the most for any of the schools.
Bergen and Joes each played 5 games against state championship teams (for Joes it was 5 different teams, Bergen played St. Peter’s Prep twice). They each finished 3-2.
Bosco though, can perhaps claim the single best win, taking down St. Thomas Aquinas at West Point. Aquinas would finish a whopping 14-1. And yes, some HS football teams do play more than 12 games. Paramus Catholic can say they didn’t have a breather at all by playing a NJ public school team.
By percentage points, Joes played the toughest out-of-state schedule by a hair over Bergen, but again, the total combined wining percentage by their opponents was identical. So the answer to the first question is, it’s a tie.
Next year, the schedule rumor mill is well underway. Anyone want to go to Alabama next year and play Hoover? What about a big doubleheader or tripleheader up at Bosco for the Centennial Classic? (Bosco will turn 100 next year – a very big deal). One team missing from almost everyone’s regular season schedule in 2014 was St. Peter’s Prep – the consensus Number 1 team in New Jersey this year. Will the Marauders play ball? I’m sure they have been called…
What about rematches, St. Edwards and Bergen? St. Edwards and Joes? St. Joe’s Prep and anybody? Gilman and Paramus Catholic again? Anyone notice that one of the schools out in Utah, Bingham, was a Top 20 team nationally this year? North Jersey teams went out to Utah multiple times and it was never close. Bosco has always been game to go to Florida.
Who will start off No. 1 in the North Jersey pre-season Top 25 (one vote for Bergen right here). Will Rashan Gary commit early? Will Guarantano commit early? (Maybe and maybe).
Months to go, months to go….