There are numerous important games on the schedule this weekend. Here’s a quick look at what’s ahead (rankings refer to The Record Top 25):
No. 4 Don Bosco (2-3) at No. 1 Paramus Catholic (5-0), Friday, 8 p.m.: The banged-up Ironmen avoided a 1-4 start by defeating Friendship Academy on the road Saturday, 26-8. They can really change their season by upsetting the Paladins in a road game that’ll be broadcast by ESPN2. Paramus Catholic continued its superb season Saturday by dominating St. Mark’s, of Wilmington, Del., 56-6. The Paladins, who lost at Don Bosco, 31-8, last season, have won their five games by an average margin of 28.6 points.
No. 2 St. Joseph (4-0) at St. Peter’s Prep (6-0), Friday, 7 p.m.: The consensus is St. Peter’s Prep is the third-best team in New Jersey this season, behind only Paramus Catholic and St. Joseph. This is a huge game for the Jersey City program. The Marauders have beaten Bergen Catholic and are averaging 50.5 points per game, but St. Joseph clearly represents their biggest challenge of the season. St. Joseph’s defense, led by senior LB Mark Fossati, has allowed just 33 points in 16 quarters this season and is rested because the Green Knights had a bye last weekend. The game will be played at Caven Point Complex in Jersey City.
No. 3 DePaul (4-1) at No. 5 Old Tappan (5-0), Friday, 6 p.m.: The Spartans did not play particularly well against No. 18 Pascack Valley the week after their 35-25 upset of Don Bosco on Sept. 27. They won, 23-6, but DePaul coaches and players know the Spartans didn’t play with the same intensity against Pascack Valley that they displayed against Don Bosco. After another emotional, program-boosting victory over Bergen Catholic, they can’t afford another letdown at Old Tappan. The Golden Knights are a better team than Pascack Valley, they’re at home and want nothing more than to show they’re capable of beating a parochial power.
No. 16 Westwood (5-0) at No. 10 Mahwah (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m.: The first-place Thunderbirds lead the visiting Cardinals by half a game in the Big North’s Patriot Division standings and this game likely will decide the championship. The winner also will gain valuable power points (Mahwah in North 1, Group 3 and Westwood in North 1, Group 2). Mahwah’s defense has allowed just 28 points in 16 quarters (one of its wins was by forfeit), but Westwood’s prolific offense features a senior QB, Craig Carmilani, who has completed 72 percent of his passes for 1,094 yards, 15 TDs and four INTs in five games. Junior WR Nolan Borgerson also has 33 catches for 712 yards and 13 TDs for Westwood.
No. 18 Pascack Valley (3-2) at No. 11 Wayne Hills (4-1), Friday, 7 p.m.: The Indians beat Wayne Hills twice last season, once in the regular season and once in the sectional semifinals. The winner could move into first place in the North 1, Group 4 power-point standings. Senior QB Justin DeGroat has rushed for 588 yards and three touchdowns for Wayne Hills, which has lost only to No. 2 St. Joseph, ranked No. 12 in USA Today’s Super 25 national poll. Pascack Valley has lost both of its road games this season, to No. 3 DePaul and No. 5 Old Tappan.
FIVE MORE TO WATCH: No. 15 Pompton Lakes (4-1) at New Milford (4-1), Friday, 7 p.m.; Friendship Academy (2-2) at No. 17 Bergen Catholic (1-5), Saturday, 1 p.m.; No. 19 Wayne Valley (3-2) at No. 20 Paramus (3-2), Friday, 7 p.m.; No. 23 Butler at Mountain Lakes (5-0), Saturday, 1 p.m.; Hackensack (3-2) at Clifton (3-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
For more on the games to watch for this weekend, read Friday’s editions of The Record and Herald News.