Football – Group 3 Playoff Preview

No. 8 NV/Demarest (5-4)at No. 1 Sparta (9-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

Story line: The Norsemen will be making the eighth playoff appearance in program history and second in the last three years. Thanks in large part to its 4-1 start, including an upset win over Ramapo on Sept. 16, NV/Demarest held on to the final playoff spot despite losing its final three games before the cutoff. Junior QB Austin Albericci has paved the way to the postseason for the Norsemen, throwing for 1,978 yards and 19 TDs while also rushing for 564 yards and another 12 TDs. NV/Demarest’s Ryan Vadis has been the team’s big-play receiver, hauling in 31 catches for 798 yards (25.7 average) and 10 TDs. Sparta will counter with a prolific offense averaging 44.25 points in eight games (it received one forfeit win) and a defense surrendering just 11.7. The Spartans feature a dynamic QB/RB combination in senior QB Matt Maute (2,334 yards and 23 TDs passing) and senior RB Alex Milliken (1,128 yards, 23 TDs).

The pick: Sparta

No. 5 Jefferson (7-2) at No. 4 NV/Old Tappan (7-2), Friday, 6 p.m.

Story line: The reigning North 1, Group 4 champions were 2-2 and in need of a string of wins to secure their eighth straight trip to the playoffs. The Golden Knights delivered — and enter as one of the hottest teams in North Jersey. NV/Old Tappan has won five in a row, including a 34-24 victory over Ramapo in both team’s regular-season finale last week. The return and emergence of RB Marquez Antinori (nine TDs) has benefited the offense, with the junior serving as a nice complement to senior RB James Kelly (six TDs). Just like week in the win over the Green Raiders, Antinori rushed 21 times for 211 times and a season-high three TDs. Jefferson, which started 7-0 but will enter on a two-game skid (losses to Sparta and Lenape Valley), is a run-first team led by RBs Connor Brown (741 yards, 10 TDs) and Brandon Magnotta (657 yards, two TDs). Magnotta also has 341 receiving yards and five of QB Logan Holleritter’s six touchdown passes this year.

The pick: NV/Old Tappan

No. 6 Paramus (5-4) at No. 3 River Dell (7-2), Friday, 6 p.m.

Story line: This one features the model of consistency among public schools in North Jersey. With Pascack Valley’s string of 12 straight playoff seasons coming to an end this year, Paramus and River Dell now have the longest such active streak in Bergen County, with each reaching the state playoffs in 10 straight seasons. River Dell’s offense has not only been good this season, it has been record-breaking good. The Golden Hawks, led by junior QB David Estevez, are averaging 36.9 points — a mark that, if sustained the rest of the year, would surpass the current record of 35.5 set by the 1966 team. Paramus, which fell to River Dell, 45-7, in last week’s regular-season finale, will counter with senior RB and 1,000-yard rusher Brian Bonino, who has supplied 17 TDs this season.

The pick: River Dell

No. 7 Bergenfield (6-3) at No. 2 Ramapo (6-3), Friday, 7 p.m.

Story line: Bergenfield dropped to 2-3 on Oct. 8 after a loss to River Dell, but won its final three games before the cutoff to qualify for the playoffs and will enter on a four-game win streak. Ramapo, last year’s North 1, Group 3 champion, had plenty of work to do after an 0-2 start, but rattled off six straight wins to not only qualify, but land the No. 2 seed. Ramapo senior QB Tom Jaten has thrown for 2,007 yards and 22 TD passes while adding five rushing TDs. Senior WR Jack Scordato has been Jaten’s favorite and most productive target, hauling in 31 passes for 548 yards and 11 TDs. Bergenfield senior RB Carlos Macon has rushed for 584 yards and six TDs during the Bears’ late-season, four-game win streak in victories over Fort Lee, Teaneck, Ridgefield Park and Pascack Valley.

The pick: Ramapo

Non-Public Group 3

No. 7 Bishop Ahr (7-2) at No. 2 DePaul (4-5), Friday, 7 p.m.

Story line: DePaul has captured three state titles the past three years (Group 2 in 2013 and 2014, Group 3 in 2015), but has yet to be in a bracket that included St. Joseph, which is the case this year. Only Bishop Ahr and potentially No. 3 Pope John — whom the Spartans beat, 26-14, on Oct. 29 — stand in the way of DePaul reaching another title game. That’s where they could see the top-seeded Green Knights. Junior LB/RB Vin DePalma is having a huge statistical season with 101 tackles (13 for a loss) and four sacks to pair with 218 yards rushing and nine TDs. The Spartans have utilized a two quarterbacks: sophomore Taquan Roberson (57-of-118, 733 yards, six TDs; 52 carries, 312 yards, two TDs) and junior Shelton Applewhite (45-of-83, 678 yards, two TDs; 46 carries, 194 yards, two TDs). Junior Chase Hebron has been DePaul’s primary back with 494 rushing yards and five TDs.

The pick: DePaul

Rest of the bracket: No. 5 St. John Vianney at No. 4 Camden Catholic; No. 6 Red Bank Catholic at No. 3 Pope John. No. 1 St. Joseph has a first-round bye after No. 8 Pingry opted out of the state playoffs. The Green Knights will play the winner of St. John Vianney-Camden Catholic in the semifinals.

— JJ Conrad