2025 Morris Sussex Big Football Games to Watch

When the 2025 high school football season gets underway in Morris-Sussex on Aug. 29, you’d swear that we were in the first night of the playoffs, not the first night of the season.

Sparta will travel to Montville. Mountain Lakes will make the trip to Weequahic. 

What is this, the postseason? 

Nope. It is the first night of 2025.

What a year it promises to be!

What a weekend!

Those two games highlight the opening weekend, but there are plenty of games that have a little more at stake.

• The Greg Gruzdis Era kicks off at Whippany Park as the Wildcats travel to Parsippany on Aug. 29.
• Old rivals Dover and host Morris Hills will face one another the following afternoon at Gifford Field in Rockaway.
• Morris Catholic and new coach Dave Albano will entertain Hope of Illinois.
• Delbarton will make the trip to Ohio, where it will take on traditional powerhouse St. Edward’s on Aug. 30. 

Here is a look at some of the other games in 2025 that are more meaningful:

* = Streamed live on Big State Sports

Parsippany at Boonton, Sept. 5: We’ll find out who will win the Old Shoe game after these two lock horns.

*Madison at Hanover Park, Sept. 5: Can the Hornets make another run at a sectional championship? Well begin to find out when rookie Hornets coach Nick Liberato goes up against the Dodgers, where he assisted Dodgers coach Chris Kubik for the last seven years. 

*Randolph at Morristown, Sept. 5: First-year Randolph coach Ryan Gresik will lead the Rams at Morristown. Are Casey Flynn’s Colonials ready to take that next step?

*West Morris at Morris Knolls, Sept. 6: The Golden Eagles scored a wild overtime thriller over the Wolfpack last year in the SFC-Liberty.  

*Hanover Park at Mountain Lakes, Sept. 12: The Herd have struggled the last couple of years against the Hornets and would like to bounce back in the American White.

*Mountain Lakes at Lenape Valley, Sept. 19: In the playoffs last year, Lakes pulled out one of the most incredible playoff wins in state history at Lenape’s expense.  First-year Lenape coach Mike Moschella comes over from Pequannock, but you know that he’ll have his Patriots primed for this one.

Newton at Sparta, Sept. 19: This game has zero impact on divisional races but don’t let that fool you. The unofficial Sussex County championship might be at stake on this night.

*Boonton at Mountain Lakes, Sept. 26: Most times, the Herd comes out on top, but this game is an emotional one.

*High Point at Newton, Sept. 26: The Braves stole one from the Wildcats last year. How will High Point respond?

*Madison at Mountain Lakes, Oct. 3: In all likelihood, these two are the best teams in the SFC-American White and the league title just might come down to this game.

Delbarton at Pope John, Oct. 3: Both teams look forward to big years. Local Catholic school bragging rights are at stake.

*Mount Olive at Morris Knolls, Oct. 4: Olive lost to Knolls twice last year and the Marauders are no doubt looking forward to this one. 

*Randolph at Roxbury, Oct. 10: This is one of Morris County’s oldest, most spirited rivalries. 

*Sparta at Madison, Oct. 11: This is an intriguing out-of-division game because both teams look to be very strong.

*Wallkill Valley at Boonton, Oct. 17: The Rangers were forced to share the National Blue divisional title when the Bombers played a near-perfect second half. What does Wallkill have in store for this year?

*Mendham at Montville, Oct. 17: There is a chance the Mustangs ice the Liberty Blue on this night.

*Hanover Park at West Essex, Oct. 17: Dan Fulton left Hanover and took a job at West Essex and it’ll be a homecoming of sorts.

Delbarton at Bergen Catholic, Oct. 18: Bergen has won the last four Non-Public Group IV crowns and are arguably New Jersey’s best Catholic-school program … they are the team the Green Wave are shooting for.

*Sparta at Jefferson, Oct. 24: It is only a matter of time before the Falcons turn the corner. Will this game settle the Patriot Red championship?

*Newton at Mountain Lakes, Oct. 24: Both playoff-bound teams will be thinking about the postseason when they conclude the regular season on this night.