Joe Hofmann Notes Column: Division Champs & Playoff Picture

We are more than halfway through the local high school football season and the playoffs are coming into focus.

Here are some thoughts, observations and takeaways about what has taken place thus far.

1. Delbarton’s impressive three-year dynasty as SFC United White champions has come to an end with losses to DePaul and Seton Hall Prep earlier this year. The Green Wave will face Pope John on Oct. 24 in their final league game. 

2. Immaculata, a member of the SFC as an independent, has requested to become a member of the Big Central Conference. It wouldn’t surprise me if the BCC replies with an emphatic, “NO.” Why would the BCC admit a growing powerhouse Catholic school that is on the rise? So I would think Immaculata will remain in the SFC.

Why is this team not already in the United White (with Delbarton, DePaul, Pope John, and Seton Hall)? That seems like a perfect fit. I know they were rebuilding over the last few years but the higher-level Parochials should be completely separated from the publics. And Immaculata is now a higher-level Catholic football school. 

The United Red has five schools (Bosco, Bergen, Joe’s, Peter’s and Paramus Catholic). Immaculata would give the White five schools and make the big Catholic school leagues uniform. Next case.

3. While we are on the subject of Non-Public schools, is there any reason why Non-Public A has eight schools and Non-Public B has … 800 schools (ok, not 800, but 22).  Why not create a Non-Public C? There are some B schools that are on a totally different level than their B counterparts. Why not separate them?  And if they were to win Non-Public C 2-3 years in a row, move ‘em up to B. And, by the way, if a B teams wins a title for 2-3 straight years, move ‘em up to A. 

4. Kudos to Newton for winning the American Blue with its win over High Point. The Braves are a legit threat to win a sectional title, (more on that later in this notes column). It is the ninth time in 10 years the Matt Parzero-coached Braves has won a league title since his arrival for the 2017 season. Newton finished “just” 5-4 last year, second to High Point in the American Blue. With Parzero at the helm, Newton had won eight straight division championships (including three division ties). So that is now nine of 10. The one time the Braves didn’t win their league was in his first year, when they finished second to Lenape Valley (where Parzero played for the great Don Smolyn). In Newton’s 10 years before Parzero arrived, the Braves were just 29-61. The last time they were .500 before Parzero showed up was in 2006, when they were 5-5 under Tom Brennan.  His great work isn’t limited to Newton. He was 45-27 while coaching at North Warren for seven years (from 2009-2015). Before he arrived there, North Warren was just 22-38 and has been mostly rebuilding ever since. I said it before and I’ll say it again: An organized, good coach (like a Parzero) is good for 3-4 wins a season in high school football.  

5. Caldwell, which returned to the American White (Hanover, Mountain Lakes, Madison, Pequannock,), is running away with the league and it’s not even close. The Chiefs are a contender in North Group II. No wonder the remaining American White coaches didn’t exactly perform handstands when the Chiefs returned to the league after a two-year sabbatical into the Patriot White (West Essex, Passaic Valley, Wayne Hills, Nutley, Millburn). The last time the Chiefs were in the same league as Mountain Lakes, Madison, Pequannock, and Hanover Park, they were a combined 22-1 overall (Group II state champions in 2022, sectional semifinals in 2023 before getting stunned by Lakeland). Hey SFC, why the constant shuffling with Caldwell? Good question. There is simply too much mixing and matching in the SFC divisional alignments. It’s impossible to build rivalries when teams are jumping all over the map every couple of years.

6. Dover, which went 0-10 last year, has bounced back and is 4-3 playing in the Ivy-Gold Division. The SFC has its flaws, but the Ivy – for teams struggling with numbers and talent – is a stroke of genius. 

7. Roxbury QB Frankie Falco has a hand injury and will return soon, but perhaps his absence worked out for the Gaels’ greater good. Sophomore running back Roy Alvarado was unleashed in a 38-14 win over Warren Hills two weeks ago and he responded with a monstrous 18-carry, 264-yard, 4 TD performance. Some of Alvarado’s runs were eye-popping. Sometimes a team needs to find itself through hardships and that could be the case with the Gaels, who now have a powerhouse backfield with Alvarado and Falco (600-yards passing, almost 1,000 rushing). Sometimes, it seemed that Roxbury depended on Falco’s talents a little too much and that made it easier to gameplan for the Gaels. Defenses must now account for Alvarado as well. That’ll come in handy when the North Group IV playoffs begin. The Gaels are a threat to win it and are in a better place now.  

8. It isn’t often that a team makes history but the Montville Mustangs already have. Coach Rick DeBonta’s club captured the Liberty Gold for its first divisional championship since the 2006 club that was good enough to beat Delbarton and win the NHC-Suburban under the late, great coach Gerry Gallagher. This year’s team might have the Morris-Sussex area’s most versatile backfield in Andrew Baginski and Clement Hofbauer. Baginski (48 for 364 rushing, 5 TDs, 32 for 562, 10 TDs receiving, 6 TFLs, 54 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT) and Hofbauer (122 for 771, 4 TDs rushing, 14 for 114 receiving, 1 ½ sacks, 6 TFL, 31 tackles, 1 fumble recovery return for a TD) can do it all. Plus, QB Jackson Gering (89 for 144, 1,134 yards, 14 TDs, 3 INTs) has made gigantic strides since last year. The Mustangs have had much success despite the loss of injured Yale-bound senior Brett Kunkel, who was 48 for 705 receiving with 7 TDs last year and was a preseason All-Area performer for Big State. Still, the Mustangs will have to be at their best if they want to advance in what is a very, very deep North Group III (Old Tappan, Wayne Hills, West Essex, West Morris, Shabazz, etc).

9. Kudos to Morristown coach Casey Flynn and his staff for scoring a surprising 38-28 victory over Montville. Anyone see that coming? I sure didn’t. The Colonials run the triple option behind QB Marcello Cervone (and he ran it brilliantly to the tune of 15 for 132, 3 TDs vs. Montville).  Backfield mate Mason Wesner (15 for 101, 1 TD) also had a big day. The Colonials came in 0-7 and Montville was 6-1, so the result was a bit of a stunner. Sometimes, it is hard to keep a winless team interested late in the year, so a massive tip of the hat to Flynn.

10. Wallkill Valley can make some history as well if coach Jim Hamill’s Rangers can beat Lenape Valley. Wallkill has tied for two divisional titles in its history (2018, 2024) but has never won one outright. Wallkill came close to winning the late, great SCIL in 1994 but lost out to eventual champion Lenape Valley (the two tied in the regular season). Wallkill beat Lenape to win North 1, Group II at Giants Stadium to end the season. North Group I is a fascinating watch. Cedar Grove and Newton, to me, are the frontrunners to win their respective sections. After that, I think the rest of the bunch (Wallkill, Mountain Lakes, Boonton, Butler, Kinnelon, Hasbrouck Heights to name a few) are bunched together.

11. Morris Knolls is a win over Chatham away from winning the Liberty White outright. It’s not easy running through that league but coach Bryan Gallagher’s team could well pull it off for the second time in three seasons. In the summer, it seemed to me, from talking to coaches, that Mount Olive and West Morris were co-favorites to win the league. The Golden Eagles unique Flex Bone running game has been completely unstoppable this year – and that is against teams who have seen it each year. I think that makes Knolls team one to watch in North, Group IV. No one saw Knolls 57-15 win over Immaculata coming.

12. Boonton has been running the ball beautifully in winning the National White for coach Sean Norton. RB-LB Josiah Caplain (97 for 863, 12 TDs, 1 sack, 4 TFL, 48 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 INT) is having a monster season. The team’s running game is deadly (328 for 2,173 rushing). The question is, how does that translate as far as the state playoffs go? The National White isn’t exactly the American League East. The Bombers were crushed by Cedar Grove, the favorite to win a section in Group 1. Losing to Cedar Grove is one thing, but the Bombers were not competitive. Still, they are seeded third right now and are gunning for their first state playoff win since beating Brearley in 2021.

Interestingly, Boonton was nosed out of the 16th and final playoff spot last year on the cutoff day because Brearley stopped 6-1 Dayton on the goal line with just one second left in the game last year.

13. There has been a football revival in Parsippany.  Both the Par Hills Vikings and Par High Red Hawks have far exceeded expectations. Both schools have had their struggles in the very recent past but have worked their way into prominence in 2026. 

The Red Hawks have struggled for years but are 4-4 under Kenny Brock.

The Vikings, meanwhile, are 5-3 under Ross Tarlowe and are gunning for a playoff berth in North Group III.

14. Mount Olive’s season has been crushed by injuries but there is still time for the Marauders. If they get everyone back in time for the playoffs, I wouldn’t want to be the team facing coach Brian O’Connor’s club.

15. Butler saw its two-year run as NJIC champions end this year. The Bulldogs, two-time defending North 1, Group I champions, are still very much in the hunt to repeat as sectional champions.

16. Who will win Big State Sports Player of the Year? Ooooh, now we are getting to the nitty gritty. There are several candidates.

Evan Cotter (Newton) – Cotter (117 for 1,469, 24 TDs) is one of the state’s leading backs and already is one of the Braves best … ever.

Deacon Frayne (West Morris) – Frayne (189 for 1,206, 16 TDs) is a workhorse who gets more yardage after the first hit than anyone.

Frankie Falco (Roxbury) – Falco (109 for 995 rushing with 12 TDs, 38 for 57, 605 passing, 8 TDs) has been out the last couple of weeks with a hand injury. The Gaels have won twice in his absence but are that much better when he is on the field. 

Ryan Hogan (Chatham) – Hogan is probably the best passer in Morris County and is 128 for 206 for 1,633 yards and 14 TDs. He has also rushed 96 times for 428 yards and 7 TDs.

Nick Lagunowich (Chatham) – Lagunowich (46 for 682 receiving, 5 TDs) is a D-1 lacrosse player headed to Notre Dame. Oh yes, he is also probably the best receiver in Morris County.

Owen Lieberwirth (Mendham) – One of the area’s best two-way players, Lieberwirth is a threat out of the backfield (149 for 937, 9 TDs) or at linebacker (96 tackles, 1 sack, 6 TFL, 1 forced fumble).

Ethan Diaz (Butler) – Bulldogs coach Jason Luciani loves calling Diaz’s number and who can blame him? Diaz is already over 1,000 yards (141 for 1,072 yards, 19 TDs).

Jack Bronico (Mountain Lakes) – Bronico was a seldom-used back last year but has shown he can do the bulk of the work for the Herd as he has rushed 144 times for 956 yards and 10 TDs. He is also terrific at linebacker (45 tackles, 1 sack, 7 TFL). 

Joey Elko (High Point) – The Wildcats have put up a ton of points with the all-around standout Elko (40 for 67 passing for 858 yards, 10 TDs, 63 for 686, 13 TDs) at the controls at QB.

Andrew Baginski (Montville) – has rushed for 364 yards and 6 TDs, has caught 32 passes for 562 yards and 10 TDs, and has 6 TFLs, 54 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 1 INT.

Lucas Zuravnsky (Morris Knolls) – Knolls might well be Morris County’s best team and the work of Zuravnsky (101 for 718, 12 TDs, 66 tackles, 4 INTs, 3 INTs returned for a TD).

Last year, there were a bunch of Player of the Year candidates who were about even at midseason. Among them was Butler QB David Smith, who then went nuts in the postseason and was Player of the Year in a landslide. 

17. Several coaches have gone above and beyond this year, including (in no particulate order): Matt Parzero (Newton), Will Nahan (High Point), Bruce Campbell (Morris Hills), Ross Tarlowe (Par Hills), Kenny Brock (Parsippany), Evan Picariello (Chatham), Ryan Roumes (Roxbury), Jim Hammil (Wallkill), and Sean Norton (Boonton).

18. Most Likely to Win a Section: The most likely sectional champion in Morris-Sussex this year is … Newton. The Braves have a terrific offense and, frankly, Group I is not nearly as difficult as it has been in years past. Cedar Grove qualifies as the only legit powerhouse, but they’ll be in the other North 1 section. We’ll see if someone besides Cedar Grove and Newton catches fire, but both schools appear to not just the two sectional champions in North 1 this year, but runaway sectional champions.

Next best sectional championship candidate: Morris Knolls. The Golden Eagles are very unique and that usually spells trouble once they go outside Morris County. I know nothing at all about Middletown North and Rahway, but I do know that Northern Highlands is terrific. One thing about Highlands, though: Knolls was down last year and hung with them. I’m going with Knolls to be the second sectional champion outta Morris-Sussex. The Golden Eagles bludgeoning of Immaculata last week earned Knolls coach Bryan Gallagher a lot of fans in the world of North Jersey public school football.

Roxbury has a shot as well. I know the Gaels beat Knolls earlier, but the Golden Eagles have stepped it up since and Roxbury has not.

West Morris is very good, but is that enough in a brutal, brutal North Group III with the likes of Old Tappan, Shabazz, Wayne Hills, West Essex, etc?

19. When the season began, did anyone envision Chatham’s 7-3 win over Roxbury? Once again, Cougars coach Evan Picariello has his team playing at a higher level than anyone expected. 

20. Best one-man show: Hackettstown’s Carter Grant had 3 passing TDs, 3 rushing TDs, and 3 INTs in a big win over Jefferson last week. 

“Carter is an outstanding player,” Tigers coach Mike Arakelian said. “He is physically and mentally tough.  He is phenomenal in the weight room and is great with his preparation.  Carter did a great job with being in a good position and doing a great job executing.”  

21. Best new website: https://sidelinesnj.com/ With the absence of Gridiron New Jersey, this site has taken off. If you’re looking for scores as they happen, go here. Incredible!

22. Another great website: CentralJerseySportsradio.com … If you’re into the state football brackets of season’s past, they have it. The day of the state football playoff cutoff, they’ll have a live show with pairings. It is a must-listen.

23. Yet another great website: If you’re into team records and school records, try this on for size: https://njrecordbook.com/football/ You’re welcome.

24. Is it me, or is there something terribly wrong with the SFC (and Big Central Conference) with four- and five-team leagues? If you win 3-4 league games you win your league? SFC (and BCC) should do better. Teams should have to go through a minefield to win a league championship, and that minefield shouldn’t be less than a handful of games. Another reason for the SFC (and BCC) to create leagues with more teams: All-League divisions shouldn’t have a slew of players from one team on All-League. That severely cheapens All-League teams.

25. Mark your calendars: After the postseason All-Star teams.

Nov. 23: All Sussex

Nov. 30: All-Morris

Dec. 7: All-Area