High school football teams in Diocese seek state championships

Saint Joseph, Metuchen; St. Thomas Aquinas, Edison, and Immaculata, Somerville, earned the right to keep their successful seasons alive when the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association/Rothman Orthopaedics state high school football tournament Non-Public Group A and B divisions began play Nov. 3-4.

The Falcons of Saint Joseph, who compete in the A Division, were scheduled to host Seton Hall Prep, West Orange, Nov. 4.

In the Non-Public B bracket, No. 2 seed St. Thomas earned a bye in the first round, while No. 5 Immaculata played at No. 4 Holy Spirit Nov. 3.

The No. 9 seed Saint Joseph finished the regular season with a 7-2 record (3-3 in league play) after beating host Pope John XXIII, Sparta, 10-6 on Oct. 28.

This season, Saint Joseph averaged 24.6 points per game; Seton Hall Prep 18.

No. 11 seed Seton Hall Prep finished with a 3-6 overall record (1-3 in league play).

The St. Thomas Aquinas Trojans completed an undefeated season (9-0) by defeating host Edison 48-8 on Oct. 20. The Trojans outscored opponents 297-42 this season (33 points scored per game average to 4.6 allowed).

At a practice in October when the Trojans were 5-0, Coach Tarig Holman said his team’s “multiple split offense” is so effective because of talent from the line to the receivers, running backs and quarterback.

“One of my coaches said, ‘Scratch where it itches.’

“We pretty much have the capability of doing whatever we want to do, whether it is run the ball or pass it. We have multiple guys that can step up and be used as weapons. When they [defenses] have to cover everybody, sometimes they don’t cover anybody.”

Junior quarterback Roman Blanks, who started at that position at Keyport High last season, said his team’s offense “is clicking on all cylinders.”

“We have great chemistry,” Blanks added. “The offensive line is doing a great job. They know their assignments. Everyone knows their part and is not trying to take someone else’s role – they are their brother’s keeper.”

Senior Eli Abass Sharifa and junior Chase Young are the team’s “one-two-punch” in rushing, Holman said.

Senior linebacker Christian Maglicino, one of the Trojans’ four team captains, said its defensive success starts with the line and continues with “great play” from the linebackers and secondary.

“It’s almost like everyone has been playing their best football, which is why we have been able to put up zeroes [five shutouts],” he said.

Immaculata High finished its season with a 41-8 victory over visiting St. John Vianney, Holmdel, on Oct. 27.

The Spartans outscored opponents 260-84 this season.

At a practice the day before the game against St. John Vianney, coach Mike Columbo noted, “We have some good football games ahead of us. We like where we are at 6-2. Last Friday’s game (a 16-7 defeat at Weequahic High, Newark, Oct. 20) could have gone either way for us, but we are about where we thought we would be at this point of the season.”

Immaculata was scheduled to play St. Thomas Aquinas at the Torpey Complex, Bridgewater, Nov. 22, 7 p.m.

However, because of the possibility the teams could meet in the state tournament or one might reach the state championship game, the game’s status was uncertain as of Oct. 25.