The Jersey Blitz - NJ.com's high school football podcast

With only two weekends left of regular-season play, the playoffs are part of every segment of this episode, as teams fight for good seeding positions - and one conference, the NJIC, has its own playoffs, the semifinals for which come up in this episode, as well. And another coach drops by this week. Mike Schatzman, coach of 7-0 and No. 7 Washington Twp. talks with reporter Kevin Minnick about the maturity of his squad and its big win over Rancocas Valley in Week 6. 0:00 - SFC United Red - No. 1 Don Bosco's scare against SJR, and more discussion of the Big 6 teams, what's coming and what it all means. 11:13 - NJIC semifinals - looking at the seasons to date of Rutherford and Wood-Ridge, one semifinal matchup, and at Butler and Becton, the other semifinalists. 17:48 - South Jersey roundup - Breaking down Washington Twp.-Rancocas Valley, Williamstown surging, and some record-setting at Mainland. 22:57 - Central and Shore roundup - St. Joe (Met.) blanks P'burg in a huge statement win and awaits cross-town rival St. Thomas Aquinas, RBC gets revenge vs. RFH and gets ready for a big test up north, Donovan Catholic's rise. 35:57 - Kevin Minnick interviews Washington Twp. head coach Mike Schatzman 53:05 - Top 20 round table - Is No. 10 Ramapo the team to beat? West Morris is back in and more. 58:30 - Looking ahead to Week 7 - No. 5 DePaul vs. No. 3 St. Peter's Prep, Wayne Hills at Old Tappan, Brick Memorial vs. Southern (does the winner get back in the Top 20?), "The Oranges Bowl," No. 7 Washington Twp. vs. No. 17 Kingsway Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The show gets another coach visit, this time from Bogota's James Case, whose team came out on top in an incredible 61-60, 2-OT shootout against Weehawken in Week 5. The crew does roundups of each region's interesting outcomes from last week and previews a great upcoming Week 6. Here are the chapters in more detail. 0:00 - Shore & Big Central roundups with Joe Zedalis and Mike Kinney - Brick Memorial & Holmdel have a shootout, Sayreville and Piscataway revive their rivalry, a freshman QB shows poise and hands a team its first loss. 12:25 - North roundup with Donovan Hugel and Ryan Patti - Don Bosco's defense helps consolidate its new no. 1 status, a classic Battle of Wayne, Old Tappan finds ways to keep winning - and more. 24:01 - South roundup with Bill Evans - Lindenwold WR takes down a record that's stood for a quarter-century, Williamstown's shocker over Rancocas Valley and Cherokee stuns rival Shawnee. 31:28 - Interview with Bogota first-year head coach James Case, who talks about that wild 61-60 win, his talented QB/leader and that it's "not the same old Bogota" - his team is playing "meaningful games." 43:06 - Top 20 round table - DePaul's tumble and what's next, Wayne Valley exits but will have opportunity to show it belongs, Mount Olive cannot be denied entry and who else is knocking at the door? 57:06 - Looking ahead to Week 6 - Don Bosco's continuing gauntlet, Wayne Valley-Ramapo, Phillipsburg vs. St. Joe (Metuchen) in battle of BCC unbeatens, RBC vs. RFH, the Battle of Cherry Hill, Washington Twp. vs. Rancocas Valley and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, reporters Joe Zedalis, Ryan Patti, Kevin Minnick and Donovan Hugel preview the biggest game of the season so far - No. 1 Bergen Catholic vs. No. 2 Don Bosco. They also spend plenty of time getting into the ins and outs of the latest Top 20, with lots of movement and a bit of a dilemma - what to do with current No. 11 Glassboro, a Group 1 power with a schedule issue. 0:00 - North Jersey roundup – Ramapo-Old Tappan thriller, SPP-Delbarton and more 10:32 – Shore roundup – focus on TRN’s struggles and Southern’s rise 14:30 – South Jersey roundup –Winslow’s energy, Kingsway’s steadiness, Camden Eastside may be back 22:05 – Top 20 talk – Who’s up/down/in/out and why – plus, what to do with G1 power Glassboro 40:53 – Looking toward Week 4 – SJR-SPP and Burlington Twp. at Delran 46:00 – The Big One – Bergen Catholic – Don Bosco preview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode of The Jersey Blitz, NJ Advance Media's football reporters react to the big game: Bergen Catholic's win over Winslow. Plus, is the Big Central weak this year? We're talking that, along with the rest of the news and notes from around the state in Week 2 0:00: Intro and fallout from BC dominating Winslow14:53: Chaos down the shore20:26: Is the Big Central a weak conference? 34:29: Players not yet mentioned this year who deserve a call-out43:31: Top 20 roundtable 51:45: Previewing Week 3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the third episode of The Jersey Blitz, our reporters go deep on Week 1 results and preview a huge Week 2 matchup. We're talking Bergen Catholic vs. Winslow, another big week for a Shore Conference powerhouse and more news, notes and observations from around the state. 0:00: Intro & who's the top dog in the Shore? 7:09: Wild ride up north 13:00: Stepping up down south 16:33: Teams off to surprising starts 22:54: Top 20 analysis 30:45: Bergen Catholic vs. Winslow preview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a thrilling Week 0, The Jersey Blitz is back to recap the opening weekend of the New Jersey high school football season. Host Dan Long, along with reporters Ryan Patti, Bill Evans and Donovan Hugel recap the Week 0 slate, where some of N.J.'s top teams faced tremendous tests. The crew also debates the new Top 20, where there were plenty of moving pieces. 0:00: Intro & Bergen Catholic's crazy win 6:01: Don Bosco goes to Texas ... and wins 10:51: What to make of Winslow's matchup against national powerhouse 17:32: A chaotic opening weekend in the Shore Conference 26:23: St. Peter's Prep beats PC and more non-public talk 31:48: Top 20 analysis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NJ Advance Media's six football reporters, plus host Dan Long, are back on The Jersey Blitz. In the debut episode of Season 2, our crew breaks down all five leagues and previews Week 0 action. 0:00: Intro & Big Central preview 7:16: NJIC preview 17:15: SFC preview 37:07: Shore preview 44:28: WJFL preview 57:30: Previewing Week 0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our final episode for the 2024 season, our six football reporters — along with host Dan Long — analyze and review the seven state championship games before talking final thoughts and takeaways from the 2024 season. State championship recap: Non-Public A: Bergen Catholic 25, Don Bosco Prep 7 Non-Public B: DePaul 33, Pope John 21 Group 5: Toms River North 41, Union City 14 Group 4: Winslow 35, Phillipsburg 0 Group 3: Old Tappan 28, Mainland 16 Group 2: Rumson-Fair Haven 26, Shabazz 24 Group 1: Glassboro 56, Cedar Grove 14 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our high school football reporters, along with host Dan Long, preview the seven football state championship games that are scheduled between Nov. 29 and Dec. 4 at MetLife Stadium and SHI Stadium at Rutgers University. From key storylines, a 1 vs. 2 showdown and plenty more, our crew analyzes it all and also offers up their picks for the best Thanksgiving Day games this year. The rundown of our finals previews: Non-Public B: DePaul vs. Pope John Group 5: Toms River North vs. Union City Group 1: Glassboro vs. Cedar Grove Non-Public A: Bergen Catholic vs. Don Bosco Prep Group 3: Old Tappan vs. Mainland Group 2: Shabazz vs. Rumson-Fair Haven Group 4: Phillipsburg vs. Winslow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the final two weekends of the high school football season approach, our NJ.com football reporters are here to preview all of the action slated for this weekend. But before a look ahead to the 14 state semifinals on the schedule, our crew analyzes two games that could go down as Game of the Year: Union City's wild come-from-behind win over Passaic Tech and Phillipsburg's miraculous win on the leg of a 46-yard field goal as time expired. Led by host Dan Long, our staff previews the state semifinals in this order: NON-PUBLIC A Bergen Catholic vs. St. Joseph (Mont.) Don Bosco Prep vs. St. Augustine NON-PUBLIC B DePaul vs. Holy Spirit Pope John vs. St. John Vianney GROUP 5 Union City vs. East Orange Toms River North vs. Washington Township GROUP 4 Phillipsburg vs. Ramapo Millville vs. Winslow GROUP 3 Old Tappan vs. Pascack Valley Somerville vs. Mainland GROUP 2 Shabazz vs. Hanover Park Point Pleasant Boro vs. Rumson-Fair Haven GROUP 1 Cedar Grove vs. Butler Glassboro vs. Woodstown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Long is joined by Joe Zedalis, Bill Evans, Kevin Minnick and Mike Kinney to preview all 10 of the sectional finals in South and Central Jersey this weekend. We're breaking down: Central Jersey, Group 5: Washington Township vs. Atlantic City South Jersey, Group 5: Toms River North vs. Rancocas Valley Central Jersey, Group 4: Millville vs. Brick Memorial South Jersey, Group 4: Winslow vs. Shawnee Central Jersey, Group 3: Somerville vs. Delsea South Jersey, Group 3: Mainland vs. Seneca Central Jersey, Group 2: Rumson-Fair Haven vs. Wall South Jersey, Group 2: Camden vs. Point Pleasant Boro Central Jersey, Group 1: Woodstown vs. Shore South Jersey, Group 1: Glassboro vs. Schalick The episode concludes with our reporters analyzing and identifying the top storylines and games from the Non-Public playoffs this weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Long is joined by Mike Kinney, Luis Torres and Ryan Patti to break down all 10 of the North Jersey sectional finals slated for this weekend. We're breaking down: North 1, Group 5: East Orange vs. West Orange North 2, Group 5: Union City vs. Passaic Tech North 1, Group 4: Morris Knolls vs. Ramapo North 2, Group 4: Phillipsburg vs. Northern Highlands North 1, Group 3: Pascack Valley vs. River Dell North 2, Group 3: Old Tappan vs. West Essex North 1, Group 2: Bernards vs. Shabazz North 2, Group 2: Glen Rock vs. Hanover Park North 1, Group 1: Butler vs. Mountain Lakes North 2, Group 1: Cedar Grove vs. New Providence The podcast wraps up with our three reporters' biggest games and storylines to watch in this weekend's Non-Public playoffs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're breaking down a wild opening weekend of the public school playoffs, led by a handful of underdog teams that turned in surprising upsets. NJ.com beat reporters Luis Torres, Ryan Patti, Mike Kinney, Joe Zedalis, Kevin Minnick and Bill Evans — along with host Dan Long — also break down the sectional semifinals ahead and identify the brackets that could be the most exciting this weekend. Our crew also examines, analyzes and debates the seeds for the Non-Public brackets. We're talking what the committee got right, what they got wrong and how we would have handled it. Teams mentioned in this episode (listed alphabetically): Atlantic City, Cherokee, Cherry Hill East, Cranford, Delran, Delsea, East Orange, Haddonfield, Hillsborough, Holmdel, Holy Spirit, Hopewell Valley, Jackson Memorial, Mainland, Manchester Township, Morris Knolls, Mount Olive, Ocean City, Old Tappan, Pequannock, Piscataway, Ramapo, Ridge, Ridgewood, River Dell, Rumson-Fair Haven, Seneca, St. Augustine, St. Peter's Prep, St. Thomas Aquinas, Wall, Washington Township, West Essex, West Morris, West Orange, Woodbury. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luis Torres, Ryan Patti and Mike Kinney — along with host Dan Long — analyze all 10 state playoff brackets in North Jersey. From heavy favorites that have legitimate state championship aspirations to brackets filled with multiple title contenders, our crew breaks down all the intriguing storylines and things to know before the playoffs begin. Teams mentioned in this episode (listed alphabetically): Bayonne, Bernards, Bridgewater-Raritan, Butler, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Chatham, Cranford, East Orange, Elizabeth, Glen Rock, Hanover Park, Hasbrouck Heights, High Point, Lakeland, Lyndhurst, Madison, Mendham, Montclair, Montville, Morris Knolls, Mount Olive, Mountain Lakes, New Providence, Northern Highlands, Old Tappan, Pascack Valley, Passaic, Passaic Tech, Passaic Valley, Pequannock, Phillipsburg, Piscataway,, Plainfield, Rahway, Ramapo, Ramsey, Ridge, Ridgewood, Shabazz, Snyder, Sparta, Summit, Union City, Watchung Hills, Wayne Valley, West Essex, West Morris, West Orange, Westfield, Westwood, Woodbridge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bill Evans, Kevin Minnick and Joe Zedalis — along with host Dan Long — analyze all 10 state tournament brackets in South and Central Jersey. From heavy favorites that have legitimate state championship aspirations to underdogs ready to upset a bracket, our crew breaks down all the intriguing storylines and things to know before the playoffs begin. Teams mentioned in this episode (listed alphabetically): Allentown, Atlantic City, Brick Memorial, Cherry Hill East, Delsea, Eastern, Glassboro, Haddon Township, Holmdel, Mainland, Manchester Township, Middletown North, Millville, Rancocas Valley, Riverside, Rumson-Fair Haven, Shore, Southern, Toms River North, Wall, West Deptford, Winslow, Woodbury. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The playoffs are nearly here and NJ.com's high school football reporters are here to break down all the action — and what's to come. In this week's episode of The Jersey Blitz, we dive into all of the playoff projections, from the games that matter the most on cutoff weekend to the sections that will be the best come November. We also recap last weekend's chaos with a couple of ranked teams going down and look ahead to this weekend's championship game in the NJIC and a couple of marquee showdowns involving non-public teams. Teams mentioned in this episode (listed alphabetically): Atlantic City, Becton, Bergen Catholic, Bishop Eustace, Bridgeton, Butler, Caldwell, Camden, Cedar Grove, Chatham, Cherokee, Cherry Hill East, Colonia, Cranford, Delbarton, Delsea, DePaul, Freehold Township, Glen Rock, Hanover Park, High Point, J.P. Stevens, Kingsway, Kipp Cooper Norcross Academy, Lenape Valley, Linden, Livingston, Lyndhurst, Madison, Matawan, Mendham, Middletown North, Millville, Montclair, Montville, Morris Knolls, Mount Olive, Newton, Northern Highlands, Old Tappan, Paramus Catholic, Pascack Valley, Passaic Valley, Pequannock, Phillipsburg, Pinelands, Plainfield, Point Pleasant Boro, Rahway, Ramapo, Rancocas Valley, Randolph, Red Bank Catholic, Red Bank Regional, Ridge, Rumson-Fair Haven, Rutherford, Schalick, Shabazz, Snyder, Sparta, St. Augustine, St. Joseph (Mont.), Summit, Toms River North, Waldwick, Wall, Wallkill Valley, Washington Township, Wayne Hills, Wayne Valley, Weequahic, West Essex, West Morris, West Orange, Westfield, Winslow, Woodbridge, Woodbury. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NJ.com's high school football reporters break down a wild Week 6, highlighted by reaction of a Top 5 showdown between Don Bosco Prep and St. Joseph (Mont.). Rumson-Fair Haven joined the conversation as one of the state's top public school teams with a convincing win over Shore Conference rival Red Bank Catholic. Also discussed were burning questions from around N.J. as the regular season winds down ahead of another monster showdown this weekend between Bergen Catholic and Delbarton and the NJIC playoffs. Teams mentioned in this episode (listed alphabetically): Becton, Bergen Catholic, Brick Memorial, Burlington Township, Butler, Central Regional, Cherry Hill East, Delbarton, Delsea, Don Bosco Prep, Glen Rock, Holmdel, Hopewell Valley, Immaculata, Mainland, ManalapanMiddletown North, Ocean Township, Phillipsburg, Pleasantville, Point Pleasant Boro, Rancocas Valley, Red Bank Catholic, Rumson-Fair Haven, Shore, Snyder, Somerville, St. Joseph (Met.), St. Joseph (Mont.), St. Mary (Ruth.), Wall, Washington Township. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NJ.com's high school football reporters react and analyze a wild Week 5 in N.J. football. Two teams ranked in the Top 15 went down, while Paramus Catholic and DePaul each earned nail-biting victories to remain strong in the Super Football Conference. Also discussed were other close calls in the Shore Conference, a couple of surging teams in the Big Central Conference and we wrap up the show by analyzing three monstrous games coming in Week 6. Teams mentioned this week (listed alphabetically): Barringer, DePaul, Don Bosco Prep, Holmdel, Holy Spirit, Jackson Memorial, Johnson, Manalapan, Marlboro, Middletown North, Morris Knolls, New Egypt, Newark Collegiate, Paramus Catholic, Passaic Tech, Pennsauken, Phillipsburg, Plainfield, Ramapo, Red Bank Catholic, Roselle, Rumson-Fair Haven, Shore, Somerville, St. Augustine, St. John Vianney, St. Joseph (Met.), St. Joseph (Mont.), St. Thomas Aquinas, Summit, Wall, Wayne Hills, West Side, Woodbridge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NJ.com's high school football reporters break down all of the action from Week 4 and look ahead to Week 5 in this week's Episode of the Jersey Blitz. We're recapping Bergen Catholic's big win over Don Bosco Prep and Winslow's triumph over Millville. In other news: Ferris ends a five-year losing skid, two players in the Big Central have monster touchdown performances and Toms River North survives a war with Point Pleasant Boro. Teams mentioned in this week's podcast (listed alphabetically): Atlantic Tech, Bergen Catholic, Bridgeton, Caldwell, Camden, Cedar Grove, Central Regional, Cherry Hill East, Colonia, Delbarton, DePaul, Deptford, Don Bosco Prep, Egg Harbor, Ferris, Hanover Park, Holy Spirit, Manalapan, Middletown North, Millville, Montville, Mount Olive, New Egypt, Paramus Catholic, Passaic Tech, Pequannock, Phillipsburg, Point Pleasant Boro, Rahway, Red Bank Catholic, Ridge, Rumson-Fair Haven, Sayreville, Shore, Southern, St. Augustine, St. John Vianney, St. Joseph (Met.), St. Thomas Aquinas, Toms River North, Triton, Union City, Watchung Hills, West Morris, Westfield, Winslow, Woodbridge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NJ.com's high school football reporters analyze all the action from Week 3, including the teams that have been the biggest surprises so far this season. Chaos in two conferences headlined the past week and the crew looks ahead to a pair of major games involving Top 10 teams, led by Bergen Catholic vs. Don Bosco Prep. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices