Schools
H.S. Football Playoff Proposal Faces Vote
The NJSIAA Executive Committee is expected to vote on — and likely approve — the creation of Group Vs in the public school sections for the high school football playoffs
More local football teams will have an opportunity to play in the high school football playoffs if the NJSIAA Executive Committee approves an expansion proposal at its meeting today, but the changes will have a big impact on
In early April the committee approved on first reading a proposal submitted by Northern Highlands High School of Bergen County to create a Group V in each of the four public school sections. Currently, there are four groups in each of the state’s sections: North Jersey Section 1, North Jersey Section 2, Central Jersey and South Jersey.
NJSIAA officials say the proposal would create more opportunities for the players and the teams, while some point out that it also would increase playoff ticket revenue for the organization, which has come under fire in recent years for its ticket prices and past spending practices.
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The addition of a fifth group in each section would reduce the groups to 15 teams apiece, from the current 19.
Under the plan, Absegami would move up to Group V from Group IV. The Braves were 4-4 during the regular season last year, and missed the playoffs. Five of the eight teams who made the Group IV playoffs in 2011 will also move up to Group V. With fewer teams in each of the groups, it's possible the Braves may have made the playoffs had this system been in place last year.
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The proposed groupings:
CENTRAL JERSEY
GROUP V: Brick Memorial; East Brunswick; Freehold Township; Hillsborough; Howell; Hunterdon Central; Jackson Memorial; Manalapan; Marlboro; Montgomery; North Brunswick; Old Bridge; Sayreville; South Brunswick; Trenton.
GROUP IV: Brick Township; Colts Neck; Freehold; Hamilton East; Hightstown; Jackson Liberty; Middletown North; Middletown South; Monroe; Neptune; Pennsauken; Princeton; Wall; West Windsor-Plainsboro North; West Windsor-Plainsboro South.
GROUP III: Allentown; Ewing; Hamilton North; Hamilton West; Holmdel; Hopewell Valley; Lakewood; Long Branch; Manasquan; Matawan; Monmouth; Northern Burlington; Ocean; Raritan.
GROUP II: Bernards; Roselle; Delaware Valley; Hillside; A.L. Johnson; Keyport; Lincoln; Middlesex; North Plainfield; Red Bank; Rumson-Fair Haven; Shore; Snyder; Spotswood; Weequahic.
GROUP I: Asbury Park; Burlington City; Florence; Haddon Township; Highland Park; Keansburg; Manville; Maple Shade; Metuchen; New Egypt; Palmyra; Point Beach; Riverside; South Hunterdon, South River.
SOUTH JERSEY
GROUP V: Absegami; Atlantic City; Cherokee; Cherry Hill East; Eastern; Egg Harbor Township; Lenape; Millville; Rancocas Valley; Southern; Toms River East; Toms River North; Vineland; Washington Township; Williamstown.
GROUP IV: Cherry Hill West; Clearview; Cumberland; Hammonton; Kingsway; Lacey; Mainland; Moorestown; Oakcrest; Seneca; Shawnee; Timber Creek; Toms River South; Triton; Winslow Township.
GROUP III: Bridgeton; Burlington Township; Camden; Central; Delsea; Deptford; Highland; Lower Cape May; Manchester; Ocean City; Pemberton; Pinelands; Point Boro; Sterling; Woodrow Wilson.
GROUP II: Barnegat; Bordentown; Buena; Cinnaminson; Collingswood; Delran; Haddon Heights; Haddonfield; Middle Township; Overbrook; Pleasantville; Robbinsville; West Deptford; Willingboro; Woodstown.
GROUP I: Audubon; Cedar Creek; Clayton; Gateway; Glassboro; Gloucester City; Lindenwold; Paulsboro; Penns Grove; Pennsville; Pitman; Salem; Schalick; Wildwood; Woodbury.
