Passaic Tech takes over top spot in public rankings
The North Jersey Public Top 20 rankings feature a new No. 1 team following the first two weeks of the regular season: Passaic Tech.
The Bulldogs (2-0) ascend one spot to No. 1 following a season-opening win over Lenape, 14-10, and Friday’s 28-21 victory over West Orange.
Old Tappan (2-0) climbs four spots to No. 2 thanks to a 19-7 victory over West Essex and Friday’s 44-13 win over River Dell. Pascack Valley (2-0) climbs four spots to No. 3 after Saturday’s 21-7 victory snapped Westwood’s 14-game winning streak.
Rounding out the top five: No. 4 and preseason No. 1 Northern Highlands (1-1); and No. 5 Ridgewood, which jumped five spots after opening with shutout wins over Clifton and Montclair.
In the Big Six non-public rankings, Bergen Catholic (1-1) remains No. 1, following its 27-14 loss to national power IMG Academy (Fla.) with Friday’s 35-21 win at Ohio powerhouse Massillon.
St. Joseph (1-1) holds at No. 2, bouncing back from a 31-21 loss to Maryland’s St. Frances with Saturday’s 28-7 win over Seton Hall Prep.
The Public Top 20 saw a lot of movement. West Milford (2-0) catapulted from unranked to No. 10 thanks to double-digit wins at Paramus and Jefferson. Passaic Valley went from unranked to No. 12 courtesy of a 34-7 win at Caldwell. Waldwick/Midland Park climbed from No. 20 to No. 13 with a season-opening 32-20 win over then-No. 4 Rutherford.
Each week, the Varsity Aces will rank the Top 20 public-school teams and the Big Six non-public teams. Here are the rankings following games of Week 0 and Week 1.
Public Top 20 rankings
20. Paramus (1-1)
Last game: Beat Bergenfield, 34-20 Next game: Friday at River Dell (1-1)
19. River Dell (1-1)
Last game: Lost to Old Tappan, 44-13 Next game: Friday vs. Paramus (1-1)
18. Butler (1-0)
Last game: Beat Hawthorne, 47-0 Next game: Friday vs. Saddle Brook (1-0)
17. Clifton (1-1)
Last game: Beat Eastside, 19-13 Next game: Friday vs. Passaic (1-1)
16. Becton (2-0)
Last game: Beat Garfield, 41-7
Next game: Thursday vs. Palisades Park/Leonia (0-2)
15. Mahwah (1-1)
Last game: Beat Pascack Hills, 18-6 Next game: Friday vs. Ramsey (2-0)
14. Rutherford (0-1)
Last game: Lost to Waldwick/Midland Park, 32-20 Next game: Friday vs. Manchester (2-0)
13. Waldwick/Midland Park (1-0)
Last game: Beat Rutherford, 32-20 Next game: Friday at Glen Rock (1-0)
12. Passaic Valley (1-0)
Last game: Beat Caldwell, 34-7 Next game: Friday at Wayne Valley (1-1)
11. Lakeland (1-1)
Last game: Lost to Sparta, 31-17 Next game: Friday at Jefferson (0-2)
10. West Milford (2-0)
Last game: Beat Jefferson, 42-15 Next game: Friday vs. Dover (1-1)
9. Wayne Valley (1-1)
Last game: Lost to Northern Highlands, 31-6 Next game: Friday vs. Passaic Valley (1-0)
8. Ramsey (2-0)
Last game: Beat Dwight Morrow, 12-8 Next game: Friday at Mahwah (1-1)
7. Westwood (1-1)
Last game: Lost to Pascack Valley, 21-7 Next game: Friday at Pascack Hills (0-1)
6. Ramapo (0-1)
Last game: Lost to Somers (N.Y.), 40-35 Next game: Friday vs. Ridgewood (2-0)
5. Ridgewood (2-0)
Last game: Beat Montclair, 34-0 Next game: Friday at Ramapo (0-1)
4. Northern Highlands (1-1)
Last game: Beat Wayne Valley, 31-6 Next game: Friday at Hackensack (1-1)
3. Pascack Valley (2-0)
Last game: Beat Westwood, 21-7 Next game: Saturday at Teaneck (2-0)
2. Old Tappan (2-0)
Last game: Beat River Dell, 44-13 Next game: Friday vs. Bergenfield (0-1)
1. Passaic Tech (2-0)
Last game: Beat West Orange, 28-21 Next game: Friday at Eastside (0-2) Also receiving votes: Glen Rock (1-0), Hackensack (1-1), Passaic
(1-1).
Big Six rankings
6. St. Peter’s Prep (1-1)
Last game: Beat Union City, 42-18
Next game: Saturday at Moore Catholic (N.Y.) (2-0)
5. Paramus Catholic (2-0)
Last game: Beat Pope John, 49-29 Next game: Sept. 21 at St. Joseph (1-1)
4. Don Bosco (1-1)
Last game: Beat Red Bank Catholic, 44-0 Next game: Friday vs. St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) (0-1)
3. DePaul (2-0)
Last game: Beat Good Counsel (Md.), 28-17 Next game: Friday at Cardinal Hayes (N.Y.) (1-0)
2. St. Joseph (1-1)
Last game: Beat Seton Hall Prep, 28-7 Next game: Saturday at Stepinac (N.Y.) (0-2)
1. Bergen Catholic (1-1)
Last game: Beat Massillon (Ohio), 35-21 Next game: Saturday at Iona Prep (N.Y.) (1-1)