Post 148 – HS Football – Bull Session Week 6

I can’t believe the season, including playoffs, is at the halfway point.  It started on zero week and is now at week seven……….I was able to see Randolph beat a good Sparta squad last week and they proved to me they are for real.  Good balance of pass and run on offense, especially Anthony Sofia producing with his arm and his feet.  It was a good effort from both teams, including quite a few circus catches………..Watched Bogota get its first win, beating St. Mary, 34-21, in a game that had several big plays and also got a little chippy in the second half.  While both teams are struggling, it was an entertaining game….…….Another good game in Sussex County this weekend was Wallkill Valley knocking Newton from the unbeaten ranks, 13-12.  Newton scored late, went for two, and the Wallkill Valley defense stopped them short of the goal line to preserve the win.  Wallkill head coach Bobby Leach is doing a good job with a program that had been down and he is more known for coaching barefoot on the sidelines. Seriously! …………. Speaking of Wallkill Valley, they have a beautiful grass field that shows little wear this time of year……….Some are surprised Lenape Valley is 3-4, but a big reason is through graduation and injuries, as they are starting as many as eleven sophomores.  As an old coach or two has said, “for every sophomore you start, that’s one loss.”……….A game I am looking forward to this Saturday is 6-0 Burlington Township hosting 6-0 Highland Regional. ……….Two programs playing good football after tough starts are Manalapan and Millville.  Manalapan had two last minute losses to open the season, but are now 4-2.  Millville is 4-3 after opening 0-3, losing to St. Peter’s Prep, St. Joe’s (Hammonton), and Williamstown……….North Hunterdon was riding high after winning a state title last year, but are 2-4 this year.  What happened? Graduation for one. They have been in the games they lost, losing those four games by a total of 25 points.  They play 5-1 Rahway this week, followed by their district rival, Voorhees. ……….I don’t think anybody saw the 56-14 beating Delsea laid on Woodrow Wilson.  The same goes for West Deptford beating St. Joe’s (Hammonton) 51-0, in spite of players being suspended for St. Joe’s……….There are several organizations that broadcast high school football games in their entirety.  Those in North and Central Jersey were spoiled the last few years by MSG/News 12 Varsity.  Ones that provide good coverage are WCTV in Westwood/Washington Township; Mugs Media in Sussex County; Matt Ulmer in the southeast corner of New Jersey; Woodbridge TV for Woodbridge schools: Woodbridge, Colonia, and JFK; VPS Broadcasting for Vineland; and several others……….Another favorite team nickname is the County Seaters of Belvidere……….Great player names around the state belong to Eastern linebacker Moe Howard.  As Curly once said: Hey Moe! Hey Larry!!  That’s Three Stooges for the youngsters who are not familiar with them……….Uniform front – The Good:  Sparta and West Morris, since their uniforms are similar.  Seeing Sparta numerous times, including last week, I really like the navy blue home jersey Sparta wears, along with powder blue pants and helmets.  West Morris has the same look, except they have white helmets. I also like the look Randolph has: a little Baltimore Colts-like, except it is navy blue instead of royal blue.  Ditto Ramapo, except they have dark green……….The Bad:  Collingswood gold-on-gold uniforms, as in gold numbers on gold jerseys.  Try identifying players with that combination. Another bad one is the Wayne Hills alternate gray uniforms with maroon numbers.  I had a very difficult time identifying players from a distance last Friday night……….The Ugly:  Raritan, wearing black pants and green jerseys with a busy look: yuk!……….Pet Peeves:  The overuse of the word “great.”  One will say they’re playing a great team, but the team they are playing is 5-3!  That’s not great! How about all the great players we hear about? There are a lot more good and very good players, as opposed to great players.  Big difference! ……….That’s it for now: I’ll be back next week with some more bull!