Public Groups 1-2
September 22, 2026
This is the first poll, and I made a small change: if a team lost to a Catholic school, I have a “C” after their record. Additionally, if a team lost to a good, larger public school, I have an “LP” after their record. If they lose to more than one of each category, I place one or more of each. I generally do not penalize a team for losing to a Catholic school. It is a loose poll, and the cream will rise to the top.
I have Point Pleasant Boro at 11 because they beat Manasquan, lost to 3-1 Group 5 Toms River North by 7, and 4-0 Group 5 Southern by 7. I have 2-2 Manasquan at 12 because they beat Westwood, lost to both Point Pleasant Boro and 3-0 Group 4 Middletown North. I have 1-3 Shore at 22 because they lost to 3-0 Group 4 Middletown North, 2-2 Group 4 Middletown South, Group 3 Red Bank, and gave 3-1 Point Pleasant Beach their only loss. I have 2-2 Bernards at 23 because their losses came against 4-0 Rutherford by a touchdown and 3-0 Group 3 Cranford by a touchdown. I also considered the strength of the school’s program.
1 – Glassboro (3-1) LP
2 – Haddonfield (4-0)
3 – Cedar Grove (3-0)
4 – West Deptford (4-0)
5 – Rumson-Fair Haven (4-0)
6 – Butler (4-0)
7 – Wall (2-2) LP
8 – Newton (4-0)
9 – Caldwell (3-0)
10 – New Providence (3-0)
11 – Point Pleasant Boro (2-2) LP, LP
12 – Manasquan (2-2)
13 – Westwood (3-1)
14 – Ramsey (3-1)
15 – Rutherford (4-0)
16 – Mountain Lakes (3-1)
17 – Paulsboro (3-1)
18 – Hoboken (3-1)
19 – Hillside (4-0)
20 – Camden Eastside (3-1)
21 – High Point (4-0)
22 – Shore (1-3) LP, LP, LP
23 – Bernards (2-2) LP
24 – Point Pleasant Beach (3-1)
25 – Becton (3-1)
In: none
Out: none Monmouth (3-0)
C lost to a Catholic school
LP lost to a good, large public school
Also (listed in alphabetical order by record): Boonton (4-0), Highland Park (4-0), Lakeland (4-0), Lodi (4-0), Monmouth (4-0), Schalick (4-0), Wallkill Valley (4-0), Wood-Ridge (4-0), Penns Grove (3-0), Belvidere (3-1), Brearley (3-1), Clayton (3-1), Dayton (3-1), Delaware Valley (3-1), Haddon Heights (3-1), Lower Cape May (3-1), Manville (3-1), New Milford (3-1), Point Pleasant Beach (3-1), Waldwick/Midland Park (3-1), Bordentown (2-1), Glen Rock (2-1), Hanover Park (2-2), Hasbrouck Heights (2-2), Hawthorne (2-1), Lenape Valley (2-2), Ocean Township (2-2), Pennsville (2-2), Spotswood (2-2), Woodbury (2-2), Dumont (1-2), Gloucester City (2-2), Hackettstown (2-2), Kittatinny (2-2), Overbrook (2-2), Sterling (2-2), Vernon (2-2), Johnson (1-2), Kinnelon (1-3), Voorhees (1-3), Salem (1-3),