Public Groups 1-2 

September 29, 2026

This is the second poll, and I made a small change: if a team lost to a Catholic school or private equivalent, 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 10 because they beat Manasquan and lost 4-1 to Group 5 Toms River North, 4-1 to Group 5 Southern, and 4-1 to Group 4 Brick Memorial, each by 7 points. I have Wall at 11 because they beat Group 5 Freehold Township and Group 4 Manalapan, and lost to 4-1 Group 4 Brick Memorial, #3 Rumson-Fair Haven, and St. John Vianney. I have Manasquan at 12 because they beat #13 Westwood, lost to Point Pleasant Boro, 4-0 Group 4 Middletown North, and 3-2 Group 4 Middletown South, by 14, 7, and 4, respectively. I have Shore at 20 because they lost to 4-0 Group 4 Middletown North, 3-2 Group 4 Middletown South, Group 3 Red Bank, and beat Group 5 Freehold Township and handed 4-1 Point Pleasant Beach their only loss. I have Bernards at 23 because their losses came against 5-0 Rutherford by a touchdown and 4-0 Group 3 Cranford by a touchdown. I also considered the strength of the school’s program. 

1 – Glassboro (4-1) LP
2 – West Deptford (4-0)
3 – Rumson-Fair Haven (5-0)
4 – Caldwell (4-0)
5 – Haddonfield (4-1) 
6 – Hoboken (4-1)
7 – Newton (5-0)
8 – Cedar Grove (3-1)
9 – Butler (5-0)
10 – Point Pleasant Boro (2-3) LP, LP, LP
11 – Wall (2-3) C, LP
12 – Manasquan (2-3) LP, LP
13 – Westwood (4-1) 
14 – Ramsey (4-1)
15 – Rutherford (5-0)
16 – New Providence (4-0)
17 – Camden Eastside (4-1)
18 – Hillside (5-0)
19 – High Point (5-0)
20 – Shore (2-3) LP, LP, LP 
21 – Mountain Lakes (3-2)
22 – Paulsboro (3-2)
23 – Bernards (3-2) LP
24 – Point Pleasant Beach (4-1)
25 – Becton (3-2)

In: none
Out: none 

C lost to a Catholic school
LP lost to a good, large public school 

Also (listed in alphabetical order by record): Boonton (5-0), Highland Park (5-0), Lakeland (5-0), Monmouth (5-0), Schalick (5-0), Wallkill Valley (5-0), Wood-Ridge (5-0), Penns Grove (4-0), Belvidere (4-1), Brearley (4-1), Dayton (4-1), Haddon Heights (4-1), Lodi (4-1), Lower Cape May (4-1), Manville (4-1), Waldwick/Midland Park (4-1), Bordentown (3-1), Clayton (3-1), Delaware Valley (3-2), Gloucester City (3-2), Hasbrouck Heights (3-2), Lenape Valley (3-2), New Milford (3-2), Park Ridge (3-2), Ocean Township (3-2), Sterling (3-2), Hawthorne (2-2), Johnson (2-2), Mahwah (2-2), Hanover Park (2-3), Pennsville (2-3), Spotswood (2-3), Woodbury (2-3), Hackettstown (2-3), Kinnelon (2-3), Kittatinny (2-3), Overbrook (2-3), Vernon (2-3), Salem (2-3), Dumont (1-3), Burlington City (1-4)