Bull Session Playoffs Round One
November 4, 2026
I covered two good games in Rutherford-Hillside and Hawthorne-Wallkill Valley. I tell others that there is more to high school football than watching Catholic school games. Many of the kids I saw this weekend would not see the field at the Catholics, but they are good football players who play well as a team. The quality is good, and I am, as my friend says, “all parochialed out!” and will not see a Catholic school game until State Championship weekend ….. To me, the surprise of the weekend was Trenton beating Southern. After losing their first three games, the Tornadoes have won six of seven….. My plan for Friday night is to see Westwood vs. Lakeland, but if it rains, I will stay home and window surf the games around the state…. I saw the article on nj.com about the impact freshmen. My question is how many of them transfer over the next three years? ….. I worry when the Giants play the Eagles because so many bad things have happened to the Giants when they meet. I don’t care if the Eagles are playing poorly; I am still worried…..A good pre-game tune is Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Ramble Tamble…. NJ College Scene: Princeton is 5-2 after beating Cornell, 21-20, 7-2 Monmouth beat Bryant, 34-21, 6-2 Rowan lost to #10 Christopher Newport, 13-12, 6-2 Montclair State beat 3-5 TCNJ, 25-21, 3-4 Kean beat Vermont state Castleton, 45-19, 0-8 William Paterson lost to Salisbury, 56-3, and 0-8 FDU (Florham) lost to Alvernia, 41-20…. Top performances that jumped out at me and I will be limiting this to playoff games, courtesy of nj.com and Kevin Minnick: Passing: Ryan Hogan of Chatham: 10-15-308-3, Dakota Lasater of Freehold Township: 24-42-286-3, Keith Williams of Trenton: 14-25-279-3, Hunter Struble of Lakeland: 19-24-277-4, Kevin Reilly of New Providence: 15-21-247-5, Marvin Burroughs of Atlantic City: 14-18-245-3, Javon Thompson of Winslow: 10-13-246-4, Tyler Pierce of Brick Memorial: 14-16-233-2, Gregory Wyche Jr. of Camden: 14-22-212-4 ….Rushing: Cole Torres of Shore: 23-314-5, Kobe St. Hilaire of New Milford: 26-281-5, Nick Haines of Hasbrouck Heights: 30-252-4, Ahmad Chambers of Atlantic City: 9-247-4, Clement Hofbauer of Montville: 41-229-3, Brody Mansolino of West Morris: 17-211-2, Iziah Guzman of Camden Eastside: 22-196-2, Matt Belenko of Middletown North: 19-204-2 .…. Receiving: Don’Taye Thompson of Atlantic City: 6-137-2, Steven Spadaro of Butler: 6-129-2, Elijah Msomi of Freehold Township: 9-124-2, Brody Perrapato of Ridgewood: 11-122-1, Chase Severs of Lakeland: 5-121-3, Iain Rossig of River Dell: 12-120-0, Brandon Howard of Trenton: 5-10-2, Zaimere Reeves of Trenton: 5-118-1, Owen Maguire of Middletown South: 6-108-2, Andrew Kratee of Winslow: 4-107-2 ….That’s all for this week! I will be back soon with more bull!