The latest week of New Jersey high school sports brought exciting matchups, standout performances, and playoff implications across football, soccer, and other fall athletics. As teams push toward the postseason, standout players and pivotal games are shaping the narrative for this year’s state rankings.

In football, Week 6 showcased several dominant performances from New Jersey’s top programs. Don Bosco Prep, Bergen Catholic, and St. Joseph Regional all secured decisive wins over their opponents, reinforcing their positions in the Super 25 state rankings. Shaun Jackson of Sayreville stood out with a career-high rushing performance, exemplifying individual excellence amidst team success. Coaches and teams are now entering the critical “Cutoff Weekend,” with the NJSIAA urging prompt submission of game scores to finalize playoff seeding. Fans and analysts are also looking ahead to Week 7, with predictions highlighting potential upsets and matchups that could reshape the playoff landscape.

Soccer tournaments are heating up across the state. In Union County, Union edged past Union Catholic 2-0 to advance in the boys’ county tournament, while the Shore Conference Tournament completed first-round matchups with second-round games scheduled for Thursday. Girls’ county tournaments saw surprises as well; Bridgewater-Raritan upset Ridge 2-1 in the Somerset County quarterfinals, handing Ridge its first loss of the season, and New Providence overcame Kent Place 3-2 in Union County. Standout players such as Emma Christensen of Central Regional and Grace Pauwels of Red Bank Catholic made decisive contributions, highlighting the depth of talent across the state.

Other sports also featured noteworthy achievements. The New Providence girls’ tennis team captured their seventh consecutive sectional championship, defeating Metuchen 3-2 in the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 1 final. Meanwhile, girls flag football continues to gain momentum with updated tournament criteria and waivers moving the sport closer to full NJSIAA sanctioning. Cross-country rankings for both boys and girls were updated, with the top 20 teams now reflecting performances through October 14.

Among the standout individual moments this week, Hightstown High’s Alex Garcia delivered a dramatic performance in boys’ soccer. Known as one of the tallest players in the Colonial Valley Conference at 6-foot-4, Garcia had only two goals in Hightstown’s first 14 games this season. That changed last week when he scored on Senior Game night against Hamilton West. Then, in a high-stakes matchup against Allentown at David J. McIntire Field, Garcia scored in double overtime, securing a thrilling 2-1 victory for the Rams. The game-winning goal capped a four-pass buildup in the second overtime, showcasing Garcia’s skill and poise. Hightstown’s win was significant given their 5-10 record and the fact that six of their losses had been shutouts.

Teammates Victor Maldonado Silva and Ryan Tusa Guanga were integral in setting up Garcia’s decisive goal, while Joe Borjas opened the scoring earlier in the first half. The match saw strong goalkeeping from both sides, with Hightstown’s Justin Velecela making seven saves before being replaced by Jason Matano due to injury. Hightstown head coach Justin Schmid emphasized the team’s resilience and need for continued aggressiveness, recognizing that turning close contests into wins would be critical for the remainder of the season.

As high school sports continue to build toward playoff season, New Jersey’s athletes and teams are delivering moments of excitement, upsets, and standout performances that energize local communities. For detailed coverage, schedules, rankings, and more stories from across the state’s high school athletics, visit Explore New Jersey High School Sports.

These weeks of competition highlight not only the skill and dedication of student-athletes but also the passionate support of coaches, families, and fans who make New Jersey high school sports a vibrant and compelling part of the state’s culture.

Top of the rankings

• Don Bosco Prep (6–0): Held the top spot after a hard-fought 17–14 overtime win against St. Joseph Regional.
• Bergen Catholic (5–1): Remained in the top 5 after a decisive 45–14 victory over Paramus Catholic.
• St. Peter’s Prep (6–0): Continued its impressive season and maintained its high ranking.
• Winslow (5–2): A strong public school entry, ranked after their victory against Eastside (Camden).
• St. Joseph Regional (4–2): Despite the overtime loss to Don Bosco, remained in the upper echelon of the rankings.
• Red Bank Catholic (7–0): A strong entry from the Shore Conference, ranked after a big win over Rumson-Fair Haven. 

Other ranked teams

• DePaul (4–2): Was coming off a bye week and preparing for a tough matchup against St. Peter’s Prep.
• Old Tappan (6–0): The reigning Group 3 champions remained highly ranked.
• Washington Township (7–0): A strong public school team, continuing its unbeaten season.
• Glassboro (7–0): A dominant force from the South Jersey public schools.
• Ramapo (5–1): Another perennial power from North Jersey.
• Kingsway (6–1): Returned to the rankings after a commanding win against Clearview.
• Camden (5–2): A public school team also included in the rankings.
• Mount Olive (6–0): Entered the Super 25 after a high-scoring win against Vernon.
• Seton Hall Prep (2–4): Listed at No. 24 in the MaxPreps ranking, even with a losing record, due to their strength of schedule. 

The rankings are subject to change each week as teams face different opponents and playoff seedings begin to take shape.