As October winds down, New Jersey high school athletics are reaching a critical juncture. Football teams across the state are jockeying for playoff positioning as the public school regular season concludes, while non-public programs have a few additional weeks to secure their seeds ahead of next week’s NJSIAA postseason kickoff. Alongside football, other fall sports—including girls’ volleyball, field hockey, and cross country—are gearing up for tournament play, and a standout soccer showdown in Hightstown captured the attention of prep league fans.
Football: Last Week Drama and Key Matchups
The final week of the public school football season features high-stakes matchups that could dramatically affect playoff seeding. Among the most anticipated games is the heavyweight clash between No. 2 Bergen Catholic and No. 3 St. Joseph Regional, a showdown that could reshape the rankings heading into the postseason. Meanwhile, the “Jersey Blitz” podcast from NJ.com highlighted Washington Township’s dramatic comeback victory, a performance that has ripple effects across playoff brackets statewide.
In recent regional polls from Sports Illustrated, Don Bosco Prep and Winslow Township continue to hold top positions, reinforcing their status as teams to watch as the NJSIAA playoffs, beginning October 31 and November 1, approach. Non-public programs will continue battling for their playoff spots over the next two weeks, ensuring a competitive close to the season.
NJSIAA Implements Host Family Eligibility Rule
This week, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) passed a new eligibility rule impacting student-athletes living with host families, particularly in ice hockey. The updated policy stipulates that students not residing with legal guardians are ineligible for athletic competition. The change is intended to preserve fairness in high school athletics and clarify prior ambiguities regarding student residency and eligibility.
Other Fall Sports Updates
Girls’ Volleyball: Teams are tracking the latest power point standings while preparing for the state tournament scheduled for the first week of November. Weekly player recognitions continue to spotlight emerging stars in the sport.
Field Hockey: NJ.com’s weekly Top 20 rankings saw notable shifts, reflecting the competitive nature of the final weeks of the regular season.
Cross Country: County and conference championships concluded last week, setting the stage for state finals in early November. NJ MileSplit provided extensive coverage of Union County and league championship meets, highlighting standout performances and promising contenders for the statewide competitions.
Mid-Atlantic Prep League Soccer: Pennington Tops Peddie Behind Addai’s Hat Trick
In boys’ soccer action, the Mid-Atlantic Prep League delivered a dramatic performance as Pennington School traveled to face Peddie School in Hightstown. After a scoreless first half dominated by disciplined defenses, Pennington junior midfielder Matthew Addai turned the game on its head with a second-half hat trick, propelling the Red Hawks to a 4-0 victory.
Addai, one of the region’s top scorers, broke a rare 177-minute team scoreless streak with his first goal 34 minutes into the second half, capitalizing on a misplayed defensive clearance following a long pass from fellow junior midfielder Hugo Gonzalez. Nine minutes later, Addai struck again after a defensive deflection from sophomore Kelvin Kwarteng, and midway through the half, he completed his hat trick with a precise connection on a pass from sophomore Tymofii Panasenko.
“As soon as I got the first, I knew more was coming,” Addai said. “The way they were playing made us push harder, and I just applied my speed where it mattered.”
Pennington added a fourth goal when Kwarteng advanced down the flank and delivered a perfect cross to junior forward Alexandre Ben Amou, who converted for his sixth goal of the season. Pennington senior goalkeeper Colin Harkleroad recorded 12 saves to secure the shutout, countering Peddie’s offensive efforts, which matched Pennington in total shots but could not convert.
Pennington now improves to 9-3-1, while Peddie falls to 9-5. The Red Hawks’ victory demonstrates their ability to capitalize on speed, precision, and mid-game adjustments, highlighting Addai as a player to watch as the season progresses.
Match Summary:
Pennington (9-3-1) 4 — Peddie (9-5) 0
Goals: Addai 3, Ben Amou 1
Assists: Gonzalez 1, Kwarteng 2, Panasenko 1
Shots: Pennington 12, Peddie 12
Saves: Harkleroad 12, Sophonsiri 8
New Jersey high school sports continue to deliver excitement, strategy, and standout performances across football, soccer, volleyball, field hockey, and cross country. With the playoffs around the corner and tournaments approaching, fans are treated to intense competition and emerging talent ready to make headlines. For a full calendar of high school athletic events, schedules, and player highlights, visit Explore New Jersey High School Sports.
