NJ football rankings: Statewide Top 25 after Week 7

The 2020 football season is underway, but it looks very different, with a shortened season and no championships being awarded.

Voters from across USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey will continue to rank the top teams in the Garden State, expanding this year's rankings to a Top 25.

We'll also be handing out trophies to the top teams in the state.

USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey, along with presenting sponsor RWJ Barnabas Health, will crown a statewide Team of the Year in each of New Jersey’s five public school groups, and we’ll crown one overall non-public school Team of the Year.

After a Week 7 that included several classic games between top teams, two new teams entered the Top 5.

25. Rahway (4-1)

Last game: COVID-related issues led to the cancellation of the Indians’ Week 7 game against Cranford. Rahway, whose lone loss is to undefeated Somerville, extended its winning streak to three games its last time out with a 34-27 victory over Watchung Hills.

Next game: TBD

24. River Dell (6-1)

Last game: The injury-depleted Golden Hawks clinched the Super Football Conference Patriot Red Division title with Friday’s 7-2 win at Pascack Valley, with senior Ronan Laubert catching his first TD pass, a 6-yarder in the fourth.

Next game: TBD

23. Phillipsburg (6-1)

Last game: Matt Garatty completed 10 of 15 attempts for 261 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-17 win over Ridge. Matt Quetel ran for 93 yards and a score on 11 carries and also had a 64-yard touchdown reception. Phillipsburg’s lone loss is a 21-20 setback to Watchung Hills, which scored two touchdowns in the final three minutes.

Next game: at Somerville (7-0), Friday

22. Newton (5-0)

Last game: The Braves came through with big play after big play to roll past Kittatinny 56-21 on Saturday afternoon. Peyton Nolan had 188 yards and four rushing touchdowns, while quarterback Jack Young racked up 311 total yards and three touchdowns in the win. 

Next game: vs. Mountain Lakes (4-2), Friday

21. Rumson-Fair Haven (5-2)

Last game: Josh Harmon threw two TD passes to Patrick Jamin, John Volker ran for 114 yards and a TD on 26 carries, and the defense held 1,000-yard back Joe Barsky to 52 yards as the Bulldogs defeated previously-unbeaten Colts Neck, 28-14.

Next game: vs. Freehold (6-1), Friday

20. St. Joseph (Hammonton) (5-2)

Last game: The Wildcats scored on their opening possession with a Ahmad Ross 3-yard TD run, but they couldn’t find the end zone again in a 12-7 loss to Ocean City. The setback snapped St. Joseph’s five-game win streak. The team’s two losses are against teams with a combined 12-0 record.

Next game: vs. Hammonton (3-2), Friday

19. West Orange (5-1)

Last game: The Mountaineers’ had their first week without a game as the matchup against Union City was called off.

Next game: at Clifton (4-1), Friday

18. Cranford (6-1)

Last game: The Cougars, whose lone loss is a 27-14 setback to Woodbridge, rolled to an impressive 43-19 victory over previously-unbeaten and state-ranked North Brunswick. Lucca Limeira amassed 112 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, while Dennis DeMarino threw for 74 yards and two scores.

Next game: at St. Joseph (Metuchen), Saturday

17. Red Bank Catholic (4-2)

Last game: Anthony Borriello and Najih Rahman teamed up for a 67-yard TD pass in a 28-14 defeat to Donovan Catholic in a Shore Conference Super Pod game. Red Bank Catholic's program was then shut down Saturday through this week because of a positive COVID test of a player who was not present at the Donovan Catholic game.

Next game: at St. John Vianney (4-3), Nov. 25

16. Don Bosco (2-3)

Last game: Senior QB Jake Robbins threw a 26-yard TD pass to sophomore WR Ethan Acevedo on the final play and junior Thomas Sawicki added the extra point Saturday as the Ironmen knocked off previously-undefeated Bergen Catholic, 21-20.

Next game: vs. DePaul (2-2), Friday

15. Camden (4-1)

Last game: Jalin Brownlee threw a pair of touchdown passes to Alijah Clark and Dameir Burns in the first half, and backup QB Luis Ward rushed for a score as the Panthers earned an 18-6 win over Timber Creek. It was Camden’s first game since Oct. 23 and extend their winning streak to four.

Next game: at Ocean City (6-0), Friday

14. Randolph (6-0)

Last game: The Rams trailed by three points against Irvington midway through the fourth quarter but came through with a blocked punt that led to the go-ahead score in a 42-32 victory. Jimmy Pepe and Justin Townsend each scored a pair of touchdowns in the Randolph win.

Next game: at Mount Olive (5-1), Friday

13. Ocean City (6-0)

Last game: The Red Raiders rattled off 12 unanswered points to knock off St. Joseph (Hammonton), 12-7. Jake Schneider’s 5-yard TD reception gave the team a 10-7 halftime lead. St. Joseph’s defense posted a safety and used a Brady Rauner interception to ice the win in the final minute of play.

Next game: vs. Camden (4-1), Friday

12. DePaul (2-2)

Last game: The Spartans did not play St. Joseph (Montvale) due to their rivals' issue with COVID-19, and have not played since Oct. 23, a 34-10 home loss to Bergen Catholic.

Next game: at Don Bosco (2-3), Friday

11. Woodbridge (5-1)

Last game: The Barrons allowed as many points (33) in the second half as they yielded in five previous games combined on the way to a 39-26 loss to undefeated Somerville. Anthony Santino (297 yards and one touchdown passing) and Ali Lee Jr. (158 yards and three touchdowns rushing) paced Woodbridge on offense.

Next game: at North Brunswick, Friday

10. Cherokee (5-1)

Last game: The Chiefs registered 21 straight points to turn a two-score deficit into a 28-21 lead in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t hold on and fell in overtime, 31-28, to Lenape. Bradon Boria rushed for two touchdowns, including an 82-yarder that gave Cherokee the lead with 6:49 left. 

Next game: vs. Winslow Township (5-1), Friday

9. Donovan Catholic (7-0)

Last game: Evyn Menta threw four TD passes – three to senior wide receiver Jayon Farrar – as the Griffins defeated Red Bank Catholic, 28-14, in a Shore Conference Super Pod game. Farrar's second and third TDs enabled Donovan Catholic to break away from a 14-14 tie in the fourth quarter.

Next game: at Wall (6-0), Friday

8. Bergen Catholic (4-1)

Last game: The Crusaders allowed a final-play TD and lost Saturday to Don Bosco, 21-20. Junior WR/DB Jayden Bellamy had caught a TD pass and returned an interception for a score to provide a 14-0 halftime lead.

Next game: at Delbarton (6-0), Saturday

7. Holy Spirit (6-0)

Last game: The Spartans checked into the mythical South Jersey championship with a 34-0 rout of previously-unbeaten Winslow Township. Patrick “Cheeks” Smith rushed for 275 yards and two touchdowns, eclipsing the 4,000-yard mark for his career.

Next game: vs. Lenape (5-0), Saturday

6. Somerville (7-0)

Last game: Cookie Desiderio rushed for 278 yards and four touchdowns on 32 carries to lead the Pioneers to a 39-26 comeback victory over previously-undefeated Woodbridge. Quarterback Mike Miller completed 15 of 28 attempts for 154 yards and a score.

Next game: vs. Phillipsburg, Friday

5. St. Joseph (Montvale) (4-2)

Last game: The Green Knights had their first off week due to an issue with COVID-19 and did not play.

Next game: at Cherokee (5-1), Saturday

4. Delbarton (5-0)

Last game: For the third straight game, the Green Wave held its opponent to one touchdown or fewer in a 37-6 win over St. Joseph (Metuchen). Quarterback Cole Freeman accounted for a pair of touchdowns in the victory and thedefense put up four points of its own on safeties by Matt Gemma and Elijah Hills.

Next game: vs. Bergen Catholic (4-1), Saturday

3. Lenape (5-0)

Last game: Dylan Shank booted a 48-yard field goal in overtime as the Indians advanced to the mythical South Jersey championship with a 31-28 win over school district rival Cherokee on Sunday. Playing its first game since Oct. 30, Lenape led 21-7 in the third quarter but needed quarterback Brady Long’s 8-yard touchdown on a fourth-down call with a minute to go to force overtime. 

Next game: at Holy Spirit (6-0), Friday

2. Wall (6-0)

Last game: The defense allowed just three first downs and 58 yards of offense in recording its fourth shutout of the season. Blake Rezk caught a TD pass and fell on a fumble in the end zone as the Crimson Knights routed Mater Dei Prep 42-0 in a Shore Conference Super Pod game.

Next game: vs. Donovan Catholic (7-0), Friday

1. St. Peter's Prep (4-0)

Last game: The Marauders have not played since Oct. 24, a 25-7 victory at winless Paramus Catholic.

Next game: at Seton Hall Prep (1-3), Nov. 23

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES (listed alphabetically): Becton, Mater Dei, Ramsey, St. Augustine, Wayne Hills, West Morris, Winslow Township.