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Sports

Week 9 Offers Last Chance to Improve Seed

Delbarton, Madison, Butler all get set for final power point game.

For most, playoff scenarios are as stable as they’re going to be. But for a few NJAC teams, Week 9 offers the last chance to improve their postseason seeds as Madison, Butler and Delbarton get set for their last “official” game of the season.

While each team will play another regular season game before the start of the playoffs, only the first eight games of the schedule count toward power points.

Delbarton Faces West Essex

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In what might be the most intense NJAC game of the week, unbeaten Delbarton (7-0) will host 8-0 West Essex on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

While this game wasn’t supposed to count toward power points for Delbarton, last weekend’s snowstorm caused the Green Wave to reschedule its game vs. Randolph to Saturday, Nov. 26, leaving this Week 9 showdown a big game for the Green Wave’s playoff positioning.

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Delbarton currently sits in second place in the Non-Public, Group III standings, sitting 11 points behind No. 1 seed St. Joseph (Montvale), while West Essex sits comfortably atop the North 1, Group II playoff picture.

Jamie White has been nearly unstoppable this season, gaining over 1,000 yards on the ground and scoring 15 touchdowns for Delbarton.

Butler Hosts Hopatcong

Butler currently sits at 6-1 on the season and in eighth place in the North 1, Group I power point rankings–just one point behind No. 7 Hasbrouck Heights (5-3).

While a playoff spot appears to be a lock for Butler–which has racked up 103 power points through seven games–head coach Jim Matsakis & Co. would love to move up in playoff positioning with a win on Thursday against Hopatcong (6-2).

One week ago, running back Mike Tenned continued running rampant, rushing for two touchdowns in the first half and 110 yards total in the Bulldog’s 32-17 win over Kinnelon.

Tenned, who has racked up 976 yards on the ground this season and accounted for 14 Butler touchdowns through seven games, will look to surpass the 1,000-yard mark on Thursday.

Madison Fights for No. 1 Seed

The Madison football team is currently riding a 20-game winning streak dating back to 2010. And while the Dodgers sit at 7-0 this season and in second place in the North 2, Group II playoff picture with 133 points, there are two things that Madison will hope to accomplish in Week 9.

First, a Madison win–or Lenape Valley loss–will lock up the Dodgers' second-straight Freedom Division title. But heading into the state playoffs, the Dodgers' aim will be at securing a No. 1 seed as they prepare to defend their state title.

Because Madison’s bye week came in Week 1, the Dodgers have one final chance to approach Summit (8-0), seeded ahead of Madison with 140 points, as they head to face division foe Wallkill Valley on Saturday.

The Dodger rushing attack is strong as ever, as all-purpose back Justin Goodwin and the bruising running of Shone Register have helped Madison amass over 2,000 yards on the ground this season, according to NJ.com.

A look at the other games going on this weekend:

Friday

  • Lenape Valley at Hanover Park, 7 p.m.
  • Morristown at High Point, 7 p.m.
  • Whippany Park at Dover, 7 p.m.
  • Morris Catholic at Boonton, 7 p.m.
  • Mtn. Lakes at Kinnelon, 7 p.m.
  • Randolph at Mt. Olive, 7 p.m.
  • Rutherford at Pequannock, 7 p.m.
  • Montville at Roxbury, 7 p.m.

Saturday

  • East Orange at Pope John, 2 p.m.
  • Chatham at Kittatinny, 1 p.m.
  • Jefferson at Parsippany Hills, 2:30 p.m.
  • Morris Hills at Mendham, 2:30 p.m.
  • Parsippany at Newton, 1 p.m.
  • West Morris at Sparta, 2 p.m.
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