Paterson Catholic (10-0) vs. St. Joseph's (Hammonton) (9-1)

Saturday, December 4, 1:00 p.m. (at St. Joseph's/Hammonton)

This will be the first meeting this season between the two schools.

Common opponents: None

The Cougars' offense has scored 364 points this season, while their defense

has given up 116 (including one shutout), which adds up to an average score of

36.4-11.6. Paterson Catholic's most impressive victories of the season came

against St. Mary's (Rutherford) (21-7) and Glen Rock (28-20). Paterson Catholic

is also the returning Parochial Group 1 champion after defeating Bayley-Ellard

in the final last year.

Paterson Catholic is loaded with offensive weapons and speed, and that starts

with Kitt Pommell, who plays running back, wide receiver, defensive back, and

also kicks for the Cougars. Ray Taylor is the quarterback, while Jarris Rogers

excels at both fullback and linebacker. Line play isn't the strongest aspect of

the Cougars' team, but Jerrell Robinson solidifies both lines and is a D1

recruit.

The Wildcats' offense has scored 309 points this season, while their defense

has given up 57 (including five shutouts), which adds up to an average score of

30.9-5.7. St. Joseph's most impressive victories of the season came against

Absegami (20-14) and Hammonton (20-12). This will be the sixth consecutive

championship game appearance for the Wildcats, who won the Parochial Group 2

championship last year with a victory over Bishop Eustace.

St. Joseph's offense is led by the running back tandem of Jack Corcoran and

Richard White. In the semifinal victory over Bayley-Ellard they combined for 204

yards and five touchdowns behind a talented offensive line. Quarterbacking for

the Wildcats is Ryan Simone, who often looks for tight end Matt Bartling and

Aaron Spellman through the air. Spellman also solidifies the St. Joseph's

secondary.

Prediction: St. Joseph's (Hammonton) - 29 Paterson Catholic - 23

Paterson Catholic has the better athletes, but St. Joseph's has the better

line play, so go with the Wildcats.

DePaul (7-4) vs. Queen of Peace (9-1)

Saturday, December 4, 1:00 p.m. (at Queen of Peace)

This will be the first meeting this season between the two schools.

Common opponents: None

The Spartans' offense has scored 278 points this season, while their defense

has given up 193 (including two shutouts), which adds up to an average score of

25.3-17.5. Not too many playoff teams start the season 0-3, but that's exactly

what DePaul did. DePaul's most impressive victory of the season came against

Holy Spirit (27-20).

Sophomore quarterback Chaz Cervino has seemingly improved every single week

with DePaul's run n' shoot offense and has turned into one of the more dangerous

dual threat quarterbacks in North Jersey. Cervino has a corps of good wide

receivers in Mike Ponte, Brian Gambuzza, and Ray Blum, while running back Jason

Nabba leads the attack on the ground.

The Golden Griffins' offense has scored 274 points this season, while their

defense has given up 117 (including two shutouts), which adds up to an average

score of 27.4-11.7. Queen of Peace lost their first game of the season to

Westwood and then won their next nine to get to this point. Queen of Peace's

most impressive victories of the season came against Tenafly (27-20) and Bishop

Eustace (21-19).

Queen of Peace is led by running back Mike Lamego, who has rushed for 1,500+

yards and 17 touchdowns. Joe Muraglia has turned into a quality quarterback for

the Golden Griffins as he's passed for over 1,000 this season. When passing,

Muraglia looks for wide receiver Joe Torchia and tight end Mike Gee, who after

transferring from Don Bosco Prep has definitely gotten comfortable and is also a

force on defense.

Prediction: Queen of Peace - 19 DePaul - 15

DePaul has had an improbable run to the championship after starting 0-3, but

Lamego and Gee will be too much for the Spartans to handle.

Pope John (11-0) vs. St. Joseph's (Montvale) (10-1)

Saturday, December 4, 2004 5:00 p.m. (Rutgers)

This will be the first meeting this season between the two schools.

Common opponents: None

The Lions' offense has scored 424 points this season, while their defense has

given up 157 (including one shutout), which adds up to an average score of

38.5-14.3. Pope John's most impressive victories of the season came against Holy

Cross (34-16) and Lenape Valley (14-7). The Lions lost to St. Joseph's in the

first round of the playoffs last year, 33-14.

It's not a secret that Pope John's offense is led by running back Jason

Harper, who has run for 2,800+ yards this season and 35 touchdowns. Forgotten a

lot of the time is fullback Mark Meehan, who usually paves the way for Harper.

Quarterback Eugene McGuire leads the offense, but to no one's surprise, it's all

about Harper.

The Green Knights' offense has scored 463 points this season, while their

defense has given up 117 (including three shutouts), which adds up to an average

score of 42.1-10.6. If you take away the 56 points allowed against Bergen

Catholic, the Green Knights defense only gave up 6.1 points per game. St.

Joseph's most impressive victories of the season came against Hackensack (31-7)

and Don Bosco Prep (31-24). The team comes into this game winning five straight

state championships, including a victory over Camden Catholic in last year's

Parochial Group 3 final.

St. Joseph's has the ability to keep it on the ground or throw it

effectively. On the ground, most of the work has gone to Jason McCourty, who

gives the offense speed, and Andrew Romans, who brings the power. Quarterback

Brent Weiss has thrown for more than 1,700 yards and looks for Devin Wooten,

McCourty and Jason's twin brother. Devin. Defensively, the McCourty twins and

Anthony Ferla lead an impressive secondary, while Romans and Dean Duchak lead

the linebacking corps.

Prediction: St. Joseph's (Montvale) - 44 Pope John - 13

Harper is a great running back, but without the threat of throwing the ball,

the St. Joseph's defense will be salivating. Also Pope John has seen nothing

like the Green Knights' offense.

Bergen Catholic (9-2) vs. Don Bosco Prep (10-1)

Friday, December 3, 2004 8:00 p.m. (Giants Stadium)

On September 18th, Bergen Catholic defeated Don Bosco Prep 42-21

Common opponents:

Paramus Catholic (Bergen Catholic defeated Paramus Catholic 35-0; Don Bosco

Prep defeated Paramus Catholic 40-6)

Montclair (Bergen Catholic defeated Montclair 41-0; Don Bosco Prep defeated

Montclair 41-6)

Clifton (Bergen Catholic defeated Clifton 48-8; Don Bosco Prep defeated Clifton

41-8)

St. Joseph's (Montvale) (Bergen Catholic defeated St. Joe's 56-42; Don Bosco

Prep lost to St. Joe's 31-24)

The Crusaders' offense has scored 403 points this season, while their defense

has given up 167 (including three shutouts), which adds up to an average score

of 36.6-15.2. Bergen Catholic's most impressive victories of the season came

against St. Joseph's-Montvale (56-42), Seton Hall Prep (34-14), and St. Peter's

Prep (45-20). The Crusaders lost in the Parochial 4 state championship game last

year to Don Bosco Prep.

Bergen Catholic's offense is led by quarterback Brad Hartung, who is

under-appreciated, but continues to put up impressive numbers. It also helps

that he has the ability to throw to Brian Cushing, James Dray, and Isaiah

Williams, all D1 players. The running game is anchored by Wolver Jean-Pierre and

also Cushing, while the defense is led by arguably the best linebacking corps in

the state with Cushing, Dray, and Brad Dussault.

The Ironmen offense has scored 452 points this season, while their defense

has given up 122, which adds up to an average score of 41.1-11.1. Don Bosco

Prep's most impressive victories of the season came against St. Anthony's-NY

(20-3), Bergen Catholic (42-21), and Notre Dame (42-7).

Don Bosco Prep's offense is led by sophomore quarterback Matt Simms, who has

had a solid season, but at the same time hasn't been asked to do too much. His

go-to receiver has been Ryan Lindsey, but he also has the ability to go to

Darius Mann and Brian Callahan. The main weapon for the Ironmen, however, is

running back Michael Ray Garvin, who can take it all the way on any carry.

Prediction: Bergen Catholic - 37 Don Bosco Prep - 31

Toss a coin in this one, but I'm going with Bergen Catholic. Simms will be a

great one, but he hasn't faced the pressure of a game of this magnitude. Look

for Bergen to thrown everything except the kitchen sink at him to play with his

mind and force him to make decisions.