After three weeks of the 2019 high school football season, there are still a significant number of unbeaten teams left in the Times of Trenton area.
But that number is expected to start dwindling in the next couple weeks.
Which teams can keep their record rolling towards possible playoff berths in November?
FRIDAY NIGHT GAMES
(All games 7 p.m. unless noted)
Burlington City (2-1) at Bordentown (0-2): Burlington City will be looking to bounce back here, after a 41-7 loss to Salem last weekend. City can move to 2-0 in the West Jersey Football League Freedom Division. Bordentown has struggled twice, getting outscored 81-14.
Mike’s pick: Burlington City 28, Bordentown 14
Sean’s pick: Burlington City 35, Bordentown 0.
Clayton (2-0) at Robbinsvile (3-0): Clayton has held the upper hand in this series of late but the Ravens have looked impressive in their first three games. If Clayton can’t find a way to stop Robbinsville’s dangerous quarterback, Danny Surtz, the Ravens will end the day 4-0.
MIke’s pick: Robbinsville 21, Clayton 12.
Sean’s pick: Robbinsville 26, Clayton 20.
Ewing (0-2) at Hopewell Valley (2-0): The Bulldogs are one of the unbeaten teams, and will stay that way Friday night behind a senior offensive line and Henry Lewis running the ball. Ewing has found it hard to put up points, and will need this to be low-scoring.
Mike’s pick: Hopewell Valley 21, Ewing 15
Sean’s pick: Hopewell Valley 20, Ewing 7.
Hightstown (1-2) at Lawrence (0-2): The Rams hung tough in a 28-20 loss to Allentown last weekend, and should have enough here to get past a Lawrence team with some injury concerns. Lawrence will be looking to get on the board for the first time in this game.
Mike’s pick: Hightstown 14, Lawrence 7.
Sean’s pick: Hightstown 35, Lawrence 0.
Holy Cross Prep (2-1) at Florence (1-2): Over the few seasons, the Flashes have had a habit of alternating wins and losses throughout their schedules. The same pattern has emerged in 2019, which should mean a win over the Lancers. Florence has lost four of five in the series, although the win (48-14) was last season.
Mike’s pick: Holy Cross 21, Florence 14.
Sean’s pick: Florence 20, Holy Cross Prep 19.
North Hunterdon (2-1) at Montgomery (2-1): The Cougars got back on the winning track with a 35-0 win over Immaculata last week. Montgomery will have a dogfight on its hands this Friday with the visiting Lions. Quarterback Ryan Furey will need to have a big game to keep the Cougars in the win column.
Mike’s pick: Montgomery 28, North Hunterdon 24.
Seans pick: North Hunterdon 27, Montgomery 14.
Northern Burlington (2-1) at Cinnaminson (1-2): The 'Hounds are coming off a tough 57-0 loss to Group 1 power Willingboro last week but expect Northern quarterback Mike Calarico to lead his team to a rebound this Friday night in Cinnaminson.
Mike’s pick: Northern Burlington 42, Cinnaminson 10.
Sean’s pick: Northern Burlington 35, Cinnaminson 0.
Notre Dame (3-0) at West Windsor-Plainsboro (0-2): West Windsor-Plainsboro gained yardage in the air to hang with Hamilton in a 28-21 loss last week but are facing an entirely different challenge against a powerful Notre Dame team that has outscored its opponents 144-18 over three games.
MIke’s pick: Notre Dame 42, West Windsor-Plainsboro 7.
Sean’s pick: Notre Dame 35, WW-P 0.
Palmyra (0-3) at New Egypt (1-1): The Warriors played like their namesakes Friday in a 39-28 win over Lindenwold. Jack Kudrick was all over the field for New Egypt, and will get another opportunity this Friday to have a big night against winless Palmyra.
Mike’s pick: New Egypt 24, Palmyra 14.
Sean’s pick: New Egypt 34, Palmyra 12.
South Hunterdon (2-1) at Belvidere (1-1): The Eagles have their biggest game in years here, with a chance to go to 3-1. Cooper McCaffery and Logan Conner will lead the way, as South Hunterdon finds a way to get the ball into the end zone on the ground.
Mike’s pick: Belvidere 14, South Hunterdon 6.
Sean’s pick: South Hunterdon 27, Belvidere 19.
SATURDAY GAMES
(Times as listed)
Allentown (1-1) at Steinert (0-3), 12 p.m.: Allentown should have enough offense behind QB Dan Merkel, but this game might be close. Steinert has been in all three of its contests late, and could find a way here to do the same. Can Will Laster do enough damage to get the win for the Spartans?
Mike’s pick: Steinert 27, Allentown 14.
Sean’s pick: Allentown 27, Steinert 6.
Pennington (3-0) at St. Andrew’s (2-1), 12 p.m.: The Red Raider offense has been explosive so far this season. This week Pennington will have to hit the road to Delaware to take on a serious challenge from a solid St. Andrew’s team.
Mike’s pick: Pennington 28, St. Andrew’s 21.
Sean’s pick: Pennington 34, St. Andrew’s 20.
Trenton (3-0) at Nottingham (1-2), 12 p.m.: The Tornadoes went to Rancocas Valley and found a way to beat the Red Devils 26-19, which was Trenton’s first win in 10 tries over RV. Nottingham went to Moorestown and lost ugly, 32-6. This is a tough spot for the Northstars, in a must-win game.
Mike’s pick: Trenton 24, Nottingham 6.
Sean’s pick: Trenton 26, Nottingham 6.
Hun (2-1) at Capital Prep (1-2), 1 p.m.: Hun has another long road trip this Saturday but after suffering its first loss of the season at Life Christian Academy in Virginia last week, don’t expect the Raiders to let a little travel bother them.
Mike’s pick: Hun 35, Capital Prep 7.
Sean’s pick: Hun 35, Capital Prep 0.
Canada Prep (0-2) at Peddie (2-0), 2 p.m.: Hun easily defeated the visiting Canadians earlier this season, and after its 38-9 win over powerful Archbishop Wood last week, you can expect Peddie to do the same.
Mike’s pick: Peddie 49, Canada Prep 10.
Sean’s pick: Peddie 35, Canada Prep 0.
Lawrenceville (1-2) at Germantown Academy (3-0), 2 p.m.: The Big Red have suffered a couple of tough losses in the last two weeks to a pair of New England prep powers. Now Lawrenceville heads south to take on another challenging opponent, unbeaten Germantown Academy of the competitive INTER-AC.
Mike’s pick: Germantown Academy 31, Lawrenceville 10.
Sean’s pick: Germantown Academy 35, Lawrenceville 0.
Princeton (0-2) at Hamilton West (1-1), 2 p.m.: Kevin Boswell ran for 238 yards last week against WW-P, and has the opportunity to surpass that in this contest. Hamilton West continues its Valley Division title assault.
Mike’s pick: Hamilton West (no score prediction)
Sean’s pick: Hamilton West (no score prediction)
12TH MAN TD CLUB PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Offensive Back of the Week: Matt Sluka, QB, Peddie, Sr.
He was 14-23 for 232 yards and one TD passing, with 166 yards and 4 scores rushing. Sluka also was 5/5 on extra points and made a 35-yard FG in 38-9 win over Archbishop Wood.
Offensive Lineman of the Week: Hudson Hartman, OT, Hopewell Valley, Sr.
Led the way for RB Henry Lewis 142 yards rushing in 12-7 win over Steinert. He also had nine tackles (three for a loss) and one sack on defense.
Defensive Lineman of the Week: Jake Bon Giovi, DE, Pennington School, Sr.
A co-captain, Bon Giovi had the game of his career Friday night. In addition to making eight tackles (two for loses) and shutting down the edge to his side, he also had three key receptions, the last being a 30-yard reception with two minutes left that set up the tying TD in regulation.
Defensive Back of the Week: Coleon Williams, OLB, Notre Dame, Sr.
Lead the defensive shutout which allowed less than 60 yards total offense in the first three and a half quarters of the game with 10 tackles (three for a loss).
Special Teams Player of the Week: Makhi Thompson, KR, WW-P, So.
He had a 70-yard kickoff return for a score and added eight receptions for 124 yds and two scores in a 28-21 loss to Hamilton West.