NJ football rankings: Final statewide Top 25 for 2021 season

The 2021 football season came is complete, with 10 public school regional champions and two non-public school state champions crowned the last two weekends.

Here are the final rankings of the 2021 season.

25. Clifton (10-3)

The Mustangs’ lost to East Orange in the North Group 5 final in triple-overtime, 30-24, on a controversial call. Officials upheld Jaguars’ Ahmad Nalls’ 100-yard fumble return, but an end-zone photo shows Mustangs’ senior QB Kyle Vellis’ knees on the goal-line while he still had possession - a TD.

24. Delsea (11-1)

The Crusaders won the West Jersey Football League Royal Division title and were a sectional finalist. The team was eliminated by eventual region champion Cedar Creek in the South Jersey Group 3 title game. Delsea has compiled a 16-2 record over the last two seasons.

23. Union (9-2)

Union’s season ended after forfeiting out of the North 2, Group 5 semifinals for COVID reasons. The top-seeded Farmers had won nine straight after a season-opening 31-28 loss to Millville.

22. Seton Hall Prep (7-4)

The Pirates enjoyed one of their best seasons in recent memory, ending with a 21-20 loss to St. Peter’s Prep in the Non-Public A quarterfinals. Seton Hall Prep beat Don Bosco and Delbarton, lost by one point to St. Peter’s Prep twice, and held a fourth-quarter lead over No. 1 Bergen Catholic.

21. St. Peter's Prep (8-4)

The Marauders’ season ended with a 35-10 loss to unbeaten Bergen Catholic in a Non-Public Group A semifinal. Their campaign featured a pair of one-point wins over Seton Hall Prep thanks to stops on two-point conversion attempts, and a 10-7 win over DePaul that came down to the final play.

20. St. Joseph (Montvale) (6-4)

The Green Knights’ season ended with a 31-7 loss to Don Bosco in a Non-Public Group A quarterfinal. Their season highlights included regular-season wins over Don Bosco and St. Peter’s Prep, both by scores of 21-14, and a 27-14 victory at Delbarton.

19. West Morris (10-3)

The Wolfpack ended their season on a high note, rolling to a 53-14 win over previously-unbeaten Cranford to secure the North Group 3 regional championship. Noah Turner scored three times on the ground, Stefano Montella chipped in 213 yards from scrimmage and a pair of touchdowns and Trevor Hillier closed his career with 179 passing yards and two touchdowns.

18. St. Joseph Academy (9-3)

The Wildcats completed their season with a 29-6 victory over Winslow on Nov. 24, following a 21-10 loss to Red Bank Catholic five days earlier. It marked the fourth time in the last five years the team reached the nine-win plateau (7-2 in 2020).

17. Caldwell (12-0)

The longest active win streak in New Jersey is now shared by the Chiefs, who won their first sectional championship since 2008. Caldwell won the North Group 2 regional championship with a 42-21 win over Jefferson at MetLife Stadium. Harry Boland scored three touchdowns and made two interceptions on defense.

16. Rumson-Fair Haven (9-2)

The Bulldogs won the Shore Conference American Division championship and defeated Donovan Catholic, 14-0, on Sept. 10. They also advanced to the NJSIAA Central Group 3 championship game, where they were defeated by Woodrow Wilson. It was the eighth straight time Rumson-Fair Haven reached a sectional final.

15. Ramapo (10-2)

The Green Raiders’ season ended with an emotional loss to Northern Highlands in the North 1, Group 4 final. It came several days after longtime coach Drew Gibbs died of a heart-related issue. Ramapo scored 40 or more points eight times and started the season 7-0 before a wild 47-42 loss at Ridgewood.

14. Woodrow Wilson (9-3)

The Tigers had their season finish in controversial fashion during a 35-34 loss to Cedar Creek in the South-Central Group 3 final. In the closing seconds of regulation, Woodrow Wilson believed it had scored the go-ahead touchdown when Naz’Sir Oglesby took a short pass from Devin Kargman and was tackled around the goal line. The call on the field was the play was short of pay dirt and replay confirmed the call.

13. Winslow (9-4)

After capturing the program’s first-ever sectional championship, the Eagles dropped the final two games of their season, falling to St. Joseph Academy, 29-6, on Nov. 24, and to Millville, 45-35, in the South-Central Group 4 regional championship game. The nine wins are the best for the program in more than two decades. Hamas Duren threw for 283 yards and two scores, finishing his season with 2,883 passing yards and 37 touchdowns.

12. Donovan Catholic (6-5)

The Griffins handed Red Bank Catholic its only defeat with a 28-7 win on Oct. 29. Donovan Catholic also advanced to the Non-Public A quarterfinals, where it was defeated by eventual champion Bergen Catholic.

11. Northern Highlands (12-1)

The Highlanders’ quest for a perfect season ended with a 19-14 loss to Irvington in the North Group 4 regional final. They led at halftime, 14-13, scoring on senior QB Enzo Arjona’s 45-yard TD pass to junior WR Zach Madison and senior RB Nick Branca’s 4-yard run.

10. Irvington (11-2)

The Blue Knights won a program-record 11 games in 2021, culminating in the first sectional title in school history and a North Group 4 regional championship win over Northern Highlands at SHI Stadium. Saquan Gordon found Trenton Jones for a 61-yard touchdown pass with two minutes remaining to lift Irvington in the regional final, 19-14. The Blue Knights defense registered 12 sacks in the win.

9. DePaul (9-3)

The Spartans lost to Red Bank Catholic, 13-8, in the Non-Public Group B final. Senior QB AJ Rodriguez suffered a first-quarter concussion and did not return, and sophomore Patrick Grusser’s final-play throw into the end zone was batted away. DePaul had shutout wins over St. Joseph (Montvale) and Irvington during the season.

8. East Orange (13-0)

The Jaguars completed the first 13-0 season in school history with a thrilling 30-24 triple-overtime win over Clifton in the North, Group 5 regional championship at SHI Stadium. Ahmad Nalls recovered a fumble in the end zone and returned it 100 yards for the game-winning score. Raeden Oliver threw for 142 yards and two touchdowns, both to Joshua Richards.

7. Millville (12-1)

The Thunderbolts won their last eight games on their way to sectional and regional titles. Millville put the finishing touches on the season with a 45-35 victory over Winslow in the South-Central Group 4 region final. LeQuint Allen ran for 243 yards and a score, raising his season rushing total to more than 1,900 yards.

6. St. Augustine (9-2)

The Hermits captured the West Jersey Football League American Division title but fell short in their quest for state championship with a 17-0 loss to Don Bosco in the Non-Public A semifinals. Senior Kanye Udoh rushed for 1,498 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground.

5. Don Bosco (8-5)

The Ironmen lost to archrival Bergen Catholic, 28-7, in the Non-Public Group A final. Junior QB Nick Minicucci provided a 7-0 lead in the first quarter with a 19-yard TD run. Season highlights included playoff victories over St. Joseph (Montvale), 31-7, and over St. Augustine, 17-0.

4. Red Bank Catholic (11-1)

The Caseys won the NJSIAA Non-Public B championship with a 13-8 win over DePaul. Senior quarterback Alex Brown scored the winning TD on a 2-yard run late in the third quarter and threw a 33-yard TD pass to Najih Rahman in the first quarter. Red Bank Catholic's defense, led by linebacker Davin Brewton (18 tackles) and end Alex Bauman (13 tackles) was outstanding.

3. Cedar Creek (13-0)

One year removed from a 3-5 season, the Pirates completed their first undefeated season in program history, earning their first regional title in thrilling fashion with a 35-34 win over Woodrow Wilson in the South-Central Group 3 final on Saturday. Cedar Creek overcame a 22-point deficit and scored the final 14 points en route to the victory.

2. Hillsborough (13-0)

The Raiders capped their undefeated season with a 28-7 win over Kingsway in the South-Central Group 5 regional championship game. Rutgers-commit Thomas Amankwaa led the way with two touchdown catches and 240 all-purpose yards. Hillsborough outscored its three opponents by a combined 133-28 en route to winning the Central Group 5 title.

1. Bergen Catholic (12-0)

The Crusaders capped a perfect season with a 28-7 victory over archrival Don Bosco in the Non-Public Group A championship. They had 364 total yards and senior RB Ryan Butler rushed for 130 yards and two TD. The defense held all three postseason opponents scoreless in the second half.

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Cedar Grove, Cranford, Newton, Ocean City.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ football rankings: Final statewide Top 25 for 2021 season