Preseason Prediction/Updated Schedule

With the season a mere 4 days away, I figured it is now time to give my preseason prediction on how St. Joe's does in its inaugural season as well as post their finalized updated schedule.


They added a preseason scrimmage game against Burlington City/South Hunterdon on August 27th and that was the game I caught. Although the game was against two of the weaker Group I schools in New Jersey, I thought St. Joe's defense played fairly well only giving up one long pass play and a couple big runs up the middle in about 40 minutes or so. They also did a good job of stopping counter/reverse runs. I found it interesting that when some parents asked other parents who were the teams playing, many parents said very matter-of-factly St. Joe's of Metuchen, as if we had been a long-established team. Granted, this game was on the other side of the state almost an hour away but I found it odd that parents did not mention that it was our first year of Varsity football. Frankly, with this team I don't know if you can tell the difference. They look like a team that has been around for at least a couple years and it will be interesting to see if it can translate over in their play.


Here is their finalized schedule with my bolded prediction for this season.


9/10 1PM @ Sussex County Vo-Tech W
9/17 1PM @ Marlboro W
9/24 1PM Cushing Academy L
10/1 7PM @ Blair L
10/8 1PM Moore Catholic L
10/15 1PM @ Cedar Creek W
10/23 1PM Morristown-Beard W
10/29 1PM Montclair-Kimberley W
Predicted Record 5-3


I think 5-3 is a definitive possibility. As I alluded to in one of my other blog entries because St. Joe's is a first year program, the schedule is not bad at all and I think that should help St. Joe's get to a .500 or better record. They start off this weekend playing one of the worst teams in the state in Sussex County Vo-Tech. The result of this game could help gauge their progress so far. I think St. Joe's ultimately wins by a couple touchdowns here. The following week comes St. Joe's first big test in Marlboro. If they win here, I think people involved in New Jersey High School Football will believe we are ahead of schedule and making good progress for a first year school. The middle portion of the schedule is where I think St. Joe's falters. They play Prep school Cushing Academy from Massachusetts, a night game at Blair Academy and another game against usually decent Moore Catholic of Staten Island. They then play at new school Cedar Creek located in Egg Harbor Township. This year, Cedar Creek will only have grades 9-11 so when St. Joe's plays them, they won't even have any seniors on the team. Regardless, they are a group I school and a new group I school vs. a new big group Parochial school, you have to give the advantage to the Parochial school. Lastly, St. Joe's closes with 2 weaker Parochial schools in Morristown-Beard and Montclair-Kimberley and I predict for them to win both of those games at home. This season should be a lot of fun and I am looking forward to the game up in Sparta on Saturday.