TheFan(NJ)'s Pick `Em or Drop `Em

Well since TheFan is a big high school sports fan these are the second try at "Pick `Em or Drop `Em." I am going to do this differently this time around, and take the top teams in the each group in New Jersey.

West Essex Knights: North 2 Group 2

In the beginning of the season, I thought this team was the weakest team to win North 2 Group 2. Well I can admit, I was wrong and this section has a new chief in command that happens to be the Knights. This team has only giving up 13 point on the season, while scoring 155 point in 5 games. That is an average of 31 points per game. They are beating winning teams as well as beating the bad teams. They have a balanced schedule coming up, so I say "Pick `Em."

Hawthorne Bears: North 1 Group 1

I remember this team very well because last year around this time I called them a bunch of pretenders. I called them that because the schedule was pretty soft, and this is a show me what you got type of sport. They lost to Bogota-(24-17) in a tough game last year so they have earned their Fan stripes. This team loves to win, and the rest of their schedule can leaded them to the number one seed in the playoffs, thanks to Bogota's terrible season. Well because of all the controversy that happened last year with my picks, and I think the same thing will happen this year. I say, "Drop `Em" well they are not the defending champs, even though they do win because of all the trouble the brought me last year; where the story is what have you done for me lately.

Belvidere County Seator: North 2 Group 1

Who in the world or where in the world is Belvidere. Some of the County Seator's fans claim I can't find this place on a map. They are leading North 2 Group 1 in state playoff power points. The only problem is this team had the same lead last year and lost to Hoboken in power points by 8 points. This year might be the same vibe because the schedules are the same. Even though Hoboken lost a game, their schedule is stronger then the seators. I think this group will have zero unbeaten teams in the playoffs. The Seator's have a real test this week with Delaware Valley. Delaware Valley has played a stronger schedule as of now, and the thing that Delaware Valley should remember is their one point defeat in overtime last year. That single defeat sent them to a consultation game with South Hunterdon instead of a first round game with Johnson, where Johnson got upset by Rariton. So Mike Columbo should have his time fired up and ready for this game. I say "Drop `Em," only because Delaware is a better team and should be looking to revenge that one point defeat that ended their championship dreams last year.

Kittatinny Cougars: North 1 Group 2

Well they are having a great season plus they continue to win after I said drop `em a few weeks ago. The best part about this program is they play the soft schedule. So my theory is, you have to show me what you got, the said part about it is they are showing me what they got. They have a tough match up with Sparta, and if they can win that game or don't play down to the level and record of the teams on the remainder of the schedule. The Cougars can be the team to beat in North 1 Group 2. I say, "Watch out for them," I am not ready to pick them as of yet, but I will be watching them.

Wayne Valley and Wayne Hills: North 1 Group 3

The Indian's are the looking for respect and this just might be the season to get it. Last year they went 8-2, and got blown out of a playoff game with Passaic Valley-(49-20) that turned out to be the only team to beat them last year. This year they returned a favor to Passaic Valley and beat them last week-(43-12). They have on more challenge on that schedule in Newark West Side-(5-0), but it seems like they might clinch second place in North 1 Group 3. I say "Watch `Em" I just don't know that much about them because they are quiet up their in the Valley.

The Patriots are making their hearts felt this year. They have been a competive team since 2000, when they dropped to group 3. They are on a current 33 straight winning games streak and have won 4 straight titles. They are the team to beat in this section, so until someone beats them you better pick them. I say, "Pick `Em," that defense is sick, maybe it is the competition or it could be them making the competition look bad. Either way no team has been able to score more than 14 points on them on them in 21 games. Ramapo in 2005 score 26 in a defeat. I say "Pick Em."

Irvington Blue Knights: North 2 Group 3

They probably have played the hardest schedule in the group so far this year. They are unbeaten in that string of tough games. They have a few hard match ups with Westfield-(3-1) and Newark West Side-(5-0), if they don't play down to the competition's record, while facing teams like Shabazz and Newark East Side. The Blue Knights just might be the team to beat in the group. I say "Watch `Em," that win over Elizabeth was impressive but if you want to be the champs you have to beat them and then win it all. They beat the champs know lets see if they can win it all.

East Orange: North 1 Group 4

The Jaguars are very deceptive in terms of reading them. They looked very impressive last year at this point, just when everyone had picked them. East Orange let us down as they dropped to Paterson East side in the playoffs. This year is looking the same for them and they already lost a game, which can be the thing hurting them in this group. There will be no unbeaten team in this group this year, so I would be careful with this pick. I would, "Drop `Em" just because they have one defeat and still have some big boys left on that schedule.

North 2 Group 4: Elizabeth

The minuteman under Chet Parlavecchio suffered two major set backs this year. Eastwick lost to Hudson Catholic and then to the better team in Irvington. I expect them to bounce back and perform will going the stretch. Since Phillipsburg also have two defeats and Bayonne is looking like the team to beat, with Piscataway looking like history is about to repeat itself again. The Eastwick minutemen still have a shot in this group. I will "Pick `Em" only because of the fact that they are the champs.

Well this will be it for the Pick `Em, Drop `Em series. But my teams to watch are Don Bosco, Saint Peter's Prep, Paterson Catholic, Saint Joseph's Hammonton, and Immaculata.