Johnson and Westfield are 5-0 and on their way to qualifying once again in their sections.
Seven Union County teams are 3-2 and seeking to qualify themselves, each having three more games to go that count.
Roselle Park is 4-2 and has this week off and then after playing at New Providence next weekend will have another week off before its final qualifying game at home against Manville Nov. 3.
Yes, with most teams having five games in the bank, it’s time to begin figuring out which teams will make the playoffs and which will not.
Johnson captured the Mid-State 38 Conference’s Valley Division championship outright by beating visiting Hillside 22-13 last Friday night. The Crusaders won the division title with a perfect, final league mark of 5-0.
Westfield increased its state-leading winning streak to 30 when it held on to edge host Union 7-6, also last Friday night. All the scoring was in the first half, with Union reaching the end zone on the final play of the second quarter.
Westfield will seek to extend its winning streak to 31 this Saturday at Rutgers against Watchung Division rival Elizabeth. A win by the Blue Devils will clinch the Watchung Division championship outright for Westfield, no matter what the outcome of Westfield’s Thanksgiving Day game against Plainfield turns out to be.
Westfield won the Watchung Division at 6-0 last year and at 7-0 in 2015.
Brearley, on a three-game winning streak and one of Union County’s seven 3-2 teams, is tied with Manville and Bound Brook at 3-1 for the Union Division lead. The Bears host Manville this week and Bound Brook next week, with wins over both giving Brearley the division title outright.
Roselle Park, Rahway, Johnson and New Providence have this weekend off.
UNION COUNTY
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE:
Friday, Oct. 13 (6 games)
Union at Franklin, 7 p.m.
Linden at Bridgewater-Raritan, 7 p.m.
Summit at Cranford, 7 p.m.
Gov. Livingston at Somerville, 7 p.m.
Belleville vs. Roselle at Rahway River Park, 7 p.m.
Manville at Brearley, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 14 (4 games)
Elizabeth vs. Westfield at Rutgers, 1 p.m.
Watchung Hills at Plainfield, 1 p.m.
North Hunterdon at Scotch Plains, 1 p.m.
Dayton at Hillside, 1 p.m.
Off: Roselle Park, Rahway,
Johnson, New Providence.
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS:
Friday, Oct. 6 (9 games)
Westfield 7, Union 6
Elizabeth 30, Hunterdon Central 22
Montgomery 21, Plainfield 0
Summit 35, Gov. Livingston 8
Rahway 27, Somerville 6
Johnson 22, Hillside 13
Roselle 46, New Providence 0
Brearley 41, Dayton 27
Bound Brook 37, Roselle Park 14
Saturday, Oct. 7 (1 game)
Cranford 43, Scotch Plains 42 (2OT)
Off: Linden.
THIS WEEK’S PICKS (10):
Union over Franklin
Linden over Bridgewater-Raritan
Cranford over Summit
Somerville over Gov. Livingston
Roselle over Belleville
Brearley over Manville
Westfield over Elizabeth
Watchung Hills over Plainfield
North Hunterdon over Scotch Plains
Hillside over Dayton
Best bet: Roselle
Upset special: Brearley
Last week: 6-4
This year: 39-23 (.629)
Best bets: 5-1
Upset specials: 2-4
JR’s UNION COUNTY
TOP 10:
1-Westfield (5-0)
2-Linden (3-1)
3-Johnson (5-0)
4-Elizabeth (3-2)
5-Union (2-2)
6-Hillside (3-2)
7-Summit (3-2)
8-Cranford (3-2)
9-Rahway (3-2)
10-Roselle (3-2)
Others:
Brearley (3-2)
Roselle Park (4-2)
Gov. Livingston (1-3)
Dayton (1-4)
Plainfield (0-5)
Scotch Plains (0-5)
New Providence (0-5)