Football Playoff Seedings Determined ... For Most

Any football coach will tell you the best way to decide something is on the field.

Deciding by a coin flip? Not the solution anyone likes.

That’s the situation Manasquan is in, however, as the Warriors must wait for a coin flip on Monday to decide whether they are the top seed or the No. 2 seed in their section for the NJSIAA playoffs.

According to unofficial calculations, Manasquan is tied with Rumson for the top seed in the Central Jersey Group II section. Both teams are undefeated and have accumulated 151 power points, according to unofficial calculations.

Each team’s first eight games are all that count toward determining power points, which in turn determine where a team is seeded. While Manasquan waits to find out who it will host in the first round – the Warriors are guaranteed a home game – other Patch teams have their NJSIAA playoff opponents determined. Here’s a brief rundown; again, all potential matchups are based on unofficial calculations. The NJSIAA will release the official seedings and schedules on Monday.

Central Jersey Group IV

Brick Memorial: While the Mustangs (4-5) lost to Howell on Friday night, that game had no bearing on their playoff status, because they had played eight games before the weekend. Brick Memorial wound up as the seventh seed, however, because North Brunswick beat South Plainfield on Friday, giving it a 5-3 record and moving it into the sixth spot. Brick Memorial will travel to Manalapan (7-1), which earned the second seed thanks to its victory over Toms River North, on Friday.

Central Jersey Group III

Wall: The Knights (7-1) lost to Colonia on Saturday but earned the second seed because Burlington Township had played eight games already and was only adding residual points. Wall will host Middletown South (6-2), which earned the seventh seed thanks to its victory over Lacey on Friday night. That game will likely be played on Friday.

Central Jersey Group II

Manasquan: Manasquan (8-0) and Rumson (8-0) are tied for the top seed, according to the calculations, so a coin flip will determine their seeding. Red Bank and Robbinsville appear to be the seventh and eighth seeds in the section, respectively.

Central Jersey Group I

Point Beach: The Garnet Gulls’ victory over Spotswood on Friday night moved them all the way to the fifth seed in the section. Point Beach (6-2) likely is headed to 6-2 New Egypt High School in Plumsted Township – keeping the Gulls in Ocean County, at least.

Shore Regional: The Blue Devils (6-2) rallied in the second half on Saturday to beat Metuchen, and that victory vaulted Shore to the sixth seed. Shore appears to be headed for the western edge of the state for a game at third-seeded Florence (7-1).

South Jersey Group III

Central Regional: The Golden Eagles’ loss to St. John Vianney on Friday night appears to have dropped them to the fifth seed, with Woodrow Wilson of Camden (5-3) moving into the fourth spot by just three points, despite losing to Triton on Saturday. If the calculations hold true, Central (5-3) will be heading to Camden on Saturday for its first playoff game in 10 years.

Lacey: The Lions (4-4) fell to the eighth seed as a result of losing to Neptune on Nov. 1. That earned them a first-round matchup at undefeated Timber Creek, which is located in Erial, a section of Gloucester Township in Camden County.

South Jersey Group II

Barnegat: The Bengals (5-3) appear to have earned the third seed in the section and have earned the right to host a playoff game. Their opponent: sixth-seeded Point Boro, which shut out Manchester on Friday night to lock up its playoff spot.

Point Boro: Of all the teams playing away games in the playoffs, the Panthers (5-3) have one of the shortest trips. Coming off a resounding victory over Manchester to make the playoffs, Point Boro appears to be on a roll.

Non-Public Group III

Monsignor Donovan: The Griffins (5-3) earned the seventh seed in the section with their victory over Freehold on Friday, but have one of the toughest brackets in the state. They travel to Delbarton (8-0), a perennial powerhouse.

The teams that did not make the playoffs play in consolation games, which the NJSIAA tries to pair up based on size, proximity and similar records. Those pairings will be announced Monday by the NJSIAA. Those games will be played next weekend.

The first round of the playoffs is next weekend as well, with the second round Nov. 18 and 19. Each of the first two rounds are played at the higher seed.

The sectional championships are held the weekend of Dec. 2, 3 and 4 – Rutgers, Kean, The College of New Jersey, Rowan and the Meadowlands.