Simeon Pincus’ Week 4 football picks: Conference races coming into focus

Another subpar weekend picking games for yours truly, as I went 11-7 in Week 3, bringing my three-week total to 40-15. While I took some risks and got burned in Week 2, I played it safe last weekend, but got lit up again as upsets galore adorned Friday night’s slate (I went 6-6 Friday night). Bridgewater-Raritan loses a regular-season game for the first time in three years? Roselle Park beats Belvidere for the first time ever?? Warren Hills topples Summit??? Linden over Ridge?!?!?! Wacky stuff.

Schedule is more spread out this weekend because of Yom Kippur, giving us a Thursday and Friday slate, with one game Saturday night, just for good measure.

Here are my picks for week 4:

THURSDAY, SEPT. 28

Immaculata (2-1) at North Hunterdon (3-0), 7 p.m. – This is the weekend’s most marquee matchup in the area, as a pair of Top 10 clubs get together for a Thursday night outing in Clinton with Harry Frezza handling the coverage (follow him on Twitter @TheFrez56). It’s a game that should also decide the division. North Hunterdon’s inspired victory over Summit in Week 1 gave the Lions control of the Mid-State 37 Conference Raritan Division race, and the Lions tightened their hold by taking care of business against Warren Hills in Week 2. I expect this to be a fantastic game, as North Hunterdon faces its first big test since week 1. I don’t see Immaculata being able to do the same things on offense against North as it did to Scotch Plains-Fanwood last week when it scored 56 points, while the Spartans defense will have its hands full with Matt Busher, Luke Wain and the rest of the Lions offense. And while writing about conference championships in week 4 is a little odd, the Raritan is a five-team division, meaning North could clinch the title this weekend with a win over Immaculata here and a Scotch Plains-Fanwood loss to Summit on Friday afternoon. Both of those things should happen.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Immaculata 7-4; LAST YEAR: North Hunterdon 31-22; CURRENT STREAK: North Hunterdon 1

PINCUS’ PICK: North Hunterdon 31-23

READ: Friday night’s Week 3 football roundup and game-story links

READ: Saturday’s Week 3 football roundup and game-story links

READ: Football rankings! The latest Courier News/Mid-State 37 Top 10

STANDINGS: The latest Mid-State 37 football standings

Franklin (1-2) at Hunterdon Central (1-2), 7 p.m. – I’ll be headed to the greater Flemington area for this one (follow me on Twitter @SimeonPincus for live updates and coverage) as I get my first look at both these clubs and their first-year head coaches. If you’d asked me three weeks ago, I’d have ignored this game, expecting a Hunterdon Central blowout. And while that’s certainly still a possibility with the Red Devils being nice and battle-hardened after a brutally tough first two games, Franklin has shown it’s not likely to be the pushover it has been the previous four seasons, playing competitively in its losses and even grabbing a nice conference win over Montgomery two weeks ago. I still expect a Central victory, but would love to see the Warriors make it close.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Hunterdon Central 20-18; LAST YEAR: Central 21-10; CURRENT STREAK: Central 4

PINCUS’ PICK: Hunterdon Central 33-19

Watchung Hills (0-3) at Westfield (3-0), 4 p.m. – A Friday matinee at Kehler Stadium should run Westfield’s winning streak to 29 games. The Blue Devils have allowed just seven points in each of their first three contests, but I’m going to take the under here.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Westfield 5-1; LAST YEAR: Westfield 40-14; CURRENT STREAK: Westfield 5

PINCUS’ PICK: Westfield 27-3

Bridgewater-Raritan (2-1) at Montgomery (0-3), 7 p.m. –Bridgewater-Raritan clearly isn’t too happy with its performance last Friday night, falling to Phillipsburg 30-7 and seeing its 24-game regular-season winning streak come to an end. Running back David Usewick is day to day, according to coach Scott Bray, and his departure early last Friday night probably had a lot to do with the Panthers’ offensive struggles. The good news is that BR should roll here even if the senior back isn’t in uniform.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Bridgewater-Raritan 3-1; LAST YEAR: B-R 37-6; CURRENT STREAK: B-R 1

PINCUS’ PICK: Bridgewater-Raritan

Cranford (1-2) at North Plainfield (0-3), 7 p.m. – Cranford pulled off a huge surprise last week, topping Rahway 24-14 and proving reports of the Cougars demise after an 0-2 start just might have been exaggerated.  I understand some of our friends in Cranford used my picking against the Cougars as something of a rallying cry on social media, but that doesn’t change the fact it contributed to my awful performance. Sorry, boys. You’re going to have to find your own extra motivation this weekend.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Cranford 18-8-3; LAST YEAR: Cranford 56-35; CURRENT STREAK: Cranford 5

PINCUS’ PICK: Cranford 35-22

READ: North Plainfield falls in inspired battle at Governor Livingston

Hillsborough (2-1) at Phillipsburg (3-0), 7 p.m. – Hillsborough has won two of the previous three meetings with the Stateliners after losing 11 straight, and as much as I would love to see this game in person, my desire to take this one in is trumped by my desire not to drive to Phillipsburg. Combine that with the fact both of these teams have gotten plenty of live coverage through the first three weeks, and we’re going to spread the wealth. This should be a very good game, and while it appears P’burg is back to its dominant ways after dealing Bridgewater-Raritan its first regular-season loss in three years, Hillsborough is certainly capable of giving the Liners a run for their money and could certainly come out on top if they can play smart, disciplined football. I’m going to play it safe and pick the home team, but that probably means Boro is a lock.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Phillipsburg 14-8; LAST YEAR: Hillsborough 27-13; CURRENT STREAK: Hillsborough 1

PINCUS’ PICK: Phillipsburg 23-21

Manville (2-1) at South Hunterdon (0-4), 7 p.m. – Coaches can preach to their teams to take things one game at a time, but as a sportswriter, I’m already looking ahead to Manville’s meeting with Belvidere next weekend.

ALL-TIME SERIES: South Hunterdon 11-9; LAST YEAR: Manville 40-0; CURRENT STREAK: Manville 1

PINCUS’ PICK: Manville 35-7

New Providence (0-3) at Bernards (0-4), 7 p.m. – It’s been a rough slog for Bernards, a season after the rebuilding Mountaineers went to the sectional finals. Bernards’ seven-year streak of winning seasons appears to be all but over, barring some miraculous late-season surge, and the Mountaineers have gotten thoroughly dominated in their first four games, losing by an average of 30 points per contest. New Providence is in the second year of a rebuild and on its third coach in as many seasons. And, like Bernards, the Pioneers have not had an easy time of it through three games, losing by an average score of 41-3. I’m pretty sure Bernards wins this game, but, honestly, I think a New Providence victory would be a better story.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Bernards 3-1; LAST YEAR: Bernards 35-17; CURRENT STREAK: Bernards 3

PINCUS’ PICK: Bernards 30-14

Voorhees (2-1) at Rahway (2-1), 7 p.m. – Our good friend Josh Rosenfeld makes his 2017 game-coverage debut in this one, as he takes a ride over to Rahway River Park for this key Mountain Division meeting. Voorhees has been one of the great stories of the season so far, shaking off a 3-7 campaign to get out to a 2-1 start, with last week’s loss at Somerville the lone blemish on an otherwise fantastic campaign. This should be another big challenge for quarterback George Eberle and friends, especially with Rahway coming off a tough loss to Cranford. This is normally the kind of game I’d go with the home team, but I have a good feeling that the Vikings will be thoroughly enjoying the trek back to Glen Gardner late Thursday night.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Tie 3-2; LAST YEAR: Rahway 30-16; CURRENT STREAK: Rahway 1

PINCUS’ PICK: Voorhees 34-30

FRIDAY, SEPT. 29

A.L. Johnson (3-0) at Delaware Valley (2-1), 7 p.m. – Friday’s headline tilt is one I would have loved to cover, if other commitments didn’t prevent me from getting out to a game Friday night. Instead, you’ll be treated to the unique stylings of one T. Harry Frezza, who will have live updates on Twitter @TheFrez56 and game-story coverage. I’m not counting them out, but I’d be a lot more comfortable with the Terriers chances had they not already lost to Roselle, a team that fell to ALJ by 10 points last weekend. But Delaware Valley is certainly in the mix here. Tyler Neal, Jared Pershyn, Joseph Beljan, Jack Bender, Zane Seal and friends are going to need a big-time performance to get the W – especially on defense – and although I give the Crusaders the edge, I also give Del Val more than a puncher’s chance.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Delaware Valley 4-2; LAST YEAR: A.L. Johnson 39-12; CURRENT STREAK: ALJ 1

PINCUS’ PICK: A.L Johnson 29-21

Ridge (1-2) at Plainfield (0-3), 2 p.m. – It’s too bad they no longer fire off the cannon at Hub Stein Field after every Plainfield touchdown, because Ridge can sure use a jolt from its slumber after suffering its second straight loss, 55-48 last weekend at home against Linden. Then again, perhaps a game against a team that has won just one regular-season game in six years and one they’ve never lost to might be a better cure for what’s ailing the Red Devils.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Ridge 6-0; LAST YEAR: Ridge 49-7; CURRENT STREAK: Ridge 6

PINCUS’ PICK: Ridge 41-13

Scotch Plains-Fanwood (0-3) at Summit (1-2), 4 p.m. – A couple weeks ago, I’d have just written something snarky here, picked Summit to win in a blowout, and gone on with my day. But considering the Hilltoppers’ struggles – losing at Warren Hills last week was one of the most shocking results in a weekend full of shockers – and taking into account the offensive life Scotch Plains-Fanwood has shown at times this year, and I am so temped to pick the Raiders that it makes me angry that I don’t have the nerve to pull the trigger. Sigh…

ALL-TIME SERIES: Summit 10-6; LAST YEAR: Summit 54-35; CURRENT STREAK: Summit 3

PINCUS’ PICK: Summit 38-33

Hillside (2-1) at Roselle (2-1) @Rahway River Park, 6 p.m. – This game is a pure coin flip. Each team is 2-1, each has been impressive in games against teams they should beat and played well in defeat against clearly better opponents. The only real difference is that Roselle has played Delaware Valley, a game featuring two of the Valley Division’s most serious contenders, and the Rams found a way, winning 28-21. With Roselle already having lost to A.L. Johnson, Hillside actually has more to gain in this game, as a win would keep the Comets undefeated in the division (their one loss came to Rahway, a Mountain Division club). I wish that were enough for me to pick my mother’s alma mater, but it’s not. I also wish Roselle was actually playing this home game at home and not a neutral site as its field gets redone, letting me off the hook with my pick-the-home-team-in-coinflip-games philosophy. I’m going to close my eyes and throw a dart at my computer screen. It’s a Nerf dart, because I’m not ready for a new laptop just yet.

PINCUS’ PICK: Roselle 28-27

Bound Brook (3-0) at Belvidere (2-1), 7 p.m. – I’m told Belvidere is down to its third-string quarterback. That would certainly explain why the normally dominant County Seaters were pushed to the brink in their first two games, beating a pair of perennial also-rans by just three points apiece, and then went out last weekend and got shellacked by Roselle Park, 35-0. Too bad. Bound Brook could use an actual challenge.

ALL-TIME SERIES: Belvidere 9-2; LAST YEAR: Bound Brook 28-6; CURRENT STREAK: Bound Brook 1

PINCUS’ PICK: Bound Brook 34-8

Brearley (1-2) at Roselle Park (4-0), 7 p.m. – Roselle Park made a statement against Belvidere last weekend, to the tune of a 35-0 triumph, and while the Panthers have certainly been one of the emergent teams of the early season, let’s face it, they haven’t reached the most challenging portion of their schedule just yet with Bound Brook looming next week and Manville coming in Week 9. For now, expect Roselle Park to have little trouble with Brearley, setting up what should be a battle of undefeateds next weekend at Lamont Field.

PINCUS’ PICK: Roselle Park 31-6

Elizabeth (2-1) at Linden (2-1), 7 p.m. – Both these clubs are coming off highly impressive victories, as Elizabeth topped Union and Linden outslugged Ridge last Friday night. This should be a good game, as the Tigers retire Jets standout and Linden alum Muhammed Wilkerson’s number, and I do believe they’ll also have a victory to celebrate.

PINCUS’ PICK: Linden 26-20

SATURDAY, SEPT. 30

Somerville at Warren Hills, 7:30 p.m. – Only one game in the Mid-State 37 Conference on Saturday and it’s a night-time affair up in Washington Township. Normally, that would annoy me, but being that I’m surprisingly interested to see how Warren Hills matches up against undefeated Somerville after the Blue Streaks’ unexpected triumph over Summit last Friday night, and I can live with the fact I’ll have to work later into Saturday night than I normally would have. Don’t get me wrong; I see no conceivable way Warren Hills wins this game. But, then again, I feel like this county’s been in the Twilight Zone for the better part of the last year, so is anything really impossible anymore? Hey! Maybe I should enter the New York City Marathon next month!

ALL-TIME SERIES: Warren Hills 7-4-1; LAST YEAR: Somerville 45-8; CURRENT STREAK: Somerville 1

PINCUS’ PICK: Somerville 41-27

Simeon Pincus can be reached at SPincus@GannettNJ.com. Follow him on Twitter @SimeonPincus and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SimeonPincusCN