Playoffs: Coach & Swami Style!

Sideline Swami & The Coach Set To Tackle Playoffs With Gusto

The Coach’s recap: I guess I just need to admit to myself and everyone … the “Schwam” sees all and knows all. My Morris Knolls Golden Eagles held a 17-0 lead over state power East Orange … and The Coach was as shocked as most – except the Swami – when East Orange mounted a huge comeback and gave the Essex County Expert a two game lead with one month left.

The Swami’s take: First off, I must commend ‘The Coach’ for picking the exact score of last weekend's Chatham-West Essex game (21-0 Knights). At times, he’s right on the mark, but in other instances, such as in a couple of picks below, you’ll realize he can be overmatched, at least when it comes to matching wits with the sideline guru himself now that the ‘real’ season has arrived. It’s playoff time!!...So, without further adieu, let’s begin:

Friday:
Madison at West Essex (North 2, Group 2)
Coach: Yes, Madison suffered a tough “upset” last week at Orange forcing the Dodgers to fall to the 7 th seed and force a road trip to the West of all Essex. Morris County needs the Dodgers of Week #1 to show up, as they did against Delbarton, for a “MoCo Upset!” A key to a Dodger upset would be Madison’s use of their passing game. The Dodger will have to stay with a one TD lead and hope to have the ball last. But, one thing I have learned this year … do not pick against West Essex and their suffocating Defense … West Essex 21-7.

Swami: Unfortunately, for Chris Kubik’s Dodgers, this is not the same team we saw in September. Standout lineman Mike Hall is done for the season with a knee injury and star linebacker-wide receiver-placekicker Brian McLindon could be out with a bum shoulder. That aside, this is definitely a cauldron Kubik and company are entering. West Essex has allowed just three touchdowns all season, has posted six shutouts and has unmatched playoff pedigree. Coach Drozjock and his staff live for November and December football, when decisions at crunch time are so critical and the Knights generally come through every time. West Essex 20-7.

Saturday:
Delbarton at St. Joe's (Non-Public, Group 3)
Coach: I do not know how many people thought The Green Wave could make a run to the State Finals last year? It’ll be a tough task if the Wave plan on making a run again. The Joey’s beat Poly Prep 40-0 … Delbarton took down Poly 17-13. Common opponents can be helpful when making these picks. St. Joes: 28-14

Swami: Interesting brief reference by coach to last year. I was there when Delbarton shocked NP3 by crushing previously undefeated Pope John behind QB Jack McBride and WR Max Seligmann. New season, different faces in some cases, and St. Joe’s is just better balanced than Pope John was last year. These two teams have played some classic playoff football and Coach Brian Bowers will have the Wave plenty ready. Still, Tony Karcich and the Green Knights are very tough to beat in this spot. It could be a classic, but: St. Joe’s 28-24.

Belleville at Morris Knolls, (North 1, Group 4)
Coach: This is where the Super Swami has an advantage … the guy knows everything! I rarely travel east of the Passaic River. One thing I do know, stopping the Golden Eagles offense is not an easy task. You can stop the likes of Kellan Cardio and Dan Herr a few dozen times, but it only takes one perfect read, and … touchdown! No let down for the Eagles this week, who lead by two touchdowns in both losses this year. Morris Knolls 28-14

Swami: As we document in feature on our home page at sidelinechatter.com, Belleville has been one of the great stories of the 2007 high school football season. Just think, 24 months ago, the Bucs were on a 33-game losing streak. Today, they’re back in the playoffs for the first time in 23 years. And, as gutsy a bunch as they are, they’re entering another playoff-tested terrain here in Denville. Coach Bill Regan is a master at dealing with these types of totally unfamiliar foes. A consummate game plan orchestra leader, he’ll have the Golden Eagles set to do what they usually do in big games. Morris Knolls 31-18.

Cresskill at Mountain Lakes, (North 1, Group 1)
Coach: Jake Tripucka and Ryan Przyborowski must now lead the Herd into their new season. Mountain Lakes averaged a whooping 39 points a game while cutting through the Colonials Hills Conference like a hot knife through The Cougars’ only loss was to Hasbrouck Heights -- at Heights -- at the inauguration of their new field. The score: 14-11. The Cougars have exploded on offense, averaging 40.5 point in their final four games. This makes for an interesting match up between teams that dominated all season long. Cresskill 28-26.

Swami: I’m a little surprised that The Coach picks Cresskill, but it’s not illogical by any means. Bob Valli is another playoff tested coach and the Cougars will be a handful indeed for the Herd. Still, it’s hard to go against Doug Wilkins, his trusty defensive coordinator Charlie Roche and the rest of the Herd in a first-round home game. The last time Mountain Lakes opened the playoffs against a BCSL team was in 2005 when it was physically handled by Hasbrouck Heights. This is a better Herd squad with enough to get by here. It won’t be easy. Still, have to go with the 300-win sage and his guys. Mountain Lakes 21-14.

New Brunswick at Morristown, (North 2, Group 3)
Coach: Wow is this tough Section! Morristown not only survived the rough and tough IHC-Iron, claiming a hare of the crown. New Brunswick is 5-3, but that means nothing now … New Brunswick is the defending N2-G3 champions, as you already know. Their nickname is the Zebras … how do you think the refs feel about that? Their conference schedules have these two ready for this game, but this year, it’s the Colonial’s turn! Morristown 21-14

Swami: Another game I was fortunate to see last year was New Brunswick’s playoff semifinal win at Morristown. This is definitely a different Zebras’ team and a totally transformed Colonials’ squad. Yes, New Brunswick still has the wonderful quarterback Brandon Smith, and the expert coaching of John Quinn, but the team is not nearly as good, and Morristown has a much improved Michael Colvin at QB and the ever-elusive George Bass running or catching the football. Plus, Chris Hull’s team is hungry. You could see it even in its only loss so far this season in the opener at Seton Hall Prep. With a whole lot more at stake here, there will be no prisoners. Morristown 28-13.

Chatham at Caldwell, North 2, Group 2
Coach: Talk about two teams that have had opposite seasons … Chatham, making a huge surge to run table until falling to West Essex in the season finale. I really like Chatham’s pound-the-ball-at- you attitude that reminds me of the good ole’ days in the IHC … yes, there was a time when only Mt. Olive threw the ball and everyone else ran the wing-T. I even like the Cougars more knowing that Caldwell is on a three-game losing streak. You can bet the Cougars want revenge on Morris Hills and West Essex! It all starts here. Chatham 28-7

Swami: Although it was two years ago when these two teams last met at Bonnel Field, I remember it like it was yesterday. Chris Betz and Tim Lutke were leading a memorable Chatham team on a historic playoff run that started against Caldwell. It was a dandy of the game, won by the Cougars; however, 24 months later, these teams are, of course, entirely different, and although Chatham has shown considerable gusto in most of its games this fall and has a bevy of young, promising athletes, such as junior Campbell Wood. But, Coach Dayon and company are taking on another seasoned playoff program, one with an outstanding coaching staff and an equally bunch of gutsy kids, led by the elusive QB Derek Lawshe and one of the state’s top sophomores in fullback-linebacker Chris Eucker. This could be another classic like in 2005, but I just think the Chiefs will reclaim some of the magic that helped them win at Lakeland and DePaul earlier this season. Caldwell 24-21.