Northern New Jersey High School Football Gears Up

High school football teams compete under the lights in Northern New Jersey.

News Summary

As the 2025 high school football season approaches, Northern New Jersey schools like Don Bosco Prep and Bergen Catholic are set to compete fiercely, maintaining their national reputation. With the Super Football Conference’s United Red Division ranked among the toughest leagues, fans can expect exciting matchups and rising talents. New schedules are released, including a notable shift in Plainfield High School’s historic rivalry with Westfield. The upcoming season promises fierce competition as established schools aim to uphold their status and newcomers seek to make their mark.

PARAMUS, NJ – Northern New Jersey high school football is set to continue its strong national presence with a competitive schedule for the 2025 season, showcasing several top-performing schools that have dominated the sport for nearly two decades. Prominent institutions like Don Bosco Prep, Bergen Catholic, and St. Joseph Regional (Montvale) lead the charge in this football powerhouse region, maintaining a reputation that places them among the elite in national rankings and competition.

As of 2025, these schools, alongside Paramus Catholic, compete in the Super Football Conference’s United Red Division, which was rated the fourth toughest league in the nation by High School Football America (HSFA) in the previous season. This reputation is underlined by Bergen Catholic’s standing as a four-time reigning Non-Public A state champion, finishing at No. 7 in the HSFA 300 national rankings. In contrast, Don Bosco Prep and St. Joseph Regional secured rankings at No. 106 and No. 124 respectively, indicating their continued presence on the national stage.

The success of these schools can be traced back to pivotal championships in the past. Don Bosco Prep was recognized as the national champion by USA TODAY in both 2009 and 2011. During these years, the team achieved significant victories, including a 30-6 win over De La Salle from California and a 35-24 win against Prattville from Alabama in 2009, followed by wins against Mission Viejo and Manatee in 2011 that solidified their title.

The schedules for both the United Red and United White Divisions have been officially released for the 2025 season, generating excitement among fans and players. Of note, the United White Division includes DePaul Catholic, which demonstrated notable success last year by claiming the Non-Public B title and two state championships over the past three years.

One of the highlights of the upcoming season is the announcement from Plainfield High School, which recently revealed its new schedule under first-year head coach Donald Jones. The traditional Thanksgiving Day game between Plainfield and Westfield has been rescheduled to take place on August 28, transitioning from a day that celebrates giving thanks to a season opener. This decision arose due to safety considerations and the growing state playoffs’ demands.

Historically, Westfield leads the all-time series against Plainfield with a record of 66-46-7. However, last season, Plainfield broke a 13-game losing streak against Westfield, injecting new energy into the rivalry. The fans can also look forward to Plainfield’s first three home games, which will see them play against Westfield, New Brunswick on September 5, and Woodbridge on September 12.

The team will kick off their away games starting September 19 at Perth Amboy, followed by a trip to Haverford School in Pennsylvania on September 27. With Coach Jones bringing experience as a former NFL wide receiver and a history of coaching at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, expectations are high for Plainfield, which ended last season with a record of 6-4 and reached the NJSIAA Playoffs, where they were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

As the new season approaches, Northern New Jersey high school football is clearly poised for another year of fierce competition, with established schools maintaining their national dominance and newer efforts aiming to rise in the ranks.