Almost half of county's teams qualify for state playoffs; first ever for Weehawken

For some, it's an annual occurrence, a regular November occasion, like Thanksgiving and Veterans Day. Qualifying for the NJSIAA state football playoffs is a given at schools like Hoboken, North Bergen and St. Peter's Prep. It's almost expected. Some even mark down the week as part of the regular schedule. That's how much the schools anticipate participating in the state playoffs.

Lucky seven for Hudson's grid squads

Almost half of county's teams qualify for state playoffs; first ever for Weehawken

For some, it's an annual occurrence, a regular November occasion, like Thanksgiving and Veterans Day. Qualifying for the NJSIAA state football playoffs is a given at schools like Hoboken, North Bergen and St. Peter's Prep. It's almost expected. Some even mark down the week as part of the regular schedule. That's how much the schools anticipate participating in the state playoffs.

For example, North Bergen has qualified for the state playoffs in 24 of the last 27 years, including the last 13 straight years. The Bruins (6-2) once again have earned a place in the post-season and will travel to Teaneck this weekend for the first round of the North Jersey Section 1, Group IV playoffs. North Bergen has captured the championship of the bracket six times, including an undefeated run in 1997.

Hoboken has merely owned the playoffs of late. The Red Wings have won five of the last six championships in the North Jersey Section 1, Group III bracket and have qualified for the state playoffs in all but one of the last 14 years - and have made appearances now in 10 straight post-seasons. The Red Wings (7-1), playing in Group II this season because of a dip in the school's enrollment, will play host to Ramsey in the first round this weekend. Hoboken earned the top seed in the bracket.

And St. Peter's Prep has qualified once again in the Parochial Group 4. The Marauders (6-2) won state championships in 1989 and 1994 and have earned post-season berths in each of the last nine years and 16 of the last 17 years. The Marauders will travel to Lawrenceville this weekend to face undefeated Notre Dame of Trenton.

However, for other schools, it's a complete novelty. Like Emerson of Union City, which earned a berth in Group IV, the first trip the school has taken to the state playoffs since 1989. Secaucus is making its third straight trip to the Group I bracket, but for neighbor Weehawken, it's something totally new.

The Indians (6-2) will take on New Milford this weekend and will face the state's leading scorer in Jay Healy. Head coach Mike Guasconi was a long-time assistant at North Bergen, so he definitely knows what it takes to be a state playoff contender.

But for a school which once had the longest losing streak in the state, spanning 39 games over five seasons, there is reason for joy, because the Indians are playoff bound.

The other Hudson County playoff participant is Bayonne, which is making its first trip since 1987.

Incredibly, that year came up many times during the course of the week, when playoff possibilities were being bantered about.

Because in 1987, Emerson made its next to last playoff appearance before this year and Bayonne and Lincoln each made its last playoff bracket. Also, 1987 was the last year that North Bergen failed to make the tournament.

Lincoln would have also qualified this year as the eighth and final seed in Group IV, but the Lions dropped a heartbreaker to Marist two weeks ago. That loss enabled Fair Lawn to sneak in and snare the final spot.

Also, another touch of irony. In 1987, when Bayonne made it last appearance, the Bees played Fair Lawn in the first round in Bayonne - and this reporter will never forget that day, because it had to have been the coldest day ever known to man. At Veterans Stadium in Bayonne, it was eight degrees and the wind chill off the Hackensack River had to make it like 60 below. For someone who went to school in Milwaukee, where they have two seasons - winter and the Fourth of July - I can never remember ever being colder.

Thank God the weather reports for this weekend are calling for 60 degrees - above zero - and sunny. Because it's definitely sunny skies for Hudson's seven teams.

And here's something to take to your respective football fields this weekend. Seven teams qualified for the state playoffs out of the 17 schools in Hudson County that offer varsity football. That's a pretty good ratio and a sign of how competitive the brand of football is that's offered throughout the county for yet another year.