Essex 8 rankings: Regional champions dominate final rankings – NorthJersey.com
The football season is over and what a year it has been for Essex County teams. Two of the five remaining undefeated teams are in the county. All four sectional champions from Essex County won regional championships at either MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands or SHI Stadium at Rutgers. Four teams in the county finished within the final USA Today Network New Jersey Top 25 with a fifth team receiving consideration.
The county as a whole enjoyed a historic season with 15 teams reaching the postseason and a team in all five public groups reaching a sectional final. Beyond the championship teams, we saw teams enjoy memorable moments across the year. Here are the final Essex 8 rankings, celebrating an incredible season for the county as a whole:
8. Weequahic (7-5)
Weequahic forfeited their first game and began the season 2-3 before going on a run to the North 2, Group 1 semifinals. A touchdown allowed with 40 second cost the Indians a chance at upsetting top seed Mountain Lakes, but Weeuqahic ended the season on a winning note. A 29-0 win over Shabazz on Thanksgiving gave Weequahic seven wins for the first time since 2018.
7. West Orange (7-4)
The Mountaineers were handed three of their four losses on the season to regional champions Irvington and East Orange. East Orange defeated West Orange twice, including a 14-0 loss in the North 1, Group 5 semifinals. West Orange has never been a sectional champion, but remain a perennial contender in their section and across the county.
6. West Essex (9-3)
The Knights could not win the North 1, Group 3 sectional title, falling to surging West Morris, 21-0. The three losses for West Essex were all to teams in sectional finals, dropping regular season games to Ramapo and Northern Highlands. The Knights never gave up more than 27 points to any team this season and scored at least 34 points seven times in 2021.
5. Cedar Grove (12-1)
The Panthers won a dramatic sectional championship over Mountain Lakes, the program’s first championship in a decade. Nick Iannacone caught a 30-yard touchdown from Alfonso Lombardi with less than three minutes left to lift Cedar Grove to a 13-12 over Park Ridge in the North, Group 1 regional championship at MetLife Stadium.
4. Seton Hall Prep (7-4)
The Pirates enjoyed one of their best seasons in recent memory, ending with a 21-20 loss to St. Peter’s Prep in the Non-Public A quarterfinals. Seton Hall Prep had regular season wins over the likes of Don Bosco and Delbarton, as well as two one-point losses to St. Peter’s Prep and having a fourth quarter lead over No. 1 Bergen Catholic.
3. Caldwell (12-0)
The longest active win streak in New Jersey is shared by the Chiefs, who won their first sectional championship since 2008. Caldwell then won the North, Group 2 regional championship in a 42-21 win over Jefferson at MetLife Stadium. Harry Boland had three total touchdowns and two interceptions on defense. The Chiefs won all but one of their games this season by at least 21 points.
2. Irvington (11-2)
The Blue Knights won a program record 11 games in 2021, culminating in the first sectional title in school history and a North, Group 4 regional championship over Northern Highlands at SHI Stadium. Saquan Gordon found Trenton Jones for a 61-yard touchdown pass with two minutes remaining to lift Irvington in the regional championship, 19-14. The Blue Knights had 12 sacks on defense in the win.
1. East Orange Campus (13-0)
The Jaguars completed the first 13-0 season in school history with a thrilling 30-24 triple overtime win over Clifton in the North, Group 5 regional championship at SHI Stadium. Ahmad Nalls recovered a fumble in the end zone and returned it 100 yards for the game-winning score. Raeden Oliver threw for 142 yards and two touchdowns, both to Joshua Richards.
Also considered (alphabetically): Montclair, Newark West Side, Nutley
Robert Aitken is a high school sports reporter for NorthJersey.com. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis from our Varsity Aces team, subscribe today. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter and download our app.
Email: aitken@northjersey.com
Twitter: @robertaitkenjr