2 Unbeaten Matchups Could Shape Early Season

The NJAC football season is cruising at full force heading into Week 3 and doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon, as undefeated matchups highlight a presumably action-packed weekend of football. Leading the gamut of games this week are a few undefeated teams looking to continue their pace, as well as a few teams still in search of that elusive first win of 2011.

For two teams, Week 3 will result in 2011’s first loss

Friday night will be highlighted by four teams vying to move to 3-0 this season. For two of these teams (assuming there are no ties), Friday will bring the first loss of 2011, as Week 3 showcases undefeated matchups of some of the county's most exciting teams early in the year.

After crushing and , Delbarton (2-0) has made an appearance on the Star-Ledger's top 20 teams in New Jersey, at No. 12. Maintaining their position on that list will truly be a test this week, as the Green Wave go on the road to face another undefeated club on Friday at 7:30 p.m., West Morris Central (2-0), which comes off of wins over and .

Leading the list of big offensive names in this one are Delbarton quarterback John Shaffer (18 of 24 for 237 yards and three touchdowns) and running back Jamie White (342 yards and five touchdowns on the ground), as well as West Morris quarterback John Gutowski (14 of 27 for 209 yards and two touchdowns) and running back Jon Ciccone, who boasts over a 12-yard-per-carry average thus far in 2011.

At the same time as that slugfest, another set of undefeated teams will be tussling to stay unbeaten, as Butler and Pequannock meet up at .

The Bulldogs are riding the terrific performance of (19 carries for 341 yards and six touchdowns), to a 42-point per-game average, and a defense that has yet to surrender a point through two games.

But after wins against and , Friday night is sure to be the biggest test for the Bulldogs defense thus far, as Pequannock heads into Butler on a two-game winning streak after stopping Dover and Boonton.

The Panthers are paced by running back Anthony Rubino, who comes off of a 187 yard, four-touchdown performance on the ground in Pequannock's 42-28 win over Boonton, according to NJ.com.

Four teams in search of their first win

On the other end of the spectrum, two weeks of the season have yet to produce a win for a few teams. For all of those teams, the weekend carries with it the hopes of that elusive win coming to fruition, but for two teams going head-to-head, the satisfaction of knowing that the losing will end (again, assuming no ties), is a driving force.

That game, Morris Hills (0-2) at Montville (0-2), features two teams that are struggling to find their identities thus far into the season.

For Montville, losses to and have been highlighted by an inability to find the end zone, as the Mustang offense has produced just seven points through two weeks.

Led by head coach Jim Delaney in his first season at Montville (after spending two years at High Point) the Mustangs are –a triple option variation of the “Wishbone.” So far, that learning process has seen the offense produce just one touchdown–a 71-yard touchdown run by quarterback John Jesperson in the season opener against Mountain Lakes.

Last week, Montville was held to just 56 yards of total offense in its 17-0 loss to Vernon.

Morris Hills comes in averaging 18 points per game in losses to Pope John (1-1) and Morris Knolls (1-1). Leading the way for Morris Hills is running back Eric Turner, who put up all-worldly numbers in Hills’ loss to Knolls, including 223 yards rushing and 326 all-purpose yards, according to NJ.com.

Those aren’t the only games happening this week that will impact the standings. Here's the breakdown of some important NJAC games:

Friday

• Jefferson (2-0) vs. Mount Olive (1-1), 7 p.m.-Jefferson looks to keep rolling after big wins over Randolph and High Point.
  
• Madison (1-0) at Parsippany (0-2), 7 p.m.–Two very different programs going up against one another in this one, as one team looks for win No. 1, and the other to stay unbeaten.
• Morris Knolls (1-1) vs. Randolph (1-1), 7 p.m.
• Hackettstown (0-2) vs. Lenape Valley (2-0), 7 p.m.
• Mendham (0-2) at Roxbury (1-1), 7 p.m.
  

Saturday

• Morristown (2-0) at Parsippany Hills (1-1), 1 p.m.– A bevy of stars will be showcased in this one as Par Hills features running back Dan Hardwick (219 yards rushing and three TDs) and quarterback Tyler Simms (23-45 passing for 387 yards and three touchdowns), while (301 yards rushing and seven touchdowns) is the Colonials' main offensive threat.
• Chatham (2-0) vs. Boonton (1-1), 7 p.m.–Chatham’s Cory Heidaran has racked up 324 yards and three touchdowns in Chatham’s quick start to the season.
• Dover (1-1) vs. Mountain Lakes (2-0), 1 p.m.
• Hanover Park (1-1) vs. Wallkill Valley (1-1), 1 p.m.
• Vernon (1-1) vs. Sparta (2-0), 1 p.m.

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