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Sports

Delaware Division Rivals Fight For Playoff Spot

There is a lot at stake around the Mid-State 39 this weekend.

Sitting in third place in the Delaware Division of the Mid-State 39 high school football conference is Phillipsburg at 4-2 with a divisional record of 3-2, and Hillsborough at 4-3 with the same 3-2 divisional record. This Friday, these two teams will face each other during a 7 p.m. game in Phillipsburg. With a win, Hillsborough can jump up to third in the division and knock Phillipsburg down to fourth.

It is also a huge game for playoff positioning. Hillsborough is currently seventh in Central IV power points, while Phillipsburg is eighth in North 2, Group IV. The top eight squads in each section make the playoffs.

Both teams are coming off of losses against tough teams last week. Hillsborough took a 55-19 . At halftime the score was already 31-6, and Hillsborough never managed to come close to mounting a comeback. Phillipsburg faced Hunterdon Central (6-1), the top team in the division and one of The Star-Ledger’s top 20 teams in the state last week, losing 31-0.

Hunterdon Central’s only loss this season came at the hands of Elizabeth, another one of The Star-Ledger’s top 20 teams in the state.

Ridge was 1-5 after their , but won last week’s game in against Linden to improve to 2-5. This week, the Red Devils will travel to Bridgewater-Raritan to face the Delaware divisional rival Panthers for a 6 p.m. game on Friday night.

Bridgewater-Raritan is in last place in the division at 0-7 with an 0-5 divisional record, one of five winless teams left in the conference along with Watchung Hills, Hillside, Voorhees, and Manville. When Bridgewater and Ridge squared off last year, it was the Panthers who ended up on top by a score of 31-10, but Bridgewater was 5-2 going into last year‘s game and Ridge was 1-6.

Watchung Hills (0-7) will host Plainfield (1-5) on Friday at 7 p.m. Both teams are coming off losses to two of the top teams in the conference. Last week, Plainfield was shut out by Immaculata (7-0). Watchung Hills was , 58-20. If Watchung Hills cannot defeat Plainfield, its last chance at securing a win in 2011 will come against Rahway (3-3) next week.

For a full schedule of Mid-State 39 football this weekend, see below:

Friday

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Elizabeth (6-1) at Immaculata (7-0), 7 p.m.–These are two of the best teams in the conference, with Immaculata currently in first in the Watchung Division and Elizabeth in second in the same division. With a win, Immaculata will lock up first place for the season, but with a loss the teams will be tied in both divisional and overall records.

Westfield (5-1) at Linden (2-4), 7 p.m.

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Plainfield (1-5) at Watchung Hills (0-7), 7 p.m.

Summit (7-0) at Cranford (7-0), 7 p.m.–These two undefeated teams have been tied for first place in the Mountain Division all season, but this week one team will have to emerge as the sole leader of the division. Summit last week in New Providence.

New Providence (5-1) at Roselle Park (2-5), 7 p.m.

Hillsborough (4-3) at Phillipsburg (4-2), 7 p.m.

North Hunterdon (2-4) at Montgomery (3-4), 7 p.m.

Ridge (2-5) at Bridgewater-Raritan (0-7), 6 p.m.

Somerville (5-2) at Delaware Valley (6-0)–The No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the Raritan Division.

Belvidere (5-1) at Bernards (6-0), 7 p.m.–The No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the Hills Division.

North Warren (4-3) at South Hunterdon (2-4), 7 p.m.

Saturday

Johnson (4-2) at Roselle (4-2), 1 p.m.

Governor Livingston (1-5) at Rahway (3-3), 1 p.m.

Brearley (3-4) at Hillside (0-7), 1 p.m.

Hunterdon Central (6-1) at Franklin (5-1) - If Franklin can win this one, they will tie Hunterdon Central for first place in the Delaware Division. Both teams have 5-0 divisional records.

Warren Hills (2-5) at Scotch Plains (2-5), 1 p.m.

Manville (0-6) at Sussex Tech (1-6), 1 p.m.

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