It all began with Brick winning the 1974 South Group 4 title in the first-ever NJSIAA championship football game.
Forty-two years later, the state tournament remains alive and well.
This weekend 25 Shore public school teams start the postseason. The Non-Public A and B playoffs will be seeded by a committee Sunday and those playoffs will start next week.
Our Shore Conference football picks for Week 1 of the playoffs | Exclusive
Get updates here Friday and Saturday on games from the first week of the playoffs.
LOOKING AHEAD - ROUND 2 MATCHUPS FOR SECTIONS WITH SHORE TEAMS (Shore teams in bold)
South Group 5
(5) Eastern at (1) Washington Twp.
(7) Trenton at (3) Toms River North
North 1, Group 4
(4) Middletown South at (1) Roxbury
(3) Morris Knolls at (2) Northern Highlands
North 2, Group 4
(4) Teaneck at (1) Middletown North
(7) Mount Olive at (3) Chatham
Central Group 4
(4) Millville at (1) Brick Memorial
(3) Atlantic City at (2) Northern Burlington
South Group 4
(4) Marlboro at (1) Shawnee
(3) Bridgeton at (2) Winslow
South Group 3
(4) Timber Creek at (1) Seneca
(3) Pinelands at (2) Oakcrest
Central Group 2
(5) Manasquan at (1) Glassboro
(3) Pt. Pleasant Boro at (2) Rumson-Fair Haven
South Group 2
(5) Wall at (1) West Deptford
(3) Camden Eastside at (2) Haddonfield
Non-Public A
Teams to be determined Sunday
Non-Public B
Teams to be determined Sunday
FRIDAY
NJSIAA PUBLIC SCHOOL PLAYOFFS
SECTIONAL QUARTERFINALS
NORTH 1 GROUP 3
Cranford 34, Matawan 27
NORTH 2 GROUP 3
Somerville 27, Holmdel 26
NORTH 1 GROUP 4
Middletown South 21, Ridge 14
NORTH 2 GROUP 4
Middletown North 42, Watchung Hills 7
SOUTH GROUP 1
Shore 34, Manville 7
CENTRAL GROUP 2
Manasquan 26, Gloucester City 14
Middletown South battles Manasquan | Shore Conference football
South’s Justin Rosato dives through the line for his team’s second touchdown. Middletown South Football defeats Manasquan 21-17 in Manasquan, NJ on September 28, 2026.
(Peter Ackerman, Asbury Park Press)
Point Pleasant Borough 48, Lower Cape May 14
Rumson-Fair Haven 56, Sterling 6
SOUTH GROUP 2
Wall 35, Monmouth 0
Playoffs-ready Wall Township cruises to victory to start state football tournament
CENTRAL GROUP 3
Burlington Township 26, Brick Township 7
Camden 43, Barnegat 0
SOUTH GROUP 3
Pinelands 21, Triton 0
CENTRAL GROUP 4
Brick Memorial 42, Absegami 13
SOUTH GROUP 4
Shawnee 34, Howell 0
Marlboro 21, Steinert 8
Winslow 43, Toms River South 0
CENTRAL GROUP 5
Williamstown 42, Freehold Township 26
Rancocas Valley 42, Jackson Township 7
SOUTH GROUP 5
Toms River North 42, Manlapan 7
Lucas Elias 6 TDs ties NFL uncle's family record in Toms River North playoff win
Trenton 34, Southern 29
REGULAR SEASON
NONCONFERENCE
St. Peter's Prep 37, Red Bank Catholic 34
SATURDAY
NJSIAA PUBLIC SCHOOL PLAYOFFS
SECTIONAL QUARTERFINALS
CENTRAL GROUP 1
Paulsboro 34, Point Pleasant Beach 0
SOUTH GROUP 2
Camden Eastside 24, Ocean Township 21
SOUTH GROUP 3
Oakcrest 40, Red Bank Regional 0
REGULAR SEASON
NONCONFERENCE
Popr John 23, St. John Vianney 6
Donovan Catholic 45, St. Joseph (Metuchen) 28
CONSOLATION GAME SCHEDULE
THURSDAY
South River 36, Keansburg 8
Lacey 14, Middle Township 0
Manchester 14, Keyport 13
Colts Neck 15, Toms River East 14 -OT
New Egypt 12, Florence 10
Raritan 56, South Plainfied 21
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: