Man, what a ride. If you spent your Friday nights anywhere near a turf field in the Garden State this past fall, you know the vibe. The smell of snack bar Taylor ham (or pork roll, let's not fight) and the sound of pads popping under those massive stadium lights. Now that the dust has settled on the 2025-2026 season, everyone is scouring the internet for the final new jersey hs football scores to see where their team landed.
It wasn't just another year. We saw dynasties almost crumble, South Jersey powerhouses prove they belong in the national conversation, and a Non-Public A final that literally came down to the final seconds. Honestly, if you weren't at MetLife Stadium in late November, you missed a masterclass in grit.
The Night the Hierarchy Shifted
Let’s talk about the game everyone is still texting about. November 28, 2025. St. Joseph Regional (Montvale) versus Don Bosco Prep. For years, Bosco has felt like this untouchable machine, but St. Joe's had other plans.
The Green Knights pulled off a 24-21 thriller that felt more like a heavyweight boxing match than a high school football game. Augie Hoffmann’s squad didn't just win; they reclaimed the Non-Public A state championship for the first time since 2018. Bosco entered that game at 11-0, looking like they were destined for an undefeated season. They had already stomped out-of-state giants from Florida and New York. But when the clock hit zero, it was the Green Knights holding the trophy.
It's wild how one score can change the entire narrative of a season. Before that kickoff, most people would’ve bet the house on the Ironmen.
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Breaking Down the Group State Championships
The NJSIAA group finals are where things get really interesting because you see the local community pride explode. We saw some absolute blowouts and some "I can't believe they pulled that off" moments.
Washington Township had a season for the history books. They finished a perfect 14-0. Think about that. Not a single slip-up. They capped it off by handling Passaic Tech 31-12 in the Group 5 final. If you followed their journey, you saw Jaylen Robinson basically treat the playoffs like his personal highlight reel. They dismantled Rancocas Valley 44-26 in the semis and just never looked back.
Then you’ve got Winslow Township. They took down Ramapo 34-21 to secure the Group 4 title. Winslow finished 12-2, and while they had a couple of bumps early on, they were arguably the most dangerous team in the state by November.
Small Town, Big Results
Down in Group 1, Glassboro is officially a problem for the rest of the state. They beat Cedar Grove in a rematch of the previous year, finishing 13-0 and securing back-to-back perfect seasons. 13-0 is hard. Doing it twice? That’s legendary.
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The Scores That Shook the Bracket
Sometimes the final score doesn't tell the whole story, but this year, a few results really jumped off the page. Remember the November 14th slate? It was a bloodbath for some favorites.
- Camden 43, Wall Township 7: Camden was on a mission.
- Passaic County Tech 56, West Orange 42: A total shootout. Defense was optional that night, but man, was it fun to watch.
- Ramapo 28, Northern Highlands 27: This one was heartbreaking for Highlands. A one-point difference is all that stood between a trip to the finals and going home.
- Shabazz 26, Madison 16: A gritty win for a Newark team that consistently punches above its weight.
Why We Care About These Rankings
MaxPreps and NJ.com will argue over the numbers until they're blue in the face, but the final 2025 rankings basically looked like a "Who's Who" of North Jersey dominance with a heavy South Jersey surge.
St. Joseph Regional ended at #1, followed closely by Don Bosco and Bergen Catholic. But look at #8 and #9—Washington Township and Camden. For a long time, the "Big Three" in North Jersey felt like they were playing a different sport than the rest of the state. That gap is closing. Slowly. Sorta.
The Jack Cannon Factor
You can't talk about this season's scores without mentioning Jack Cannon from Holmdel. The kid was a human cheat code. He put up 198 total points and 33 touchdowns. When you see a score like Holmdel 65, Neptune 42, you don't even have to guess who was responsible.
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Beyond the MetLife Lights
It’s easy to focus on the big Non-Public schools with their DI recruits and stadium-sized budgets. But the real heart of new jersey hs football scores is found in the local rivalries.
The Thanksgiving Day games this year were as heated as ever. Phillipsburg took a tough loss to Easton (PA) 35-6, which is always a bitter pill for the "Stateliners" to swallow. Meanwhile, Hackensack took down Teaneck in their annual clash. These games don't always affect the state rankings, but try telling a senior at Hackensack that the game didn't matter.
What’s Next for NJ Football?
If you’re a fan, you’re already looking at the 2026 rosters. We're losing some massive seniors. Jack Cannon is moving on. Lukas Prock at Hun—who threw for a staggering 4,330 yards—is going to leave a massive hole in that offense.
But the talent pool in Jersey is deep. Really deep. We’ve got sophomore All-Americans popping up in places like Millville and DePaul Catholic. The cycle just restarts.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're looking to keep track of your team or get recruited, don't just sit around.
- Claim your profile: If you're a player, get on MaxPreps and Hudl. Verify your stats from this season. Those 33 touchdowns don't mean anything to a scout if they aren't official.
- Watch the re-broadcasts: Many of the NJSIAA finals are archived on NFHS Network or local cable sports channels. Watching the Washington Township vs. Passaic Tech game again is a great way to see how they executed that zone-read so perfectly.
- Check the off-season camps: The "scores" of the spring are camp invites. Keep an eye on the Rutgers and Temple satellite camps; that’s where the 2026 stars are going to be made.
- Follow the transfers: Kinda controversial, but it's the reality of the game now. The "transfer portal" has hit high school. Keep an eye on the big Non-Public schools to see who’s moving where this winter.
New Jersey high school football is a different beast. It’s loud, it’s tribal, and the scores are often surprising. Whether you’re a parent in the stands or a scout in the press box, this season proved that on any given Friday, literally anything can happen.