The NJSIAA football sectional playoffs will take a holiday break to enjoy Thanksgiving.
So before the state sectional playoff champions are determined during the weekend of Dec. 2-4, traditional Turkey Day matchups will be the featured items on the menu.
High school football and turkeys are a common thread each November, and here are some appetizing local showdowns on area fields this week.
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, which has punched a ticket to a state sectional playoff final, and Shore Regional High School, will hook up in a holiday game the night before Thanksgiving when they meet Nov. 23 in West Long Branch. Game time is 7 p.m.
Rumson-Fair Haven gained a berth in Central Jersey, Group III final when it upset Somerville High School, 21-13, in the semifinals Nov. 18, while Shore Regional was bounced from the Central Jersey, Group I tournament when it was defeated by Asbury Park High School, 39-19, the same day.
Middletown High School South and Middletown High School North are township rivals and sister schools who were pursuing a matchup against each other in the North Jersey, Section II, Group IV playoff final next week
But Middletown South, the defending champion, did not live up to its end of the bargain when it fell to Sayreville War Memorial High School, 42-28, in the semifinals Nov. 18.
Middletown North advanced to the sectional title game with its 20-0 shutout over Summit High School Nov. 18. Middletown North will meet Sayreville in the finals next week.
Now Middletown South will seek to settle local bragging rights with a victory over its township rival Thanksgiving Day at 10:30 a.m. at Middletown North’s field.
Here are some other Thanksgiving Day games to feast on …
South Brunswick High School, a playoff semifinalist in Central Jersey, Group V, will square off with its neighbor, North Brunswick Township High School, at 10:30 a.m. in North Brunswick. South Brunswick was eliminated from the state playoff with its 34-20 loss to Manalapan High School Nov. 18
Another Central Jersey, Group V playoff semifinalist, Old Bridge High School will be home to its rival from Route 18, East Brunswick High School, at 11 a.m. Old Bridge seeks to beat East Brunswick after it was knocked out of the playoffs with its 42-3 loss to Piscataway Township High School Nov. 19
The battle of Edison will be staged at 10:30 a.m. when John P. Stevens High School plays Edison High School at 10:30 a.m. on Edison’s turf.
Raritan High School was bounced from its pursuit to retain the Central Jersey, Group II state playoff title by Roselle High School in the opening round Nov. 12. But now the Rockets will seek to cap their season with a victory against Holmdel High School. The two Shore rivals will kick off at 10 a.m. in Hazlet.
Old-time rivals Red Bank Regional High School and Long Branch High School will settle local bragging rights at 10:30 a.m. in Long Branch.
Metuchen High School will look to stick a fork into Highland Park High School when these two rivals clash at 11 a.m. in Highland Park.
