Some Teams Fighting For First, Some Just To Win

After three weeks of football, teams are starting to show their true strengths and weaknesses and starting to establish where they stand in their divisions.

Hillsborough is currently tied with Franklin, Hunterdon Central and Phillipsburg for the of the Mid-State 39 Conference at 2-1. The Raiders’ 2-1 division record is the second best in the division, leaving them behind only Franklin.

Before the season began, Hillsborough was predicted by NJ.com to take fifth in the division, behind Hunterdon Central, Phillipsburg, Franklin and Ridge. It being early in the season, that prediction of course can still come true, but, by playing well so far this season, the Raiders can make their own fate if they can orchestrate an upset or two this year.

Hillsborough’s biggest test will likely come this weekend against Hunterdon Central, the team that was predicted by NJ.com to take first in the Delaware Division and was ranked No. 1 in the Star-Ledger’s top 20 going into their 36-0 shutout of Bridgewater last weekend.

When Hillsborough and Bridgewater faced off in the season opener this year, the Raiders and the score was 49-42. They will likely not have the luxury of giving up 42 points and still winning against Hunterdon Central on Friday night.

Next week, Hillsborough will face the Ridge Red Devils, who are looking to turn their season around after going 0-2 , winning their first game last week to bring them up to 1-2.

Ridge will face Phillipsburg this weekend, another tough match-up that will likely prove to be one of the biggest obstacles Ridge faces this season. Phillipsburg is 2-1 and its only loss came to Franklin last week.

Some teams, after three weeks, are still looking for their first win of the season.

Bridgewater is one of those teams, but as the season has progressed they‘ve struggled more and more against their opponents. In week one, they lost by . In week two, they scored only in a 22-7 loss. In week three, they were , 36-0.

This weekend, Bridgewater will face 1-2 North Hunterdon, a team that the 0-3 Watchung Hills Warriors.

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

Friday

Westfield (3-0) at Elizabeth (3-0), 7 p.m.

Plainfield (1-1) at Union (2-1), 7 p.m.

Warren Hills (1-2) at Linden (0-2), 7 p.m.

Brearley (2-1) at Johnson (1-1), 7 p.m.

Roselle (1-1) at Bound Brook (0-3), 7 p.m.

Hillsborough (2-1) at Hunterdon Central (2-1), 7 p.m.

Phillipsburg (2-1) at Ridge (1-2), 7 p.m.

Bridgewater-Raritan (0-3) at North Hunterdon (1-2), 7 p.m.

Delaware Valley (3-0) at Voorhees (0-3), 7:30 p.m.

Somerville (1-2) at North Plainfield (1-2), 7 p.m.

South Hunterdon (1-2) at Bernards (3-0), 7 p.m.

Manville (0-3) at Belvidere (2-1), 7 p.m.

Saturday

Summit (3-0) at Hillside (0-3), 1 p.m.

Cranford (3-0) at Scotch Plains (0-3), 2 p.m.

Roselle Park (1-2) at Dayton (2-1), 2 p.m.

Montgomery (1-2) at Franklin (2-1), 1 p.m.

North Warren (1-2) at Pingry (2-1), 2:30 p.m.