Northern New Jersey meets southern New Jersey in this contest.
Seton Hall Prep is an Essex County power. The Pirates rely on the running of Kevin Monangai and Rory Merklinger, who carried 43 times in one game this season. Defensive end Connor Wujciak is a Division I college prospect.
Seton Hall's only loss was 34-28 in overtime to DePaul in the second week of the season.
Meanwhile, St. Augustine is undefeated and No. 3 in The Press' Elite 11. Villanova-bound quarterback Dustin Thomas leads the Hermits with 20 touchdown passes. St. Augustine is in the midst of the best stretch of football in school history. The Hermits set a school record with 10 wins last season. They won the Cape-Atlantic League National Conference title for the second straight year this season. This is their first home playoff game since 1995.
Fifth-seeded Seton Hall Prep (8-1) vs. fourth-seeded St. Augustine Prep (8-0)
What: State Non-Public IV quarterfinal
When/where: 7 p.m. today at St. Augustine
What's next: Winner advances to next weekend's semifinals against the winner of tonight's other quarterfinal between eighth-seeded Red Bank Catholic and top-seeded and national power Don Bosco Prep.
Key Players:
Seton Hall Prep: Kevin Monangai, RB, 14 touchdowns; Rory Merklinger, RB, 13 touchdowns; Joe Adami, LB; Mike DiTommaso, RB/DB; Connor Wujciak, DE.
St. Augustine Prep: Dustin Thomas, QB, 70-of-112 for 1,381 yards and 20 touchdowns; Darnell Laws, RB, 90 carries for 576 yards and five touchdowns; Gabe Voumard, WR/DE, 26 catches for 420 yards and eight touchdowns and six sacks on defense; James Goodroe, WR/DB, 20 catches for 320 yards and three interceptions; Chris Razo, DL, four sacks; Chris Gough, K.
Keys to victory: A fascinating matchup. St. Augustine needs to slow Seton Hall's running game. On offense, the Hermits need to take advantage of the big-play potential of Thomas and Voumard.
Contact Michael McGarry:
609-272-7185
