Emmons' Emphasis: 2026 N.J. non-public high school football playoff predictions

The DePaul Catholic High School football team celebrates after a 33-21 win over Pope John in the NJSIAA Non-Public Group B state championship at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Friday, November 29, 2024. Joshua Guirguis for D2 Sports Network

The road to MetLife Stadium began for public high school football programs in New Jersey last week.

The same journey for non-public programs will start on Friday.

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association's non-public high school football playoffs begin on November 6.

Two non-public state champions will be crowned. Schools with larger enrollment numbers compete in the eight-team Non-Public A bracket. 11 teams hold spots in the Non-Public B bracket for schools with smaller student populations.

The state championships are scheduled for Saturday, November 28 and Sunday, November 29. Matchups are to be determined, and ticket information will be announced soon, per the NJSIAA.

The NJSIAA will crown seven (Groups I, II, III, IV, V, Non-Public A and Non-Public B) high school football state champions this season. It marks the first time all seven championships will be hosted at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

Here are group-by-group, round-by-round predictions by South Jersey Sports Zone's Kevin Emmons in each New Jersey non-public high school football group:

Non-Public A

First round predictions:

(1) Don Bosco Prep over (8) St. Joseph-Metuchen

(4) St. Peter's Prep over (5) Seton Hall Prep

(3) Bergen Catholic over (6) St. Augustine

(2) St. Joseph-Montvale over (7) Delbarton

Semifinals predictions:

(1) Don Bosco Prep over (4) St. Peter's Prep

(2) St. Joseph-Montvale over (3) Bergen Catholic

State final prediction:

(1) Don Bosco Prep over (2) St. Joseph-Montvale

Non-Public B

First round predictions:

(8) Paul VI over (9) St. John Vianney

(5) Immaculata over (12) Hudson Catholic

(6) Pope John over (11) Notre Dame

(7) Holy Spirit over (10) St. Thomas Aquinas

Quarterfinals predictions:

(1) Paramus Catholic over (8) Paul VI

(4) Donovan Catholic over (5) Immaculata

(3) Red Bank Catholic over (6) Pope John

(2) DePaul over (7) Holy Spirit

Semifinals predictions:

(1) Paramus Catholic over (4) Donovan Catholic

(2) DePaul over (3) Red Bank Catholic

State final prediction:

(1) Paramus Catholic over (2) DePaul