Week 6 Full of Tough Games For Struggling Teams

For the third time in four weeks, the 0-5 Bridgewater-Raritan Panthers will face one of the most successful teams in the Mid-State 39 Conference this week when they host Franklin on Friday at 7 p.m. Franklin is 3-1 going into the game, and is coming off of a bye week. Franklin’s last game, against Montgomery on Oct. 1, resulted in a 41-0 shutout victory for Franklin.

Franklin’s only loss this season came in its season opener, a close game against Elizabeth, which at the time was ranked No. 19 in the state by The Star-Ledger. Elizabeth is now 5-0.

So far this season, Bridgewater has played in close games against and , losing by one touchdown or less in both of those games. But in their other three games this season, the Panthers have struggled against winning teams in , , and . Hunterdon Central and Immaculata are also among The Star-Ledger’s top 20 teams in the state.

The Panthers aren’t the only team looking for their first win of the season in Week 6. The winless Watchung Hills Warriors, coming off a , will be heading to Hillsborough on Friday night for a 7 p.m. game. Hillsborough is 3-2 going into the game and is coming off what might be their against Ridge last week, a game in which Hillsborough’s offense scored 20 points in the first half alone and had a total of 429 yards on offense, led by running back John Banaciski with two touchdowns and 19 carries for 215 yards. The Hillsborough defense also pulled down three interceptions and held Ridge to three points in the 27-3 victory.

Ridge (1-4) will travel to Hunterdon Central (4-1) to play the first-place team in the Delaware Division on Friday night at 7 p.m. Hunterdon Central’s only loss this season came in a close game against Elizabeth, both top ranked teams in the state. was against North Hunterdon (2-3), in a game led by JD Moore, who rushed for more than 100 yards.

For a complete schedule of games in the Mid-State 39 conference, see below:

Friday

Elizabeth (5-0) at Union (3-2), 7 p.m.

Immaculata (5-0) at Linden (2-2), 7 p.m.

Watchung Hills (0-5) at Hillsborough (3-2), 7 p.m.

Governor Livingston (1-3) at Summit (5-0), 7 p.m.

Hillside (0-5) at Johnson (2-2), 7 p.m.

New Providence (4-0) at North Warren (3-2), 7 p.m.

Roselle (3-1) at Bernards (4-0), 7 p.m.–Bernards is the only undefeated team in the Hills Division and was predicted to take fourth place in NJ.com's preseason rankings.

Manville (0-5) at Brearley (2-3), 7 p.m.

South Hunterdon (2-3) at Bound Brook (0-5), 7 p.m.

Ridge (1-4) at Hunterdon Central (4-1), 7 p.m.

Franklin (3-1) at Bridgewater-Raritan (0-5), 7 p.m.

North Plainfield (1-4) at Delaware Valley (4-0), 7 p.m.

Warren Hills (2-3) at Somerville (3-2), 7 p.m.

Saturday

Montgomery (1-4) at Plainfield (1-3), 1 p.m.

Cranford (5-0) at Rahway (3-1), 1 p.m.–Both Cranford and Summit are still undefeated in the Mountain Division. Before the season began, NJ.com predicted that Summit take first and Cranford take fourth in the division. Rahway was predicted to take second.

Roselle Park (2-3) at Pingry (2-3), 1 p.m.

Voorhees (0-5) at Scotch Plains (0-5), 1 p.m.